Once again, the FOCUS Telecom Business Services Index (TBSI) climbed higher, gaining 3.5% over the past three months. This marks the fifth straight period with a positive return for the sector. However, the TBSI did lag
the broader indices as the S&P 500 was up 8.2% and the NASDAQ was up 9.5% over the same time period. When looked at over the past 12 months, the sector’s return compares more favorably to the overall market. The 43.3% year-over-year gain in the TBSI outperforms the 38.6% gain in the S&P 500 and falls just shy of the 44.2% gain in the NASDAQ. Sector multiples are also higher than at this same time last year and closed out the period at 0.7x revenue and 9.6x EBITDA. This compares to year-ago multiples of 0.6x revenue and 7.4x EBITDA.
The FOCUS Carrier-Focused Telecom Technology Index (CFTTI) enjoyed yet another strong reporting period with a three-month gain of 13.1%. Not only was this gain impressive in absolute terms, but it handily outperformed both the 10.3% gain in the S&P 500 and the 4.2% gain in the NASDAQ over the same time period.The CFTTI still lags the broader indices for the full year period as its 18.6% gain in the last 12-months compares unfavorably to both the 38.1% gain in the S&P 500 and the 44.9% gain in the NASDAQ. Sector multiples ended the period at 2.6x revenue and 12.8x EBITDA. Both of these are higher than year-ago multiples of 2.4x revenue and 11.7x EBITDA.
The FOCUS Enterprise-Focused Telecom Technology Index (EFTTI) cooled off significantly this past three months but still managed to turn in a positive return of 2.2%. This lagged both the 12.6% gain in the S&P 500 and the 6.8% gain in the NASDAQ by fairly wide margins.The sector is still up a hefty 48.4% over the past year, which puts its performance roughly in the middle of the 43.6% gain in the S&P 500 and the 57.1% gain in the NASDAQ over the corresponding time frame. Sector multiples are also significantly higher than they were a year ago. The sector revenue multiple jumped from 4.0x to 6.3x, while the sector EBITDA multiple increased from 16.0x to 24.6x.
The FOCUS Communications Service Provider Index (CSPI) had a fourth straight reporting period with a positive return. However, this period’s gain of 1.3% was relatively modest and under-performed both the 5.8% gain in the S&P 500 and the 2.8% gain in the NASDAQ over the corresponding time frame. The CSPI is also up 27.6% for the full year. However, even with this substantial increase the sector still lags the S&P 500 (up 53.7%) and the NASDAQ (up 72.0%) by a wide margin. Sector multiples are significantly higher than they were at this time last year. The sector revenue multiple increased from 2.5x to 3.0x, and the sector EBITDA multiple jumped from 7.2x to 8.5x
The FOCUS Telecom Business Services Index (TBSI) had a fourth straight reporting period with a positive return, marking a full year of positive returns since the outbreak of the pandemic. This past three months was particularly strong as the sector’s gain of 20.1% handily outperformed both the 5.8% gain in the S&P 500 and the 2.8% gain in the NASDAQ. For the full year, the TBSI is up a very impressive 63.0%. While this gain was good enough to give it a comfortable lead over the 53.7% year-over-year increase in the S&P 500, it still lagged the 72.0% gain in the NASDAQ, Sub sector multiples are also meaningfully higher than they were at this time last year.The sub sector revenue multiple jumped from 0.5x to 0.7x, while the EBITDA multiple spiked from 6.6x to 9.3x.
The FOCUS Carrier-Focused Telecom Technology Index (CFTTI) was in the black for the second straight reporting period with a three-month gain of 5.7%. While this gain beat the 5.2% increase in the S&P 500 over the corresponding time period, it also fell short of the 8.2% gain in the NASDAQ. The sector also looks strong for the full year period with a gain of 17.8%. However, despite the robust increase, the CFTTI still lagged far behind both the 29.0% gain in the S&P 500 and the 54.0% gain in the NASDAQ. Sector multiples closed out the period at 2.3x revenue and 11.2x EBITDA. Both of these are higher than year-ago multiples of 2.1x revenue and 10.4x EBITDA.
The FOCUS Enterprise-Focused Telecom Technology Index (EFTTI) turned in a very strong overall performance this period with a three-month gain of 18.2%.This handily out- performed the 13.6% gain in the S&P 500 but fell slightly short of the 19.8% gain in the NASDAQ over the same time frame. The story is similar for the full year period with a 41.5% gain in the EFTTI comparing favorably to the 15.2% gain in the S&P 500 but trailing the 42.8% gain in the NASDAQ. Sector multiples are up sharply compared to this same time last year. The sector revenue multiple jumped from 4.3x a year ago to 6.3x currently, while the sector EBITDA multiple expanded from 16.8x to 24.7x.
Washington, DC, (February 11, 2021) – FOCUS Investment Banking (“FOCUS”), a national middle market investment banking firm providing merger, acquisition, divestiture and corporate finance services, announced today that Digital West Holdings, Inc. (Digital West), a provider of fiber optic connectivity and related services for thousands of business customers in California’s Central Coast region, has been acquired by Wave Broadband, a division of Astound Broadband. FOCUS advised Digital West in the transaction.
Washington, DC, (February 11, 2021) – FOCUS Investment Banking (“FOCUS”), a national middle market investment banking firm providing merger, acquisition, divestiture and corporate finance services, announced today that Digital West Holdings, Inc. (Digital West), a provider of fiber optic connectivity and related services for thousands of business customers in California’s Central Coast region, has been acquired by Wave Broadband, a division of Astound Broadband. FOCUS advised Digital West in the transaction. 
