Rogers reports higher revenue, lower adjusted earnings after taking majority stake in MLSE

Rogers RCI-B-T +3.50%increase reported modest revenue growth as it added 111,000 wireless customers in the third quarter, but adjusted earnings dropped in the wake of the company’s move to increase its stake in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment.

Total revenue for the third quarter was $5.35-billion, up 4 per cent from a year earlier, meeting analyst consensus estimates. Wireless revenue increased 2 per cent to $2.66-billion, cable revenue was up 1 per cent to $1.98-billion and media revenue jumped 26 per cent to $753-million.

Rogers completed its acquisition of rival BCE Inc.’s 37.5-per-cent stake in MLSE in July for $4.7-billion.

The telecom said the increase in its media division was the result of its larger stake in MLSE and increased Toronto Blue Jays revenue.

The company said its adjusted net income fell by 5 per cent in the third quarter to $726-million, or $1.37 per share, as the company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) decreased 1 per cent “primarily as a result of the seasonal results for MLSE, as both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Toronto Raptors are in their offseasons in the third quarter.”

Rogers signals it may wait to acquire final MLSE stake before seeking outside investors

Rogers reported net income of $5.8-billion, or $10.62 per diluted share. The company said the increase in its net income was primarily the “result of a $5 billion non-cash gain to recognize our existing interest in MLSE at fair value, which was required as a result of the MLSE transaction.”

The company said it now expects to spend $3.7-billion in 2025, compared with its estimate of $3.8-billion from July.

Rogers added 62,000 postpaid wireless subscribers in the third quarter, beating analyst consensus expectations of 59,000, but still down 39 per cent from last year.

The company added 49,000 prepaid phone subscribers, beating the consensus of 45,000, but down 44 per cent from last year.

The telecom cited slowing population growth and a less active market, owing to the federal government’s changed immigration policies, as reasons for the decreases in subscriber adds.