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    Samuel McHughBNP Paribas

    Samuel McHugh's questions to EchoStar Corp (SATS) leadership

    Samuel McHugh's questions to EchoStar Corp (SATS) leadership • Q1 2025

    Question

    Samuel McHugh from BNP Paribas Asset Management asked for the quantitative impact of government support programs on net adds, the rationale for buying back Hughes secured bonds over potentially cheaper unsecured bonds, and for clarification on whether MVNO contracts preclude white-labeling services.

    Answer

    CEO Hamid Akhavan explained that former government program customers are now integrated into their general prepaid brands, so they do not break out the impact. He reiterated that the bond buyback was an opportunistic decision based on availability and price, not a deeper strategy. COO John Swieringa and Hamid Akhavan both clarified that any wholesale deal utilizing their roaming partners would require new, custom business negotiations and would not be automatic.

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    Samuel McHugh's questions to EchoStar Corp (SATS) leadership • Q3 2024

    Question

    Samuel McHugh asked about the payment structure of the AT&T Network Service Agreement, specifically if payments are at their peak and how quickly they will decline as customers are moved on-net, and if there are any catch-up payment provisions.

    Answer

    President of Technology and COO John Swieringa confirmed that EchoStar is on track with its minimum commitments to both T-Mobile and AT&T. He positioned the agreements as a competitive asset, not a liability, as they provide subscribers with broader coverage than any single network. He emphasized a focus on a P&L mindset and leveraging these partnerships for profitable acquisition and efficient CapEx management, rather than simply racing to spend.

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    Samuel McHugh's questions to Altice USA Inc (ATUS) leadership

    Samuel McHugh's questions to Altice USA Inc (ATUS) leadership • Q1 2025

    Question

    Samuel McHugh asked how the company is balancing the risk of cannibalization versus driving new gross additions with its new low-income offer. He also questioned the worsening trends in the West footprint and when an improvement might be expected.

    Answer

    Executive Dennis Mathew explained that the company is mitigating cannibalization risk through a disciplined and gated rollout of the low-income offer, using AI tools to optimize for customer lifetime value. Regarding the West, he noted that while markets with new fiber entrants are challenging, the company is seeing year-over-year improvements in gross adds and churn in markets with more mature overbuilders, and is deploying new playbooks to improve performance across the entire footprint.

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    Samuel McHugh's questions to T-Mobile US Inc (TMUS) leadership

    Samuel McHugh's questions to T-Mobile US Inc (TMUS) leadership • Q1 2025

    Question

    Samuel McHugh of BNP Paribas inquired about the potential for a significant step-up in churn in Q2 due to recent price increases and asked whether T-Mobile had restrained marketing spend in Q1 given its strong EBITDA results.

    Answer

    CEO Mike Sievert stated that any churn impact from pricing changes on legacy plans is temporary and was anticipated, as the rollout was managed via a test-and-learn approach. He argued the nature of competition is changing, but not the overall intensity. Jon Freier, President of the Consumer Group, added that Q1 competition was device-focused and consistent with prior quarters. CFO Peter Osvaldik confirmed they optimize for value creation each quarter and plan for further investment in Q2 and beyond.

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    Samuel McHugh's questions to T-Mobile US Inc (TMUS) leadership • Q3 2024

    Question

    Samuel McHugh from BNP Paribas requested an update on the regulatory progress of the U.S. Cellular acquisition and asked if recent ARPU strength was driven more by customer mix or by price adjustments.

    Answer

    CFO Peter Osvaldik stated that ARPA growth was driven by core expansion of customer relationships, with rate plan optimization being a minor component. On the deals, Executive Michael Katz provided timelines, expecting Lumos to close early next year and U.S. Cellular mid-next year. General Counsel Mark Nelson added that the U.S. Cellular deal is pro-consumer, leading to lower prices and better coverage, expressing confidence in eventual clearance.

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    Samuel McHugh's questions to Verizon Communications Inc (VZ) leadership

    Samuel McHugh's questions to Verizon Communications Inc (VZ) leadership • Q1 2025

    Question

    Samuel McHugh asked why Verizon included a tariff caveat in its guidance if management felt relaxed about the issue, and questioned whether broadband market weakness was due to churn or lower gross adds.

    Answer

    CEO Hans Vestberg clarified he is not 'relaxed' on tariffs but noted that Verizon's CapEx exposure is small and manageable, while significant handset tariffs would need to be passed on to consumers. Consumer Group CEO Sowmyanarayan Sampath described the broadband market as normal and competitive, stating that Verizon's segmentation strategy is driving strong net adds, Fios churn is at a record low, and FWA churn is showing sequential improvement.

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    Samuel McHugh's questions to Verizon Communications Inc (VZ) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Samuel McHugh asked about the phasing of wireless service revenue headwinds and tailwinds throughout 2025. He also questioned if AI-related sales were now material enough to signal a definitive inflection point for Verizon Business EBITDA.

    Answer

    CFO Tony Skiadas detailed that revenue growth will be supported by price-ups, volume growth, and an improving prepaid profile in the second half, while promo amortization will peak in 2025. Business Group CEO Kyle Malady noted that while AI Connect revenue was small in Q4, the Business segment's EBITDA improvement was driven by a combination of factors, including cost focus and FWA growth, with positive trends expected to continue.

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    Samuel McHugh's questions to Cable One Inc (CABO) leadership

    Samuel McHugh's questions to Cable One Inc (CABO) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Samuel McHugh inquired about the expected long-term fiber overlap percentage in Cable One's footprint and asked if the Q4 underlying residential subscriber loss rate should be considered a reasonable run rate for 2025.

    Answer

    CFO Todd Koetje stated that while fiber overlap is expected to increase further, driven by incumbent telcos, much of the build is likely complete, and Cable One is comfortable competing in these markets. CEO Julia Laulis asserted that the Q4 loss rate is not the expected run rate for 2025, citing unique Q4 headwinds and new, effective growth tactics. While declining to give specific market share data, Laulis noted that in tenured competitive markets, the company typically returns to growth after a 12-19 month normalization period.

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    Samuel McHugh's questions to Cable One Inc (CABO) leadership • Q3 2024

    Question

    Samuel McHugh questioned whether Cable One can return to subscriber growth while simultaneously maintaining stable or growing ARPU, given consensus expectations. He also requested an update on the company's fiber overlap percentage.

    Answer

    President and CEO Julia Laulis stated that the company's primary goal is to grow broadband revenue and acknowledged the challenge of growing both subscribers and ARPU at the same time, noting that year-to-date, broadband subscribers have grown absent ACP losses. CFO Todd Koetje confirmed that the fiber overlap in their network remains consistent with the previously reported figure of below 40%.

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    Samuel McHugh's questions to Lumen Technologies Inc (LUMN) leadership

    Samuel McHugh's questions to Lumen Technologies Inc (LUMN) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Samuel McHugh asked if the 2028 vision for 47 million intercity fiber miles relies on securing new PCF deals and whether new fiber routes could expand the potential for the mass market fiber business.

    Answer

    CEO Kathleen Johnson confirmed that the 47 million-mile projection is based entirely on business that has already been signed and does not include any potential new deals. She also clarified that the company views its intercity fiber network strategy and its mass market fiber-to-the-home build as separate initiatives.

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    Samuel McHugh's questions to Frontier Communications Parent Inc (FYBR) leadership

    Samuel McHugh's questions to Frontier Communications Parent Inc (FYBR) leadership • Q2 2024

    Question

    Samuel McHugh asked for details on the new self-install option, including the customer process and its expected impact on the cost to connect new homes.

    Answer

    President and CEO Nick Jeffery explained that self-install is for homes with existing fiber connections, where a new customer can simply plug in a router. CFO Scott Beasley added that this will significantly reduce costs by eliminating the need for a truck roll, a new drop, and a technician. He noted this should bring the average cost to connect, currently at the high end of the $600-$800 range, down toward the low end over time.

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    Samuel McHugh's questions to Frontier Communications Parent Inc (FYBR) leadership • Q1 2024

    Question

    Samuel McHugh asked for an explanation of the 2023 expansion market's penetration rates, which appeared similar to the 2021 cohort. He also requested clarification on the Q1 pension contribution cash flow change versus the full-year guidance.

    Answer

    CFO Scott Beasley advised against over-analyzing a single quarterly cohort due to varying mixes, stating that overall penetration rates are on target. Regarding the pension, he noted a $52 million cash contribution in Q1 and mentioned a non-cash pension revaluation, with further details to be provided in the upcoming 10-Q filing.

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