Arrivati intanto nei giorni scorsi i risultati del Q1/2009 di KPN. Tutto sommato, la situazione mostra buona tenuta: è vero che il fatturato è calato a 3,4 mld euro contro i 3,57 dell'anno prima, ma l'EBITDA ha segnato un leggero incremento, da 1,22 a 1,23 mld euro, per effetto del più volte menzionato lavoro sui costi. Declina del 5% l'utile netto, a 317 mln euro contro i 334 di un anno prima.
KPN ha ridotto leggermente il target di fatturato, prevedendo che nel 2009 sarà in linea con il 2008 (14 mld euro) e che nel 2010 sarà leggermente superiore (target precedente a quota 15 mld euro).
Ha tuttavia confermato il target per un EBITDA nel 2010 a quota 5,5 mld euro.
Le criticità, per KPN, sarebbero soprattutto nel segment della clientela business, mentre in quella privata l'impatto sarebbe alquanto limitato.
I risultati sono parsi rassicuranti agli analisti, specie dopo qualche perplessità suscitata dal ridimensionamento del forecast sull'EBITDA su base 2009 da parte di Deutsche Telecom.
- APRIL 28, 2009, 5:41 A.M. ET
KPN 1Q Net Profit Down 5%, Lowers 2010 Rev Guidance
By Maarten van Tartwijk Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES AMSTERDAM (Dow Jones)--Dutch telecom company Royal KPN NV (KPN.AE) Tuesday said first quarter net profit fell 5% as the economic slowdown hurt its business markets, and lowered its revenue guidance for 2010.
Chief Executive Ad Scheepbouwer said in a statement that in the first quarter "we have seen economic conditions deteriorate more quickly" and "the downturn in the business markets is now clearly visible".
The Dutch company posted a first-quarter net profit of EUR317 million down from EUR334 million a year ago. Revenue fell to EUR3.40 billion from EUR3.57 billion.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or Ebitda, came in at EUR1.23 billion from EUR1.22 billion the year prior.
KPN said it targets 2009 revenue to be "in line with 2008" when it was EUR14 billion. The company expects revenue in 2010 to show a "slight increase" from the year prior, having earlier this month forecast it come in at EUR15 billion.
Still, KPN confirmed its full year 2010 target for Ebitda of EUR5.5 billion.
KPN shares closed at EUR9.55 Monday.
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(Adds detail, analysts' and CEO comments)
By Maarten van Tartwijk Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES AMSTERDAM (Dow Jones)--Dutch telecom company Royal KPN NV (KPN.AE) Tuesday said first quarter net profit fell 5% as the economic slowdown hurt its business markets, and said its focus for 2010 would be on profitability over revenue.
Chief Executive Ad Scheepbouwer said in a statement that in the first quarter "we have seen economic conditions deteriorate more quickly" and "the downturn in the business markets is now clearly visible".
Still, in the consumer markets KPN said it had experienced "limited impact" from the recession, pointing to revenue growth and rising customers in the Netherlands and internationally.
That lent some reassurance after rival Deutsche Telekom AG (DT) last week issued a profit warning due to the economic slump tnat called into question the sector's defensive qualities.
KPN said, meanwhile, that in the next two years all of its segments will focus on profitability and cash flow "rather than on revenues."
The company targets 2009 revenue to be "in line with 2008" when it was EUR14 billion and expects revenue in 2010 to show a "slight increase" from the year prior, having earlier this month forecast it to come in at EUR15 billion.
Still, KPN confirmed its full year 2010 target for earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization, or Ebitda, of EUR5.5 billion.
During a conference call for the press, Scheepbouwer said KPN won't cut back on capital expenditure as "who cuts in capex spending will pay the price for that later."
Other telcos have put in place swingeing cost cuts. Vodafone Group PLC (VOD) last year said it would shave GBP1 billion in costs, and Deutsche Telekom last week said it will freeze capital expenditure of around EUR1 billion.
Analysts welcomed KPN's focus on profitability. Saeed Baradarm from Societe Generale said the adjusted revenue guidance is understandable in the current climate and added that KPN's results were "overall satisfactory".
SNS Securities analyst Victor Bareno said the focus on profitability is positive and added that KPN's results "confirm the firm is able to manage the overall impact of the economic downturn". Both analysts rate KPN at buy.
KPN Tuesday posted a first-quarter net profit of EUR317 million down from EUR334 million a year ago, mainly due to losses at its Getronics subsidary, an IT services company, which has been hit by declining demand.
Revenue fell to EUR3.40 billion from EUR3.57 billion.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or Ebitda, came in higher at EUR1.23 billion from EUR1.22 billion the year prior.
At 0918 GMT, KPN's shares traded 2.8% lower at EUR9.28 in an overall lower Amsterdam market.