Public Markets

For the third straight period the FOCUS Carrier-Focused Telecom Technology Index (CFTTI) had a negative return. In this case, the CFTTI was only slightly in the red with a three-month loss of 0.3%. This performance trailed the broader indices as the S&P 500 and NASDAQ both turned in strong gains this period of 7.3% and 8.8%, respectively. The CFTTI’s 1.8% decline in the past year also compared unfavorably to strong year-over-year gains in both the S&P 500 and NASDAQ. Sector multiples closed out the period lower than they were at this same time last year. The sector revenue multiple dipped from 2.3x to 2.2x, while the sector EBITDA multiple fell more sharply from 14.4x to down to 11.9x.

Public Markets

The FOCUS Enterprise-Focused Telecom Technology Index (EFTTI) experienced a double-digit loss in our fall report- ing period, dropping 11.4% in the past three months. This was despite the fact that the S&P 500 and NASDAQ were up 1.9% and 1.4%, respectively, over the same time period.The EFTTI still remains in positive territory for the full year with a 12-month gain of 6.7%. However, this gain once again trails the broader indices as the S&P 500 is up 12.0% year-over-year and the NASDAQ is up 13.5% year-over-year. Even with the overall decline in the index, sector multiples actually increased compared to this same time last year.The sector revenue multiple went from 3.9x to 4.2x, while the sector EBITDA multiple increased from 16.2x to 17.5x.

Public Markets

It was a hat trick for the FOCUS Communications Service Provider Index (CSPI) as the sector posted a third straight period in positive territory. This fall’s three-month gain was 6.6%, which was good enough to outperform both the 1.2% gain in the S&P 500 and the 0.1% loss in the NASDAQ. However, gains this period were not broad- based as three of the five sub sectors in the CSPI were actually in negative territory. For the full year period the sector is up 13.0%, a return that once again handily outperforms both of the broader indices. Sector multiples are slightly higher than they were at this time last year. The sector revenue multiple increased from 2.6x a year ago to 2.8x currently, while the sector EBITDA multiple went from 8.1x to 8.4x over the corresponding time period.

Public Markets

After a solid performance in our summer report, the FOCUS Telecom Business Services Index (TBSI) continued to make steady progress in the fall reporting period. The TBSI was up 4.5% in the past three months, which significantly outperformed both the 1.2% gain in the S&P 500 and the 0.1% drop in the NASDAQ over the corresponding time period. The sector also outperformed the broader indices for the full year period. The TBSI is up 10.7% in the past year, while the S&P 500 was only up 2.2% and the NASDAQ fell 0.6%. Sector multiple performance was mixed. The sector revenue multiple ticked up slightly compared to last year, increasing from 0.4x to 0.5x. However, the sector EBITDA multiple dropped from 10.0x a year ago to 9.4x currently.

In public markets, the FOCUS Carrier-Focused Telecom Technology Index (CFTTI) had a second straight reporting period in negative territory with a three-month loss of 7.9%. This was despite strong positive returns in the broader indices of 6.3% in the S&P 500 and 6.8% in the NASDAQ. The loss this period was enough to put the CFTTI into negative territory for the full year period with a year-over-year loss of 1.3%. This performance was worse than the 0.9% gain in the S&P 500 over the corresponding time frame but slightly better than the 1.8% drop in the NASDAQ. Sector multiples are lower than they were at this same time last year. The sector revenue multiple fell from 2.4x to 2.2x, while the sector EBITDA multiple dropped from 15.0x to 12.0x.

In public markets, the FOCUS Enterprise-Focused Telecom Technology Index (EFTTI) ...

In public markets, the FOCUS Communications Service Provider Index (CSPI) enjoyed a second straight reporting period with a positive return as the index gained 3.7% in the past three months. This gain exactly split the difference between the 3.8% gain in the S&P 500 and the 3.6% gain in the NASDAQ over the corresponding time period. For the full year, the CSPI is up 13.4%, a gain which significantly outperformed the annual gains of 8.2% and 6.6% in the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ, respectively. Sector multiples also closed out the period higher than they were at this same time last year. The sector revenue multiple now stands at 2.7x (up from 2.4x a year ago) while the sector EBITDA multiple climbed to 8.0x (up from 7.4x a year ago).