Sprint Continues Year-over-Year Growth in Net Operating Revenues and Postpaid Phone Net Additions with Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2016 Results

  • Net operating revenues of $8.5 billion grew more than 5 percent year-over-year
    • Second consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth
  • Postpaid phone net additions of 368,000 were the highest in four years
    • Beat both Verizon and AT&T for the fourth consecutive quarter
    • Ninth consecutive quarter of year-over-year improvement
    • Postpaid net port positive for the third quarter in a row
  • Net loss of $479 million, Operating income of $311 million and Adjusted EBITDA* of $2.5 billion
    • Operating income and Adjusted EBITDA* both improved by more than $500 million year-over-year
    • More than $1.6 billion of year-to-date reductions in cost of service and selling, general, and administrative expenses
  • Diversified funding sources, lowered cost of capital, and enhanced cash and liquidity position
    • Issued $3.5 billion of spectrum-backed notes at 3.36 percent – about half of Sprint’s current effective interest rate
    • Moody’s Investor Service upgraded the company’s debt rating
  • Network performing at best-ever levels with most metro RootMetrics® RootScore® awards in the company’s history in the second half of calendar 2016

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--()--Sprint Corporation (NYSE:S) today reported operating results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2016, including more than 5 percent year-over-year growth in net operating revenues and the highest postpaid phone net additions in four years. The company also reported operating income of $311 million and Adjusted EBITDA* of $2.5 billion, both improvements of more than $500 million year-over-year.

“Sprint is turning the corner,” said Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure. “Even with all the aggressive promotional offers from our competitors, we were still able to add more postpaid phone customers than both Verizon and AT&T while continuing to grow revenues, take costs out of the business, and improve the network.”

Highest Postpaid Phone Net Additions in Four Years During Very Competitive Quarter

Sprint’s focus on delivering the best value proposition in wireless resulted in 368,000 postpaid phone net additions in the quarter, its ninth consecutive quarter of year-over-year improvement. Even in a highly competitive quarter with multiple promotional offers from its competitors, Sprint was able to add more postpaid phone customers than both Verizon and AT&T and report its highest postpaid phone net additions in four years. The company also remained postpaid net port positive for the third quarter in a row and had its highest postpaid phone gross additions in four years.

The company also reported the following results:

  • Total net additions were 577,000 in the quarter, including postpaid net additions of 405,000, prepaid net losses of 501,000, and wholesale and affiliate net additions of 673,000.
  • Total postpaid churn was 1.67 percent and postpaid phone churn was 1.57 percent in the quarter.

Top Line Growing as Cost Reductions Continue

Sprint made continued progress on growing revenues and improving the cost structure of the business. Total net operating revenues of $8.5 billion grew by $442 million year-over-year, or more than 5 percent, and cost of service and selling, general and administrative expenses declined by nearly $500 million year-over-year, bringing the year-to-date cost reduction to more than $1.6 billion.

As part of its ongoing cost reduction program, the company modified the terms of its vendor agreements associated with the service and repair program on Jan. 1, 2017, which are expected to be accretive to Adjusted EBITDA* by approximately $25 million to $50 million per quarter. Under the terms of the new agreements, the company will now only record the net margin and therefore expects the reduction to wireless service revenues of approximately $200 million per quarter to be more than offset by a greater reduction in cost of service expenses.

The company remains on track to achieve its goal of a sustainable reduction of $2 billion or more of run-rate operating expenses exiting fiscal year 2016 and has plans for further reductions in fiscal year 2017 and beyond.

The company also reported the following financial results:

  • Net loss of $479 million, or $0.12 per share, in the quarter compared to a net loss of $836 million, or $0.21 per share, in the year-ago period, an improvement of $357 million, or $0.09 per share.
  • Operating income of $311 million in the quarter compared to an operating loss of $197 million in the year-ago period, an improvement of $508 million.
  • Adjusted EBITDA* of $2.5 billion in the quarter compared to $1.9 billion in the year-ago period, an increase of approximately $552 million or 29 percent.
  • Net cash provided by operating activities was $650 million in the quarter compared to $806 million in the year-ago period.
  • Adjusted free cash flow* was negative $646 million in the quarter compared to positive $339 million in the year-ago period. The prior year quarter included $1.1 billion of proceeds from the first sale-leaseback transaction with Mobile Leasing Solutions, LLC (MLS), while this quarter included a cash outflow of approximately $370 million related to the repurchase of the devices sold in the first MLS transaction.

Improved Operating Performance and Liquidity Position Bolsters Credit Rating

During the quarter the company issued $3.5 billion of spectrum-backed senior secured notes at 3.36 percent, which is about half of Sprint’s current effective interest rate, as part of a $7 billion program aimed at diversifying the company’s funding sources, lowering its cost of capital, and reducing future cash interest expenses. The company also retired $2.3 billion of debt maturities with significantly higher coupon payments and repurchased the devices sold in the first MLS transaction, thus eliminating the associated future lease obligation.

Total liquidity was $9.1 billion at the end of the quarter, including $6.1 billion of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments. Additionally, the company also has $1.2 billion of availability under vendor financing agreements that can be used toward the purchase of 2.5GHz network equipment.

Based on the company’s sustained operational performance and improved liquidity, Moody’s Investor Service recently upgraded Sprint’s corporate family rating from B3 to B2.

In addition, the company is in the process of refinancing its $3.3 billion unsecured revolving credit facility and expects to complete that process in the coming weeks.

Network Improvements Expected to Continue with High Performance User Equipment (HPUE)

Sprint continues to unlock the value of the largest spectrum holdings in the U.S. by densifying and optimizing its network to provide customers the best experience. Third party sources continue to validate the company’s network performance improvements.

  • Independent mobile analytics firm RootMetrics® awarded Sprint a company record 246 first-place (outright or shared) Metropolitan area RootScore® awards for reliability, speed, data, call, text, or overall network performance in the second half of 2016, including more call RootScore awards than Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile for the first time ever. Additionally, Sprint has received nearly 50 percent more total awards compared to its award tally in the prior testing period.1
  • Sprint’s overall network reliability continues to beat T-Mobile and performs within 1 percent of Verizon and AT&T, based on an analysis of Nielsen data.2

The Sprint LTE Plus network, which includes advanced technologies such as antenna beamforming and two-channel carrier aggregation, is now available in more than 250 markets, with three-channel carrier aggregation deployed in more than 100 of those markets.

Sprint also recently announced a breakthrough innovation called HPUE, a new technology that can extend the coverage of its 2.5GHz spectrum by up to 30 percent to nearly match its mid-band 1.9GHz spectrum performance on capable devices, including indoors where the majority of wireless traffic is generated. HPUE-capable devices are expected to be available in the coming months.

Fiscal Year 2016 Outlook

  • The company now expects Adjusted EBITDA* of $9.7 billion to $10 billion, at the high end of its previous expectation of $9.5 billion to $10 billion.
  • The company now expects operating income of $1.4 billion to $1.7 billion, at the high end of its previous expectation of $1.2 billion to $1.7 billion.
  • The company now expects cash capital expenditures, excluding devices leased through indirect channels, of $2 billion to $2.3 billion. The company’s previous expectation was less than $3 billion.
  • The company continues to expect Adjusted free cash flow* around break-even.

Conference Call and Webcast

  • Date/Time: 8:30 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017
  • Call-in Information
    • U.S./Canada: 866-360-1063 (ID: 47845527)
    • International: 443-961-0242 (ID: 47845527)
  • Webcast available at www.sprint.com/investors
  • Additional information about results is available on our Investor Relations website

1 Rankings based on RootMetrics 125 Metro RootScore Reports (1H and 2H 2016) for mobile performance as tested on best available plans and devices on 4 mobile networks across all available network types. Your experience may vary. The RootMetrics awards are not an endorsement of Sprint. Visit www.rootmetrics.com.

2 Average network reliability (voice & data) based on Sprint’s analysis of latest Nielsen drive test data in the top 106 metro markets.

Wireless Operating Statistics (Unaudited)                    
Quarter To Date Year To Date
12/31/16     9/30/16     12/31/15 12/31/16     12/31/15
Sprint platform (1):
Net additions (losses) (in thousands)
Postpaid 405 344 501 929 1,189
Prepaid (501 ) (427 ) (491 ) (1,259 ) (1,045 )
Wholesale and affiliate       673         823         481     2,024         2,078  
Total Sprint platform wireless net additions       577         740         491     1,694         2,222  
 
End of period connections (in thousands)
Postpaid (d) 31,694 31,289 30,895 31,694 30,895
Prepaid (d) (e) 11,812 13,547 14,661 11,812 14,661
Wholesale and affiliate (d) (e)       16,009         15,357         12,803     16,009         12,803  
Total Sprint platform end of period connections       59,515         60,193         58,359     59,515         58,359  
 
Churn
Postpaid 1.67 % 1.52 % 1.62 % 1.58 % 1.57 %
Prepaid (e) 5.80 % 5.63 % 5.82 % 5.66 % 5.31 %
 
Supplemental data - connected devices
End of period connections (in thousands)
Retail postpaid 1,960 1,874 1,676 1,960 1,676
Wholesale and affiliate       10,594         9,951         7,930     10,594         7,930  
Total       12,554         11,825         9,606     12,554         9,606  
 
Sprint platform ARPU (1) (a)
Postpaid $ 49.70 $ 50.54 $ 52.48 $ 50.59 $ 53.97
Prepaid (e) $ 27.61 $ 27.31 $ 27.44 $ 27.41 $ 27.64
 
Sprint platform postpaid phone (1)
Postpaid phone net additions 368 347 366 888 416
Postpaid phone end of period connections (d) 26,037 25,669 25,294 26,037 25,294
Postpaid phone churn 1.57 % 1.37 % 1.53 % 1.44 % 1.50 %
 
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION - ABPA*, POSTPAID PHONE ARPU AND ABPU* (Unaudited)    
(Millions, except accounts, connections, ABPA*, ARPU, and ABPU*)              
Quarter To Date Year To Date
12/31/16     9/30/16     12/31/15 12/31/16     12/31/15
Sprint platform ABPA* (1)
Postpaid service revenue $ 4,686 $ 4,720 $ 4,813 $ 14,184 $ 14,670
Add: Installment plan billings 291 274 300 829 903
Add: Lease revenue       887       811       531   2,453       1,176
Total for Sprint platform postpaid connections     $ 5,864     $ 5,805     $ 5,644 $ 17,466     $ 16,749
 
Sprint platform postpaid accounts (in thousands) 11,413 11,363 11,261 11,368 11,211
Sprint platform postpaid ABPA* (b) $ 171.28 $ 170.29 $ 167.11 $ 170.71 $ 166.00
 
Quarter To Date Year To Date
12/31/16     9/30/16     12/31/15 12/31/16     12/31/15
Sprint platform postpaid phone ARPU and ABPU* (1)
Postpaid phone service revenue $ 4,420 $ 4,441 $ 4,529 $ 13,350 $ 13,819
Add: Installment plan billings 261 248 280 752 848
Add: Lease revenue       873       797       522   2,411       1,150
Total for Sprint platform postpaid phone connections     $ 5,554     $ 5,486     $ 5,331 $ 16,513     $ 15,817
 
Sprint platform postpaid average phone connections (in thousands) 25,795 25,514 25,040 25,528 24,927
Sprint platform postpaid phone ARPU (a) $ 57.12 $ 58.03 $ 60.30 $ 58.11 $ 61.60
Sprint platform postpaid phone ABPU* (c) $ 71.77 $ 71.69 $ 70.99 $ 71.87 $ 70.51
(a) ARPU is calculated by dividing service revenue by the sum of the monthly average number of connections in the applicable service category. Changes in average monthly service revenue reflect connections for either the postpaid or prepaid service category who change rate plans, the level of voice and data usage, the amount of service credits which are offered to connections, plus the net effect of average monthly revenue generated by new connections and deactivating connections. Sprint platform postpaid phone ARPU represents revenues related to our postpaid phone connections.
(b) Sprint platform postpaid ABPA* is calculated by dividing service revenue earned from connections plus installment plan billings and lease revenue by the sum of the monthly average number of accounts during the period.
(c) Sprint platform postpaid phone ABPU* is calculated by dividing postpaid phone service revenue earned from postpaid phone connections plus installment plan billings and lease revenue by the sum of the monthly average number of postpaid phone connections during the period.
(d) As part of the transaction involving Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (Shentel), 186,000 and 92,000 subscribers were transferred in May 2016 from postpaid and prepaid, respectively, to affiliates. An additional 270,000 nTelos' subscribers are now part of our affiliate relationship with Shentel and are being reported in wholesale and affiliate subscribers during the quarter ended June 30, 2016.
(e) As a result of aligning all prepaid brands, including prepaid affiliate subscribers, under one churn and retention program as of December 31, 2016, end of period prepaid and affiliate subscribers were reduced by 1,234,000 and 21,000, respectively.
 
Wireless Device Financing Summary (Unaudited)                      
(Millions, except sales, connections, and sales and connections mix)
Quarter To Date Year To Date
12/31/16     9/30/16     12/31/15 12/31/16     12/31/15
 
Postpaid sales (in thousands) 4,812 3,747 4,799 11,827 12,956
Postpaid sales mix
Subsidy/other 20 % 27 % 35 % 25 % 35 %
Installment plans 37 % 34 % 10 % 33 % 12 %
Leasing 43 % 39 % 55 % 42 % 53 %
 
Installment plans
Installment sales financed $ 1,036 $ 745 $ 251 $ 2,188 $ 748
Installment billings 291 274 300 829 903
 
Leasing
Lease revenue $ 887 $ 811 $ 531 $ 2,453 $ 1,176
Lease depreciation 837 724 535 2,205 1,231
 
Leased device additions:
Cash paid for capital expenditures - leased devices $ 767 $ 358 $ 607 $ 1,530 $ 1,724
Transfers from inventory - leased devices 1,095 645 1,073 2,281 2,623
 
Leased devices in property, plant and equipment, net $ 4,454 $ 3,759 $ 3,321 $ 4,454 $ 3,321
 
Leased device net proceeds
Proceeds from MLS sale $ - $ - $ 1,136 $ 1,055 $ 1,136
Repayments to MLS (176 ) (161 ) - (502 ) -
Proceeds from lease securitization - - - - -
Repayments of lease securitization         (55 )       (23 )       -     (153 )       -  
Net (repayments) proceeds of device financings and sales of future lease receivables       $ (231 )     $ (184 )     $ 1,136   $ 400       $ 1,136  
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)            
(Millions, except per share data)          
Quarter To Date Year To Date
12/31/16     9/30/16     12/31/15 12/31/16     12/31/15
Net operating revenues
Service revenue $ 6,323 $ 6,413 $ 6,683 $ 19,252 $ 20,600
Equipment revenue         2,226         1,834         1,424     5,556         3,509  
Total net operating revenues         8,549         8,247         8,107     24,808         24,109  
Net operating expenses
Cost of services (exclusive of depreciation and amortization below) 1,925 2,101 2,348 6,125 7,194
Cost of products (exclusive of depreciation and amortization below) 1,985 1,693 1,589 5,097 4,244
Selling, general and administrative 2,080 1,995 2,129 5,992 6,540
Depreciation - network and other 1,000 986 1,014 3,022 2,971
Depreciation - leased devices 837 724 535 2,205 1,231
Amortization 255 271 316 813 994
Other, net         156         (145 )       373     260         633  
Total net operating expenses         8,238         7,625         8,304     23,514         23,807  
Operating income (loss)         311         622         (197 )   1,294         302  
Interest expense (619 ) (630 ) (546 ) (1,864 ) (1,630 )
Other (expense) income, net         (60 )       (15 )       4     (67 )       13  
Loss before income taxes (368 ) (23 ) (739 ) (637 ) (1,315 )
Income tax expense         (111 )       (119 )       (97 )   (286 )       (126 )
Net loss       $ (479 )     $ (142 )     $ (836 ) $ (923 )     $ (1,441 )
 
Basic and diluted net loss per common share       $ (0.12 )     $ (0.04 )     $ (0.21 ) $ (0.23 )     $ (0.36 )
Weighted average common shares outstanding         3,983         3,979         3,970     3,979         3,969  
 
Effective tax rate         -30.2 %       -517.4 %       -13.1 %   -44.9 %       -9.6 %
 
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION - NET LOSS TO ADJUSTED EBITDA* (Unaudited)            
(Millions)          
Quarter To Date Year To Date
12/31/16     9/30/16     12/31/15 12/31/16     12/31/15
 
Net loss       $ (479 )     $ (142 )     $ (836 ) $ (923 )     $ (1,441 )
Income tax expense         111         119         97     286         126  
Loss before income taxes (368 ) (23 ) (739 ) (637 ) (1,315 )
Other expense (income), net 60 15 (4 ) 67 (13 )
Interest expense         619         630         546     1,864         1,630  
Operating income (loss)         311         622         (197 )   1,294         302  
Depreciation - network and other 1,000 986 1,014 3,022 2,971
Depreciation - leased devices 837 724 535 2,205 1,231
Amortization         255         271         316     813         994  
EBITDA* (3)         2,403         2,603         1,668     7,334         5,498  
Loss (gain) from asset dispositions and exchanges, net (4) 28 (354 ) - (326 ) 85
Severance and exit costs (5) 19 (5 ) 209 30 247
Contract terminations (6) - - - 113 -
Litigation and other contingencies (7) - 103 21 103 178
Reduction in liability - U.S. Cellular asset acquisition (8)         -         -         -     -         (20 )
Adjusted EBITDA* (3)       $ 2,450       $ 2,347       $ 1,898   $ 7,254       $ 5,988  
 
Adjusted EBITDA margin* 38.7 % 36.6 % 28.4 % 37.7 % 29.1 %
 
 
Selected items:
Cash paid for capital expenditures - network and other $ 478 $ 470 $ 994 $ 1,421 $ 3,958
Cash paid for capital expenditures - leased devices $ 767 $ 358 $ 607 $ 1,530 $ 1,724
 
WIRELESS STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)                      
(Millions)
Quarter To Date Year To Date
12/31/16     9/30/16     12/31/15 12/31/16     12/31/15
Net operating revenues
Service revenue
Sprint platform (1):
Postpaid $ 4,686 $ 4,720 $ 4,813 $ 14,184 $ 14,670
Prepaid 1,077 1,129 1,224 3,371 3,783
Wholesale, affiliate and other         183       168         182     509       548
Total Sprint platform 5,946 6,017 6,219 18,064 19,001
 
Total transactions (2)         -       -         27     -       216
Total service revenue 5,946 6,017 6,246 18,064 19,217
 
Equipment revenue         2,226       1,834         1,424     5,556       3,509
Total net operating revenues         8,172       7,851         7,670     23,620       22,726
 
Net operating expenses
Cost of services (exclusive of depreciation and amortization below) 1,649 1,793 2,031 5,226 6,147
Cost of products (exclusive of depreciation and amortization below) 1,985 1,693 1,589 5,097 4,244
Selling, general and administrative 2,032 1,931 2,041 5,797 6,273
Depreciation - network and other 947 936 961 2,868 2,821
Depreciation - leased devices 837 724 535 2,205 1,231
Amortization 255 271 316 813 994
Other, net         150       (151 )       353     248       611
Total net operating expenses         7,855       7,197         7,826     22,254       22,321
Operating income (loss)       $ 317     $ 654       $ (156 ) $ 1,366     $ 405
 
WIRELESS NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION (Unaudited)                      
(Millions)
Quarter To Date Year To Date
12/31/16     9/30/16     12/31/15 12/31/16     12/31/15
 
Operating income (loss) $ 317 $ 654 $ (156 ) $ 1,366 $ 405
Loss (gain) from asset dispositions and exchanges, net (4) 28 (354 ) - (326 ) 85
Severance and exit costs (5) 13 (11 ) 189 18 225
Contract terminations (6) - - - 113 -
Litigation and other contingencies (7) - 103 21 103 178
Reduction in liability - U.S. Cellular asset acquisition (8) - - - - (20 )
Depreciation - network and other 947 936 961 2,868 2,821
Depreciation - leased devices 837 724 535 2,205 1,231
Amortization         255         271         316     813         994  
Adjusted EBITDA* (3)       $ 2,397       $ 2,323       $ 1,866   $ 7,160       $ 5,919  
 
Adjusted EBITDA margin* 40.3 % 38.6 % 29.9 % 39.6 % 30.8 %
 
 
Selected items:
Cash paid for capital expenditures - network and other $ 389 $ 358 $ 869 $ 1,123 $ 3,512
Cash paid for capital expenditures - leased devices $ 767 $ 358 $ 607 $ 1,530 $ 1,724
 
WIRELINE STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)                      
(Millions)
Quarter To Date Year To Date
12/31/16     9/30/16     12/31/15 12/31/16     12/31/15
Net operating revenues
Voice $ 153 $ 172 $ 201 $ 506 $ 646
Data 41 43 42 127 134
Internet 281 288 317 871 968
Other         22         18         21     59         72  
Total net operating revenues         497         521         581     1,563         1,820  
 
Net operating expenses
Costs of services (exclusive of depreciation and amortization below) 400 436 466 1,284 1,495
Selling, general and administrative 49 62 82 189 254
Depreciation and amortization 51 48 50 148 144
Other, net         6         7         20     13         22  
Total net operating expenses         506         553         618     1,634         1,915  
Operating loss       $ (9 )     $ (32 )     $ (37 ) $ (71 )     $ (95 )
WIRELINE NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION (Unaudited)                      
(Millions)
Quarter To Date Year To Date
12/31/16     9/30/16     12/31/15 12/31/16     12/31/15
 
Operating loss $ (9 ) $ (32 ) $ (37 ) $ (71 ) $ (95 )
Severance and exit costs (5) 6 7 20 13 22
Depreciation and amortization         51         48         50     148         144  
Adjusted EBITDA*       $ 48       $ 23       $ 33   $ 90       $ 71  
 
Adjusted EBITDA margin* 9.7 % 4.4 % 5.7 % 5.8 % 3.9 %
 
 
Selected items:
Cash paid for capital expenditures - network and other $ 24 $ 31 $ 74 $ 75 $ 205
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW INFORMATION (Unaudited)**        
(Millions)  
Year to Date
12/31/16     12/31/15
Operating activities
Net loss $ (923 ) $ (1,441 )
Depreciation and amortization 6,040 5,196
Provision for losses on accounts receivable 406 385
Share-based and long-term incentive compensation expense 57 58
Deferred income tax expense 276 120
Gains from asset dispositions and exchanges (354 ) -
Amortization of long-term debt premiums, net (234 ) (236 )
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment 368 228
Contract terminations 96 -
Other changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts and notes receivable (542 ) (1,482 )
Inventories and other current assets (2,254 ) (2,165 )
Deferred purchase price from sale of receivables (220 ) 2,048
Accounts payable and other current liabilities (97 ) (816 )
Non-current assets and liabilities, net (313 ) 112
Other, net           594         596  
Net cash provided by operating activities           2,900         2,603  
 
Investing activities
Capital expenditures - network and other (1,421 ) (3,958 )
Capital expenditures - leased devices (1,530 ) (1,724 )
Expenditures relating to FCC licenses (46 ) (75 )
Change in short-term investments, net (2,349 ) 125
Proceeds from sales of assets and FCC licenses 126 36
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transaction - 1,136
Other, net           26         (25 )
Net cash used in investing activities           (5,194 )       (4,485 )
 
Financing activities
Proceeds from debt and financings 6,830 755
Repayments of debt, financing and capital lease obligations (3,266 ) (727 )
Debt financing costs (272 ) (1 )
Other, net           68         20  
Net cash provided by financing activities           3,360         47  
 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 1,066 (1,835 )
 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period           2,641         4,010  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period         $ 3,707       $ 2,175  
 
RECONCILIATION TO CONSOLIDATED FREE CASH FLOW* (NON-GAAP) (Unaudited)      
(Millions)              
Quarter To Date Year to Date
12/31/16     9/30/16     12/31/15 12/31/16     12/31/15
 
Net cash provided by operating activities $ 650 $ 1,708 $ 806 $ 2,900 $ 2,603
 
Capital expenditures - network and other (478 ) (470 ) (994 ) (1,421 ) (3,958 )
Capital expenditures - leased devices (767 ) (358 ) (607 ) (1,530 ) (1,724 )
Expenditures relating to FCC licenses, net (14 ) (17 ) (30 ) (46 ) (75 )
Proceeds from sales of assets and FCC licenses 60 39 32 126 36
Other investing activities, net         134         (11 )       (4 )     98         (25 )
Free cash flow* (9)       $ (415 )     $ 891       $ (797 )   $ 127       $ (3,143 )
 
Net (repayments) proceeds of device financings and sales of future lease receivables         (231 )       (184 )       1,136       400         1,136  
Adjusted free cash flow*       $ (646 )     $ 707       $ 339     $ 527       $ (2,007 )
 
 
**Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)          
(Millions)
12/31/16     3/31/16
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,707 $ 2,641
Short-term investments 2,349 -
Accounts and notes receivable, net 1,236 1,099
Device and accessory inventory 1,296 1,173
Prepaid expenses and other current assets         1,984         1,920  
Total current assets 10,572 6,833
 
Property, plant and equipment, net 19,333 20,297
Goodwill 6,579 6,575
FCC licenses and other 40,556 40,073
Definite-lived intangible assets, net 3,582 4,469
Other assets         673         728  
Total assets       $ 81,295       $ 78,975  
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Accounts payable $ 2,894 $ 2,899
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 4,189 4,374
Current portion of long-term debt, financing and capital lease obligations         6,554         4,690  
Total current liabilities 13,637 11,963
 
Long-term debt, financing and capital lease obligations 30,759 29,268
Deferred tax liabilities 14,238 13,959
Other liabilities         3,665         4,002  
Total liabilities         62,299         59,192  
 
Stockholders' equity
Common stock 40 40
Treasury shares, at cost - (3 )
Paid-in capital 27,694 27,563
Accumulated deficit (8,301 ) (7,378 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss         (437 )       (439 )
Total stockholders' equity         18,996         19,783  
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity       $ 81,295       $ 78,975  
 
 
NET DEBT* (NON-GAAP) (Unaudited)
(Millions)
12/31/16     3/31/16
Total debt $ 37,313 $ 33,958
Less: Cash and cash equivalents (3,707 ) (2,641 )
Less: Short-term investments         (2,349 )       -  
Net debt*       $ 31,257       $ 31,317  
 
SCHEDULE OF DEBT (Unaudited)        
(Millions)
12/31/16

ISSUER

MATURITY     PRINCIPAL
Sprint Corporation
7.25% Senior notes due 2021 09/15/2021 $ 2,250
7.875% Senior notes due 2023 09/15/2023 4,250
7.125% Senior notes due 2024 06/15/2024 2,500
7.625% Senior notes due 2025       02/15/2025       1,500
Sprint Corporation               10,500
 
Sprint Spectrum Co LLC, Sprint Spectrum Co II LLC and Sprint Spectrum Co III LLC
3.36% Senior secured notes due 2021       09/20/2021       3,500
Sprint Spectrum Co LLC, Sprint Spectrum Co II LLC and Sprint Spectrum Co III LLC               3,500
 
Sprint Communications, Inc.
Export Development Canada Facility (Tranche 4) 12/15/2017 250
Export Development Canada Facility (Tranche 3) 12/17/2019 300
9.125% Senior notes due 2017 03/01/2017 1,000
8.375% Senior notes due 2017 08/15/2017 1,300
9% Guaranteed notes due 2018 11/15/2018 3,000
7% Guaranteed notes due 2020 03/01/2020 1,000
7% Senior notes due 2020 08/15/2020 1,500
11.5% Senior notes due 2021 11/15/2021 1,000
9.25% Debentures due 2022 04/15/2022 200
6% Senior notes due 2022       11/15/2022       2,280
Sprint Communications, Inc.               11,830
 
Sprint Capital Corporation
6.9% Senior notes due 2019 05/01/2019 1,729
6.875% Senior notes due 2028 11/15/2028 2,475
8.75% Senior notes due 2032       03/15/2032       2,000
Sprint Capital Corporation               6,204
 
Clearwire Communications LLC
8.25% Exchangeable notes due 2017 (a)       12/01/2017       629
Clearwire Communications LLC               629
 
Secured equipment credit facilities 2017 - 2021 586
 
Financing obligations 2017 - 2021 3,401
 
Capital leases and other obligations       2017 - 2024       480
Total principal               37,130
 
Net premiums and debt financing costs               183
Total debt             $ 37,313
 
(a) $629 million Clearwire 8.25% Exchangeable Notes due 2040 have both a par call and put in December 2017.
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Unaudited)
 
(1) Sprint platform refers to the Sprint network that supports the wireless service we provide through our multiple brands.
(2) Postpaid and prepaid connections from transactions are defined as retail postpaid and prepaid connections acquired from Clearwire in July 2013 who had not deactivated or been recaptured on the Sprint platform.
(3) As more of our customers elect to lease a device rather than purchasing one under our subsidized program, there is a significant positive impact to EBITDA* and Adjusted EBITDA* from direct channel sales primarily due to the fact the cost of the device is not recorded as cost of products but rather is depreciated over the customer lease term. Under our device leasing program for the direct channel, devices are transferred from inventory to property and equipment and the cost of the leased device is recognized as depreciation expense over the customer lease term to an estimated residual value. The customer payments are recognized as revenue over the term of the lease. Under our subsidized program, the cash received from the customer for the device is recognized as equipment revenue at the point of sale and the cost of the device is recognized as cost of products. During the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2016, we leased devices through our Sprint direct channels totaling approximately $1,095 million and $2,281 million, respectively, which would have increased cost of products and reduced EBITDA* if they had been purchased under our subsidized program. Also, during the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2016, the equipment revenue derived from customers electing to finance their devices through device leasing or installment billing programs in our direct channel was 66% and 67%, respectively.

 

The impact to EBITDA* and Adjusted EBITDA* resulting from the sale of devices under our installment billing program is generally neutral except for the impact from the time value of money element related to the imputed interest on the installment receivable.

(4) During the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 and the second quarter of fiscal year 2015, the company recorded losses on dispositions of assets primarily related to cell site construction and network development costs that are no longer relevant as a result of changes in the company's network plans. During the second quarter of fiscal year 2016 the company recorded a pre-tax non-cash gain of $354 million related to spectrum swaps with other carriers.
(5) Severance and exit costs consist of lease exit costs primarily associated with tower and cell sites, access exit costs related to payments that will continue to be made under the company's backhaul access contracts for which the company will no longer be receiving any economic benefit, and severance costs associated with reduction in its work force.
(6) Contract terminations primarily relate to the termination of our pre-existing wholesale arrangement with Ntelos Holding Corp.
(7) Litigation and other contingencies consist of unfavorable developments associated with legal as well as federal and state matters such as sales, use or property taxes.
(8) As a result of the U.S. Cellular asset acquisition, we recorded a liability related to network shut-down costs, which primarily consisted of lease exit costs, for which we agreed to reimburse U.S. Cellular. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2014, we identified favorable trends in actual costs and, as a result, reduced the liability resulting in a gain of $41 million. During the first quarter of fiscal year 2015, we revised our estimate and, as a result, reduced the liability resulting in approximately $20 million of income.
(9) Free cash flow* for the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2016, included net cash outflows of approximately $370 million related to the termination of our MLS Tranche 1 arrangement, which included the repurchase of the devices.

*FINANCIAL MEASURES

Sprint provides financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP and adjusted GAAP (non-GAAP). The non-GAAP financial measures reflect industry conventions, or standard measures of liquidity, profitability or performance commonly used by the investment community for comparability purposes. These measurements should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. We have defined below each of the non-GAAP measures we use, but these measures may not be synonymous to similar measurement terms used by other companies.

Sprint provides reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures in its financial reporting. Because Sprint does not predict special items that might occur in the future, and our forecasts are developed at a level of detail different than that used to prepare GAAP-based financial measures, Sprint does not provide reconciliations to GAAP of its forward-looking financial measures.

The measures used in this release include the following:

EBITDA is operating income/(loss) before depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is EBITDA excluding severance, exit costs, and other special items. Adjusted EBITDA Margin represents Adjusted EBITDA divided by non-equipment net operating revenues for Wireless and Adjusted EBITDA divided by net operating revenues for Wireline. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin provide useful information to investors because they are an indicator of the strength and performance of our ongoing business operations. While depreciation and amortization are considered operating costs under GAAP, these expenses primarily represent non-cash current period costs associated with the use of long-lived tangible and definite-lived intangible assets. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin are calculations commonly used as a basis for investors, analysts and credit rating agencies to evaluate and compare the periodic and future operating performance and value of companies within the telecommunications industry.

Sprint Platform Postpaid ABPA is average billings per account and calculated by dividing postpaid service revenue earned from postpaid customers plus installment plan billings and lease revenue by the sum of the monthly average number of postpaid accounts during the period. We believe that ABPA provides useful information to investors, analysts and our management to evaluate average Sprint platform postpaid customer billings per account as it approximates the expected cash collections, including installment plan billings and lease revenue, per postpaid account each month.

Sprint Platform Postpaid Phone ABPU is average billings per postpaid phone user and calculated by dividing service revenue earned from postpaid phone customers plus installment plan billings and lease revenue by the sum of the monthly average number of postpaid phone connections during the period. We believe that ABPU provides useful information to investors, analysts and our management to evaluate average Sprint platform postpaid phone customer billings as it approximates the expected cash collections, including installment plan billings and lease revenue, per postpaid phone user each month.

Free Cash Flow is the cash provided by operating activities less the cash used in investing activities other than short-term investments, including changes in restricted cash, if any, and excluding the sale-leaseback of devices. Adjusted Free Cash Flow is Free Cash Flow plus the proceeds from device financings and sales of future lease receivables, net of repayments. We believe that Free Cash Flow and Adjusted Free Cash Flow provide useful information to investors, analysts and our management about the cash generated by our core operations and net proceeds obtained to fund certain leased devices, respectively, after interest and dividends, if any, and our ability to fund scheduled debt maturities and other financing activities, including discretionary refinancing and retirement of debt and purchase or sale of investments.

Net Debt is consolidated debt, including current maturities, less cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and, if any, restricted cash. We believe that Net Debt provides useful information to investors, analysts and credit rating agencies about the capacity of the company to reduce the debt load and improve its capital structure.

SAFE HARBOR

This release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the securities laws. The words “may,” “could,” “should,” “estimate,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “target,” “plan”, “outlook,” “providing guidance,” and similar expressions are intended to identify information that is not historical in nature. All statements that address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future — including statements relating to our network, cost reductions, connections growth, and liquidity; and statements expressing general views about future operating results — are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are estimates and projections reflecting management’s judgment based on currently available information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. With respect to these forward-looking statements, management has made assumptions regarding, among other things, the development and deployment of new technologies and services; efficiencies and cost savings of new technologies and services; customer and network usage; connection growth and retention; service, speed, coverage and quality; availability of devices; availability of various financings, including any leasing transactions; the timing of various events and the economic environment. Sprint believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable; however, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations and speak only as of the date when made. Sprint undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. In addition, forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our company's historical experience and our present expectations or projections. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in Sprint Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016. You should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors. Consequently, you should not consider any such list to be a complete set of all potential risks or uncertainties.

About Sprint:

Sprint (NYSE:S) is a communications services company that creates more and better ways to connect its customers to the things they care about most. Sprint served 59.5 million connections as of Dec. 31, 2016 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; leading no-contract brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Sprint has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) North America for the past five years. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

Contacts

Sprint
Media:
Dave Tovar, 913-315-1451
David.Tovar@sprint.com
or
Investors:
Jud Henry, 800-259-3755
Investor.Relations@sprint.com

Release Summary

Sprint continues year-over-year growth in net operating revenues and postpaid phone net additions with third quarter of fiscal year 2016 results.

Contacts

Sprint
Media:
Dave Tovar, 913-315-1451
David.Tovar@sprint.com
or
Investors:
Jud Henry, 800-259-3755
Investor.Relations@sprint.com