Specialist
Former VP at CommScope Holding Co Inc
Agenda
- Trends and developments impacting CommScope’s (NASDAQ: COMM) operating environment
- Near-to-medium-term growth drivers in CCS (Connectivity and Cable Solutions) and NICS (Networking, Intelligent Cellular and Security Solutions) segments, plus long-term opportunities around 5G demand trends
- Competitive dynamics – CommScope vs Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) and others
- Supply chain analysis and mitigation efforts to contain external costs and rising OPEX pressures
- Mid-to-long-term growth outlook
Questions
1.
Could you give an overview of CommScope’s operating environment? What are 2-3 key trends or drivers you feel the investment community should be attuned to?
2.
Much of the upside opportunity you referenced lies with CommScope’s CCS [Connectivity and Cable Solutions] segment. What are your thoughts on this upside opportunity, as we think about the government-sponsored broadband improvement initiatives you referenced, the IIJA [Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act] and RDOF [Rural Digital Opportunity Fund]? I’ve seen estimates that these investments could be around USD 2.2bn per year over the next five years for some broadband infrastructure equipment providers.
3.
Could you break down the competitive dynamics within CCS? How are you thinking of CommScope’s positioning vs peers in their abilities to win and track the rural broadband dollar investment?
4.
Could you unpack the supply chain dynamics around CommScope? What’s your assessment of the company’s ability to mitigate some pressures and look to drive improvements or investments into its products, or for ways to meet some of that demand? You mentioned easing in the supply chain dynamics and constraints. When is that? Is that H1 2023? What’s your timeline for an expected resolution or easement in the supply chain constraints?
5.
CommScope’s backlog grew 5% sequentially in Q2 2022 vs Q1. How does that factor into your comments on the overall demand environment? What’s your 12-18-month demand outlook given the current macro uncertainties? Do you expect the backlog to continue growing? Is there any risk of a slowdown in internet service provider broadband network capacity upgrades in a recessionary environment?
6.
Circling back to the CCS segment, where are we in the multi-year fibre cable and connectivity build-outs? CommScope talks about one-third of growth in this segment coming from price implementations and the rest from volume growth. Do you think the company has the capacity to meet the demand we’ve been discussing here? What investments can it make to improve its capacity to meet demand?
7.
With CommScope Next, there’s a rebuilding and rebranding effort across the company. Is there a scenario where you can envision CommScope spinning off the CCS segment, and if not, are there any operational reasons not to?
8.
You brought up CPE [Customer Premises Equipment] and CommScope’s end-to-end ability. How are you thinking about the announcement and postponed spin-off attempt of the Home Networks segment? Do you expect that to eventually resume? Is there a timeline for when that might take place? How much of that is dependent upon performance returns and supply chain resolution?
9.
What shifts are you seeing in the customer environment for CommScope’s OWN [Outdoor Wireless Network] segment? It’s my understanding there’s been a move from CSPs [communications service providers] towards integrating antenna solutions and 5G MIMO [multiple input, multiple output] radios, and that CommScope might be at a disadvantage here relative to peers. What are your thoughts on this?
10.
How much of CommScope’s OWN EBITDA profile is at risk from the move from passive to active antenna migration? You brought up Nokia, who, with CommScope, has come out with IPAA [interleaved passive-active antenna]. Does this partnership help address the challenges and offset some of the impacts of the pivot to active antenna migration?
11.
How are you assessing the declines in CommScope’s ANS [Access Network Systems] segment and across the business? What are some headwinds here?
12.
We talked about price increases in the CCS segment and CommScope indicated that some of those are just beginning. How would you characterise the company’s ability to continue pricing adjustments across its customer base to offset some of the material inflation impacts and external cost pressures here? CommScope said there’s been a positive reception thus far from some of its customer base, but might that change or revert as we continue across this price increase path?
13.
Circling back to ANS, you mentioned lead times and supply chain constraints, and we discussed the Remote PHY on CommScope’s side. From what I understand, it’s based on Broadcom silicon, which won’t be available until sometime in 2023. Is this a benefit for a competitor such as Harmonic to maintain its market share and outcompete CommScope in this space?
14.
What are your estimates for the range of EBITDA outcomes for CommScope’s ANS segment over the next few years, as we consider the downside in CMTS [cable modem termination system] in conjunction with the upside from DAA [distributed access architecture], as well as the supply chain constraints you mentioned?
15.
What are your thoughts on industry consolidation dynamics? Does consolidation across the sector make sense, and if so, what represents attractive M&A opportunities for CommScope?
16.
What are your best- and worst-case scenarios for CommScope over the next 18-24 months? Are there any points we didn’t cover or do justice to?