Cellnex’s stock market listing in 2015 was the first in a series of moves (Inwit’s share offer, the sale of Telefonica’s stake in Telxius, etc) towards the creation of a listed telecommunications’ infrastructure sector, focusing on the mobile broad band segment.
Cellnex signs up for two new projects in France worth €854 mn, in line with its strategy for boosting its international expansion. It will now become the second biggest independent towers operator in France.
Cellnex shares have under performed the sector by c.16% since mid -Oct 2016, mainly due to higher government bond yields and the market’s rotation out of yield stocks which, in the case of TowerCos, may have been exacerbated by their dependence on M&A.
Cellnex Telecom is the leading independent operator of wireless telecommunications’ infrastructure in Europe and is a newcomer to the Spanish stock exchange (it made its debut on June 9). In the first half to June, the company obtained revenues of €338 million and EBITDA of €134 million. Net income reached €24 million compared to €18 million a year earlier. At end-June, Cellnex had a portfolio of 15,135 towers located in Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and France. Cellnex is a subsidiary of Abertis.
Newcomer to the stock exchange, Cellnex (a subsidiary of Abertis in the business of telecommunications networks) and oldtimer Viscofan (which manufactures cellulose wrapping for the food sector) will substitute two new generation construction companies (Sacyr and OHL). Both of these firms are controlled either by families or professionals.
Cellnex Telecom is the leading independent operator of wireless telecommunications’ infrastructure in Europe. It is a growth investment opportunity, but it is currently trading at too demanding multiples. We would recommend to wait for some dips in the stock market to start to build up a position with a medium-long term view.