Consolidated Communications Announces First Quarter 2024 Financial Results

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MATTOON, Ill., May 07, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: CNSL) (the "Company" or "Consolidated"), a top 10 fiber provider in the U.S., today reported results for first quarter 2024.

First Quarter 2024 Results

  • Revenue totaled $274.7 million

  • Overall consumer revenue was $114.8 million

  • Consumer fiber broadband revenue was $41.6 million

  • Total consumer broadband net adds were 6,338

  • Consumer broadband revenue was $79.9 million

  • Commercial data services revenue was $54.7 million

  • Carrier data-transport revenue was $31.0 million

  • Net loss was ($47.2 million). Adjusted EBITDA was $88.4 million

  • Total committed capital expenditures were $83.7 million

Cost of services and products and selling, general and administrative expenses collectively decreased $15.8 million versus the prior year largely due to decreased USF contributions, lower video programming costs, a reduction in salaries driven by certain cost savings initiatives, and lower access expense.

Net interest expense was $42.5 million, an increase of $8.6 million versus the prior year, primarily as a result of higher interest rates on the term loan, in addition to decreased interest income due to lower cash holdings in the current quarter. At Mar. 31, 2024, the Company had 73% of its total outstanding debt at a fixed rate through September 2026. As of Mar. 31, 2024, the weighted average cost of debt was 7.14%.

Net loss in the first quarter of 2024 was ($47.2 million) compared to net loss of ($47.7 million) in the first quarter of 2023. Net loss per share was ($0.41) in the first quarter of 2024 as compared to net loss per share of ($0.42) in the first quarter of 2023. Adjusted diluted net income (loss) per share excludes certain items as outlined in the table provided in this release. Adjusted diluted net loss per share was ($0.27) compared to ($0.28) in the first quarter of 2023.

Capital Expenditures

Total committed capital expenditures were $83.7 million, driven by 10,783 new fiber passings, first quarter fiber adds, and reflect the usage of existing inventory for install and build activity.

Capital Structure

On Mar. 21, 2024, the Company, as borrower, entered into an $80 million term loan agreement ("Term Loan Agreement") with Searchlight CVL AGG, L.P. as lender. The Term Loan Agreement provides the Company with the ability to borrow on the loan in the event either the aggregate amount of available loans to be drawn under the Company’s revolving credit facility is less than $25.0 million or drawing under the Company’s revolving credit facility would trigger the financial maintenance covenant thereunder and the Company would not be in compliance with such covenant on a pro forma basis, subject to the satisfaction of certain other customary conditions.