The Positives
+ Re-opening boost for Singapore mobile. Mobile service revenue increased 13% YoY to S$431mn from higher ARPU (+9%) and subscribers (4%). Increased travel boosted the lucrative roaming revenue. There is further room to recover as current roaming is 60% of pre-pandemic levels. Another initiative to boost ARPU is to remove the lowest-tier pricing plans.
+ Continued strength in Bharti earnings. Earnings contribution from Bharti rose 44% YoY to S$213mn. Earnings benefited from higher ARPU (+8% YoY), increased data usage and strong 4G subscribers (+12%). However, the pace of growth should stabilise as ARPU is flat QoQ at Rp193.
The Negative
- Challenging profitability at Optus. Excluding the one-off NBN migration revenue, 2H23 EBITDA is up 1.6% YoY to A$1bn. Bulk of the revenue growth in 2H23 was from low margin equipment sales that rose 16% to A$839mn. We believe Optus is struggling to achieve any economies of scale. Indirect (non-revenue related) cost is rising in line with service revenues. The A$4.5bn of capex over the past three years has so far not generated much additional growth in revenue, in our opinion*. Meanwhile, depreciation and interest expenses are stubbornly high despite the de-gearing exercise from the sale and leaseback of its passive infrastructures completed in FY22.
The Positive
+ Bharti is still the star performer. 3Q23 PAT for Bharti jumped 151% YoY to S$113mn despite the 7% currency headwind. Earnings growth was supported by mobile ARPU in India rising 18% YoY to Rs193 (S$3.10) and 4G subscriber growth of 11% to 216.7mn subscribers.
The Negative
- Optus sluggish profits. Mobile subscribers were flat QoQ at 10.3mn despite some initial churn post the cyber attack. Nevertheless, EBITDA contracted 14% YoY to S$474mn from increased staff and investments in new businesses.
Outlook
The two growth drivers for Singtel remain Bharti and Singapore mobile. Optus and NCS profitability is still sluggish. Optus requires significant realignment of cost to improve on its persistently paltry returns of 0.8% ROE (annualised). NCS is in an investment phase in building up its IT headcount, especially in more competitive geographies.
The Positives
+ Strength in Singapore consumer. Singapore consumer grew EBITDA 10% YoY to S328mn. Mobile enjoyed EBITDA expansion from a 12.6% YoY rise in ARPU as roaming revenue returned with borders re-opening. Roaming is around 60% of pre-pandemic levels. Penetration of roaming has risen as compared to using SIM cards of destination countries. Revenue was impacted by a 21% decline in pay TV to S$74mn due to the cessation of EPL.
+ Turnaround in Bharti is still underway. Bharti earnings spiked more than 3-fold to S$172mn. Improvement in earnings came from the 24% YoY increase in ARPU to Rp190 (S$3.2) and 9% YoY rise in 4G mobile customers to 210.3mn.
The Negatives
- Still a work in progress for NCS. EBITDA for NCS declined 26% YoY to S$110mn. Part of the weakness was from post-acquisition charges in Australia such as staff retention and earnouts and overall higher staffing cost.
- Losses in GXS Digital bank. The digital bank associate registered a S$27mn loss in 1H23. Expectations are for break even in 2025 rather than 2027. From a banker to everyone strategy, GXS will pivot to selected segment. Loans will be targeted to mobile devices and niche small medium enterprises. The advantage of GXS is the lower customer acquisition cost by embedding GXS into Grab and Singtel apps plus tapping on both customer bases.
- Provisions in Optus. There were two provisions made on Optus – (i) goodwill impairment of S$1bn from higher WACC, lower Australian dollar and weaker economic outlook assumptions; (ii) A$140mn provision for the cyber attack based on independent review, credit monitoring services for impacted customers and replacement of customer documents. It does not include potential class action (no notification so far) and penalties from pending investigations.
Key Highlights from Singtel Investor Day
Singapore consumer: Recovery in roaming and prepaid
NCS: Still in the investment stage
Regional Data Centre: Doubling in capacity
Optus: Raising prices and capex to peak this year
The Positive
+ EBITDA recovery in Singapore and Australia. Singapore consumer enjoyed a strong 11% YoY recovery in 1Q23 EBITDA. We believe roaming revenue supported an 11% YoY (and QoQ) rise in blended ARPU. Earnings drag came from TV revenue, a decline of 14% YoY. Australia enjoyed a 6% YoY improvement in EBITDA excluding NBN. We believe the reopening of borders and relaxation of movement restrictions supported mobile revenue growth.
The Negative
- Still an investment phase for NCS. Despite a healthy 13% YoY rise in revenue in 1Q23, NCS EBIT dropped 24.6% YoY. NCS is investing in higher headcount and higher staff costs which is significantly diluting margins. Group enterprise fared better with EBIT flat on a YoY basis. The pick-up in roaming, data centre and cybersecurity revenue is offset by the structural decline in voice revenue.
The Positives
+ Improving earnings in Australia. Mobile service revenue rose 4% YoY to A$1.84bn, supported by both ARPU and subscriber growth. Optus mobile plans are gaining traction with customers for their more differentiated offering in terms of 5G speed, on-demand product features and improvement in customer service levels. Total consumer revenue in Australia declined due to a drop in NBN migration revenue (-83% YoY) and slower equipment sales (-25% YoY).
+ Huge reversal in Bharti earnings. The growth in earnings was driven by a 23% rise in ARPU and a 12% increase in 4G subscribers in India. Airtel Africa also delivered a 24% improvement in EBITDA through subscribers (+9%) and ARPU growth (+11%).
The Negative
- Sluggish enterprise and NCS earnings. EBITDA fell 4%, dragged down by a 14% drop in fixed voice revenue and 3% fall in leased circuits and broadband. Excluding JSS, NCS recorded a 4% rise in EBITDA. Margins were softer due to a 19% YoY rise in staff costs.
Outlook
Key drivers to earnings recovery in FY23e are 1) Roaming revenue in Singapore consumer and enterprise; 2) Organic and inorganic growth in NCS; 3) Economic recovery post-lockdown in emerging markets of Thailand, Philippines and Indonesia; 4) Improving ARPU in India and rising data traffic.
The Positive
+ Improving mobile ARPU and earnings. Blended ARPU for mobile is recovering in Singapore (+4.3% YoY), Australia (+4.8%) and India (+12%). ARPUs are rising on the back of more benign competition, improving roaming revenue, higher priced data plans and the 5G roll-out. Mobile earnings rose from operating leverage and better cost controls.
The Negative
- Lacklustre enterprise. Despite the growth engines of cloud and cybersecurity, enterprise revenue is bogged down by legacy telco services and higher headcount expenses. The lack of new projects was another source of weakness.
Outlook
A general recovery in emerging market economies is a tailwind for Singtel’s associate earnings. Demand for mobile services in these countries is more a discretionary spend with a higher propensity to rise as income levels improve. Australia and Singapore will ride on the rebound in roaming and incremental uplift in ARPU from 5G.
Maintain ACCUMULATE with an unchanged TP of S$2.86
Our SOTP valuation is based on 6x EV/EBITDA for Singtel’s core Singapore and Australia businesses and associates marked to market with a 20% discount to reflect volatility in their share prices.
The Positives
+ Resurgent Australia mobile. Mobile service revenue expanded almost 10% to A$1.84bn. Blended ARPU increased 12.6% to A$32, close to pre-pandemic levels. Optus 5G plans have been capturing market share in SME and consumer segments.
+ Bharti turnaround is intact. Despite the pandemic, Bharti Airtel (BHARTI IN, Not Rated) enjoyed a major S$138mn YoY turnaround in 1H22 net profit. Earnings growth is driven by a 10% increase in subscribers and a 7% YoY rise in ARPU. Following the rights issue in October, Singtel’s stake in Bharti nudged up from 31.72% to 31.76%.
The Negative
- Cut in interim dividends. Despite improving earnings, the interim dividend was cut for the 2nd year to 4.5 cents. 1H22 free cash flow at S$1.7bn was similar to last year. When compared to 1H19, there is a shortfall of S$200mn due to higher capital expenditure needs for 5G. Our FY22e DPS is 9 cents (or 70% payout).
Outlook
Earnings should recover further in 2H22. More economic sensitive associate earnings will rebound as lockdowns ease and economic conditions improve. Singapore and Australia mobile will enjoy a lift in revenues as borders re-open. Improvement will be from higher roaming revenue and equipment and re-contracting sales as shops re-open. We are neutral on the disposal of infrastructure assets. It appears more a refinancing exercise unless cost savings or new revenue opportunities are achieved through the disposal.
In terms of FY22 guidance, Singtel reaffirmed capital expenditure of around S$2.4bn (FY21: S$2.2bn), dividends from associates of at least S$1.3bn (FY21: S$1.3bn) and dividend payout of between 60% and 80% of underlying net profit (FY21: 71%).
Maintain ACCUMULATE with a higher TP of S$2.86, from S$2.52
Our SOTP valuation is based on 6x EV/EBITDA for Singtel’s core Singapore and Australia businesses, at S$0.77/share. Associates are marked to market at S$2.09/share with a 20% discount to reflect volatility in their share prices.
The Positives
+ Enterprise earnings resilient. EBITDA at group enterprise was flat YoY. This was commendable, given macro weakness. Demand was driven by system infrastructure services, cloud and maintenance projects led by NCS and Australia Enterprise. NCS bookings in 3Q21 were S$809mn from public service, financial and commercial. 1H21 bookings for the whole enterprise division had only totalled S$755mn.
+ Australia consumer stable. Revenue from Australia consumers was up 5.4% YoY to S$4.16bn, ex-NBN. Singtel’s strength in Australia came from mobile revenue, which was flat YoY at A$1.5bn. Despite a 5% YoY fall in mobile subscribers, blended ARPU managed to creep up 3% to A$30. A 41% YoY surge in data usage to 17GB per month likely helped.
+ Turnaround at Bharti continued. Net loss at Bharti shrank 95% YoY to S$4mn. Higher mobile ARPUs and strong 4G additions were behind this.
The Negatives
- Singapore consumer still contracting. Roaming revenue from the Singapore consumer continued to recede. Revenue contracted 11% YoY while postpaid ARPU collapsed 26% YoY. EBITDA was down 22% YoY. Excluding S$13mn from the Job Support Scheme, EBITDA contracted 28% YoY to S$141mn.
- High fixed costs in Australia. Australia’s 3Q21 EBIT was down 29% YoY to S$36mn, excluding NBN. We believe high fixed costs from its on-net broadband business continued to weigh on it. EBITDA fared better with an increase of 4.4%, excluding NBN.
Outlook
Singtel remains in the grip of roaming losses, high costs in Australia and competition in Indonesian mobile. That said, it had some bright spots in 3Q21, such as its enterprise resilience, mobile revenue stability in Australia and Bharti’s recovery.
Maintain NEUTRAL with unchanged TP of S$2.44
We keep our target price and FY21e earnings largely unchanged. We continue to value Singtel’s core Singapore and Australia businesses at 6x EV/EBITDA and mark its associates to market with a 20% discount to account for their share-price variability.
# Note – Management does not provide analysts’ briefings for quarterly business updates.
The Positive
+ QoQ improvement in EBITDA. Group EBITDA rose 12% QoQ to S$1bn as revenue recovered in all key businesses. Mobile ARPU in Singapore stabilised QoQ at S$23. In Australia, ARPU expanded a modest 3% to A$29. A recovery in enterprise was led by managed services and cybersecurity.
The Negatives
- Cut in dividends. Singtel cut its interim dividend by 25% to 5.1 cents and has adopted scrip dividends. Uncertainties over the pandemic and a commitment to keep investment-grade ratings were among the reasons given. Full-year dividends will not exceed underlying profits. Our full-year underlying EPS is 13 cents.
- Optus a source of weakness. EBITDA in Australia was down 29% YoY to A$977mn. Revenue fell 9% YoY as mobile equipment sales declined 25% YoY and on-net broadband, 53% YoY. Despite lower revenue, fixed costs such as selling, administrative and staff costs rose a combined 7% to A$920mn. Optus remained burdened by running two broadband networks and headcount as it manages the migration of customers from its network to the government’s National Broadband Network (NBN).
Outlook
Likely bottomed. We are encouraged by the gradual recovery in its operations and believe a bottom has formed. For steeper and more sustainable improvements in earnings, roaming revenue would need to return to its mobile business as international travel resumes. Secondly, Optus has to remove the cost of running its on-net broadband business and any other NBN transition expenses.
5G requires more value add. The company reiterated that the cost of delivering data to customers will be lower. Telcos need to build services and other applications beyond faster 5G speeds and larger data capacity to raise ARPUs, because excess capacity in 5G can be built up by the industry and erode the price premium from improved connectivity.
Maintain NEUTRAL and SOTP TP of S$2.44
Our FY21e EBITDA has been lowered by 1% while FY22e has been raised by 6% as we assume recovery in travel and NBN migration cost tapers down. We continue to value Singtel on sum of the parts, applying 6x EV/EBITDA to its core Singapore and Australia operations, in line with regional peers, and valuing associates at market valuations with a 20% discount to account for variability in share prices.