Quantcast
 
New book by Larry Connors Click here Improve your trading - See how


 

Frontier Communications Reports Solid 2009 Third-Quarter Results

Tue. November 03, 2009; Posted: 07:00 AM
Stocks RSS
STAMFORD, Conn., Nov 03, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- FTR | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- --Year-to-date free cash flow of $367 million

--Year-to-date operating cash flow margin of 54%, as adjusted

--Year-to-date dividend payout ratio of 64%

--7,500 High-Speed Internet additions

--7,200 DISH Network video customer additions

--Rate of access line losses continues to decline

--Data and internet services revenue up 4% year over year

--2009 free cash flow estimate increased

Frontier Communications (NYSE:FTR) today reported third-quarter 2009 revenue of $526.8 million, operating income of $172.5 million and net income attributable to common shareholders of Frontier of $52.2 million.

"We delivered strong profitability in the third quarter of 2009 with a 54.6% operating cash flow margin, driven by improved performance in our customer metrics and disciplined cost control," said Maggie Wilderotter, Frontier Communications Chairman and CEO. "Our balance sheet has been strengthened as a result of our recent financing, our dividend yield remains attractive, and we're looking forward to additional scale and scope from the Verizon acquisition in the second quarter of next year."

Revenue for the third quarter of 2009 was $526.8 million compared to $557.9 million in the third quarter of 2008, a 6 percent decrease. Revenue declined as a result of lower access lines and reduced switched access and long distance revenue, partially offset by a 4 percent increase in data and internet services revenue. Despite the decline in access lines, our customer revenue, which is all revenue except switched access and subsidy, has declined by less than 5 percent. The monthly customer revenue per access line has increased approximately $1.01, or 2%, over the prior year's third quarter while the monthly total revenue per access line has increased $0.71, or 1%, over the same period, as the Company has continued to successfully sell additional products and services, partially offset by reductions in regulatory revenue. Our exposure to regulatory revenue continues to decline.

Other operating expenses and network access expenses for the third quarter of 2009 were $247.5 million as compared to $256.0 million in the third quarter of 2008, a 3 percent decrease. Expenses in the third quarter of 2009 include non-cash pension costs of $8.4 million, as compared to $0.6 million in the third quarter of 2008. Excluding these costs, other operating expenses and network access expenses declined $16.2 million, or 6%, in 2009 as a result of lower wage and benefit expenses, as well as consulting fees and other outside services.

Consistent with recently adopted new accounting rules under SFAS No. 141R, "Business Combinations," acquisition and integration costs of approximately $3.7 million ($0.01 per share after tax) were incurred and expensed during the third quarter of 2009 in connection with our previously announced pending acquisition of approximately 4.8 million access lines (as of December 31, 2008) from Verizon Communications Inc. (Verizon).

Operating income for the third quarter of 2009 was $172.5 million and operating income margin was 32.7 percent compared to operating income of $164.2 million and operating income margin of 29.4 percent in the third quarter of 2008. The third quarter 2009 increase of $8.3 million is primarily the result of $31.6 million of amortization in 2008 of intangible assets associated with an acquisition in 2001, which were fully amortized in June 2009, and lower operating expenses in 2009, partially offset by the reduction in revenue and the acquisition and integration costs incurred in 2009.

Investment and other income, net for the third quarter of 2009 reflects a net gain of $4.1 million recognized on the early retirement of Company debt. As of September 30, 2009, we retired early approximately $360.8 million principal amount of debt for $353.0 million, and recorded a gain of $7.8 million for the first nine months of 2009.

Interest expense for the third quarter of 2009 was $96.6 million as compared to $90.3 million in the third quarter of 2008, a $6.3 million or 7 percent increase ($0.01 per share after tax). Interest expense increased due to the registered offering, completed in April 2009, of $600.0 million aggregate principal amount of 8.25% senior unsecured notes due 2014. We received net proceeds of approximately $538.8 million from the offering which we used primarily to retire debt during 2009. Interest expense was temporarily impacted by the timing of our refinancing activities.

In October 2009, we completed a registered offering of $600.0 million aggregate principal amount of 8.125% senior unsecured notes due 2018. We received net proceeds of approximately $577.6 million from the offering which we used, together with cash on hand, to finance a cash tender offer to purchase our outstanding 9.250% Senior Notes due 2011 and our outstanding 6.250% Senior Notes due 2013. We used the proceeds from the financing plus cash on hand to repurchase $647.8 million principal amount of debt under the cash tender offer, resulting in a loss on the early retirement of debt of approximately $54.0 million to be recognized in the fourth quarter of 2009. Refer to Schedule C for a comparison of debt obligations measured as of September 30 and October 31, 2009.

Net income attributable to common shareholders of Frontier was $52.2 million, or $0.17 per share, as compared to $47.0 million, or $0.15 per share, in the third quarter of 2008. The third quarter of 2009 includes acquisition and integration costs of $3.7 million ($2.3 million or $0.01 per share after tax). The third quarter 2009 increase is primarily the result of an improvement in operating income and gain on debt repurchases, partially offset by increased interest expense.

The Company's count of residential and business access lines declined by approximately 37,400 during the third quarter of 2009. At September 30, 2009, the Company had 2,151,700 residential and business access lines.

The Company added approximately 7,500 net High-Speed Internet customers during the third quarter of 2009 and had 621,300 High-Speed Internet customers at September 30, 2009. The Company added approximately 7,200 video customers during the third quarter of 2009 and had 164,500 video customers at September 30, 2009.

Capital expenditures were $54.1 million for the third quarter of 2009 and $164.5 million for the first nine months of 2009, including $2.6 million through September 30, 2009 related to Verizon integration activities.

Operating cash flow, as adjusted, was $287.7 million for the third quarter of 2009 resulting in an operating cash flow margin of 54.6 percent. Operating cash flow, as reported, of $275.6 million has been adjusted to exclude $3.7 million of acquisition and integration costs and $8.4 million of non-cash pension costs for the third quarter of 2009.

Free cash flow, as defined by the Company in the attached Schedule A, was $120.4 million for the third quarter of 2009 and $367.2 million for the first nine months of 2009. The Company's dividend represents a payout of 64 percent of free cash flow for the first nine months of 2009.

For the full year of 2009, the Company revised its previously reported expectations. Our revised expectations are that capital expenditures, excluding acquisition related capital expenditures, will be within a range of $240.0 million to $250.0 million and free cash flow, excluding acquisition and integration costs and capital expenditures, will be within a range of $470.0 million to $485.0 million.

The Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures in evaluating its performance. These include free cash flow and operating cash flow. A reconciliation of the differences between free cash flow and operating cash flow and the most comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP is included in the tables that follow. The non-GAAP financial measures are by definition not measures of financial performance under GAAP and are not alternatives to operating income or net income reflected in the statement of operations or to cash flow as reflected in the statement of cash flows and are not necessarily indicative of cash available to fund all cash flow needs. The non-GAAP financial measures used by the Company may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

The Company believes that the presentation of non-GAAP financial measures provides useful information to investors regarding the Company's financial condition and results of operations because these measures, when used in conjunction with related GAAP financial measures, (i) together provide a more comprehensive view of the Company's core operations and ability to generate cash flow, (ii) provide investors with the financial analytical framework upon which management bases financial, operational, compensation and planning decisions and (iii) presents measurements that investors and rating agencies have indicated to management are useful to them in assessing the Company and its results of operations. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to plan and measure the performance of its core operations, and its divisions measure performance and report to management based upon these measures. In addition, the Company believes that free cash flow and operating cash flow, as the Company defines them, can assist in comparing performance from period to period, without taking into account factors affecting cash flow reflected in the statement of cash flows, including changes in working capital and the timing of purchases and payments. The Company has shown adjustments to its financial presentations to exclude $3.7 million and $14.5 million of acquisition and integration costs in the third quarter and first nine months of 2009, respectively, and $8.4 million and $0.6 million of non-cash pension costs in the third quarters of 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $24.8 million and $(0.4) million of non-cash pension costs in the first nine months of 2009 and 2008, respectively, because the Company believes that such costs in the third quarters and first nine months of 2009 and 2008 are unusual, and that the magnitude of such costs in the third quarter and first nine months of 2009 materially exceed the comparable costs in the third quarter and first nine months of 2008. In addition, the Company has shown adjustments to its financial presentations to exclude $0.2 million of severance and early retirement costs in the third quarter of 2008, $2.6 million and $3.6 million of severance and early retirement costs in the first nine months of 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $0.1 million and $0.9 million of legal settlement costs and related expenses in the third quarter and first nine months of 2008, respectively, because investors have indicated to management that such adjustments are useful to them in assessing the Company and its results of operations.

Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to (i) assist in analyzing the Company's underlying financial performance from period to period, (ii) evaluate the financial performance of its business units, (iii) analyze and evaluate strategic and operational decisions, (iv) establish criteria for compensation decisions, and (v) assist management in understanding the Company's ability to generate cash flow and, as a result, to plan for future capital and operational decisions. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in conjunction with related GAAP financial measures. The Company believes that the non-GAAP financial measures are meaningful and useful for the reasons outlined above.

While the Company utilizes these non-GAAP financial measures in managing and analyzing its business and financial condition and believes they are useful to management and to investors for the reasons described above, these non-GAAP financial measures have certain shortcomings. In particular, free cash flow does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures, since items such as debt repayments and dividends are not deducted in determining such measure. Operating cash flow has similar shortcomings as interest, income taxes, capital expenditures, debt repayments and dividends are not deducted in determining this measure. Management compensates for the shortcomings of these measures by utilizing them in conjunction with their comparable GAAP financial measures. The information in this press release should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and footnotes contained in our documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Frontier Communications

Frontier Communications Corporation (NYSE:FTR) offers telephone, video and internet services in 24 states with approximately 5,500 employees. More information is available at www.frontier.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are made on the basis of management's views and assumptions regarding future events and business performance. Words such as "believe," "anticipate," "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements (including oral representations) involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties are based on a number of factors, including but not limited to: Our ability to complete the acquisition of access lines from Verizon; the failure to obtain, delays in obtaining or adverse conditions contained in any required regulatory approvals for the Verizon transaction; the failure to receive the IRS ruling approving the tax-free status of the Verizon transaction; the ability to successfully integrate the Verizon operations into Frontier's existing operations; the effects of increased expenses due to activities related to the Verizon transaction; the ability to migrate Verizon's West Virginia operations from Verizon owned and operated systems and processes to Frontier owned and operated systems and processes successfully; the risk that the growth opportunities and cost synergies from the Verizon transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; the sufficiency of the assets to be acquired from Verizon to enable us to operate the acquired business; disruption from the Verizon transaction making it more difficult to maintain relationships with customers, employees or suppliers; the effects of greater than anticipated competition requiring new pricing, marketing strategies or new product or service offerings and the risk that we will not respond on a timely or profitable basis; reductions in the number of our access lines and High-Speed Internet subscribers; our ability to sell enhanced and data services in order to offset ongoing declines in revenue from local services, switched access services and subsidies; the effects of ongoing changes in the regulation of the communications industry as a result of federal and state legislation and regulation; the effects of competition from cable, wireless and other wireline carriers (through voice over internet protocol (VOIP) or otherwise); our ability to adjust successfully to changes in the communications industry and to implement strategies for improving growth; adverse changes in the credit markets or in the ratings given to our debt securities by nationally accredited ratings organizations, which could limit or restrict the availability, or increase the cost, of financing; reductions in switched access revenues as a result of regulation, competition and/or technology substitutions; the effects of changes in both general and local economic conditions on the markets we serve, which can impact demand for our products and services, customer purchasing decisions, collectability of revenue and required levels of capital expenditures related to new construction of residences and businesses; our ability to effectively manage service quality; our ability to successfully introduce new product offerings, including our ability to offer bundled service packages on terms that are both profitable to us and attractive to our customers; changes in accounting policies or practices adopted voluntarily or as required by generally accepted accounting principles or regulators; our ability to effectively manage our operations, operating expenses and capital expenditures, to pay dividends and to repay, reduce or refinance our debt; the effects of bankruptcies and home foreclosures, which could result in increased bad debts; the effects of technological changes and competition on our capital expenditures and product and service offerings, including the lack of assurance that our ongoing network improvements will be sufficient to meet or exceed the capabilities and quality of competing networks; the effects of increased medical, retiree and pension expenses and related funding requirements; changes in income tax rates, tax laws, regulations or rulings, and/or federal or state tax assessments; the effects of state regulatory cash management policies on our ability to transfer cash among our subsidiaries and to the parent company; our ability to successfully renegotiate union contracts expiring in 2009 and thereafter; declines in the value of our pension plan assets, which could require us to make contributions to the pension plan beginning no earlier than 2010; our ability to pay dividends in respect of our common shares, which may be affected by our cash flow from operations, amount of capital expenditures, debt service requirements, cash paid for income taxes and our liquidity; the effects of any unfavorable outcome with respect to any of our current or future legal, governmental or regulatory proceedings, audits or disputes; the possible impact of adverse changes in political or other external factors over which we have no control; and the effects of hurricanes, ice storms or other severe weather. These and other uncertainties related to our business are described in greater detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, and the foregoing information should be read in conjunction with these filings. We do not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of future events or circumstances.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

This press release is not a substitute for the definitive prospectus/proxy statement included in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 that Frontier filed, and the SEC has declared effective, in connection with the proposed transactions described in the definitive prospectus/proxy statement. INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE PROSPECTUS/PROXY STATEMENT BECAUSE IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION, INCLUDING DETAILED RISK FACTORS. The definitive prospectus/proxy statement and other documents filed or to be filed by Frontier with the SEC are or will be available free of charge at the SEC's website, www.sec.gov, or by directing a request when such a filing is made to Frontier, 3 High Ridge Park, Stamford, CT 06905-1390, Attention: Investor Relations.

This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

Frontier's stockholders approved the proposed transactions on October 27, 2009, and no other vote of the stockholders of Frontier or Verizon is required in connection with the proposed transactions.

Frontier Communications Corporation
Consolidated Financial Data
                                                                    For the quarter ended                      For the nine months ended
                                                                    September 30,                     %        September 30,                         %
(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)                    2009             2008             Change   2009               2008               Change
Income Statement Data
Revenue                                                             $   526,816      $   557,871      -6  %    $   1,596,914      $   1,689,626      -5  %
Network access expenses                                                 54,549           52,478       4   %        174,436            167,025        4   %
Other operating expenses                                                192,948          203,496      -5  %        585,906            609,093        -4  %
Depreciation and amortization                                           103,123          137,656      -25 %        373,499            422,986        -12 %
Acquisition and integration costs                                       3,706            -            100 %        14,457             -              100 %
Total operating expenses                                                354,326          393,630      -10 %        1,148,298          1,199,104      -4  %
Operating income                                                        172,490          164,241      5   %        448,616            490,522        -9  %
Investment and other income, net (1)                                    5,855            1,650        255 %        18,720             7,584          147 %
Interest expense                                                        96,578           90,333       7   %        283,997            271,903        4   %
Income before income taxes                                              81,767           75,558       8   %        183,339            226,203        -19 %
Income tax expense                                                      29,021           28,215       3   %        65,328             76,717         -15 %
Net income                                                              52,746           47,343       11  %        118,011            149,486        -21 %
Less: Income attributable to the noncontrolling interest in a           587              348          69  %        1,631              1,124          45  %
partnership
Net income attributable to common shareholders of Frontier          $   52,159       $   46,995       11  %    $   116,380        $   148,362        -22 %
Weighted average shares outstanding                                     310,101          312,997      -1  %        309,990            319,869        -3  %
Basic net income per share attributable to
                               common shareholders of Frontier (2)  $   0.17         $   0.15         13  %    $   0.37           $   0.46           -20 %
Other Financial Data
Capital expenditures                                                $   54,136       $   80,476       -33 %    $   164,500        $   204,199        -19 %
Operating cash flow, as adjusted (3)                                    287,667          302,805      -5  %        863,941            917,586        -6  %
Free cash flow (3)                                                      120,353          115,332      4   %        367,187            383,697        -4  %
Dividends paid                                                          78,091           78,278       0   %        234,275            240,602        -3  %
Dividend payout ratio (4)                                               65      %        68      %    -4  %        64        %        63        %    2   %
(1)                            Includes gain on debt repurchases of $4.1 million and $7.8 million
                               for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009,
                               respectively, and premium on debt repurchases of $6.3 million for
                               the nine months ended September 30, 2008.
(2)                            Calculated based on weighted average shares outstanding. FSP EITF
                               No. 03-6-1, "Determining Whether Instruments Granted in
                               Share-Based Payment Transactions are Participating Securities" was
                               adopted in the first quarter of 2009 on a retrospective basis.
(3)                            A reconciliation to the most comparable GAAP measure is presented at
                               the end of these tables.
(4)                            Represents dividends paid divided by free cash flow.
Frontier Communications Corporation
Consolidated Financial and Operating Data
                                                              For the quarter ended                    For the nine months ended
                                                              September 30,                   %        September 30,                 %
(Amounts in thousands, except operating data)                 2009            2008            Change   2009           2008           Change
Select Income Statement Data
Revenue
                Local services                                $    193,632    $    210,749    -8  %    $   592,824    $   642,610    -8  %
                Data and internet services                         159,969         154,047    4   %        476,913        451,684    6   %
                Access services                                    91,237          99,555     -8  %        268,729        308,376    -13 %
                Long distance services                             42,373          46,395     -9  %        124,345        139,760    -11 %
                Directory services                                 26,459          28,126     -6  %        81,375         85,824     -5  %
                Other                                              13,146          18,999     -31 %        52,728         61,372     -14 %
Total revenue                                                      526,816         557,871    -6  %        1,596,914      1,689,626  -5  %
Expenses
                Network access expenses                            54,549          52,478     4   %        174,436        167,025    4   %
                Other operating expenses (1)                       192,948         203,496    -5  %        585,906        609,093    -4  %
                Depreciation and amortization                      103,123         137,656    -25 %        373,499        422,986    -12 %
                Acquisition and integration costs                  3,706           -          100 %        14,457         -          100 %
Total operating expenses                                           354,326         393,630    -10 %        1,148,298      1,199,104  -4  %
Operating Income                                              $    172,490    $    164,241    5   %    $   448,616    $   490,522    -9  %
Other Financial and Operating Data
Revenue:
                Residential                                   $    223,354    $    238,684    -6  %    $   681,400    $   719,679    -5  %
                Business                                           212,225         219,632    -3  %        646,785        661,571    -2  %
                Total customer revenue                             435,579         458,316    -5  %        1,328,185      1,381,250  -4  %
                Regulatory (Access services)                       91,237          99,555     -8  %        268,729        308,376    -13 %
Total revenue                                                 $    526,816    $    557,871    -6  %    $   1,596,914  $   1,689,626  -5  %
Access lines:
                Residential                                        1,374,822       1,484,809  -7  %        1,374,822      1,484,809  -7  %
                Business                                           776,886         811,651    -4  %        776,886        811,651    -4  %
Total access lines                                                 2,151,708       2,296,460  -6  %        2,151,708      2,296,460  -6  %
Other data:
                Employees                                          5,466           5,790      -6  %        5,466          5,790      -6  %
                High-Speed Internet subscribers                    621,331         571,946    9   %        621,331        571,946    9   %
                Video subscribers                                  164,535         112,350    46  %        164,535        112,350    46  %
                Switched access minutes of use (in millions)       2,172           2,522      -14 %        6,761          7,663      -12 %
                Average monthly total revenue per
                access line                                   $    80.91      $    80.20      1   %    $   80.54      $   79.45      1   %
                Average monthly customer revenue per
                access line                                   $    66.90      $    65.89      2   %    $   66.99      $   64.95      3   %
(1)             Includes severance and early retirement costs of $0.2 million for
                the quarter ended September 30, 2008, and $2.6 million and $3.6
                million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008,
                respectively. Includes non-cash pension cost of $8.4 million and
                $0.6 million for the quarters ended September 30, 2009 and 2008,
                respectively, and $24.8 million and $(0.4) million for the nine
                months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Includes
                legal settlement costs of $0.1 million for the quarter ended
                September 30, 2008 and $0.9 million for the nine months ended
                September 30, 2008.
Frontier Communications Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Data
(Amounts in thousands)
                                                September 30, 2009   December 31, 2008
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents                       $         436,155    $        163,627
Accounts receivable and other current assets              352,435             304,332
Total current assets                                      788,590             467,959
Property, plant and equipment, net                        3,130,920           3,239,973
Other long-term assets                                    3,078,904           3,180,744
Total assets                                    $         6,998,414  $        6,888,676
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS'
EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Long-term debt due within one year              $         7,254      $        3,857
Accounts payable and other current liabilities            351,875             378,918
Total current liabilities                                 359,129             382,775
Deferred income taxes and other liabilities               1,312,989           1,254,610
Long-term debt                                            4,897,535           4,721,685
Shareholders' equity                                      428,761             529,606
Total liabilities and equity                    $         6,998,414  $        6,888,676
Frontier Communications Corporation
Consolidated Cash Flow Data
(Amounts in thousands)
                                                                                                For the nine months ended September 30,
                                                                                                2009              2008
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net income                                                                                      $     118,011     $     149,486
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided
by operating activities:
                             Depreciation and amortization expense                                    373,499           422,986
                             Stock based compensation expense                                         6,974             9,211
                             Pension expense                                                          24,802            (421     )
                             (Gain)/loss on extinguishment of debt                                    (7,755   )        6,290
                             Other non-cash adjustments                                               1,293             (8,236   )
                             Deferred income taxes                                                    11,097            (11,040  )
                             Change in accounts receivable                                            17,409            9,299
                             Change in accounts payable and other liabilities                         (53,481  )        (73,638  )
                             Change in other current assets                                           (1,228   )        (6,847   )
Net cash provided by operating activities                                                             490,621           497,090
Cash flows provided from (used by) investing activities:
                             Capital expenditures                                                     (164,500 )        (204,199 )
                             Other assets (purchased) distributions received, net                     951               (2,104   )
Net cash used by investing activities                                                                 (163,549 )        (206,303 )
Cash flows provided from (used by) financing activities:
                             Long-term debt borrowings                                                538,830           135,000
                             Long-term debt payments                                                  (355,915 )        (131,231 )
                             Settlement of interest rate swaps                                        -                 15,521
                             Financing costs paid                                                     (1,021   )        (857     )
                             Premium paid to retire debt                                              -                 (6,290   )
                             Issuance of common stock                                                 680               1,382
                             Common stock repurchased                                                 -                 (196,199 )
                             Dividends paid                                                           (234,275 )        (240,602 )
                             Repayment of customer advances for construction and distributions
                             to noncontrolling interests                                              (2,843   )        (2,891   )
Net cash used by financing activities                                                                 (54,544  )        (426,167 )
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents                                                      272,528           (135,380 )
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1,                                                               163,627           226,466
Cash and cash equivalents at September 30,                                                      $     436,155     $     91,086
Cash paid during the period for:
                             Interest                                                           $     295,577     $     302,606
                             Income taxes                                                       $     59,953      $     70,174
                                                                                                    Schedule A
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
                                               For the quarter ended September 30,  For the nine months ended September 30,
    (Amounts in thousands)                     2009           2008                  2009            2008
    Net Income to Free Cash Flow ;
    Net Cash Provided by Operating
    Activities
    Net income                                 $     52,746   $     47,343          $      118,011  $      149,486
    Add back:
    Depreciation and amortization                    103,123        137,656                373,499         422,986
    Income tax expense                               29,021         28,215                 65,328          76,717
    Acquisition and integration costs                3,706          -                      14,457          -
    Pension expense (non-cash) (1)                   8,348          639                    24,802          (421    )
    Stock based compensation                         2,413          3,047                  6,974           9,211
    Subtract:
    Cash paid for income taxes                       19,495         20,589                 59,953          70,174
    Other income (loss), net (2)                     5,373          503                    14,038          (91     )
    Capital expenditures (3)                         54,136         80,476                 161,893         204,199
    Free cash flow                                   120,353        115,332                367,187         383,697
    Add back:
    Deferred income taxes                            2,778          (2,044  )              11,097          (11,040 )
    Non-cash (gains)/losses, net                     9,665          3,529                  25,314          6,844
    Other income (loss), net (2)                     5,373          503                    14,038          (91     )
    Cash paid for income taxes                       19,495         20,589                 59,953          70,174
    Capital expenditures (3)                         54,136         80,476                 161,893         204,199
    Subtract:
    Changes in current assets and liabilities        8,021          28,249                 37,300          71,186
    Income tax expense                               29,021         28,215                 65,328          76,717
    Acquisition and integration costs                3,706          -                      14,457          -
    Pension expense (non-cash) (1)                   8,348          639                    24,802          (421    )
    Stock based compensation                         2,413          3,047                  6,974           9,211
    Net cash provided by operating activities  $     160,291  $     158,235         $      490,621  $      497,090
(1) Includes pension expense of $10.0 million and $0.8 million, less
    amounts capitalized into the cost of capital expenditures of $1.6
    million and $0.2 million, for the quarters ended September 30,
    2009 and 2008, respectively, and pension expense of $30.3 million
    and $(0.5) million, less amounts capitalized into the cost of
    capital expenditures of $5.5 million and $(0.1) million, for the
    nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
(2) Includes gain on debt repurchases of $4.1 million and $7.8 million
    for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009,
    respectively, and premium on debt repurchases of $6.3 million for
    the nine months ended September 30, 2008.
(3) Excludes capital expenditures of $2.6 million related to Verizon
    integration activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.
                                                                                                                                                                          Schedule B
    Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
                                  For the quarter ended September 30, 2009                                            For the quarter ended September 30, 2008
    (Amounts in thousands)
    Operating Cash Flow and
    Operating Cash Flow Margin    As               Acquisition      Non-cash        As                                As               Severance and Early  Non-cash      Legal         As
                                  Reported         and              Pension         Adjusted                          Reported         Retirement           Pension       Settlement    Adjusted
                                                   Integration      Costs (1)                                                          Costs                Costs (1)     Costs
                                                   Costs
    Operating Income              $  172,490       $   (3,706  )    $   (8,348 )    $   184,544                       $  164,241       $      (227   )      $   (639 )    $   (42  )    $  165,149
    Add back:
    Depreciation and
    amortization                     103,123           -                -               103,123                          137,656              -                 -             -            137,656
    Operating cash flow           $  275,613       $   (3,706  )    $   (8,348 )    $   287,667                       $  301,897       $      (227   )      $   (639 )    $   (42  )    $  302,805
    Revenue                       $  526,816                                        $   526,816                       $  557,871                                                        $  557,871
    Operating income margin
    (Operating income divided
    by revenue)                      32.7      %                                        35.0    %                        29.4      %                                                       29.6      %
    Operating cash flow margin
    (Operating cash flow divided
    by revenue)                      52.3      %                                        54.6    %                        54.1      %                                                       54.3      %
                                  For the nine months ended September 30, 2009                                        For the nine months ended September 30, 2008
    Operating Cash Flow and
    Operating Cash Flow Margin    As               Acquisition      Severance       Non-cash         As               As               Severance            Non-cash      Legal         As
                                  Reported         and              and Early       Pension          Adjusted         Reported         and Early            Pension       Settlement    Adjusted
                                                   Integration      Retirement      Costs (1)                                          Retirement           Costs (1)     Costs
                                                   Costs            Costs                                                              Costs
    Operating Income              $  448,616       $   (14,457 )    $   (2,567 )    $   (24,802 )    $  490,442       $  490,522       $      (3,598 )      $   421       $   (901 )    $  494,600
    Add back:
    Depreciation and
    amortization                     373,499           -                -               -               373,499          422,986              -                 -             -            422,986
    Operating cash flow           $  822,115       $   (14,457 )    $   (2,567 )    $   (24,802 )    $  863,941       $  913,508       $      (3,598 )      $   421       $   (901 )    $  917,586
    Revenue                       $  1,596,914                                                       $  1,596,914     $  1,689,626                                                      $  1,689,626
    Operating income margin
    (Operating income divided
    by revenue)                      28.1      %                                                        30.7      %      29.0      %                                                       29.3      %
    Operating cash flow margin
    (Operating cash flow divided
    by revenue)                      51.5      %                                                        54.1      %      54.1      %                                                       54.3      %
(1) Includes pension expense of $10.0 million and $0.8 million, less
    amounts capitalized into the cost of capital expenditures of $1.6
    million and $0.2 million, for the quarters ended September 30,
    2009 and 2008, respectively, and pension expense of $30.3 million
    and $(0.5) million, less amounts capitalized into the cost of
    capital expenditures of $5.5 million and $(0.1) million, for the
    nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Schedule C Graph Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6090020&lang=en

SOURCE: Frontier Communications

Frontier Communications 
INVESTORS: 
David Whitehouse, 203-614-5708 
SVP & Treasurer 
david.whitehouse@frontiercorp.com 
or 
Gregory Lundberg, 203-614-5044 
Director, Investor Relations 
greg.lundberg@frontiercorp.com 
or 
MEDIA: 
AVP Corp. Comm & Recognition 
Brigid Smith, 203-614-5042 
brigid.smith@frontiercorp.com
For full details on Frontier Communications Corp (FTR) click here. Frontier Communications Corp (FTR) has Short Term PowerRatings of 6. Details on Frontier Communications Corp (FTR) Short Term PowerRatings is available at This Link.

    


More News:   Market Updates | Stock Alerts | All Trading News | Stock Index

Email
Print
Archives
Feedback
Email Article Link
Close X
Recipients email address
Your name
Your email
Add a note (optional)




Stocks RSS





Related News [FTR]
  UPCOMING EVENTS
Learn new strategies, how to trade in this market, and the stocks you should be focusing on each day. Join us for our free 20 minute tele-seminars during the week.
* Attendance is strictly limited and are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
PREMIER SPONSORED LINKS
TRADE CENTER
 
The TradingMarkets Directory
RELATED SITES
Nothing but forex
Please call 1-213-955-5858 ext. 1

About TradingMarkets | Contact | Advertise | Careers | Link to Us | Site Map | Help | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Return Policy | Testimonials | Feedback

Disclaimer:

The Connors Group, Inc. ("Company") is not an investment advisory service, nor a registered investment advisor or broker-dealer and does not purport to tell or suggest which securities or currencies customers should buy or sell for themselves. The analysts and employees or affiliates of Company may hold positions in the stocks, currencies or industries discussed here. You understand and acknowledge that there is a very high degree of risk involved in trading securities and/or currencies. The Company, the authors, the publisher, and all affiliates of Company assume no responsibility or liability for your trading and investment results. Factual statements on the Company's website, or in its publications, are made as of the date stated and are subject to change without notice.

It should not be assumed that the methods, techniques, or indicators presented in these products will be profitable or that they will not result in losses. Past results of any individual trader or trading system published by Company are not indicative of future returns by that trader or system, and are not indicative of future returns which be realized by you. In addition, the indicators, strategies, columns, articles and all other features of Company's products (collectively, the "Information") are provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. Examples presented on Company's website are for educational purposes only. Such set-ups are not solicitations of any order to buy or sell. Accordingly, you should not rely solely on the Information in making any investment. Rather, you should use the Information only as a starting point for doing additional independent research in order to allow you to form your own opinion regarding investments. You should always check with your licensed financial advisor and tax advisor to determine the suitability of any investment.

HYPOTHETICAL OR SIMULATED PERFORMANCE RESULTS HAVE CERTAIN INHERENT LIMITATIONS. UNLIKE AN ACTUAL PERFORMANCE RECORD, SIMULATED RESULTS DO NOT REPRESENT ACTUAL TRADING AND MAY NOT BE IMPACTED BY BROKERAGE AND OTHER SLIPPAGE FEES. ALSO, SINCE THE TRADES HAVE NOT ACTUALLY BEEN EXECUTED, THE RESULTS MAY HAVE UNDER- OR OVER-COMPENSATED FOR THE IMPACT, IF ANY, OF CERTAIN MARKET FACTORS, SUCH AS LACK OF LIQUIDITY. SIMULATED TRADING PROGRAMS IN GENERAL ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE DESIGNED WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT. NO REPRESENTATION IS BEING MADE THAT ANY ACCOUNT WILL OR IS LIKELY TO ACHIEVE PROFITS OR LOSSES SIMILAR TO THOSE SHOWN.

The Connors Group, Inc.
10 Exchange Place, Suite 1800
Jersey City, NJ 07302

© Copyright 2009 The Connors Group, Inc.


All analyst commentary provided on TradingMarkets.com is provided for educational purposes only. The analysts and employees or affiliates of TradingMarkets.com may hold positions in the stocks or industries discussed here. This information is NOT a recommendation or solicitation to buy or sell any securities. Your use of this and all information contained on TradingMarkets.com is governed by the Terms and Conditions of Use. Please click the link to view those terms. Follow this link to read our Editorial Policy.

© 2009 The Connors Group, Inc.