CyanConnode (CYAN LN) - FY24 update: revenue materially ahead

CyanConnode exceeded FY24 revenue expectations and has high visibility into FY25, supported by strong deliveries and a growing backlog respectively.

Hybridan Research: Sector Review: Artificial intelligence in UK cybersecurity: the human uplift 17/04/2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a double-edged sword in cybersecurity. Whilst new AI models, architectures, and innovations are emerging to protect the security posture of organisations, attackers are also benefiting from deepfakes, sophisticated phishing, and automation of malicious codes. To ensure the impact of AI on cybersecurity to be a net-positive, we need to pit good AI against bad AI. Point solutions enhanced with machine learning: Global cybersecurity has been built with point soluti

BATM+ (BVC, House Stock at 18p) - New client Edgility contract

Thunderclap in British telecoms

FY23 revenues and EBITDA were in line with expectations. The major news was that BT plans to shed more than 40% of staff. At the end of the decade the EBITDA could reach £11bn with the massive restructuring announced and capex could return to €3.5bn per year. EBITDA less capex could be multiplied by 2.5 and therefore also the dividend. This could value BT at 385 pence at that time. We maintain our opinion at Add on the stock.

A fairly safe long term buy and hold

A decent Q1 performance despite the expected headwinds from cost-of-living pressure and cost inflation. The group is clearly a fairly safe long-term buy and hold. BT plans to shed more than 40% of staff by the end of the decade. In parallel it is further accelerating its FTTP deployment with high capex. But at the end of this phase EBITDA-capex could be multiplied by 2.5. Speculation could also again reignite as Drahi’s empire (owning 24.5% of BT) is being shaken by corruption cases.

Calnex Solutions - FY24 trading update – marking time

Calnex has released a pre-close trading update for the year to March 2024, indicating that revenue would be £16.3m, c£0.7m below our forecast, partly due to the timing of orders at the end of the period. Group trading has been impacted by the well-documented, continuing challenges in the Telecoms sector which have seen delayed project timings leading to corresponding delays in customer spending. Administrative costs are being controlled and are focussed on maintaining R&D. Calnex remains confide

Increasingly aggressive on the TV side

Q4 revenues were only up by 1.3% yoy (excluding the inclusion of EE for two months). A better performance than might be thought at first sight given the 8% decline recorded by the wholesale division (due to the benefit of ladder pricing revenue recognised last year). BT’s Fixed consumer revenues, 25% of BT’s business (excluding EE and Openreach) corresponding to BT’s own retail business, were up by 8% yoy with a 20% increase in broadband and TV revenue. Openreach revenue (28% of BT’s revenue not

Q1 in line with expectations

Q1 16 revenues declined by 2.6% yoy (excluding the contact centre business SNT Deutschland which was sold in Q1). Once again growing Consumer revenues were offset by the impact of the ongoing decline in size of the business market and lower revenues at iBasis. The EBITDA decreased by 4.5% yoy but this is due to temporarily higher IT-related costs in network and operations in the run-up to IT rationalisation. Note also an impairment charge related to iBasis for €45m. KPN intends to pay a regul

A mixed release

Q4 2015 revenues declined by 5.9% yoy (adjusted with a tax settlement benefit of €44m in Q4 2014). Growing Consumer revenues were offset by the impact of the ongoing decline of the business market size and lower revenues at iBasis. The EBITDA decreased however by only 0.7% yoy in Q4 2015 (without the tax settlement benefit in Q4 2014). These results are quite disappointing compared to the previous Q3 where revenues were down by only 2.6% yoy (vs -3.5% in H1) thanks to 3.7% growth on the co

A good newsflow

Q3 revenues and EBITDA were up by 3% yoy. Quite a good set of results for the new telco king of England (following the completion of EE’s acquisition). BT Fixed consumer revenues (25% of BT’s business not including Openreach sales corresponding to BT’s own retail business) were up by 11% yoy with a 23% increase in broadband and TV revenue. Openreach revenue (28% of BT’s revenue not including EE) was up by 3% yoy with record net fibre broadband additions of 494k, 32% higher than last year. There

Consolidating its market shares on the consumer side

Although Q1 revenues had decreased by 2.6% yoy while the EBITDA had declined slightly more by 4.5%, it was the opposite in Q2 with revenues down more than expected by 4.3% yoy but a better EBITDA down by only 1.7%. Once again, growing Consumer revenues were offset by the impact of the ongoing decline in the size of the business market. So, as in the two previous quarters, a mixed release.

Q1 in line but pressures are mounting for a separation of Openreach

BT group has released its Q1 numbers. But note, in parallel, another key point: two days ago Ofcom announced a half-step towards a separation between BT and Openreach (BT’s division which operates the fibre network). Q1 revenues were only up by 0.4% yoy (excluding EE). Like in the previous quarter, it is a better performance than might be thought at first sight given the 6% decline recorded by the wholesale division (due to the benefit of ladder pricing revenue recognised last year). BT’s Fixed

Rationalisation of the network is paying off

Quite a good Q3 for KPN: even if revenues, down by 3% yoy, are still suffering from the decline in the business market size (consumer revenues grew by 1.5% yoy), the EBITDA was good (growing by 3.4% yoy as it was down by 4.5% in Q1 and by 1.7% in Q2) driven by customer base growth and the positive impact of cost savings.

Q2 in line but £11bn of provisions for pensions at end September

Q2 revenues were up by 1.1% yoy excluding EE (vs +0.4% in Q1). Like in the previous quarter, this is a better performance than might be thought at first sight given the 5% decline recorded by the wholesale division (due to Partial Private Circuits customers continuing to migrate to newer Internet Protocol-based technologies). BT’s Fixed consumer revenues, 20% of BT’s business corresponding to BT’s own retail business, were up by 11% yoy with a 17% increase in broadband and TV revenue. Openreach’

£6.5bn of market cap goes up in smoke

BT previously announced on 27 October 2016 that an initial internal investigation of accounting practices in its Italian business had identified certain historical accounting errors and areas of management judgement requiring reassessment. At that time, they announced the write-down of items on the balance sheet by £145m, being the then best estimate of the financial impact of these issues. Since then, BT has progressed with the investigation, which has included an independent review by KPMG of