Sign in

    Drew McReynoldsRBC Capital Markets

    Drew McReynolds's questions to BCE Inc (BCE) leadership

    Drew McReynolds's questions to BCE Inc (BCE) leadership • Q2 2025

    Question

    Drew McReynolds requested clarification on how new revenue streams from Bell Business Markets (BBM), like AI Fabric and Ateco, are reported within the company's financial segments. He also asked about the outlook for further Canadian fiber expansion.

    Answer

    EVP & CFO Curtis Millen explained that Ateco and cybersecurity are primarily service revenue, while AI Fabric revenue accounting depends on contract structure (financing vs. operating lease), affecting whether it's reported as service or product revenue. President & CEO Mirko Bibic added that the Canadian fiber build has been scaled back, with the current focus on penetrating the existing ~8 million home footprint.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    Drew McReynolds's questions to BCE Inc (BCE) leadership • Q2 2025

    Question

    Drew McReynolds of RBC Capital Markets requested clarification on how revenue streams from Bell Business Markets (BBM) are reported in segmented disclosures and asked about the outlook for further fiber-to-the-home expansion in Canada given the regulatory climate.

    Answer

    EVP & CFO Curtis Millen explained that while Ateco and cybersecurity are mostly service revenue, AI Fabric revenue could be classified as either service or product depending on contract terms. President & CEO Mirko Bibic added that the Canadian fiber build has already been scaled back, with the current focus on penetrating the existing footprint and ensuring fair compensation for network investments.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    Drew McReynolds's questions to BCE Inc (BCE) leadership • Q1 2025

    Question

    Drew McReynolds of RBC Capital Markets asked about the assumptions behind the reiterated 2025 guidance and sought clarification on the math for the 2027 leverage target of 3.5x.

    Answer

    CEO Mirko Bibic stated that the original guidance ranges were set to accommodate the current environment. CFO Curtis Millen explained the deleveraging path, noting that while Ziply's debt will initially increase leverage, this will be offset by free cash flow growth, asset sales, and over $1 billion in improved free cash flow from the capital-efficient PSP partnership.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    Drew McReynolds's questions to BCE Inc (BCE) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Drew McReynolds inquired about BCE's target leverage ratio for the end of 2025 and the expected timeline for monetizing additional noncore assets. He also asked for the key assumptions behind the 2025 revenue growth guidance range of -3% to +1%, particularly concerning macro, regulatory, and competitive factors.

    Answer

    Curtis Millen, CFO, stated that the primary focus is on maintaining investment-grade credit ratings and reducing the net leverage ratio through free cash flow growth and asset sales, without providing a specific target or timeline. He noted that achieving the higher end of the revenue guidance depends on a sustained improvement in the competitive pricing environment. Mirko Bibic, President and CEO, added that the current regulatory policy disincentivizes investment in critical infrastructure.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    Drew McReynolds's questions to Thomson Reuters Corp (TRI) leadership

    Drew McReynolds's questions to Thomson Reuters Corp (TRI) leadership • Q2 2025

    Question

    Drew McReynolds of RBC Capital Markets inquired about the current percentage of professional workflows automated by Agentic AI and how the introduction of these offerings might expand the Total Addressable Market (TAM) previously outlined at the 2024 Investor Day.

    Answer

    CEO Steve Hasker explained that workflow automation is still modest overall but varies by profession, with tax being more automated historically than legal. He noted that while the GenAI TAMs haven't been officially updated since the 20% increase was announced, the company is on track and will revise them as the product roadmap progresses. Chief Product Officer David Wong added that their approach is customer-driven, focusing on automating the most valuable and time-consuming tasks, like tax preparation, where Agentic AI can uniquely solve for numeracy gaps.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    Drew McReynolds's questions to Thomson Reuters Corp (TRI) leadership • Q1 2025

    Question

    Drew McReynolds from RBC asked if there are underperforming products within the large 'other' revenue bucket, the current strategic view on Global Print and Reuters News, and whether a recession could accelerate AI adoption.

    Answer

    CFO Mike Eastwood indicated no significant divestitures are foreseen but portfolio refinement will continue. He affirmed the strategic importance of Global Print for its cash flow and stated no change in position on Reuters. CEO Steve Hasker noted that while they don't see a recession-driven acceleration in AI adoption yet, they are positioning products to highlight efficiency ROI in such a scenario, as economic stress often drives structural change.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    Drew McReynolds's questions to Thomson Reuters Corp (TRI) leadership • Q2 2024

    Question

    Drew McReynolds of RBC Capital Markets inquired about the M&A pipeline, the competitive environment for AI startups, and Thomson Reuters' pricing strategy for its CoCounsel generative AI product.

    Answer

    CEO Steve Hasker stated the M&A pipeline is strong under new leadership, focusing on products that leverage TR's distribution. He noted that increased competition from startups in AI is a positive sign of market opportunity and expressed confidence in TR's position. Regarding CoCounsel pricing, Hasker explained the company prefers enterprise-wide models over per-seat pricing to align with the significant efficiency gains customers experience, ensuring value for both parties.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    Drew McReynolds's questions to Telus Corp (TU) leadership

    Drew McReynolds's questions to Telus Corp (TU) leadership • Q2 2025

    Question

    Drew McReynolds from RBC Capital Markets asked for a big-picture view on Canada's sovereign AI push and where TELUS sees the largest incremental revenue opportunities within that ecosystem.

    Answer

    President and CEO Darren Entwistle identified three key opportunities: leveraging existing data centers for a sovereign AI factory, driving internal productivity with AI, and external go-to-market through TELUS Digital. President of TELUS Digital Solutions, Tobias Dengel, added that their ability to use TELUS as 'customer zero' to scale AI solutions provides a significant competitive advantage.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    Drew McReynolds's questions to Telus Corp (TU) leadership • Q1 2025

    Question

    Drew McReynolds from RBC Capital Markets followed up on the wireless discussion, asking if the B2C market is now largely commoditized. He also requested specific examples of how AI will drive cost savings and revenue growth by 2027, and asked about the potential for a share buyback (NCIB) once leverage targets are met.

    Answer

    EVP & CFO Doug French stated an NCIB would be considered after 2027. President of TELUS Digital, Tobias Dengel, provided detailed AI examples, including agent training copilots that reduce training time and frontline tools that cut call handle times while increasing CSAT. President & CEO Darren Entwistle argued against commoditization, stating TELUS must shift to selling on a service premium, improve product bundling, use AI for price optimization, and aggressively scale IoT solutions to create differentiation and value.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    Drew McReynolds's questions to Telus Corp (TU) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Drew McReynolds from RBC asked about the assumptions for wireless market volume growth underpinning the 2025 guidance. He also questioned what alternative growth opportunities exist and if the outlook would materially change if TELUS is unable to utilize Third Party Internet Access (TPIA) in Eastern Canada.

    Answer

    Zainul Mawji, EVP, explained the focus is on leveraging the existing customer base through increased product intensity and improved churn. Navin Arora, EVP, highlighted growth in B2B, SMB, and IoT. President and CEO Darren Entwistle added that significant opportunity exists within their current client base and stated the company's bold assumption is that the CRTC's pro-competitive TPIA decision will stand, aligning with the interests of Canadian consumers and businesses.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    Drew McReynolds's questions to Telus Corp (TU) leadership • Q2 2024

    Question

    Drew McReynolds sought clarification on the wireless ARPU decline comparison and asked about the contribution of IoT to rebuilding network revenue growth.

    Answer

    CFO Doug French confirmed the ARPU comparison methodology was correct. He and executive Zainul Mawji discussed driving ARPU through premium bundles, brand differentiation, and a focus on overall household economics. They noted that despite ARPU pressure, a focus on efficiency is driving strong EBITDA performance, with growth expected to accelerate in the second half of the year.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI