Industry-leading total Mobile and Fixed
customer growth of 328,000 in the fourth quarter, driven by strong
demand for our leading portfolio of bundled services across
Mobility and Fixed in combination with TELUS' leading and
pervasive broadband networks
Strong customer growth includes Mobile
Phone and Connected Device net additions of 70,000 and 194,000,
respectively, alongside industry-leading Fixed customer net
additions of 64,000, including 37,000 internet customer
additions
Mobility and Fixed customer additions of
1,216,000 for the full year, representing the third consecutive
year of net additions above the one million threshold
TTech Operating Revenues higher by 4.1 per
cent and strong TTech Adjusted EBITDA growth 7.0 per cent in the
fourth quarter, reflecting important cost-to-serve efficiency
improvements yielding higher margin per user, gains from real
estate and copper monetization, in addition to continued double
digit momentum in health EBITDA contribution growth
For the full year, TTech Operating Revenue
higher by 1.8 per cent, TTech Adjusted EBITDA increased 5.5 per
cent achieving low end of target range alongside margin expansion
of 110 basis points to 38.2 per cent; Consolidated Free Cash Flow
of approximately $2.0 billion, up 12
per cent over prior year
Targeting 2025 TTech Operating Revenues and
Adjusted EBITDA to increase by circa 2 to 4 per cent and circa 3 to
5 per cent, respectively; Consolidated Capital Expenditures
excluding real estate of approximately $2.5
billion; Consolidated Free Cash Flow of approximately
$2.15 billion in 2025, supporting
balance sheet strength and continued deleveraging along with our
industry-leading dividend growth program
VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 13,
2025 /CNW/ - TELUS Corporation today released its
unaudited results for the fourth quarter of 2024. Consolidated
operating revenues and other income increased by 3.5 per cent
over the same period a year ago to $5.4
billion. This growth was driven by higher service revenue
and higher other income from real estate and copper monetization in
our TELUS technology solutions (TTech) segment, offset by lower
service revenue in our TELUS digital experience segment (TELUS
Digital).
![TELUS Logo (CNW Group/TELUS Corporation) TELUS Logo (CNW Group/TELUS Corporation)](https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2618273/TELUS_Corporation_TELUS_reports_robust_operational_and_financial.jpg)
Within TTech, higher revenue from the expansion of mobile,
residential internet, TV and security subscribers, health services,
agriculture and consumer goods services, were partially offset by
rate reductions in mobile network, lower fixed legacy voice and TV
services revenues due to technological substitution. The decline in
TELUS Digital operating revenues were from lower external revenues
reflecting reduced revenue from certain technology and eCommerce
clients, partially offset by the favourable foreign currency
impact. See Fourth Quarter 2024 Operating Highlights within
this news release for a discussion on TTech and TELUS Digital
results.
"In the fourth quarter, our team's relentless pursuit of
operational excellence continued to differentiate the TELUS
organization, driving significant customer growth and robust
financial results," said Darren
Entwistle, President and CEO. "Through our premier asset
portfolio and unwavering commitment to cost efficiency, we
delivered strong profitable growth to close out 2024 - momentum we
intend to build upon in 2025. Our focus on margin-accretive
customer expansion, globally leading broadband networks, and a
customer-centric culture enabled us to achieve industry-best total
customer net additions in the fourth quarter of 328,000, with
70,000 mobile phone customer additions, 194,000 connected devices,
and 64,000 fixed net additions. Furthermore, this growth culminated
in our third consecutive year of surpassing one million mobility
and fixed customer additions, with a total of more than 1.2 million
new customer additions. This performance is a testament to our
unmatched bundled product offerings across Mobile and Home, powered
by our PureFibre and wireless broadband networks. Indeed, our
team's passion for delivering customer service excellence
contributed to continued strong loyalty across our key product
lines, once again this quarter. Notably, postpaid mobile phone
churn of 0.99 per cent for the full year marks the eleventh
consecutive year at less than one per cent."
"Within our global data businesses, our team is delivering
strong results. In TELUS Health, our team achieved accelerated
revenue growth in the fourth quarter of 10 per cent, fueled by
strategic investments with strong execution in acquisitions,
products, sales, and distribution channels. We also saw a 20 per
cent Adjusted EBITDA contribution growth, driven by increased
revenue and a focus on cost controls leveraging both technology and
synergy enablers. Since acquiring LifeWorks, we have achieved
$355 million in combined annualized
synergies, inclusive of $294 million
in cost synergies and $61 million in
cross-selling, and we remain on track to deliver our stated goal of
$427 million by year end 2025.
Additionally, we drove a 9.6 per cent year-over-year increase in
global lives covered to over 76 million. TELUS Agriculture &
Consumer Goods demonstrated robust performance, with revenue
increasing by 16 per cent, supported by increasing profitability
and margin contributions. These results underscore our commitment
to leveraging our unique global businesses to maximize shareholder
value and progress our leadership in social capitalism, and we look
forward to continuing the momentum in these businesses in 2025 and
beyond."
Darren further commented, "Our strategic
investments in our leading broadband network, particularly in our
highly valuable fibre and wireless assets, underpin the continued
advancement of our financial and operational performance. These
investments enable consistent, long-term profitable growth,
supported by our unique asset base, customer experience leadership,
and world-leading networks. This gives us confidence in the robust
outlook for our business and our ability to deliver on the annual
targets for 2025 that we announced today. These targets include
TTech Operating Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA growth of up to 4 per
cent and 5 per cent, respectively; Consolidated Free Cash Flow of
approximately $2.15 billion;
supported by moderating Consolidated Capital Expenditures of
approximately $2.5 billion. Our
team's exceptional skill and execution excellence, alongside our
attractive Free Cash Growth outlook, underpin our sustainable
multi-year dividend growth program, now in its fifteenth year. This
is buttressed by one of the lowest industry capital intensity
ratios globally, alongside compelling monetization opportunities
that we anticipate supporting meaningful deleveraging, also a key
area of focus for 2025 and beyond. Indeed, we are targeting to
achieve a net debt to EBITDA ratio of approximately 3-times in
2027, in conjunction with the contemporaneous removal of the
discounted dividend re-investment plan, preceded by a ratcheting
down of the plan in 2026. In May, per our established cycle, we
will provide an update on our dividend growth program for 2026
through 2028 and, more generally, for the return of capital to
shareholders."
"Our TELUS team is equally committed to driving positive social
outcomes in our communities," continued Darren. "Demonstrating our
passion for making the future friendly, our TELUS team members and
retirees volunteered 1.5 million hours, globally, in 2024, marking
our eighth consecutive year surpassing one million volunteer hours
and making 2024 our most giving year ever. Since 2000, our TELUS
family has volunteered 2.4 million days of giving – more than any
other company in the world."
Doug French, Executive
Vice-president and CFO, said, "Our fourth quarter results
underscore our consistent operational execution amidst a dynamic
environment. We achieved TTech operating revenue growth of 4.1 per
cent driven by mobile equipment and fixed data revenue growth, as
well as strong financial contributions from our health and
agriculture and consumer goods lines of service. Notably, TTech
Adjusted EBITDA increased by 7 per cent in the fourth quarter, and
for the full year, TTech Adjusted EBITDA growth was 5.5 per cent,
achieving the low end of our full year target, demonstrating our
unparalleled track record of execution excellence. This growth was
driven by our consistent emphasis on profitable customer growth,
the benefits from our ongoing focus on cost efficiency and
effectiveness, gains from our real estate and copper monetization
program, as well as increasing margin contribution from TELUS
Health and TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods. Free cash flow
of approximately $2.0 billion was
slightly below our updated full year target from the effects of
contract asset and device financing, associated with our strong
growth in contracted volumes, and increased restructuring payments.
This was partially offset by lower capital expenditures, which came
in below our full year target."
"Our financial and balance sheet position remains healthy as we
begin 2025. At the end of the fourth quarter, we had approximately
$2.9 billion of available liquidity,
an average cost of long-term debt of 4.37 per cent, and an average
term to maturity of long-term debt of more than 10 years. We expect
our net debt to EBITDA ratio to improve in 2025, supported by
sustainable EBITDA growth and prudent capital allocation
initiatives."
"For 2025, we are confident in driving strong, sustainable
growth despite a competitive market, supported by our robust asset
mix and resilient business strategy. We anticipate continued free
cash flow expansion underpinned by strong EBITDA growth and stable
capital expenditures as we drive towards the 10 per cent capital
intensity level. Our asset monetization opportunities, including
our ongoing real estate and copper initiatives, as well as other
strategic levers, will support our deleveraging plans and ensures
we remain well-equipped to deliver strong, sustainable growth well
into the future," concluded Doug.
As compared to the same period a year ago, net income in the
quarter of $320 million was up 3.2
per cent and Basic earnings per share (EPS) of $0.24 increased by 20 per cent. These increases
were driven by the after-tax impacts of growth in operating income
partially offset by an increase in financing costs, driven by the
impact of unrealized changes in virtual power purchase agreements
forward element and higher interest expense.
As it relates to EPS, the increase also reflects the effect of a
higher number of Common shares outstanding. When excluding certain
costs and other adjustments (see 'Reconciliation of adjusted Net
income' in this news release), adjusted net income of
$380 million increased by 11 per cent
over the same period last year, while adjusted basic EPS of
$0.25 was up 4.2 per cent over the
same period last year. Adjusted net income is a non-GAAP financial
measure and adjusted basic EPS is a non-GAAP ratio. For further
explanation of these measures, see 'Non-GAAP and other specified
financial measures' in this news release.
Compared to the same period last year, consolidated EBITDA
increased by 3.7 per cent to approximately $1.8 billion and reflects lower restructuring and
other costs, primarily related to significant investments in cost
efficiency and effectiveness programs, inclusive of real estate
rationalization. Adjusted EBITDA decreased modestly by 0.6 per cent
to more than $1.8 billion and
reflects: (i) mobile, residential internet, security, and TV
subscriber growth (excluding the first quarter 2024 Pik TV
subscriber base adjustment); (ii) broad-based cost reduction
efforts, including workforce reductions, synergies achieved between
LifeWorks and our legacy health business, and increased adoption of
TELUS Digital's solutions across TTech operations, resulting in
competitive benefits given the lower cost structure in TELUS
Digital, as well as reductions in administrative and marketing
costs; (iii) higher gains on real estate and increases in reversals
of business combination-related provision; (iv) higher health
services margin; and (v) higher agriculture and consumer goods
margins. These factors were partly offset by: (i) lower mobile
phone ARPU; (ii) declining fixed legacy voice and TV margins; (iii)
an increase in bad debt expense; (iv) higher network operations
costs; (v) increased costs of subscription-based licences and
cloud usage; and (vi) lower TELUS Digital Adjusted EBITDA driven in
part by higher investments in corporate initiatives, such as
expansion of its commercial sales team and operational
effectiveness programs.
In the fourth quarter of 2024, we added 328,000 net customer
additions, down 76,000 over the same period last year, and
inclusive of 70,000 mobile phones and 194,000 connected devices, in
addition to 37,000 internet, 27,000 TV and 10,000 security customer
connections. This was partly offset by residential voice losses of
10,000. Our total TTech subscriber base of 20.2 million is up 5.9
per cent over the last twelve months, reflecting a 3.5 per cent
increase in our mobile phones subscriber base to over 10.1 million
and a 20 per cent increase in our connected devices subscriber base
to over 3.7 million. Additionally, our internet connections grew by
5.1 per cent over the last twelve months to approximately 2.8
million customer connections, our TV customer base stands at
approximately 1.4 million customer connections, and our security
subscriber base increased by 6.1 per cent to more than 1.1 million
customer connections. Our residential voice subscriber base
declined slightly by 3.3 per cent to more than 1.0 million.
In health services, as of the end of the fourth quarter of 2024,
virtual care members were 6.5 million and healthcare lives covered
were 76.2 million, up 16 per cent and 9.6 per cent over the past
twelve months, respectively. Digital health transactions in the
fourth quarter of 2024 were 169.8 million, up 7.5 per cent over the
fourth quarter of 2023.
Cash provided by operating activities of $1.1 billion decreased by 18 per cent in the
fourth quarter of 2024, primarily driven by other working capital
changes and an increase in income taxes paid, net, partially offset
by increased EBITDA.
Free cash flow of $534 million
decreased by 10 per cent compared to the same period a year ago,
reflecting the timing related to device subsidy repayments and
associated revenue recognition and our TELUS Easy Payment device
financing program, increased income taxes paid, and increased
interest paid. These factors were partly offset by lower capital
expenditures.
Consolidated capital expenditures of $551 million, increased by $18 million or 3.4 per cent in the fourth quarter
of 2024. The increase primarily reflects TTech real estate
development capital expenditures of $128
million, which increased by $81
million in the fourth quarter of 2024. This was partially
offset by TTech operations, which drove a $58 million decrease in the fourth quarter of
2024, primarily as a result of the planned slowdown of our fibre
and wireless network builds. TELUS Digital capital expenditures
increased by $11 million in the
fourth quarter of 2024, primarily driven by increased spend in the
development and enablement of Fuel iX™ and AI platforms
and customer experience facilities expansion.
As at December 31, 2024, our 5G
network covered approximately 32.3 million Canadians, representing
over 87 per cent of the population.
Consolidated Financial Highlights
C$ millions, except
footnotes and unless noted otherwise
|
Three months ended
December 31
|
Per cent
|
(unaudited)
|
2024
|
2023
|
change
|
Operating revenues
(arising from contracts with customers)
|
5,331
|
5,156
|
3.4
|
Operating revenues and
other income
|
5,381
|
5,198
|
3.5
|
Total operating
expenses
|
4,622
|
4,534
|
1.9
|
Net income
|
320
|
310
|
3.2
|
Net income attributable
to common shares
|
358
|
288
|
24.3
|
Adjusted Net
income(1)
|
380
|
341
|
11.4
|
Basic
EPS ($)
|
0.24
|
0.20
|
20.0
|
Adjusted basic
EPS(1) ($)
|
0.25
|
0.24
|
4.2
|
EBITDA(1)
|
1,770
|
1,705
|
3.7
|
Adjusted
EBITDA(1)
|
1,838
|
1,847
|
(0.6)
|
Capital
expenditures(2)
|
551
|
533
|
3.4
|
Cash provided by
operating activities
|
1,077
|
1,314
|
(18.0)
|
Free cash
flow(1)
|
534
|
595
|
(10.3)
|
Total telecom
subscriber connections(3) (thousands)
|
20,175
|
19,056
|
5.9
|
Healthcare lives
covered (millions)
|
76.2
|
69.5
|
9.6
|
|
|
(1)
|
These are non-GAAP and
other specified financial measures, which do not have standardized
meanings under IFRS Accounting Standards and might not be
comparable to those used by other issuers. For further definitions
and explanations of these measures, see 'Non-GAAP and other
specified financial measures' in this news release.
|
(2)
|
Capital expenditures
include assets purchased, excluding right-of-use lease assets, but
not yet paid for, and consequently differ from Cash payments for
capital assets, excluding spectrum licences, as reported in the
consolidated financial statements. Refer to Note 31 of the
consolidated financial statements for further
information.
|
(3)
|
The sum of active
mobile phone subscribers, connected device subscribers, internet
subscribers, residential voice subscribers, TV subscribers and
security subscribers, measured at the end of the respective periods
based on information in billing and other source systems. Effective
for the first quarter of 2024, with retrospective application to
January 1, 2023, we reduced our mobile phone subscriber base by
283,000 subscribers to remove a subset of our public services
customers that are now subject to dynamic pricing auction models.
We believe adjusting our base for these low margin customers
provides a more meaningful reflection of the underlying performance
of our mobile phone business and our focus on profitable growth. As
a result of this change, associated operating statistics (ARPU and
churn) have also been adjusted. Effective January 1, 2024, on a
prospective basis, we adjusted our TV subscriber base to remove
97,000 subscribers, as we have ceased marketing our Pik
TV® product.
|
Fourth Quarter 2024 Operating Highlights
TELUS technology solutions (TTech)
- TTech operating revenues (arising from contracts with
customers) increased by $180 million
or 4.1 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2024, primarily reflecting
increases in mobile equipment and other service revenues, fixed
data services revenues, fixed equipment and other service revenues,
health services and agriculture and consumer goods services, as
described below. Decreases in fixed voice services revenues and
mobile network revenue were partial offsets.
- TTech EBITDA increased by $194
million or 13 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2024, while
TTech Adjusted EBITDA increased by $113
million or 7.0 per cent, reflecting: (i) mobile, residential
internet, security, and TV subscriber growth (excluding the first
quarter 2024 Pik TV subscriber base adjustment); (ii) broad-based
cost reduction efforts, including workforce reductions, synergies
achieved between LifeWorks and our legacy health business, and
increased adoption of TELUS Digital's solutions across TTech
operations, resulting in competitive benefits given the lower cost
structure in TELUS Digital, as well as reduction in administrative
and marketing costs; (iii) higher gains on real estate projects;
(iv) higher health services margin; and (v) higher agriculture and
consumer goods margins. These factors were partially offset by: (i)
lower mobile phone ARPU; (ii) higher bad debt expense; (iii)
declining fixed legacy voice and TV margins; (iv) lower mobile
equipment margins; (v) higher network operations costs; and (vi)
increased subscription-based licences and cloud usage costs.
Mobile products and services
- Mobile network revenue decreased by $1
million or 0.1 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2024,
largely due to lower mobile phone ARPU, offset by growth in our
mobile phone subscriber base and an increase in IoT
connections.
- Mobile equipment and other service revenues increased by
$79 million or 11 per cent in the
fourth quarter of 2024, due to higher contracted volumes
attributable to aggressive promotional activity during the fourth
quarter and the impact of higher-value smartphones in the sales
mix.
- TTech mobile products and services direct contribution
decreased by $34 million or 2.2 per
cent in the fourth quarter of 2024, largely reflecting the impact
of lower mobile phone ARPU, higher amortization of deferred
commissions attributable to growth in retail traffic in the
fourth quarter and prior periods, and lower mobile equipment margin
from increased discounting, despite higher contracted volume. These
factors were partly offset by mobile phone subscriber growth.
- Mobile phone ARPU was $58.05 in
the fourth quarter of 2024, reflecting a decrease of $2.15 or 3.6 per cent, attributable to the
adoption of base rate plans with lower prices in response to more
intense marketing and promotional price competition targeting both
new and existing customers, and a decline in overage and roaming
revenues, partly offset by higher IoT revenue. We are seeing a
continuing increase in the adoption of unlimited data
and Canada-U.S.-Mexico plans
which provide higher and more stable ARPU on a monthly basis while
also giving customers cost certainty in lower roaming fees to the
U.S. and Mexico and lower data
overage fees, respectively.
- Mobile phone gross additions were 523,000 in the fourth quarter
of 2024, reflecting a decrease of 22,000, driven by decelerating
growth in the Canadian population and a greater emphasis on premium
and profitable loading, partly offset by our shift to digital
loading. The deceleration in immigration growth, observed later in
2024, is limiting our ability to add to our subscriber base.
- Mobile phone net additions were 70,000 in the fourth quarter of
2024, reflecting a decrease of 56,000, driven by a higher mobile
phone churn rate and lower mobile phone gross additions.
- Our mobile phone churn rate was 1.50 per cent in the fourth
quarter of 2024, compared to 1.44 per cent in the fourth quarter of
2023, largely as a result of customer switching decisions in
response to more intense marketing and promotional price
competition, in addition to an increase in the adoption
of BYOD plans. These factors have been partly mitigated by our
continued focus on customer retention and our industry-leading
service and network quality, along with successful promotions and
bundled offerings.
- Connected device net additions were 194,000 in the fourth
quarter of 2024, and were largely comparable to the 203,000 net
additions in the prior year.
Fixed products and services
- Fixed data services revenues increased by $40 million or 3.5 per cent in the fourth quarter
of 2024, driven by growth in our internet, security and TV
subscriber bases. These factors were partially offset by lower TV
revenue per customer, reflecting an increased mix of customers
selecting smaller TV combination packages and technological
substitution.
- Fixed voice services revenues decreased by $15 million or 8.0 per cent in the fourth quarter
of 2024, reflecting the ongoing decline in legacy voice revenues as
a result of technological substitution and price plan changes.
Declines were partly mitigated by the success of our bundled
product offerings and our retention efforts.
- Fixed equipment and other service revenues increased by
$18 million or 17 per cent in the
fourth quarter of 2024, largely due to higher one-time business
sales.
- TTech fixed products and services direct contribution increased
by $65 million or 5.0 per cent in the
fourth quarter of 2024, primarily driven by continued internet and
security subscriber growth, growth in health services revenue, and
increased agriculture and consumer goods revenues. These were
partly offset by declines in legacy voice and TV margins
attributable to technological substitution.
- Internet net additions were 37,000 in the fourth quarter of
2024, reflecting an increase of 1,000, attributable to driving
strong gross additions through robust sales strategies and the
strength of our fibre optic offering. These factors were partly
offset by a slightly elevated churn rate.
- TV net additions were 27,000 in the fourth quarter of 2024,
reflecting an increase of 4,000, attributable to our diverse
offerings, which address the changing needs and preferences of
consumers, partially offset by a higher churn rate due to the same
factors also impacting internet net additions.
- Security net additions were 10,000 in the fourth quarter of
2024, reflecting a decrease of 13,000, primarily due to a higher
churn rate related to an increased mix of self-monitored plans in
our subscriber base and modestly lower gross additions.
- Residential voice net losses were 10,000 in the fourth quarter
of 2024, reflecting an increase of 3,000 losses. Our bundled
product and lower-priced offerings have been successful in
mitigating losses and minimizing substitution to mobile and
internet-based services.
Health services
- Through TELUS Health, we are leveraging technology to deliver
connected solutions and services, improving access to care and
revolutionizing the flow of information while facilitating
collaboration, efficiency, and productivity across the healthcare
ecosystem, progressing our vision of transforming healthcare and
empowering people to live healthier lives.
- Health services revenues increased by $43 million or 10 per cent in the fourth quarter
of 2024, primarily driven by business acquisitions related to
employee and family assistance programs and organic growth, virtual
pharmacy sales, and an increase in the demand for health benefits
management services and retirement benefits solutions.
- At the end of the fourth quarter of 2024, 6.5 million members
were enrolled in our virtual care services, an increase of 0.9
million over the past 12 months, attributable to the ongoing
adoption of virtual solutions that keep Canadians and others safely
connected to health and wellness care.
- At the end of the fourth quarter of 2024, our healthcare
programs covered 76.2 million lives, an increase of 6.7 million
over the past 12 months, mainly reflecting robust growth in our
employee and family assistance programs by both new and existing
clients across all of our regions, in addition to continued demand
for virtual solutions.
- Digital health transactions were 169.8 million in the fourth
quarter of 2024, reflecting an increase of 11.9 million, largely
driven by growth in the paid exchange of healthcare data
between our health benefits management system and care
providers.
Agriculture and consumer goods services
- Through TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods, we provide
innovative digital solutions and actionable data-insights that
better connect the global supply chain, driving more efficient
production processes and improving the safety, quality and
sustainability of food and consumer goods. Importantly, these
efforts are also enabling better traceability to the end consumer,
further supporting improved food outcomes.
- Agriculture and consumer goods services revenues increased by
$16 million or 16 per cent, primarily
attributable to business acquisitions and improving organic growth
in consumer goods services. These factors were partially offset by
a higher agriculture customer churn rate due to competitive
pressures.
TELUS Digital
- TELUS Digital operating revenues (arising from contracts with
customers) decreased by $5 million or
0.7 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2024, due to lower revenue
from certain technology and eCommerce clients, partially offset by
the favourable foreign currency impact. Revenues from contracts
denominated in U.S. dollars, European euros and other currencies
will be affected by changes in foreign exchange rates.
- TELUS Digital operating revenues increased by $27 million or 2.9 per cent in the fourth quarter
of 2024 as described below.
- Revenue from our tech and games industry vertical increased by
$6 million or 1.5 per cent in the
fourth quarter of 2024, due to a favourable foreign currency
impact, despite lower volumes, partially offset by growth from new
and existing clients.
- Revenue from our communications and media industry vertical
increased by $5 million or 2.0 per
cent in the fourth quarter of 2024, driven primarily by more
services provided to the TTech segment, partially offset by lower
service revenue from certain other telecommunication clients.
- Revenue from our eCommerce and fintech industry vertical
decreased by $6 million or 6.3 per
cent in the fourth quarter of 2024, due to a decline in service
volumes from certain clients.
- Revenue from our healthcare industry vertical increased by
$4 million or 6.7 per cent in the
fourth quarter of 2024, primarily due to additional services
provided to the healthcare business unit of the TTech segment.
- Revenue from our banking, financial services and insurance
industry vertical increased by $11
million or 24 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2024, due to
growth from certain Canadian-based banks and smaller regional
financial services firms in North
America.
- All other verticals increased by $7
million or 7.5 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2024, due
to seasonality and higher service volume demand from certain
clients in the travel and hospitality, and retail and consumer
packaged goods industry verticals.
- TELUS Digital EBITDA decreased by $113
million or 47 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2024 while
TELUS Digital Adjusted EBITDA decreased by $106 million or 42 per cent. The decrease in
Adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to: (i) higher investments in
strategic areas, including expansion of our commercial sales team,
development and launch of new products and services, such as Fuel
iX, and programs to enable operational efficiencies, which resulted
in increases in salaries and benefits and goods and services
purchased for the period; (ii) higher share-based compensation in
the current period; (iii) prior period's other income arising from
business combination related provisions related to the WillowTree
put revaluation; and (iv) certain non-recurring items, which
benefited the fourth quarter in 2023.
TELUS sets 2025 financial targets
TELUS' financial targets for 2025 are guided by a number of
long-term financial objectives, policies and guidelines, which are
detailed in Section 4.3 of the 2024 annual MD&A. With
these policies in mind, our financial targets for 2025 are
presented below.
|
2025
targets
|
TTech Operating
revenues(1)
|
Growth of 2 to
4%
|
TTech Adjusted
EBITDA
|
Growth of 3 to
5%
|
Consolidated Free cash
flow
|
Approximately $2.15
billion
|
Consolidated Capital
expenditures(2)
|
Approximately $2.5
billion
|
|
|
(1)
|
For 2025, we are
guiding on TTech Operating revenues, which excludes other
income. TTech Operating revenues for 2024 were $17,407
million.
|
(2)
|
Excludes $100 million
targeted towards real estate development initiatives.
|
The preceding disclosure respecting TELUS' 2025 financial
targets is forward-looking information and is fully qualified
by the 'Caution regarding forward-looking statements' in the
2024 annual MD&A filed on the date hereof on SEDAR+,
especially Section 10 Risks and Risk Management thereof
which is hereby incorporated by reference, and is based on
management's expectations and assumptions as set out in Section
9.3 TELUS assumptions for 2025 in the 2024 annual
MD&A. This disclosure is presented for the purpose of assisting
our investors and others in understanding certain key elements of
our expected 2025 financial results as well as our objectives,
strategic priorities and business outlook. Such information may not
be appropriate for other purposes.
Dividend Declaration
The TELUS Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of
$0.4023 per share on the issued and
outstanding Common Shares of the Company payable on April 1, 2025 to holders of record at the close
of business on March 11, 2025. This
quarterly dividend reflects an increase of 7.0 per cent from the
$0.3761 per share dividend declared
one year earlier and consistent with our multi-year dividend growth
program. When a dividend payment date falls on a weekend or
holiday, the payment shall be made on the next succeeding day that
is a business day.
Corporate Highlights
TELUS makes significant
contributions and investments in the communities where team members
live, work and serve and to the Canadian economy on behalf of
customers, shareholders and team members. These include:
- Paying, collecting and remitting approximately $2.3 billion in 2024 to federal, provincial and
municipal governments in Canada
consisting of corporate income taxes, sales taxes, property taxes,
employer portion of payroll taxes and various regulatory fees.
Since 2000, we have remitted in excess of $38 billion in these taxes.
- Investing approximately $2.6
billion in capital expenditures primarily in communities
across Canada in 2024 and over
$56 billion since 2000.
- Disbursing spectrum renewal fees of more than $56 million to Innovation, Science and Economic
Development Canada in 2024. Since 2000, our total tax and spectrum
remittances to federal, provincial and municipal governments in
Canada have totalled more than
$46 billion.
- Spending $9.9 billion in total
operating expenses in 2024, including goods and services purchased
of $6.7 billion. Since 2000, we have
spent $169 billion and $114 billion, respectively, in these areas.
- Generating a total team member payroll of $3.7 billion in 2024, including wages and other
employee benefits, and payroll taxes of approximately $190 million. Since 2000, total team member
payroll totals $65 billion.
- Returning approximately $2.3
billion in 2024 to individual shareholders, mutual fund
owners, pensioners and institutional investors. Since 2004, we have
returned more than $27 billion to
shareholders through our dividend and share purchase programs,
including over $22 billion in
dividends and $5.2 billion in share
repurchases, representing approximately $18 per share.
Community Highlights
Empowering Canadians with
Connectivity
- Throughout 2024, we continued to leverage our TELUS Connecting
for Good® programs to support marginalized individuals
by enhancing their access to both technology and healthcare, as
well as our TELUS Wise® program to improve digital
literacy and the awareness of online safety knowledge. Since the
launch of these programs, they have provided support for over 1.3
million Canadians.
- During the year, we welcomed over 8,400 new households to our
Internet for Good® program. Since we launched the
program in 2016, we have connected 63,500 households, making
low-cost high-speed internet available to 200,000 low-income
seniors and members of low-income families, persons with
disabilities, government-assisted refugees and youth leaving foster
care.
- Our Mobility for Good® program offers free or
low-cost smartphones and mobility plans to youth aging out of
foster care, low-income seniors and families across Canada, as well as government-assisted
refugees and Indigenous women at risk of, or experiencing violence.
During the year, we added more than 9,500 marginalized individuals
to the program. Since we launched Mobility for Good in 2017, the
program has provided support for over 61,800 people.
- In May 2024, we expanded Mobility
for Good to 800,000 eligible low-income families that are receiving
the maximum Canada Child Benefit.
- During the second quarter of 2024, we expanded the Mobility for
Good for Indigenous Women at Risk program to include the province
of Quebec, in partnership with
Quebec Native Women and Quebec First Nations Women's Space. Since
we launched Mobility for Good for Indigenous Women at Risk in 2021,
we have provided support for over 4,200 individuals
nationally.
- Our Health for Good® mobile health clinics
facilitated 60,000 patient visits during the year. Since the
program's inception in 2014, we have enabled 260,000 cumulative
patient visits in 27 communities across Canada, bringing primary and mental healthcare
to individuals experiencing homelessness.
- In September 2024, we raised our
overall commitment to the TELUS Health for Good program to
more than $16 million through 2027
and launched a new mobile health clinic, bringing primary care and
harm reduction services directly to people experiencing
homelessness across the B.C. Interior.
- During the year, our Tech for Good® program provided
access to personalized assessments, recommendations and training on
mobile devices, computers, laptops and related assistive technology
and/or access to discounted mobile plans for more than 3,800
Canadians living with disabilities, enabling them to make
improvements in their quality of life and independence. Since its
inception in 2017, we have provided support for over 12,600
individuals in Canada who are
living with disabilities, through the program and/or the TELUS
Wireless Accessibility Discount.
- During 2024, 120,300 individuals in Canada and around the world participated in
virtual TELUS Wise workshops and events to improve their
digital literacy and awareness of online safety, bringing the total
cumulative number of participants to over 800,000 since the program
launched in 2013.
Giving Back to Our Communities
- Currently, we have 19 TELUS Community Boards, 13 operating in
Canada and six internationally.
Our Community Boards entrust local leaders to make recommendations
on the allocation of grants in their communities. These grants
support registered charities that offer health, education or
technology programs to help youth. Since 2005, our 19 TELUS
Community Boards and TELUS Friendly Future Foundation®
(the Foundation) have supported 34.5 million youth in need across
Canada, and around the world, by
granting more than $135 million in
cash donations to 10,600 charitable initiatives.
- During the third quarter of 2024, we announced a major
milestone in charitable giving in Canada, as the TELUS Community Board
program reached a total of $100
million in donations to local charities across the country
since inception in 2005.
- Working in close partnership with the 13 TELUS Community Boards
in Canada, the Foundation
distributes grants to charities that promote education, health and
well-being for youth across the country. In addition, through the
TELUS Student Bursary program, the Foundation provides bursaries
for post-secondary students who face financial barriers and are
committed to making a difference in their communities. During 2024,
the Foundation provided support to 1.3 million youth by granting
$10.8 million in cash donations and
bursaries to more than 550 Canadian registered charities, community
partners and projects. Since its inception in 2018, the Foundation
has directed $57.6 million in cash
donations to our communities and in bursary grants, helping 16.5
million youth reach their full potential.
- In June 2024, the Foundation
hosted its inaugural fundraising gala. More than 700 guests
attended the event, which raised over $2.5
million to provide support to youth from underserved
communities.
- During the fourth quarter of 2024, the Foundation awarded
$2.2 million in bursaries to more
than 500 post-secondary students. This is an investment in the
future, empowering the next generation of changemakers on their
educational path. Since the program's inception in 2023, the
Foundation has awarded bursaries totalling over $4 million to more than 1,000 students across
Canada. For more information about
the TELUS Student Bursary program, please visit
friendlyfuture.com/bursary.
- The TELUS Indigenous Communities Fund offers grants for
Indigenous-led social, health and community programs. In 2024, the
Fund allocated $350,000 in cash
donations to Indigenous-led organizations across Canada. Since its inception in 2021, the Fund
has distributed $935,000 in cash
donations to 42 community programs supporting food security,
education, cultural and linguistic revitalization, wildfire relief
efforts, and the health, mental health and well-being of Indigenous
Peoples across Canada.
- In 2024, our global TELUS family volunteered 1.5 million hours
for the second consecutive year, with more than one million hours
volunteered in each of the past eight years
- In May 2024, our 19th
annual TELUS Days of Giving® inspired 83,000 TELUS
team members, retirees, family and friends to volunteer across 33
countries in support of our local communities, overtaking the
record set in the previous year and making this year our most
giving year to date.
- In August 2024, in support of the
many people impacted by the wildfires in Jasper, Alberta, TELUS, our team members,
customers and the Foundation have enabled more than $200,000 in cash donations and in-kind
contributions. Our assistance included the distribution of disaster
kits, deployment of our portable cell towers on wheels to ensure
9-1-1 access and partnership with the Red Cross to establish
recovery centres.
Leading in ESG and Sustainability
- Throughout 2024, we maintained our global leadership in
sustainability, in line with our commitment to support a
nature-positive future. Key milestones over the past year included:
- Planting over eight million trees across more than 5,300
hectares of land through TELUS Environmental Solutions, a
subsidiary that provides reforestation services and partners with
like-minded organizations to offer a range of climate solutions
that can have positive social and environmental impacts around the
world. Over the past two decades, we have planted over 13 million
trees across more than 8,600 hectares.
- Supporting the circular economy with our program of reusing,
repairing and recycling wireless devices, which has diverted more
than 15 million devices from landfills since 2005.
- Reducing TELUS' energy intensity by 57 per cent and GHG
emissions by 51 per cent since 2010.
Investing in Social Impact
- TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good® made multiple equity
investments during 2024, including U.K.-based Waymap, a technology
company offering an accessibility-first, highly accurate navigation
app that works outdoors, indoors and even deep underground. During
the second quarter of 2024, one of the Fund's portfolio
investments, Dryad Networks, a Germany-based company that offers Internet of
Things (IoT) sensors for ultra-early wildfire detection within
minutes, entered into a TELUS reseller agreement. Since it was
established in 2020, the Fund has invested over $50 million in more than 30 socially innovative
companies, with 39 per cent led by women and 45 per cent led by
Indigenous or other racialized founders.
Global Awards and Third Party Recognition
- During the year, we received recognition for our global
leadership in social capitalism, including:
- In January 2024, we were included
in the Corporate Knights 2024 Global 100 Most Sustainable
Corporations in the World – the 12th time we have been included
since its inception in 2005.
- In June 2024, we were recognized
by TIME Magazine and Statista in their inaugural list of the
World's Most Sustainable Companies, placing 21st among 500
companies globally. We were named the most sustainable
telecommunications company in Canada and the second most sustainable
Canadian company overall, in recognition of more than 20 years of
global leadership in corporate citizenship and philanthropy,
innovation management, and environmental and social impact
reporting.
- In June 2024, we were named to
the Corporate Knights Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada for the 18th time.
- In October 2024, we were selected
by March of Dimes Canada as the recipient of its
Corporate Changemaker of the Year Award, in recognition of our
efforts in support of equity and inclusion for people with
disabilities.
- At the World Sustainability Awards 2024 held in Amsterdam during the fourth quarter of 2024,
we were recognized with the Sustainability Excellence Award for our
global leadership and commitment to building a better, more
sustainable future.
- During the fourth quarter of 2024, we were named as one of
Canada's Most Responsible
Companies 2025 by Newsweek and Statista, ranking in the top
three and placing first in the media and telecommunication
sector.
- In December 2024, we were named
to the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index for the 24th
consecutive year.
- In April 2024, we were recognized
as one of the top 10 most valuable brands in Canada for the third consecutive year, as well
as the most valuable Canadian telecom brand. In its Canada 100 2024 Ranking report, Brand
Finance valued our 2024 brand at $11.7
billion (US$8.6 billion), up
more than 12 per cent year-over-year – our highest third-party
brand valuation ever.
- In January 2025, Brand Finance
valued our brand at US$9.0 billion,
up 4.6 per cent year-over-year, in its Global 500 2025
Ranking. This ranks us as the most valuable telecom brand in
Canada, the eighth most valuable
Canadian brand overall and the 15th most valuable telecom brand in
the world.
- In October 2024, Forbes named us
one of its 2024 World's Best Employers, the only Canadian
telecommunications company included in this ranking.
- In October 2024, we received a
Response and Recovery Award from the Disaster Recovery Institute
Canada (DRI) for crisis management during the 2024 Jasper
wildfires. This was our third consecutive award, recognizing
outstanding business continuity and disaster recovery, and our
delivery of customer support and community service in a challenging
situation.
- In November 2024, we released our
sixth annual Indigenous Reconciliation and Connectivity Report,
with concrete examples of the ways our acts of reconciliation, in
close partnership with Indigenous communities, are helping deliver
sustained, positive social, cultural and economic outcomes that
reach far beyond connectivity.
- We were recognized by Mediacorp Canada Inc. during 2024 as
one of Canada's Top Employers for
Young People (2024) in January, one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers (2024) in
March and one of Canada's Greenest
Employers (2024) in April.
Access to Quarterly results information
Interested
investors, the media and others may review this quarterly earnings
news release, management's discussion and analysis, quarterly
results slides, audio and transcript of the investor webcast call,
supplementary financial information at telus.com/investors.
TELUS' fourth quarter 2024 conference call is scheduled for
Thursday, February 13, 2025 at
12:30 pm ET (9:30 am PT) and will feature a presentation
followed by a question and answer period with investment analysts.
Interested parties can access the webcast at telus.com/investors.
An audio recording will be available approximately 60 minutes after
the call until March 13, 2025 at
1-855-201-2300. Please quote conference access code 77442# and
playback access code 77442#. An archive of the webcast will also be
available at telus.com/investors and a transcript will be posted on
the website within a few business days.
Caution regarding forward-looking statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements about
expected events and the financial and operating performance of
TELUS Corporation. The terms TELUS, the Company, we, us and
our refer to TELUS Corporation and, where the context of the
narrative permits or requires, its subsidiaries. Forward-looking
statements include any statements that do not refer to historical
facts. They include, but are not limited to, statements relating to
our objectives and our strategies to achieve those objectives, our
expectations regarding trends in the telecommunications industry
(including demand for data and ongoing subscriber base growth), and
our financing plans (including our planned leverage ratio in 2027,
our multi-year dividend growth program and our approach to reducing
the discount offered under our dividend re-investment plan).
Forward-looking statements are typically identified by the words
assumption, goal, guidance, objective, outlook, strategy, target
and other similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such
as aim, anticipate, believe, could, expect, intend, may, plan,
predict, seek, should, strive and will. These statements
are made pursuant to the "safe harbour" provisions of applicable
securities laws in Canada and
the United States Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to
inherent risks and uncertainties and are based on assumptions,
including assumptions about future economic conditions and courses
of action. These assumptions may ultimately prove to have been
inaccurate and, as a result, our actual results or events may
differ materially from expectations expressed in or implied by the
forward-looking statements.
Our general outlook and assumptions for 2025 are presented in
Section 9 General trends, outlook and assumptions, and
regulatory developments and proceedings in our 2024 annual
Management's discussion and analysis (MD&A).
Our assumptions in support of our 2025 outlook are generally
based on industry analysis, including our estimates regarding
economic and telecom industry growth, as well as our 2024 results
and trends discussed in Section 5 in our 2024 annual
MD&A. Our 2025 key assumptions are listed below and in
Section 9.3 TELUS assumptions for 2025 in the 2024 annual
MD&A:
- Estimated economic growth rates in Canada, B.C., Alberta, Ontario and Quebec of 1.9%, 1.8%, 2.4%, 1.7% and 1.5%,
respectively.
- Estimated inflation rates in Canada, B.C., Alberta, Ontario and Quebec of 2.0%, 1.8%, 2.0%, 1.9% and 1.8%,
respectively.
- Estimated annual unemployment rates in Canada, B.C., Alberta, Ontario and Quebec of 6.6%, 6.0%, 7.0%, 7.1% and 5.8%,
respectively.
- Estimated annual rates of housing starts on an unadjusted basis
in Canada, B.C., Alberta, Ontario and Quebec of 245,000 units, 47,000 units, 45,000
units, 81,000 units and 48,000 units, respectively.
- Decelerated growth observed in immigration in the latter half
of 2024 has slowed our ability to grow our subscriber base more
than anticipated and may continue into 2025. See Section
1.2 in our 2024 annual MD&A.
- No announced material adverse regulatory rulings or government
actions against TELUS.
- Participation in ISED's auction in the mmWave band, if the
auction commences in 2025.
- Impacts on our international operations from the global
macroeconomic environment and its effect on other national and
local economies, as well as continued exchange rate volatility,
which may have an impact on our outlook. Canadian dollar to U.S.
dollar average exchange rate of C$1.40: US$1.00
(2024 actual – C$1.37: US$1:00); U.S. dollar to European euro average
exchange rate of US$1.04: €1.00 (2024
actual – US$1.08: €1.00).
- The potential imposition of U.S. trade tariffs may adversely
impact the greater macroeconomic environment, our operations, and
supply chain economics, including through foreign exchange and
interest rate volatility, increased equipment costs and impacts on
cross-border partnerships, which may lead to a reduction in
long-term economic growth in the regions in which we operate.
- Continued focus on our customers first initiatives and
maintaining our customers' likelihood-to-recommend.
- Continued intense mobile products and services competition and
fixed products and services competition in both consumer and
business markets.
- Continued increase in mobile phone industry penetration in the
Canadian market.
- Ongoing subscriber adoption of, and upgrades to, data-intensive
smartphones, as customers seek more mobile connectivity to the
internet at faster speeds.
- Mobile products and services revenue growth resulting from
improvements in subscriber loading, with continued competitive
pressure on blended ARPU.
- Continued pressure on mobile products and services acquisition
and retention expenses, arising from gross loading and customer
renewal volumes, competitive intensity and changes in customer
preferences, resulting in the effects of contract asset,
acquisition and fulfilment and TELUS Easy Payment device financing
being a net cash outflow of approximately $150 million to $250
million (2024 actual – $201
million net cash outflow). Continued connected devices
growth, as our IoT offerings diversify and expand.
- Continued growth in fixed products and services data revenue,
reflecting an increase in internet, TV and security subscribers,
speed upgrades, rate plans with larger data buckets or unlimited
data usage, and expansion of our broadband infrastructure,
healthcare solutions, agriculture and consumer goods solutions and
home and business security offerings.
- Continued erosion of residential voice revenue as a result of
technological substitution and greater use of inclusive long
distance.
- Continued growth of health services revenue and expansion of
our diverse portfolio of services through business acquisitions. We
anticipate being able to generate cross-selling opportunities
between our business units and rising customer demand for digital
health solutions, preventative and precision health services, and
growth in employer offerings as more employers provide benefits to
their team members. We expect this growth to be partially offset by
higher operating costs associated with growth related to scaling
our digital health offerings, with a focus on deploying value-added
services effectively and optimizing efficiency.
- Continued expansion of our agriculture and consumer goods
services business through business acquisitions and organic
growth.
- Continued scaling of growth and profitability in TELUS Digital
supported by our differentiated digital customer experience
solutions and continued optimization of the cost structure, enabled
by automation and generative AI solutions and investments in sales
capacity and capabilities to expand engagement with existing and
new clients.
- Continuation of our digitization efforts to simplify the many
ways our customers do business with us, introduce new products and
services, respond to customer and market needs, and provide highly
reliable service.
- Employee defined benefit pension plans: current service costs
of approximately $59 million recorded
in Employee benefits expense, $3 million recorded in Employee
benefits expense for past service costs and interest expense of
approximately $11 million recorded in
Financing costs; a rate of 4.65% for discounting the obligation and
a rate of 4.80% for current service costs for employee defined
benefit pension plan accounting purposes; and defined benefit
pension plan funding of approximately $20
million.
- Restructuring and other costs of approximately
$400 million (2024 actual – $493
million) for ongoing operational effectiveness initiatives,
with margin enhancement initiatives to mitigate pressures related
to intense competition, technological substitution, repricing of
our services, rising costs of subscriber growth and retention, and
integration costs associated with business acquisitions. We expect
total cash restructuring and other disbursements of approximately
$500 million in 2025.
- Depreciation and Amortization of intangible assets of
approximately $4.0 billion to
$4.2 billion (2024 actual –
$4.0 billion).
- Net cash Interest paid of approximately $1.3 billion to $1.4
billion (2024 actual – $1.3
billion).
- Income taxes computed at an applicable statutory rate of 24.5
to 25.1% and cash income tax payments of approximately
$500 million to $580 million
(2024 actual – $358 million).
The extent to which the economic growth estimates affect us and
the timing of their impact will depend upon the actual experience
of specific sectors of the Canadian economy.
Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or
events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements
made herein and in other TELUS filings include, but are not limited
to, the following:
- Regulatory matters. We operate in a number of highly
regulated industries and are therefore subject to a wide variety of
laws and regulations domestically and internationally. Policies and
approaches advanced by elected officials and regulatory decisions,
reviews and other government activity may have strategic,
operational and/or financial impacts (including on revenue and free
cash flow).
Risks and uncertainties include:
- potential changes to our regulatory regime or the outcomes of
proceedings, cases or inquiries relating to its application,
including, but not limited to, those set out in Section 9.4
Communications industry regulatory developments and proceedings
in our 2024 MD&A;
- our ability to comply with complex and changing regulation of
the healthcare, virtual care and medical devices industries in the
jurisdictions in which we operate, including as an operator of
health clinics; and
- our ability to comply with, or facilitate our clients'
compliance with, numerous, complex and sometimes conflicting legal
regimes, both domestically and internationally.
- Competitive environment. Competitor expansion,
activity and intensity (pricing, including discounting, bundling),
as well as non-traditional competition, disruptive technology and
disintermediation, may alter the nature of the markets in which we
compete and impact our market share and financial results
(including revenue and free cash flow). TELUS Digital, TELUS
Health and TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods also face intense
competition in their respective different markets.
- Technology. Consumer adoption of alternative
technologies and changing customer expectations have the potential
to impact our revenue streams and customer churn rates.
Risks and uncertainties include:
- disruptive technologies, including software-defined networks in
the business market, that may displace or cause us to reprice our
existing data services, and self-installed technology
solutions;
- any failure to innovate, maintain technological advantages or
respond effectively and in a timely manner to changes in
technology;
- the roll-out, anticipated benefits and efficiencies, and
ongoing evolution of wireless broadband technologies and
systems;
- our reliance on wireless network access agreements, which have
facilitated our deployment of mobile technologies;
- our expected long-term need to acquire additional spectrum
through future spectrum auctions and from third parties to meet
growing demand for data, and our ability to utilize spectrum we
acquire;
- deployment and operation of new fixed broadband network
technologies at a reasonable cost and the availability and success
of new products and services to be rolled out using such network
technologies; and
- our deployment of self-learning tools and automation, which may
change the way we interact with customers.
- Security and data protection. Our ability to detect
and identify potential threats and vulnerabilities depends on the
effectiveness of our security controls in protecting our
infrastructure and operating environment, and our timeliness in
responding to attacks and restoring business operations. A
successful attack may impede the operations of our network or lead
to the unauthorized access to, interception, destruction, use or
dissemination of, customer, team member or business
information.
- Generative AI (GenAI). GenAI exposes us to numerous
risks, including risks related to the operational reliability,
responsible AI usage, data privacy and cybersecurity, and the
possibility that our use of AI may generate inaccurate or
inappropriate content or create negative perceptions among
customers, and regulation could also affect future implementation
that could affect demand for our services.
- Climate and the environment. Natural disasters,
pandemics, disruptive events and climate change may impact our
operations, customer satisfaction and team member
experience.
Our goals to achieve carbon neutrality and reduce our greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions in our operations are subject to our ability to
identify, procure and implement solutions that reduce energy
consumption and adopt cleaner sources of energy, our ability to
identify and make suitable investments in renewable energy,
including in the form of virtual power purchase agreements, and our
ability to continue to realize significant absolute reductions in
energy use and the resulting GHG emissions from our
operations.
- Operational performance and business
combination. Investments and acquisitions
present opportunities to expand our operational scope, but may
expose us to new risks. We may be unsuccessful in gaining market
traction/share and realizing benefits, and integration efforts may
divert resources from other priorities.
Risks include:
- our reliance on third-party cloud-based computing services to
deliver our IT services; and
- economic, political and other risks associated with doing
business globally (including war and other geopolitical
developments).
- Our systems and processes. Systems and technology
innovation, maintenance and management may impact our IT systems
and network reliability, as well as our operating costs.
Risks and uncertainties include:
- our ability to maintain customer service and operate our
network in the event of human error or human-caused threats, such
as cyberattacks and equipment failures that could cause
network outages;
- technical disruptions and infrastructure breakdowns;
- delays and rising costs, including as a result of government
restrictions or trade actions; and
- the completeness and effectiveness of business continuity and
disaster recovery plans and responses.
- Our team. The rapidly evolving and highly competitive
nature of our markets and operating environment, along with the
globalization and evolving demographic profile of our workforce,
and the effectiveness of our internal training, development,
succession and health and well-being programs, may impact our
ability to attract, develop and retain team members with the skills
required to meet the changing needs of our customers and our
business. Team members may face greater mental health challenges
associated with the significant change initiatives at the
organization, which may result in the loss of key team members
through short-term and long-term
disability. Integration of international business
acquisitions and concurrent integration activities may impact
operational efficiency, organizational culture and
engagement.
- Suppliers. We may be impacted by supply chain
disruptions and lack of resiliency in relation to global or local
events. Dependence on a single supplier for products, components,
service delivery or support may impact our ability to efficiently
meet constantly changing and rising customer expectations while
maintaining quality of service. Our suppliers' ability to
maintain and service their product lines could affect the success
of upgrades to, and evolution of, technology that we
offer.
- Real estate matters. Real estate investments are
exposed to possible financing risks and uncertainty related to
future demand, occupancy and rental rates, especially following the
pandemic. Future real estate developments may not be completed on
budget or on time and may not obtain lease commitments as
planned.
- Financing, debt and dividends. Our ability to access
funding at optimal pricing may be impacted by general market
conditions and changing assessments in the fixed-income and equity
capital markets regarding our ability to generate sufficient future
cash flow to service our debt. Our current intention to pay
dividends to shareholders could constrain our ability to invest in
our operations to support future growth.
Risks and uncertainties include:
- our ability to use equity as a form of consideration in
business acquisitions is impacted by stock market valuations
of TELUS Common Shares and TELUS International (Cda) Inc.
subordinate voting shares;
- our capital expenditure levels and potential outlays for
spectrum licences in auctions or purchases from third parties
affect and are affected by: our broadband initiatives; our ongoing
deployment of newer mobile technologies; investments in network
technology required to comply with laws and regulations relating to
the security of cyber systems, including bans on the products and
services of certain vendors; investments in network resiliency and
reliability; the allocation of resources to acquisitions and future
spectrum auctions held by Innovation, Science and Economic
Development Canada (ISED). Our capital expenditure levels could be
impacted if we do not achieve our targeted operational and
financial results or if there are changes to our regulatory
environment; and
- lower than planned free cash flow could constrain our ability
to invest in operations, reduce leverage or return capital to
shareholders. Quarterly dividend decisions are made by our Board of
Directors based on our financial position and outlook. There can be
no assurance that our dividend growth program will be maintained
through 2025 or renewed.
- our plan to reduce the discount offered under dividend
re-investment plan in 2026 and to eliminate the discount
contemporaneously with achieving a net debt to EBITDA ratio of
approximately 3 times in 2027 is also subject to the evaluation of
this metric, general market conditions and our financial condition
by our Board of Directors.
- TELUS Digital's ability to achieve targets or other guidance
regarding its business, which if not achieved could affect TELUS'
ability to achieve targets for the organization as a whole and
could result in a decline in the trading price of the TELUS
International (Cda) Inc. subordinate voting shares or the TELUS
Common Shares or both. Factors that may affect TELUS Digital's
financial performance are described in TELUS International (Cda)
Inc. public filings available on SEDAR+ and EDGAR.
- Tax matters. Complexity of domestic and foreign tax
laws, regulations and reporting requirements that apply to TELUS
and our international operating subsidiaries may impact financial
results. International acquisitions and expansion of operations
heighten our exposure to multiple forms of taxation.
- The economy. Changing global economic conditions,
including a potential recession and alternating expectations about
inflation, as well as our effectiveness in monitoring and revising
growth assumptions and contingency plans, may impact the
achievement of our corporate objectives, our financial results
(including free cash flow), and our defined benefit pension
plans. Geopolitical uncertainties and potential tariffs or
non-tariff trade actions present a risk of recession and may cause
customers to reduce or delay discretionary spending, impacting new
service purchases or volumes of use, and consider substitution by
lower-priced alternatives.
- Litigation and legal matters. Complexity of, and
compliance with, laws, regulations, commitments and expectations
may have a financial and reputational impact.
Risks include:
- our ability to defend against existing and potential claims or
our ability to negotiate and exercise indemnity rights or other
protections in respect of such claims; and
- the complexity of legal compliance in domestic and foreign
jurisdictions, including compliance with competition, anti-bribery
and foreign corrupt practices laws.
The assumptions underlying our forward-looking statements are
described in additional detail in Section 9 General trends,
outlook and assumptions, and regulatory developments and
proceedings and Section 10 Risks and risk management in
our 2024 annual MD&A. Those descriptions are incorporated by
reference in this cautionary statement but are not intended to be a
complete list of the risks that could affect the Company, or of our
assumptions.
Additional risks and uncertainties that are not currently known
to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also have a
material adverse effect on our financial position, financial
performance, cash flows, business or reputation. Except as
otherwise indicated in this document, the forward-looking
statements made herein do not reflect the potential impact of any
non-recurring or special items or any mergers, acquisitions,
dispositions or other business combinations or transactions that
may be announced or that may occur after the date of this
document.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this
document describe our expectations, and are based on our
assumptions, as at the date of this document and are subject to
change after this date. We disclaim any intention or obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statements except as required
by law.
This cautionary statement qualifies all of the forward-looking
statements in this document.
Non-GAAP and other specified financial measures
We have issued guidance on and report certain non-GAAP measures
that are used to evaluate the performance of TELUS, as well as to
determine compliance with debt covenants and to manage our capital
structure. As non-GAAP measures generally do not have a
standardized meaning, they may not be comparable to similar
measures presented by other issuers. For certain financial metrics,
there are definitional differences between TELUS and TELUS Digital
Experience reporting. These differences largely arise from TELUS
Digital adopting definitions consistent with practice in its
industry. Securities regulations require such measures to be
clearly defined, qualified and reconciled with their nearest GAAP
measure. Certain of the metrics do not have generally accepted
industry definitions.
Adjusted Net income and adjusted basic earnings per share
(EPS): These are non-GAAP measures that do not have any
standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS Accounting Standards and
are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures
presented by other issuers. Adjusted Net income excludes the
effects of restructuring and other costs, income tax-related
adjustments, long-term debt prepayment premium and other
adjustments (identified in the following tables). Effective for
2024, with retrospective application, we have revised our
definition of adjusted Net income to remove other equity (income)
losses related to real estate joint ventures to conform with the
way management currently evaluates performance. Adjusted basic
earnings per share is calculated as adjusted net income divided by
basic weighted-average common shares outstanding. These measures
are used to evaluate performance at a consolidated level and
exclude items that, in management's view, may obscure underlying
trends in business performance or items of an unusual nature that
do not reflect our ongoing operations. They should not be
considered alternatives to Net income and basic earnings per share
in measuring TELUS' performance.
Reconciliation of adjusted Net income
|
Three months ended
December 31
|
C$ and
in millions
|
2024
|
2023
|
Net income
attributable to Common Shares
|
358
|
288
|
Add (deduct) amounts
net of amount attributable to non-controlling interests:
|
|
|
Restructuring and
other costs
|
60
|
140
|
Tax effects of
restructuring and other costs
|
(13)
|
(37)
|
Real estate
rationalization-related restructuring impairments
|
(20)
|
8
|
Tax effect of real
estate rationalization-related restructuring impairments
|
5
|
(2)
|
Income tax-related
adjustments
|
(11)
|
(13)
|
Unrealized changes in
virtual power purchase agreements forward element
|
3
|
(59)
|
Tax effect of
unrealized changes in virtual power purchase agreements forward
element
|
(2)
|
16
|
Adjusted Net
income
|
380
|
341
|
Reconciliation of adjusted basic EPS
|
Three months ended
December 31
|
C$
|
2024
|
2023
|
Basic
EPS
|
0.24
|
0.20
|
Add (deduct) amounts
net of amount attributable to non-controlling interests:
|
|
|
Restructuring and
other costs, per share
|
0.04
|
0.09
|
Tax effect of
restructuring and other costs, per share
|
(0.01)
|
(0.02)
|
Real estate
rationalization-related restructuring impairments, per
share
|
(0.01)
|
0.01
|
Income tax-related
adjustments, per share
|
(0.01)
|
(0.01)
|
Unrealized changes in
virtual power purchase agreements forward element, per
share
|
—
|
(0.04)
|
Tax effect of
unrealized changes in virtual power purchase agreements forward
element
|
—
|
0.01
|
Adjusted basic
EPS
|
0.25
|
0.24
|
EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes,
depreciation and amortization): We have issued guidance on and
report EBITDA because it is a key measure used to evaluate
performance at a consolidated level. EBITDA is commonly reported
and widely used by investors and lending institutions as an
indicator of a company's operating performance and ability to incur
and service debt, and as a valuation metric. EBITDA should not be
considered an alternative to Net income in measuring TELUS'
performance, nor should it be used as a measure of cash flow.
EBITDA as calculated by TELUS is equivalent to Operating revenues
and other income less the total of Goods and services purchased
expense and Employee benefits expense.
We also calculate Adjusted EBITDA to exclude items of an
unusual nature that do not reflect our ongoing operations and
should not, in our opinion, be considered in a long-term valuation
metric or should not be included in an assessment of our ability to
service or incur debt.
EBITDA and Adjusted
EBITDA reconciliations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TTech
|
TELUS
Digital
|
Eliminations
|
Total
|
Three-month periods
ended December 31 (C$ millions)
|
2024
|
2023
|
2024
|
2023
|
2024
|
2023
|
2024
|
2023
|
Net
income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
320
|
310
|
Financing
costs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
321
|
278
|
Income taxes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
118
|
76
|
EBIT
|
768
|
535
|
7
|
129
|
(16)
|
—
|
759
|
664
|
Depreciation
|
562
|
615
|
56
|
50
|
—
|
—
|
618
|
665
|
Amortization of
intangible assets
|
330
|
316
|
63
|
60
|
—
|
—
|
393
|
376
|
EBITDA
|
1,660
|
1,466
|
126
|
239
|
(16)
|
—
|
1,770
|
1,705
|
Add restructuring and
other costs included in EBITDA
|
51
|
132
|
17
|
10
|
—
|
—
|
68
|
142
|
Adjusted EBITDA
|
1,711
|
1,598
|
143
|
249
|
(16)
|
—
|
1,838
|
1,847
|
Adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures is calculated
for our reportable segments, as it represents a performance measure
that may be more comparable to similar measurees presented by other
issuers.
Adjusted EBITDA less
capital expenditures reconciliation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TTech
|
TELUS
Digital
|
Eliminations
|
Total
|
Three-month periods
ended December 31 (C$ millions)
|
2024
|
2023
|
2024
|
2023
|
2024
|
2023
|
2024
|
2023
|
Adjusted
EBITDA
|
1,711
|
1,598
|
143
|
249
|
(16)
|
—
|
1,838
|
1,847
|
Capital
expenditures
|
(520)
|
(497)
|
(47)
|
(36)
|
16
|
—
|
(551)
|
(533)
|
Adjusted EBITDA
less capital expenditures
|
1,191
|
1,101
|
96
|
213
|
—
|
—
|
1,287
|
1,314
|
Free cash flow: We report this measure as a supplementary
indicator of our operating performance, and there is no generally
accepted industry definition of free cash flow. It should not be
considered as an alternative to the measures in the Consolidated
statements of cash flows. Free cash flow excludes certain working
capital changes (such as trade receivables and trade payables),
proceeds from divested assets and other sources and uses of cash,
as reported in the Consolidated statements of cash flows. It
provides an indication of how much cash generated by operations is
available after capital expenditures that may be used to, among
other things, pay dividends, repay debt, purchase shares or make
other investments. We exclude impacts of accounting standards that
do not impact cash, such as IFRS 15 and IFRS 16. Free cash
flow may be supplemented from time to time by proceeds from
divested assets or financing activities.
Free cash flow
calculation
|
|
|
|
Three months
ended
December 31
|
C$ millions
|
2024
|
2023
|
EBITDA
|
1,770
|
1,705
|
Restructuring and other
costs, net of disbursements
|
(39)
|
16
|
Effects of contract
asset, acquisition and fulfilment (IFRS 15 impact) and TELUS Easy
Payment mobile device financing
|
(230)
|
(175)
|
Effects of lease
principal (IFRS 16 impact)
|
(158)
|
(144)
|
Items from the
statements of cash flows:
|
|
|
Share-based
compensation, net of employee share purchase plan cash
outflows
|
42
|
22
|
Net employee defined
benefit plans expense
|
23
|
26
|
Employer contributions
to employee defined benefit plans
|
(6)
|
(5)
|
Loss from equity
accounted investments and other
|
5
|
26
|
Interest
paid
|
(319)
|
(308)
|
Interest
received
|
3
|
12
|
Capital
expenditures1 (excluding acquisition from related
party)
|
(458)
|
(533)
|
Capital expenditure for
acquisition from related party
|
(93)
|
—
|
Related part
construction credit facility repayment made concurrent with capital
expenditure for acquisition from related party
|
94
|
—
|
Free cash flow before
income taxes
|
634
|
642
|
Income taxes paid, net
of refunds
|
(100)
|
(47)
|
Free cash
flow
|
534
|
595
|
Reconciliation of
free cash flow with Cash provided by operating
activities
|
|
|
|
Three months
ended
December 31
|
C$ millions
|
2024
|
2023
|
Free cash
flow
|
534
|
595
|
Add
(deduct):
|
|
|
Capital
expenditures1
|
551
|
533
|
Effects of lease
principal
|
158
|
144
|
Net change in non-cash
operating working capital not included in preceding line
items and other individually immaterial items included in Net
income neither providing nor using cash
|
(166)
|
42
|
Cash provided by
operating activities
|
1,077
|
1,314
|
(1)
|
Refer to Note 31
of the consolidated financial statements for further
information.
|
Mobile phone average revenue per subscriber per month
(ARPU) is calculated as network revenue derived from
monthly service plan, roaming and usage charges; divided by the
average number of mobile phone subscribers on the network during
the period, and is expressed as a rate per month.
Appendix
Operating revenues and other income – TTech segment
C$ millions
|
Three months ended
December 31
|
Per cent
|
(unaudited)
|
2024
|
2023
|
change
|
Mobile network
revenue
|
1,758
|
1,759
|
(0.1)
|
Mobile equipment and
other service revenues
|
776
|
697
|
11.3
|
Fixed data
services(1)
|
1,196
|
1,156
|
3.5
|
Fixed voice
services
|
173
|
188
|
(8.0)
|
Fixed equipment and
other service revenues
|
127
|
109
|
16.5
|
Health
services
|
475
|
432
|
10.0
|
Agriculture and
consumer goods services
|
117
|
101
|
15.8
|
Operating revenues
(arising from contracts with customers)
|
4,622
|
4,442
|
4.1
|
Other income
|
52
|
15
|
n/m
|
External Operating
revenues and other income
|
4,674
|
4,457
|
4.9
|
Intersegment
revenues
|
3
|
3
|
-
|
TTech Operating
revenues and other income
|
4,677
|
4,460
|
4.9
|
(1)
|
Excludes health
services and agriculture and consumer goods services.
|
Operating revenues and other income – TELUS digital
experience segment
C$ millions
|
Three months ended
December 31
|
Per cent
|
(unaudited)
|
2024
|
2023
|
change
|
Operating revenues
(arising from contracts with customers)
|
709
|
714
|
(0.7)
|
Other income
|
(2)
|
27
|
n/m
|
External Operating
revenues and other income
|
707
|
741
|
(4.6)
|
Intersegment
revenues
|
260
|
228
|
14.0
|
TELUS Digital
Operating revenues and other income
|
967
|
969
|
(0.2)
|
|
Notations used in the
tables above: n/m – not meaningful.
|
About TELUS
TELUS (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) is a
world-leading communications technology company, generating over
$20 billion in annual revenue and
connecting more than 20 million customers through our advanced
suite of broadband services for consumers, businesses and the
public sector. We are committed to leveraging our technology to
enable remarkable human outcomes. TELUS is passionate about putting
our customers and communities first, leading the way globally in
client service excellence and social capitalism. Our TELUS Health
business is enhancing 76 million lives worldwide through innovative
preventive medicine and
well-being
technologies. Our TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods business
utilizes digital technologies and data insights to optimize the
connection between producers and consumers. Guided by our enduring
'give where we live' philosophy, TELUS and our 140,000 team members
have contributed $1.7 billion and
volunteered 2.2 million days of service since 2000, earning us the
distinction of the world's most giving company. For more
information, visit telus.com or follow @TELUSNews on X and
@Darren_Entwistle on Instagram.
Investor Relations
Robert
Mitchell
(647) 837-1606
ir@telus.com
Media Relations
Steve
Beisswanger
(514) 865-2787
Steve.Beisswanger@telus.com
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SOURCE TELUS Corporation