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.

Public Markets

The FOCUS Carrier-Focused Telecom Technology Index (CFTTI) continued its trend of strong gains with a 7.2% increase in our fall reporting period. While strong, the gain still lagged the broader indices as the S&P 500 was up 7.6% and the NASDAQ was up 11.0% over the same time frame.The CFTTI also turned in an impressive 12-month gain of 28.9%. Even so, the sector still came in slightly behind both the 29.2% gain in the S&P 500 and the 29.6% gain in the NASDAQ. Sector multiples continued their upward trend and closed out the period at 2.8x revenue and 13.3x EBITDA. These compare very favorably to year-ago multiples of 2.3x revenue and 11.5x EBITDA.

Public Markets

The FOCUS Enterprise-Focused Telecom Technology Index (EFTTI) delivered a strong return of 12.6% over these past three months. This outperformed both the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ, each of which gained only 5.1%. For the past 12-months, the sector delivered very similar returns to the broader indices. The 34.8% year-over-year return in the EFTTI is slightly above the 34.5% gain in the S&P 500, but slightly lower than the 37.4% return of the NASDAQ. Sector multiples are up considerably compared to this same time last year. The sector revenue multiple increased from 5.3x to 7.0x, while the sector EBITDA multiple increased from 20.7x to 27.4x.

Public Markets

The FOCUS Communications Service Provider Index (CSPI) was barely in the black for this current period with a three-month gain of 1.0%.This lagged both the 8.2% gain in the S&P 500 and the 9.5% gain in the NASDAQ over the same time frame by a wide margin.The situation is similar for the full year period as the CSPI’s increase of 16.5% represents less than half of the annual gains of the S&P 500 (up 38.6%) and the NASDAQ (up 44.2%). Sector multiples are higher than at this same time last year and closed out the period at 3.1x revenue and 8.7x EBITDA. Year-ago multiples were only 2.7x revenue and 7.8x EBITDA.

Public Markets

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.

Public Markets

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.

Public Markets

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.