BOCA RATON, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–SBA Communications Corporation (Nasdaq: SBAC) (“SBA” or the “Company”) today reported results for the quarter ended December 31, 2021.

Highlights of the fourth quarter include:

  • Net income of $48.9 million or $0.44 per share
  • AFFO per share increased 13.3% over the prior year period on a constant currency basis
  • Total revenue of $595.3 million, an 11.1% growth over the prior year period
  • Repurchased 1.8 million shares cumulatively in the fourth quarter and subsequent to quarter end

In addition, the Company announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.71 per share of the Company’s Class A Common Stock, an increase of approximately 22% over the dividend paid in the fourth quarter. The distribution is payable March 25, 2022 to the shareholders of record at the close of business on March 10, 2022.

“We had a very solid finish to 2021, producing record results on a number of metrics and positioning us for a strong 2022,” commented Jeffrey A. Stoops, President and Chief Executive Officer. “The US market was and remains particularly strong, with our largest US customers all disclosing robust capital expenditure plans for 2022. Domestic activity so far in 2022 has been strong, and leasing and services backlogs are at or near all-time highs. We believe domestic activity will remain strong into 2023 and perhaps beyond, given the size and scope of our customers’ 5G deployment plans. International results were strong as well in the fourth quarter, and gross leasing demand is expected to remain strong internationally, particularly in light of the recent 5G spectrum auction in Brazil and the upcoming 5G spectrum auction in South Africa. In addition, since our last earnings release we have commenced operations in Tanzania, through the acquisition of sites from Airtel, and in the Philippines, where we have commenced greenfield build operations. Both new markets are expected to grow favorably in the years to come. In the last 12 months we have executed material portfolio growth, stock repurchases and favorable refinancings. Since February 1, 2021, we have grown our site portfolio by over 8%. All of these favorable conditions and results allowed us to increase AFFO per share by double-digit percentages in the fourth quarter and for the full 2021 fiscal year over comparable prior periods. Our balance sheet remains in great shape, ending the year with the lowest average weighted cost of debt and the highest cash interest coverage ratio ever. We are extremely confident and excited about our future, so much so that we have just approved an increase to our quarterly dividend of approximately 22%. While a substantial increase, this dividend on an annual basis represents less than 25% of our AFFO in our 2022 Outlook, leaving us substantial capital for additional investment in portfolio growth and stock repurchases. We believe we will produce material growth in AFFO per share and, including the dividend, offer our shareholders very favorable prospects for additional value creation.”

Operating Results

The table below details select financial results for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and comparisons to the prior year period.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

% Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

excluding

 

 

Q4 2021

 

Q4 2020

 

$ Change

 

% Change

 

FX (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated

 

($ in millions, except per share amounts)

Site leasing revenue

 

$

539.4

 

$

493.0

 

$

46.4

 

 

9.4%

 

9.8%

Site development revenue

 

 

55.9

 

 

43.0

 

 

12.9

 

 

30.0%

 

30.0%

Tower cash flow (1)

 

 

434.1

 

 

402.2

 

 

31.9

 

 

7.9%

 

8.3%

Net income

 

 

48.9

 

 

105.8

 

 

(56.9

)

 

(53.8%)

 

26.2%

Earnings per share – diluted

 

 

0.44

 

 

0.94

 

 

(0.50

)

 

(53.2%)

 

27.7%

Adjusted EBITDA (1)

 

 

409.1

 

 

380.6

 

 

28.5

 

 

7.5%

 

7.8%

AFFO (1)

 

 

310.8

 

 

280.1

 

 

30.7

 

 

11.0%

 

11.4%

AFFO per share (1)

 

 

2.81

 

 

2.49

 

 

0.32

 

 

12.9%

 

13.3%

(1)

See the reconciliations and other disclosures under “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” later in this press release.

Total revenues in the fourth quarter of 2021 were $595.3 million compared to $536.0 million in the prior year period, an increase of 11.1%. Site leasing revenue in the fourth quarter of 2021 of $539.4 million was comprised of domestic site leasing revenue of $432.2 million and international site leasing revenue of $107.2 million. Domestic cash site leasing revenue in the fourth quarter of 2021 was $421.7 million compared to $391.9 million in the prior year period, an increase of 7.6%. International cash site leasing revenue in the fourth quarter of 2021 was $108.1 million compared to $100.9 million in the prior year period, an increase of 7.2%, or an increase of 9.3% on a constant currency basis. Site development revenues in the fourth quarter of 2021 were $55.9 million compared to $43.0 million in the prior year period, an increase of 30.0%.

Site leasing operating profit in the fourth quarter of 2021 was $442.4 million, an increase of 10.8% over the prior year period. Site leasing contributed 97.1% of the Company’s total operating profit in the fourth quarter of 2021. Domestic site leasing segment operating profit in the fourth quarter of 2021 was $367.9 million, an increase of 12.0% over the prior year period. International site leasing segment operating profit in the fourth quarter of 2021 was $74.5 million, an increase of 5.3% from the prior year period.

Tower Cash Flow in the fourth quarter of 2021 of $434.1 million was comprised of Domestic Tower Cash Flow of $358.4 million and International Tower Cash Flow of $75.7 million. Domestic Tower Cash Flow in the fourth quarter of 2021 increased 8.6% over the prior year period and International Tower Cash Flow increased 5.0% over the prior year period, or increased 7.0% on a constant currency basis. Tower Cash Flow Margin was 81.9% in the fourth quarter of 2021, as compared to 81.6% for the prior year period.

Net income in the fourth quarter of 2021 was $48.9 million, or $0.44 per share, and included a $15.9 million loss, net of taxes, on the currency-related remeasurement of U.S. dollar denominated intercompany loans with foreign subsidiaries. Net income in the fourth quarter of 2020 was $105.8 million, or $0.94 per share, and included a $53.1 million gain, net of taxes, on the currency-related remeasurement of U.S. dollar denominated intercompany loans with foreign subsidiaries.

Adjusted EBITDA in the fourth quarter of 2021 was $409.1 million, a 7.5% increase over the prior year period. Adjusted EBITDA Margin in the fourth quarter of 2021 was 69.8% compared to 71.0% in the prior year period.

Net Cash Interest Expense in the fourth quarter of 2021 was $81.8 million compared to $85.9 million in the prior year period, a decrease of 4.8%.

AFFO in the fourth quarter of 2021 was $310.8 million, an 11.0% increase over the prior year period. AFFO per share in the fourth quarter of 2021 was $2.81, a 12.9% increase over the prior year period, or 13.3% on a constant currency basis.

Investing Activities

During the fourth quarter of 2021, SBA acquired 59 communication sites for total cash consideration of $38.4 million. SBA also built 88 towers during the fourth quarter of 2021. As of December 31, 2021, SBA owned or operated 34,177 communication sites, 17,356 of which are located in the United States and its territories and 16,821 of which are located internationally. In addition, the Company spent $13.6 million to purchase land and easements and to extend lease terms. Total cash capital expenditures for the fourth quarter of 2021 were $113.2 million, consisting of $11.1 million of non-discretionary cash capital expenditures (tower maintenance and general corporate) and $102.1 million of discretionary cash capital expenditures (new tower builds, tower augmentations, acquisitions, and purchasing land and easements).

On January 4, 2022, the Company closed on 1,445 sites under the previously announced deal with Airtel Tanzania for $176.1 million. Additionally, subsequent to the fourth quarter of 2021, the Company purchased or is under contract to purchase 371 communication sites for an aggregate consideration of $137.1 million in cash. The Company anticipates that these acquisitions will be consummated by the end of the third quarter of 2022.

Financing Activities and Liquidity

SBA ended the fourth quarter of 2021 with $12.4 billion of total debt, $9.4 billion of total secured debt, $433.6 million of cash and cash equivalents, short-term restricted cash, and short-term investments, and $12.0 billion of Net Debt. SBA’s Net Debt and Net Secured Debt to Annualized Adjusted EBITDA Leverage Ratios were 7.3x and 5.5x, respectively.

During the fourth quarter, the Company, through an existing trust, issued $1.79 billion of Tower Securities that have a blended interest rate of 2.217% and a weighted average life through the anticipated repayment date of 7.8 years. In addition, the Company repaid, at par, the entire aggregate principal amount of the 2013-2C Tower Securities, which had an anticipated repayment date of April 11, 2023 and redeemed the entire aggregate $1.1 billon principal amount of the 2016 4.875% Senior Notes, as well as paid all premiums and costs associated with such redemption.

As of the date of this press release, the Company had $560.0 million outstanding under the $1.5 billion Revolving Credit Facility.

During the fourth quarter of 2021, the Company repurchased 0.8 million shares of its Class A common stock for $263.6 million at an average price per share of $335.26 under its $1.0 billion stock repurchase plan. Subsequent to December 31, 2021, the Company repurchased 1.0 million shares of its Class A common stock for $350.0 million, at an average price per share of $334.40. After these repurchases, the Company had $586.4 million of authorization remaining under the plan. Since January 1, 2021, the Company has repurchased 2.9 million shares of its Class A common stock for $932.5 million at an average price per share of $318.59. Shares repurchased were retired.

In the fourth quarter of 2021, the Company declared and paid a cash dividend of $63.1 million.

Outlook

The Company is providing its initial full year 2022 Outlook for anticipated results. The Outlook provided is based on a number of assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable at the time of this press release. Information regarding potential risks that could cause the actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements is set forth below and in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Company’s full year 2022 Outlook assumes the acquisitions of only those communication sites under contract and anticipated to close at the time of this press release. The Company may spend additional capital in 2022 on acquiring revenue producing assets not yet identified or under contract, the impact of which is not reflected in the 2022 guidance. The Outlook also does not contemplate any additional repurchases of the Company’s stock during 2022, although the Company may ultimately spend capital to repurchase additional stock during the remainder of the year.

The Company’s Outlook assumes an average foreign currency exchange rate of 5.45 Brazilian Reais to 1.0 U.S. Dollar, 1.27 Canadian Dollars to 1.0 U.S. Dollar, 2,300.00 Tanzanian shillings to 1.0 U.S. Dollar, and 15.60 South African Rand to 1.0 U.S. Dollar for the full year 2022 outlook. When compared to 2021 actual foreign currency exchange rates, these 2022 foreign currency rate assumptions negatively impacted the 2022 full year Outlook by approximately $6.7 million for leasing revenue, $4.6 million for Tower Cash Flow, $3.9 million for Adjusted EBITDA, and $3.5 million for AFFO.

(in millions, except per share amounts)

 

Full Year 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Site leasing revenue (1)

 

$

2,235.0

to

$

2,255.0

Site development revenue

 

$

193.0

to

$

213.0

Total revenues

 

$

2,428.0

to

$

2,468.0

Tower Cash Flow (2)

 

$

1,779.0

to

$

1,799.0

Adjusted EBITDA (2)

 

$

1,673.0

to

$

1,693.0

Net cash interest expense (3)

 

$

320.0

to

$

325.0

Non-discretionary cash capital expenditures (4)

 

$

45.0

to

$

55.0

AFFO (2)

 

$

1,263.0

to

$

1,303.0

AFFO per share (2) (5)

 

$

11.48

to

$

11.85

Discretionary cash capital expenditures (6)

 

$

525.0

to

$

545.0

(1)

The Company’s Outlook for site leasing revenue includes revenue associated with pass through reimbursable expenses.

(2)

See the reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure presented below under “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

(3)

Net cash interest expense is defined as interest expense less interest income. Net cash interest expense does not include amortization of deferred financing fees or non-cash interest expense.

(4)

Consists of tower maintenance and general corporate capital expenditures.

(5)

Outlook for AFFO per share is calculated by dividing the Company’s outlook for AFFO by an assumed weighted average number of diluted common shares of 110.0 million. Our Outlook does not include the impact of any potential future repurchases of the Company’s stock during 2022.

(6)

Consists of new tower builds, tower augmentations, communication site acquisitions and ground lease purchases. Does not include expenditures for acquisitions of revenue producing assets not under contract at the date of this press release.

Conference Call Information

SBA Communications Corporation will host a conference call on Monday, February 28, 2022 at 5:00 PM (EST) to discuss the quarterly results. The call may be accessed as follows:

When:

Monday, February 28, 2022 at 5:00 PM (EST)

Dial-in Number:

(844) 867-6169

Access Code:

1653120

Conference Name:

SBA Fourth quarter 2021 results

Replay Available:

February 28, 2022 at 11:00 PM to March 14, 2022 at 12:00 AM (TZ: Eastern)

Replay Number:

(866) 207-1041 – Access Code: 7027116

Internet Access:

www.sbasite.com

Information Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release and our earnings call include forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the Company’s expectations or beliefs regarding (i) customer activity and demand for the Company’s wireless communications infrastructure during 2022 and thereafter, both domestically and internationally, and the impact of customer 5G deployment and recent and upcoming spectrum auctions on such demand (ii) the capital expenditure plans of the Company’s customers in 2022, (iii) the Company’s leasing and services backlogs and the impact of that backlog on future customer activity, (iv) the Company’s future capital allocation and its impact on the Company’s financial results in 2022, (v) growth in the Company’s international markets, including in its new markets of Tanzania and the Philippines, (vi) the Company’s financial and operational performance in 2022, the assumptions it made and the drivers contributing to its full year guidance, (vii) the timing of closing for currently pending acquisitions, (viii) the Company’s ability to produce material growth in AFFO per share and shareholder value, including through its increased quarterly dividend, and (ix) foreign exchange rates and their impact on the Company’s financial and operational guidance.

The Company wishes to caution readers that these forward-looking statements may be affected by the risks and uncertainties in the Company’s business as well as other important factors may have affected and could in the future affect the Company’s actual results and could cause the Company’s actual results for subsequent periods to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement made by or on behalf of the Company. With respect to the Company’s expectations regarding all of these statements, including its financial and operational guidance, such risk factors include, but are not limited to: (1) the ability and willingness of wireless service providers to maintain or increase their capital expenditures; (2) the Company’s ability to identify and acquire sites at prices and upon terms that will provide accretive portfolio growth; (3) the Company’s ability to accurately identify and manage any risks associated with its acquired sites, to effectively integrate such sites into its business and to achieve the anticipated financial results; (4) the Company’s ability to secure and retain as many site leasing tenants as planned at anticipated lease rates; (5) the impact of continued consolidation among wireless service providers in the U.S. and internationally, including the impact of the completed T-Mobile and Sprint merger, on the Company’s leasing revenue; (6) the Company’s ability to successfully manage the risks associated with international operations, including risks associated with foreign currency exchange rates; (7) the Company’s ability to secure and deliver anticipated services business at contemplated margins; (8) the Company’s ability to maintain expenses and cash capital expenditures at appropriate levels for its business while seeking to attain its investment goals; (9) the Company’s ability to acquire land underneath towers on terms that are accretive; (10) the economic climate for the wireless communications industry in general and the wireless communications infrastructure providers in particular in the United States, Brazil, South Africa, Tanzania, and in other international markets; (11) the ability of Dish to compete as a nationwide carrier; (12) the Company’s ability to obtain future financing at commercially reasonable rates or at all; (13) the ability of the Company to achieve its long-term stock repurchases strategy, which will depend, among other things, on the trading price of the Company’s common stock, which may be positively or negatively impacted by the repurchase program, market and business conditions; (14) the Company’s ability to achieve the new builds targets included in its anticipated annual portfolio growth goals, which will depend, among other things, on obtaining zoning and regulatory approvals, weather, availability of labor and supplies and other factors beyond the Company’s control that could affect the Company’s ability to build additional towers in 2022; (15) the extent and duration of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy, on the Company’s business and results of operations, and on foreign currency exchange rates; and (16) the Company’s ability to meet its total portfolio growth, which will depend, in addition to the new build risks, on the availability of sufficient towers for sale to meet our targets, competition from third parties for such acquisitions and our ability to negotiate the terms of, and acquire, these potential tower portfolios on terms that meet our internal return criteria. With respect to its expectations regarding the ability to close pending acquisitions, these factors also include satisfactorily completing due diligence, the amount and quality of due diligence that the Company is able to complete prior to closing of any acquisition and its ability to accurately anticipate the future performance of the acquired towers, the ability to receive required regulatory approval, the ability and willingness of each party to fulfill their respective closing conditions and their contractual obligations and the availability of cash on hand or borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility to fund the consideration. With respect to the repurchases under the Company’s stock repurchase program, the amount of shares repurchased, if any, and the timing of such repurchases will depend on, among other things, the trading price of the Company’s common stock, which may be positively or negatively impacted by the repurchase program, market and business conditions, the availability of stock, the Company’s financial performance or determinations following the date of this announcement in order to use the Company’s funds for other purposes. With respect to the recent acquisition of towers in Tanzania and greenfield build operations in the Philippines, these factors also include a variety of factors outside of the Company’s control, including the accuracy of the information provided to the Company, the health of the Tanzanian and Philippine economies and wireless communications markets, and the willingness of carriers to invest in their networks in those markets. Furthermore, the Company’s forward-looking statements and its 2022 outlook assumes that the Company continues to qualify for treatment as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes and that the Company’s business is currently operated in a manner that complies with the REIT rules and that it will be able to continue to comply with and conduct its business in accordance with such rules. In addition, these forward-looking statements and the information in this press release is qualified in its entirety by cautionary statements and risk factor disclosures contained in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on February 25, 2021.

This press release contains non-GAAP financial measures. Reconciliation of each of these non-GAAP financial measures and the other Regulation G information is presented below under “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

This press release will be available on our website at www.sbasite.com.

About SBA Communications Corporation

SBA Communications Corporation is a first choice provider and leading owner and operator of wireless communications infrastructure in North, Central, and South America, South Africa, the Philippines, and Tanzania. By “Building Better Wireless,” SBA generates revenue from two primary businesses – site leasing and site development services. The primary focus of the Company is the leasing of antenna space on its multi-tenant communication sites to a variety of wireless service providers under long-term lease contracts. For more information please visit: www.sbasite.com.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(unaudited) (in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

For the three months

 

For the year

 

 

ended December 31,

 

ended December 31,

 

 

2021

 

2020

 

2021

 

2020

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Site leasing

 

$

539,396

 

 

$

492,947

 

 

$

2,104,087

 

 

$

1,954,472

 

Site development

 

 

55,866

 

 

 

42,958

 

 

 

204,747

 

 

 

128,666

 

Total revenues

 

 

595,262

 

 

 

535,905

 

 

 

2,308,834

 

 

 

2,083,138

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation, accretion, and amortization shown below):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of site leasing

 

 

97,008

 

 

 

93,659

 

 

 

386,391

 

 

 

373,778

 

Cost of site development

 

 

42,921

 

 

 

34,333

 

 

 

159,093

 

 

 

102,750

 

Selling, general, and administrative expenses (1)

 

 

63,483

 

 

 

47,412

 

 

 

220,029

 

 

 

194,267

 

Acquisition and new business initiatives related

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

adjustments and expenses

 

 

10,095

 

 

 

4,024

 

 

 

27,621

 

 

 

16,582

 

Asset impairment and decommission costs

 

 

14,484

 

 

 

10,994

 

 

 

33,044

 

 

 

40,097

 

Depreciation, accretion, and amortization

 

 

169,895

 

 

 

180,383

 

 

 

700,161

 

 

 

721,970

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

397,886

 

 

 

370,805

 

 

 

1,526,339

 

 

 

1,449,444

 

Operating income

 

 

197,376

 

 

 

165,100

 

 

 

782,495

 

 

 

633,694

 

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

 

1,324

 

 

 

641

 

 

 

3,448

 

 

 

2,981

 

Interest expense

 

 

(83,081

)

 

 

(86,545

)

 

 

(352,919

)

 

 

(367,874

)

Non-cash interest expense

 

 

(11,651

)

 

 

(11,803

)

 

 

(47,085

)

 

 

(24,870

)

Amortization of deferred financing fees

 

 

(4,899

)

 

 

(4,847

)

 

 

(19,589

)

 

 

(20,058

)

Loss from extinguishment of debt, net

 

 

(25,829

)

 

 

 

 

 

(39,502

)

 

 

(19,463

)

Other (expense) income, net

 

 

(24,892

)

 

 

77,986

 

 

 

(74,284

)

 

 

(222,159

)

Total other expense, net

 

 

(149,028

)

 

 

(24,568

)

 

 

(529,931

)

 

 

(651,443

)

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

 

48,348

 

 

 

140,532

 

 

 

252,564

 

 

 

(17,749

)

Benefit (provision) for income taxes

 

 

554

 

 

 

(34,347

)

 

 

(14,940

)

 

 

41,796

 

Net income

 

 

48,902

 

 

 

106,185

 

 

 

237,624

 

 

 

24,047

 

Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

(404

)

 

 

 

 

 

57

 

Net income attributable to SBA Communications Corporation

 

$

48,902

 

 

$

105,781

 

 

$

237,624

 

 

$

24,104

 

Net income per common share attributable to SBA Communications Corporation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.45

 

 

$

0.96

 

 

$

2.17

 

 

$

0.22

 

Diluted

 

$

0.44

 

 

$

0.94

 

 

$

2.14

 

 

$

0.21

 

Weighted average number of common shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

108,855

 

 

 

110,707

 

 

 

109,328

 

 

 

111,532

 

Diluted

 

 

110,727

 

 

 

112,538

 

 

 

111,177

 

 

 

113,465

 

Contacts

Mark DeRussy, CFA

Capital Markets

561-226-9531

Lynne Hopkins

Media Relations

561-226-9431

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