Public Markets

The FOCUS Telecom Business Services Index (TBSI) returned to positive territory this reporting period with a strong three-month gain of 9.0%. This put the TBSI in between the 10.7% return in the S&P 500 and the 8.3% return in the NASDAQ over the corresponding time frame. The sector looks even better over the longer 12-month time frame. The 34.6% gain in the TBSI outstripped both the 26.9% gain in the S&P 500 and the 21.4% gain in the NASDAQ. In addition, sector multiples went from 0.8x revenue and 9.4x EBITDA in the year-ago period to 1.0x revenue and 11.0x EBITDA at the end of the current reporting period.

Public Markets

After a general upwards trend in our last several reports, the FOCUS Carrier-Focused Telecom Technology Index (CFTTI) reversed course and dropped 7.0% in our winter three-month reporting period. This was despite a reasonably favorable market environment in which the S&P 500 gained 1.0% and the NASDAQ gained 1.8%. Sector losses were broad-based as only one CFTTI sub sector managed to deliver a positive return. For the full year, the CFTTI is still in the black with a year-over-year return of 19.3%. Even with this strong performance, the sector still lags both the 26.1% return in the S&P 500 and the 27.4% return in the NASDAQ over the past 12 months. Sector multiples have shown meaningful increases com- pared to this same time last year. The sector revenue multiple went from 2.2x a year ago to 2.5x currently, while the sector EBITDA multiple increased from 11.3x to 12.0x.

Public Markets

While sector performance has cooled off significantly since our last report, the FOCUS Enterprise-Focused Telecom Technology Index (EFTTI) still managed to deliver a positive return of 1.5% in this most recent three-month period. The sector underperformed the broader indices over this time frame as it lagged both the S&P 500 (up 4.8%) and the NASDAQ (up 5.6%).The situation looks better when measured over the full year as the EFTTI is up 37.8% in the past 12 months. While this still lags the 39.2% gain in the S&P 500 and the 39.6% gain in the NASDAQ, the gap is extremely narrow. Multiples are up strongly com- pared to this time last year.The sub sector revenue multiple closed out the period at 7.0x (up from 5.3x a year ago) while the EBITDA multiple ended up at 27.0x (up from 19.9x a year ago).

Public Markets

It was a rough three months for the FOCUS Communications Service Provider Index (CSPI) as it ended the period 6.2% below where it began. This significantly underperformed both the 0.2% gain in the S&P 500 and the 0.4% loss in the NASDAQ. The CSPI also lags the broader indices in terms of year-over-year performance as its 3.6% gain compares unfavorably with both the 28.1% gain in the S&P 500 and the 29.4% gain in the NASDAQ. Sector multiples are slightly higher than they were a year ago.The sector revenue multiple ticked up from 2.8x to 2.9x, while the EBITDA multiple increased from 7.9x to 8.2x.

Public Markets

After several periods of gains, the FOCUS Telecom Business Services Index (TBSI) slipped into the black with a loss of 0.5% over the past three months. In addition to its negative performance, the sub sector trailed the broader indices as the S&P 500 rose 0.2% and the NASDAQ dipped 0.4% over the same time period. Even with this period’s decline, performance for the full year remains strong. The TBSI is up 41.2% over the past 12 months, which handily outperforms both the 28.1% gain in the S&P 500 and the 29.4% gain in the NASDAQ. Sector multiples are also higher than they were in the year-ago period. The sector revenue multiple increased from 0.6x to 0.7x, while the sector EBITDA multiple rose from 7.4x to 9.2x.