Liberty Broadband Reports Fourth Quarter and Year End 2022 Financial Results
Liberty Broadband Corporation (Nasdaq: LBRDA, LBRDK, LBRDP) reported its fourth-quarter and year-end 2022 results, highlighting a fair value of Charter investment at $16 billion by December 31, 2022. From November 2022 to January 2023, the company generated $291 million from selling 868,000 Charter shares while maintaining a 26% equity interest in Charter. GCI's 2022 revenue was $969 million with operating income of $54 million. The company repurchased 2.1 million shares during the period. Liberty Broadband's cash increased by $172 million in Q4 due to share sales, and it has $2 billion remaining for buybacks.
- Fair value of Charter investment at $16 billion as of December 31, 2022.
- Generated $291 million from sale of Charter shares from November 2022 to January 2023.
- Repurchased 2.1 million shares at an average price of $84.79 in Q4 2022.
- GCI revenue of $969 million and operating income of $54 million for 2022.
- Cash increased by $172 million in Q4 as proceeds from Charter sales offset repurchases.
- GCI's revenue flat for the full year 2022, with a decline in video and voice subscribers.
- Operating income for GCI declined 25% in 2022 due to a $29 million litigation settlement accrual.
Headlines include (1):
-
Fair value of Charter investment was
as of$16.0 billion December 31, 2022 -
From
November 1, 2022 throughJanuary 31, 2023 ,Liberty Broadband received of proceeds from sale of 868 thousand Charter shares to Charter$291 million -
Maintained fully diluted equity interest in Charter of
26% (2)
-
Maintained fully diluted equity interest in Charter of
-
From
November 1, 2022 throughJanuary 31, 2023 ,Liberty Broadband repurchased 2.1 million LBRDA/K shares at an average price per share of for total cash consideration of$84.79 $177 million -
For the full year, GCI(3) generated revenue of
and operating income of$969 million , and grew Adjusted OIBDA(4)$54 million 1% to a record$358 million
“Charter’s strategic investments in an upgraded network and expanded footprint will provide both attractive returns and enhanced position with its competitively-priced converged product offering. We are pleased to welcome Chris Winfrey’s leadership and believe these initiatives will drive value for customers and shareholders,” said
Share Repurchases
From
Charter Ownership
Under the terms of
From
Balance Sheet
The following presentation is provided to separately identify cash and liquid investments, debt and public holdings of
(amounts in millions) |
|
|
||||||
Cash and Cash Equivalents: |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
$ |
37 |
|
$ |
85 |
|
||
Corporate and Other |
|
166 |
|
|
290 |
|
||
Total Liberty Broadband Consolidated Cash |
$ |
203 |
|
$ |
375 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Fair Value of |
$ |
14,693 |
|
$ |
16,012 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Debt: |
|
|
|
|
||||
Senior Notes(b) |
$ |
600 |
|
$ |
600 |
|
||
Senior Credit Facility |
|
398 |
|
|
397 |
|
||
Tower Obligations and Other(c) |
|
95 |
|
|
94 |
|
||
Total GCI Holdings Debt |
$ |
1,093 |
|
$ |
1,091 |
|
||
GCI Leverage(d) |
|
3.1x |
|
|
2.8x |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
$ |
1,400 |
|
$ |
1,400 |
|
||
|
|
825 |
|
|
825 |
|
||
|
|
15 |
|
|
15 |
|
||
|
|
575 |
|
|
575 |
|
||
Total Corporate Level Debt |
$ |
2,815 |
|
$ |
2,815 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Total Liberty Broadband Debt |
$ |
3,908 |
|
$ |
3,906 |
|
||
Fair market value adjustment and deferred loan costs |
|
(42 |
) |
|
(16 |
) |
||
Tower obligations and finance leases (excluded from GAAP Debt) |
|
(90 |
) |
|
(89 |
) |
||
Total Liberty Broadband Debt (GAAP) |
$ |
3,776 |
|
$ |
3,801 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Other Financial Obligations: |
|
|
|
|
||||
Indemnification Obligation(f) |
$ |
35 |
|
$ |
50 |
|
||
Preferred Stock(g) |
|
180 |
|
|
180 |
|
____________________ | ||
a) |
Represents fair value of the investment in Charter as of |
|
b) |
Principal amount of Senior Notes. |
|
c) |
Includes the Wells Fargo Note Payable and current and long-term obligations under tower obligations and finance leases. |
|
d) |
As defined in GCI's credit agreement. |
|
e) |
Principal amount of Senior Exchangeable Debentures exclusive of fair market value adjustments. |
|
f) |
Indemnity to Qurate Retail, Inc. (“Qurate Retail”), pursuant to an indemnification agreement (the "indemnification agreement"), with respect to the |
|
g) |
Liquidation value of preferred stock. Preferred stock has a |
GCI Operating and Financial Results
|
|
4Q21 |
|
4Q22 |
|
% Change |
|
2021 |
|
2022 |
|
% Change |
||||||||||
(amounts in millions, except operating metrics) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
GCI Consolidated Financial Metrics |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Revenue |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Consumer |
|
$ |
123 |
|
$ |
123 |
|
- |
% |
$ |
484 |
|
$ |
479 |
|
(1 |
)% |
|||||
Business |
|
|
121 |
|
|
127 |
|
5 |
% |
|
486 |
|
|
490 |
|
1 |
% |
|||||
Total revenue |
|
$ |
244 |
|
$ |
250 |
|
2 |
% |
$ |
970 |
|
$ |
969 |
|
- |
% |
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Operating income(a) |
|
$ |
9 |
|
$ |
22 |
|
144 |
% |
$ |
72 |
|
$ |
54 |
|
(25 |
)% |
|||||
Operating income margin (%) |
|
|
3.7 |
% |
|
8.8 |
% | 510 |
bps |
|
7.4 |
% |
|
5.6 |
% |
(180 |
)bps |
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Adjusted OIBDA(b) |
|
$ |
80 |
|
$ |
91 |
|
14 |
% |
$ |
354 |
|
$ |
358 |
|
1 |
% |
|||||
Adjusted OIBDA margin(b) (%) |
|
|
32.8 |
% |
|
36.4 |
% |
360 |
bps |
|
36.5 |
% |
|
36.9 |
% |
40 |
bps |
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
GCI Consumer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Financial Metrics |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Revenue |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Data |
|
$ |
55 |
|
$ |
59 |
|
7 |
% |
$ |
214 |
|
$ |
231 |
|
8 |
% |
|||||
Wireless |
|
|
49 |
|
|
51 |
|
4 |
% |
|
184 |
|
|
193 |
|
5 |
% |
|||||
Other |
|
|
19 |
|
|
13 |
|
(32 |
)% |
|
86 |
|
|
55 |
|
(36 |
)% |
|||||
Total revenue |
|
$ |
123 |
|
$ |
123 |
|
- |
% |
$ |
484 |
|
$ |
479 |
|
(1 |
)% |
|||||
Operating Metrics |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Data: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Cable modem subscribers(c) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
151,900 |
|
|
157,200 |
|
3 |
% |
|||||
Wireless: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Lines in service(d) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
185,200 |
|
|
191,100 |
|
3 |
% |
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
GCI Business |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Financial Metrics |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Revenue |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Data |
|
$ |
98 |
|
$ |
104 |
|
6 |
% |
$ |
368 |
|
$ |
395 |
|
7 |
% |
|||||
Wireless |
|
|
14 |
|
|
12 |
|
(14 |
)% |
|
74 |
|
|
53 |
|
(28 |
)% |
|||||
Other |
|
|
9 |
|
|
11 |
|
22 |
% |
|
44 |
|
|
42 |
|
(5 |
)% |
|||||
Total revenue |
|
$ |
121 |
|
$ |
127 |
|
5 |
% |
$ |
486 |
|
$ |
490 |
|
1 |
% |
____________________ | ||
a) |
Operating income for the year ended |
|
b) |
See reconciling schedule 1. |
|
c) |
A cable modem subscriber is defined by the purchase of cable modem service regardless of the level of service purchased. If one entity purchases multiple cable modem service access points, each access point is counted as a subscriber. |
|
d) |
A wireless line in service is defined as a wireless device with a monthly fee for services. |
Unless otherwise noted, the following discussion compares financial information for the three and twelve months ended
GCI revenue increased
Operating income increased in the fourth quarter due to higher revenue and mix shift into higher margin revenue and declined for the full year primarily due to a
In 2022, GCI spent
Rural Healthcare Update
There were no material RHC updates in the fourth quarter. Please reference our Form 10-K for the year ended
FOOTNOTES |
||
1) |
|
|
2) |
Calculated pursuant to |
|
3) |
Liberty Broadband’s principal operating asset is |
|
4) |
For a definition of Adjusted OIBDA and Adjusted OIBDA margin and applicable reconciliations, see the accompanying schedules. |
NOTES
LIBERTY BROADBAND FINANCIAL METRICS |
||||||||||||||||
(amounts in millions) |
4Q21 |
|
4Q22 |
|
2021 |
|
2022 |
|
||||||||
Revenue |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
$ |
244 |
|
$ |
250 |
|
$ |
970 |
|
$ |
969 |
|
||||
Corporate and other(a) |
|
5 |
|
|
- |
|
|
18 |
|
|
6 |
|
||||
Total Liberty Broadband Revenue |
$ |
249 |
|
$ |
250 |
|
$ |
988 |
|
$ |
975 |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Operating Income (Loss) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
$ |
9 |
|
$ |
22 |
|
$ |
72 |
|
$ |
54 |
|
||||
Corporate and other(a)(c) |
|
(29 |
) |
|
(55 |
) |
|
(170 |
) |
|
(93 |
) |
||||
Total Liberty Broadband Operating Income (Loss) |
$ |
(20 |
) |
$ |
(33 |
) |
$ |
(98 |
) |
$ |
(39 |
) |
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Adjusted OIBDA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
$ |
80 |
|
$ |
91 |
|
$ |
354 |
|
$ |
358 |
|
||||
Corporate and other |
|
(13 |
) |
|
(10 |
) |
|
(49 |
) |
|
(31 |
) |
||||
Total Liberty Broadband Adjusted OIBDA |
$ |
67 |
|
$ |
81 |
|
$ |
305 |
|
$ |
327 |
|
____________________ | ||
a) |
Corporate and other included |
|
b) |
GCI’s operating income for the year ended |
|
c) |
During the fourth quarter of 2022, |
Important Notice:
This press release includes certain forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements about business strategies, market potential, future financial prospects, capital expenditures, matters relating to Liberty Broadband’s equity interest in Charter and Charter’s buyback of common stock, Liberty Broadband’s participation in Charter’s buyback of common stock, indemnification by
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
To provide investors with additional information regarding our financial results, this press release includes a presentation of Adjusted OIBDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, for
SCHEDULE 1
The following table provides a reconciliation of GCI’s operating income to its Adjusted OIBDA for the three and twelve months ended
GCI HOLDINGS ADJUSTED OIBDA RECONCILIATION |
||||||||||||
(amounts in millions) |
|
4Q21 |
|
4Q22 |
|
2021 |
|
2022 |
||||
GCI Holdings Operating Income |
|
$ |
9 |
|
$ |
22 |
|
$ |
72 |
|
$ |
54 |
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
67 |
|
|
67 |
|
|
266 |
|
|
262 |
Stock-based compensation |
|
|
4 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
16 |
|
|
13 |
Litigation settlement(a) |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
29 |
GCI Holdings Adjusted OIBDA |
|
$ |
80 |
|
$ |
91 |
|
$ |
354 |
|
$ |
358 |
____________________ | ||
a) |
GCI’s operating income for the year ended |
SCHEDULE 2
The following table provides a reconciliation of operating income (loss) calculated in accordance with GAAP to Adjusted OIBDA for
LIBERTY BROADBAND ADJUSTED OIBDA RECONCILIATION
(amounts in millions) |
|
4Q21 |
|
|
4Q22 |
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2022 |
|
||||
Liberty Broadband Operating Income (Loss) |
|
$ |
(20 |
) |
|
$ |
(33 |
) |
|
$ |
(98 |
) |
|
$ |
(39 |
) |
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
68 |
|
|
|
67 |
|
|
|
267 |
|
|
|
262 |
|
Stock-based compensation |
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
41 |
|
|
|
37 |
|
Litigation settlement, net of recoveries(a) |
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
38 |
|
|
|
95 |
|
|
|
67 |
|
Liberty Broadband Adjusted OIBDA (Loss) |
|
$ |
67 |
|
|
$ |
81 |
|
|
$ |
305 |
|
|
$ |
327 |
|
|
|
$ |
80 |
|
|
|
91 |
|
|
$ |
354 |
|
|
|
358 |
|
Corporate and other |
|
|
(13 |
) |
|
|
(10 |
) |
|
|
(49 |
) |
|
|
(31 |
) |
____________________ | ||
a) |
GCI’s operating income for the year ended |
|
|||||
BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION |
|||||
(unaudited) |
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2022 |
|
2021 |
|
|
|
amounts in millions, |
|||
|
|
except share amounts |
|||
Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
375 |
|
191 |
Trade and other receivables, net |
|
|
201 |
|
206 |
Prepaid and other current assets |
|
|
84 |
|
62 |
Total current assets |
|
|
660 |
|
459 |
Investment in Charter, accounted for using the equity method |
|
|
11,433 |
|
13,260 |
Property and equipment, net |
|
|
1,011 |
|
1,031 |
Intangible assets not subject to amortization |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
755 |
|
762 |
Cable certificates |
|
|
550 |
|
550 |
Other |
|
|
37 |
|
37 |
Intangible assets subject to amortization, net |
|
|
516 |
|
573 |
Other assets, net |
|
|
180 |
|
296 |
Total assets |
|
$ |
15,142 |
|
16,968 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities and Equity |
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
|
$ |
92 |
|
99 |
Deferred revenue |
|
|
20 |
|
25 |
Current portion of debt, including |
|
|
1,376 |
|
28 |
Indemnification obligation |
|
|
50 |
|
324 |
Other current liabilities |
|
|
137 |
|
106 |
Total current liabilities |
|
|
1,675 |
|
582 |
Long-term debt, net, including zero and |
|
|
2,425 |
|
3,733 |
Obligations under finance leases and tower obligations, excluding current portion |
|
|
86 |
|
89 |
Long-term deferred revenue |
|
|
63 |
|
35 |
Deferred income tax liabilities |
|
|
2,040 |
|
1,998 |
Preferred stock |
|
|
202 |
|
203 |
Other liabilities |
|
|
150 |
|
189 |
Total liabilities |
|
|
6,641 |
|
6,829 |
Equity |
|
|
|
|
|
Series A common stock, |
|
|
— |
|
— |
Series B common stock, |
|
|
— |
|
— |
Series C common stock, |
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
Additional paid-in capital |
|
|
3,318 |
|
6,214 |
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss), net of taxes |
|
|
9 |
|
14 |
Retained earnings |
|
|
5,155 |
|
3,898 |
Total stockholders' equity |
|
|
8,483 |
|
10,127 |
Non-controlling interests |
|
|
18 |
|
12 |
Total equity |
|
|
8,501 |
|
10,139 |
Commitments and contingencies |
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and equity |
|
$ |
15,142 |
|
16,968 |
|
|||||||
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS INFORMATION |
|||||||
(unaudited) |
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
Years ended |
|||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
2022 |
|
2021 |
|||
|
|
amounts in millions, |
|||||
|
|
except per share amounts |
|||||
|
|
|
|
||||
Revenue |
$ |
975 |
|
988 |
|
||
Operating costs and expenses: |
|
|
|
||||
Operating expense (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below) |
|
253 |
|
282 |
|
||
Selling, general and administrative, including stock-based compensation |
|
432 |
|
442 |
|
||
Depreciation and amortization |
|
262 |
|
267 |
|
||
Litigation settlement, net of recoveries |
|
67 |
|
95 |
|
||
|
|
1,014 |
|
1,086 |
|
||
Operating income (loss) |
|
(39 |
) |
(98 |
) |
||
Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
||||
Interest expense (including amortization of deferred loan fees) |
|
(133 |
) |
(117 |
) |
||
Share of earnings (losses) of affiliate |
|
1,326 |
|
1,194 |
|
||
Gain (loss) on dilution of investment in affiliate |
|
(63 |
) |
(102 |
) |
||
Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments, net |
|
334 |
|
67 |
|
||
Gain (loss) on dispositions, net |
|
179 |
|
12 |
|
||
Other, net |
|
(70 |
) |
(6 |
) |
||
Earnings (loss) before income taxes |
|
1,534 |
|
950 |
|
||
Income tax benefit (expense) |
|
(277 |
) |
(218 |
) |
||
Net earnings (loss) |
|
1,257 |
|
732 |
|
||
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to the non-controlling interests |
|
— |
|
— |
|
||
Net earnings (loss) attributable to |
$ |
1,257 |
|
732 |
|
||
Basic net earnings (loss) attributable to Series A, Series B and Series C Liberty Broadband shareholders per common share |
$ |
8.01 |
|
3.97 |
|
||
Diluted net earnings (loss) attributable to Series A, Series B and Series C Liberty Broadband shareholders per common share |
$ |
7.96 |
|
3.93 |
|
|
||||||
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS INFORMATION |
||||||
(unaudited) |
||||||
|
|
|
|
|||
|
Years ended |
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
2022 |
2021 |
||||
|
amounts in millions |
|||||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|
|
|
|||
Net earnings (loss) |
$ |
1,257 |
|
732 |
|
|
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash from operating activities: |
|
|
|
|||
Depreciation and amortization |
|
262 |
|
267 |
|
|
Stock-based compensation |
|
37 |
|
41 |
|
|
Litigation settlement, net of recoveries |
|
67 |
|
— |
|
|
Share of (earnings) losses of affiliate, net |
|
(1,326 |
) |
(1,194 |
) |
|
(Gain) loss on dilution of investment in affiliate |
|
63 |
|
102 |
|
|
Realized and unrealized (gains) losses on financial instruments, net |
|
(334 |
) |
(67 |
) |
|
Deferred income tax expense (benefit) |
|
54 |
|
(15 |
) |
|
(Gain) loss on dispositions, net |
|
(179 |
) |
(12 |
) |
|
Other, net |
|
(4 |
) |
(3 |
) |
|
Change in operating assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
|||
Current and other assets |
|
140 |
|
214 |
|
|
Payables and other liabilities |
|
(93 |
) |
(62 |
) |
|
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |
|
(56 |
) |
3 |
|
|
Cash flows from investing activities: |
|
|
|
|||
Capital expenditures |
|
(181 |
) |
(134 |
) |
|
Grant proceeds received for capital expenditures |
|
25 |
|
— |
|
|
Cash received for Charter shares repurchased by Charter |
|
3,034 |
|
4,179 |
|
|
Cash proceeds from dispositions, net |
|
163 |
|
15 |
|
|
Other investing activities, net |
|
6 |
|
2 |
|
|
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities |
|
3,047 |
|
4,062 |
|
|
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|
|
|
|||
Borrowings of debt |
|
325 |
|
1,467 |
|
|
Repayments of debt, finance leases and tower obligations |
|
(231 |
) |
(2,476 |
) |
|
Repurchases of |
|
(2,882 |
) |
(4,272 |
) |
|
Other financing activities, net |
|
(9 |
) |
(11 |
) |
|
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
|
(2,797 |
) |
(5,292 |
) |
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
|
194 |
|
(1,227 |
) |
|
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period |
|
206 |
|
1,433 |
|
|
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period |
$ |
400 |
|
206 |
|
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230216005859/en/
Source:
FAQ
What is Liberty Broadband's stock performance for Q4 2022?
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