Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - BCE reported a 2% growth in EBITDA for Q2 2024, with a margin increase of 1.3 points to 44.9% [5][6] - Free cash flow increased by 8% year-over-year to $1.1 billion, aligning with previous expectations [6][22] - Total revenue decreased by 1%, primarily due to an 8.7% drop in low-margin wireless and wireline product sales [22][24] - Net earnings rose by 52% in Q2, largely due to a non-cash loss recorded in Q2 2023 [23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Wireless segment added 131,043 new mobile phone subscribers, a 4.4% increase, with a focus on higher quality main brand loadings [7][15] - Residential wireline saw 23,841 new retail Internet additions, marking the second-best Q2 results since 2007 [18] - Bell Media achieved a 1% increase in total revenue, driven by a 1.9% rise in advertising revenue and a 23% growth in digital advertising [26][20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The competitive pricing environment in Canada remains intense, impacting ARPU, which decreased by 1.9% year-over-year [17][45] - The market for digital advertising is growing, with Bell Media's digital revenues up 23% year-over-year [20][26] Company Strategy and Development Direction - BCE is focused on profitable subscriber growth and cost reduction, with a clear strategy to enhance fiber deployment and digital media transformation [5][9] - The company is transitioning from traditional broadcasting to digital media, leveraging first-party data for advanced advertising solutions [9][10] - Recent acquisitions in technical services aim to strengthen cybersecurity and cloud capabilities, enhancing service offerings for enterprise customers [11][12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the fiber strategy as a growth engine, despite current pricing pressures [32] - The company plans to continue focusing on premium product offerings and customer lifetime value amidst competitive challenges [34][45] - Management remains optimistic about achieving financial guidance targets for 2024, despite a dynamic competitive environment [28] Other Important Information - BCE announced the sale of Northwestel for up to $1 billion, aimed at managing the balance sheet and reducing debt [14] - The company is transitioning 167 source stores to Best Buy Express, with all remaining stores closed [15] Q&A Session Summary Question: Wireline market competitiveness and fiber investment returns - Management affirmed that fiber remains a growth engine and is critical for long-term strategy, with room for ARPU growth despite current pricing pressures [31][32] Question: Opportunities with ServiceNow and AI - Management indicated that initiatives with ServiceNow are aimed at increasing operational efficiency and driving costs down, while also serving enterprise customers [35][36] Question: Cost savings run rate and prepaid vs. postpaid mix - Management confirmed confidence in achieving $150 million to $200 million in cost savings by year-end, with a focus on balancing prepaid and postpaid strategies [39][42] Question: ARPU growth scenarios and CapEx impact - Management acknowledged intense competitive pressure affecting ARPU but noted steps taken to reset pricing for sustainability [44][45] Question: BYOD activations and dividend strategies - Management clarified that 70% BYOD refers to postpaid gross activations and indicated that while dividend discount programs have been considered, they are not currently in the plan [48][49] Question: Addressing areas without fiber through fixed wireless - Management emphasized a focus on fiber superiority for growth, with limited plans for fixed wireless in areas lacking fiber [51]

About this content About Emily Jarvie Emily began her career as a political journalist for Australian Community Media in Hobart, Tasmania. After she relocated to Toronto, Canada, she reported on business, legal, and scientific developments in the emerging psychedelics sector before joining Proactive in 2022. She brings a strong journalism background with her work featured in newspapers, magazines, and digital publications across Australia, Europe, and North America, including The Examiner, The Advocate, ...

BCE (BCE) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.57 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.59 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.59 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of -3.39%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this Canada's largest telecommunications company would post earnings of $0.53 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.53, delivering no surprise.Over the last four quarters ...

BCE Inc. (BCE) has made a transformative shift from being a traditional telecommunications provider to a technology service provider by acquiring CloudKettle, an innovative cloud solutions provider, and Stratejm — a leading cybersecurity solutions provider.Bell offers Canada's highly regulated and targeted network security services for clients like governments and banks. Their cost-effective and fully managed solution combines expertise and leading technology to detect and respond to sophisticated attacks p ...

BCE Inc (BCE) recently announced that it has received notice of an unsolicited mini-tender offer from TRC Capital Investment Corporation (TRC Capital) to buy up to 2,500,000 BCE common shares, representing roughly 0.3% of the company's outstanding shares.The offer price of C$43.40 per share is significantly below the current market price, suggesting a discount of around 4.43% and 4.44% to the closing prices on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange, respectively, on Jun 24, 2024 — the la ...

TORONTO, July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Beanfield, a local and independent telecom in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Ottawa, with over 450 employees, has appointed Rizwan Jamal as its Chief Executive Officer effective immediately. David Pistachio, Chair of Beanfield's Board, said, "We are thrilled to have a telecom leader of Rizwan's experience join the Beanfield team. Our belief in this company and its bright future continues to grow. We are confident that Rizwan's vision and track record is exactly w ...

TORONTO, July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Beanfield, a local and independent telecom in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Ottawa, with over 450 employees, has appointed Rizwan Jamal as its Chief Executive Officer effective immediately. David Pistachio, Chair of Beanfield’s Board, said, “We are thrilled to have a telecom leader of Rizwan’s experience join the Beanfield team. Our belief in this company and its bright future continues to grow. We are confident that Rizwan’s vision and track record is exactly w ...

Vivek Vishwakarma A great way to reduce risk in one’s portfolio is to own a basket of stocks. While it’s easy to simply buy a lot of stocks, one must also consider valuation risk. For example, a portfolio may have 20+ or so stocks, but if all of them are overvalued tech and growth stocks, then a sector downturn would have a broadly negative effect over the portfolio. That’s why I prefer to have a good mix of value stocks that pay dividends in various industries. That’s because no matter how sure one is ...

MONTRÉAL, July 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - BCE Inc. (TSX: BCE) (NYSE: BCE) has received notice of an unsolicited mini-tender offer made by TRC Capital Investment Corporation (TRC Capital) to purchase up to 2,500,000 BCE common shares, or approximately 0.3% of the company's outstanding common shares, at a below-market price of C$43.40 per share. BCE does not endorse this unsolicited offer, has no association with TRC Capital or its offer, and recommends that shareholders do not tender their shares to this unsolic ...

MONTRÉAL, June 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - BCE Inc. (TSX: BCE) (NYSE: BCE) will hold its second-quarter 2024 results conference call with the financial community on Thursday, August 1, 2024 at 8:00 am eastern. Participants will include Mirko Bibic, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Curtis Millen, Chief Financial Officer. Media are welcome to participate on a listen-only basis. To participate, please dial toll-free 1-844-933-2401 or 647-724-5455. A replay will be available until midnight on September 1, ...