GCI Liberty Reports First Quarter 2026 Financial and Operating Results
Headlines include(1):
-
GCI Liberty (2) revenue declined 4% to$256 million , operating income was$30 million and Adjusted OIBDA(3) declined 18% to$93 million , inclusive of$13 million of items that are not comparable to the prior year period -
GCI Liberty generated net cash provided by operating activities of$329 million and free cash flow(3) of$99 million over the trailing twelve months endedMarch 31, 2026 - Total wireless lines in service increased 2% to 207,700
- Consumer cable modem subscribers declined 3% to 150,500
-
GCI entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Quintillion, a fiber infrastructure provider in
Alaska that will enable GCI to create a ringed subsea and terrestrial fiber network acrossAlaska with improved network resiliency and reliability -
GCI Liberty completed the acquisition of an approximate 6% equity interest in Liberty Latin America (“LLA”) fromSearchlight Capital Partners for an aggregate cash purchase price of$107 million and is currently in discussions with Dr.John C. Malone , Chairman of the Board and Director Emeritus of LLA, with respect to the potential acquisition of his equity interests in LLA, including certain high vote shares, in exchange for newly issued GCI Liberty Series C shares -
GCI Liberty to change its name toLiberty Capital Corporation (“Liberty Capital”)
“GCI had another solid quarter, reflecting our continued commitment to providing the highest quality connectivity to our customers. We also announced GCI’s planned acquisition of Quintillion, bringing together two complementary networks that will increase the quality of Alaska’s communications infrastructure. The transaction is expected to be accretive to free-cash-flow and advances our long-term strategy to invest in critical network assets to enhance connectivity for all Alaskans,” said
Business Updates
On
On
Discussion of Results
The following table provides the financial results of
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(amounts in millions) |
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1Q25 |
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1Q26 |
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% Change |
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Consolidated Financial Metrics |
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Revenue |
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Consumer |
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$ |
121 |
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$ |
115 |
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(5 |
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% |
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Business |
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145 |
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141 |
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(3 |
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% |
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Total revenue |
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$ |
266 |
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$ |
256 |
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(4 |
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% |
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Operating expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization): |
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Consumer direct costs |
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$ |
(36 |
) |
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$ |
(32 |
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11 |
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% |
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Business direct costs |
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(26 |
) |
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(32 |
) |
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(23 |
) |
% |
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Technology expense |
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(63 |
) |
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(68 |
) |
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(8 |
) |
% |
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Total operating expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) |
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$ |
(125 |
) |
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$ |
(132 |
) |
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(6 |
) |
% |
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Selling, general and administrative expense (exclusive of stock-based compensation) |
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$ |
(28 |
) |
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$ |
(31 |
) |
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(11 |
) |
% |
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Stock-based compensation |
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$ |
(2 |
) |
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$ |
(8 |
) |
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(300 |
) |
% |
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Depreciation and amortization |
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$ |
(53 |
) |
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$ |
(52 |
) |
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2 |
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% |
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Acquisition costs |
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$ |
- |
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(3 |
) |
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(100 |
) |
% |
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Operating income (loss) |
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$ |
58 |
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$ |
30 |
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(48 |
) |
% |
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Operating income margin (%) |
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21.8 |
% |
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11.7 |
% |
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(1,010 |
) |
bps |
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Adjusted OIBDA(a) |
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$ |
113 |
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$ |
93 |
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(18 |
) |
% |
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Adjusted OIBDA margin(a) (%) |
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42.5 |
% |
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36.3 |
% |
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(620 |
) |
bps |
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Capital expenditures, net of grant proceeds |
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$ |
(49 |
) |
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$ |
(55 |
) |
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(12 |
) |
% |
| ____________________ | |
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(a) |
See reconciling schedule 1. |
GCI revenue decreased 4% in the first quarter of 2026. Consumer revenue decreased 5%, driven primarily by fully exiting the video business in 2025. Business revenue declined 3%, driven by a decline in data revenue.
Operating income decreased
Year to date, GCI has spent
On a trailing twelve-month basis through the first quarter of 2026, net cash provided by operating activities totaled
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GCI Consumer |
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(amounts in millions, except operating metrics) |
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1Q25 |
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1Q26 |
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% Change |
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GCI Consumer |
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Financial Metrics |
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Revenue |
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Data |
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$ |
61 |
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$ |
59 |
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(3 |
) |
% |
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Wireless |
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50 |
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52 |
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4 |
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% |
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Other |
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10 |
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4 |
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(60 |
) |
% |
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Total revenue |
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$ |
121 |
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$ |
115 |
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(5 |
) |
% |
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Consumer direct costs |
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(36 |
) |
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(32 |
) |
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11 |
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% |
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Consumer gross margin |
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$ |
85 |
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$ |
83 |
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(2 |
) |
% |
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Consumer gross margin (%) |
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70.2 |
% |
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72.2 |
% |
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200 |
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bps |
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Operating Metrics |
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Data: |
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Cable modem subscribers(a) |
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154,700 |
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150,500 |
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(3 |
) |
% |
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Wireless: |
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Lines in service(b) |
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195,500 |
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200,000 |
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2 |
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% |
| ____________________ | |
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(a) |
A cable modem subscriber is defined by the purchase of cable modem service regardless of the level of service purchased. If one entity purchases multiple cable modem service access points, each access point is counted as a subscriber. Small-to-Medium Business customers, promotional cable modem access points and customers that have been inactive for 60 days or less are included. |
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(b) |
A consumer wireless line in service is defined as a wireless device with a monthly fee for services. Consumer wireless lines include Small-to-Medium Business customers, promotional lines, postpaid lines that have been inactive for 60 days or less and paying prepaid lines. |
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GCI Consumer revenue totaled
Data revenue totaled
Wireless revenue totaled
GCI Consumer gross margin was 72.2% in the first quarter of 2026, a 200 bps increase from the same quarter last year. GCI Consumer direct costs decreased 11%, driven by lower video programming costs from the exit of video services during the third quarter of 2025.
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GCI Business |
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(amounts in millions, except operating metrics) |
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1Q25 |
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1Q26 |
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% Change |
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GCI Business |
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Financial Metrics |
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Revenue |
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Data |
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$ |
128 |
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$ |
124 |
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(3 |
) |
% |
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Wireless |
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10 |
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|
10 |
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— |
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% |
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Other |
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7 |
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|
7 |
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— |
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% |
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Total revenue |
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$ |
145 |
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|
$ |
141 |
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(3 |
) |
% |
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Business direct costs |
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(26 |
) |
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(32 |
) |
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(23 |
) |
% |
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Business gross margin |
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$ |
119 |
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$ |
109 |
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(8 |
) |
% |
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Business gross margin (%) |
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|
82.1 |
% |
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|
77.3 |
% |
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(480 |
) |
bps |
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Operating Metrics |
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Wireless: |
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Lines in service(a) |
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8,700 |
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7,700 |
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(11 |
) |
% |
| ____________________ | |
|
(a) |
A business wireless line in service is defined as a wireless device with a monthly fee for services. Business wireless lines include enterprise customers, promotional lines and postpaid lines that have been inactive for 60 days or less. |
GCI Business revenue totaled
GCI Business gross margin was 77.3% in the first quarter of 2026, a 480 bps decrease from the same quarter last year. GCI Business direct costs increased 23% in the first quarter of 2026, driven primarily by higher distribution costs related to restored service on the Quintillion network in which GCI uses capacity. The network was out of service during the first quarter of 2025.
FOOTNOTES
|
1) |
Unless otherwise noted, highlights compare financial information for the three months ended |
|
2) |
GCI Liberty’s principal operating asset is |
|
3) |
For a definition of Adjusted OIBDA, Adjusted OIBDA margin and free cash flow and applicable non-GAAP reconciliations, see the accompanying schedule 1. |
NOTES
Cash and Debt
The following presentation is provided to separately identify cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and debt of
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(amounts in millions) |
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Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash: |
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$ |
429 |
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$ |
448 |
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Debt: |
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Senior Notes(a) |
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$ |
600 |
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$ |
600 |
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Senior Credit Facility |
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|
367 |
|
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|
366 |
|
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Tower Obligations and Other(b) |
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|
76 |
|
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|
69 |
|
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Total Debt |
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$ |
1,043 |
|
|
$ |
1,035 |
|
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GCI Leverage(c) |
|
|
2.3x |
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|
2.3x |
||
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GCI Liberty Leverage(d) |
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|
1.6x |
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|
1.6x |
||
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Unamortized premium and deferred loan costs |
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|
12 |
|
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|
11 |
|
|
Tower obligations and finance leases (excluded from GAAP Debt) |
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|
(72 |
) |
|
|
(65 |
) |
|
Total Debt (GAAP) |
|
$ |
983 |
|
|
$ |
981 |
|
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Other Financial Obligations: |
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Preferred Stock(e) |
|
$ |
10 |
|
|
$ |
10 |
|
| ____________________ | |
|
(a) |
Principal amount of Senior Notes. |
|
(b) |
Includes the current and long-term obligations under tower obligations and other. |
| (c) |
As defined in GCI's credit agreement. |
| (d) |
Defined as |
| (e) |
|
As of
Important Notice:
This press release includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including certain statements relating to business strategies, GCI’s planned acquisition of Quintillion and GCI Liberty’s potential acquisition of additional equity interests in LLA. All statements other than statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements” for purposes of federal and state securities laws. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as “possible,” “potential,” “intends” or “expects” or other words or phrases of similar import or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “may,” “might,” “should,” “would,” or “could,” or similar variations. These forward-looking statements involve many risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and the timing of events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including, without limitation, competitive issues, customer demand, economic conditions (including inflationary pressures), regulatory and legislative matters affecting GCI Liberty’s businesses, the completion of GCI Liberty’s acquisition of Quintillion, and GCI Liberty’s ability to execute its growth strategy. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
SCHEDULE 1
To provide investors with additional information regarding our financial results, this press release includes a presentation of Adjusted OIBDA and trailing twelve months of free cash flow, which are non-GAAP financial measures, for
The following tables provide a reconciliation of GCI Liberty’s operating income to Adjusted OIBDA for the three months ended
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(amounts in millions) |
|
1Q25 |
|
1Q26 |
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Operating Income |
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$ |
58 |
|
$ |
30 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
53 |
|
|
52 |
|
Stock-based compensation |
|
|
2 |
|
|
8 |
|
Acquisition costs |
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|
— |
|
|
3 |
|
Adjusted OIBDA |
|
$ |
113 |
|
$ |
93 |
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|
Twelve months |
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Twelve months |
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ended |
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ended |
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(amounts in millions) |
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Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |
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$ |
310 |
|
|
$ |
329 |
|
|
Capital expenditures |
|
|
(251 |
) |
|
|
(239 |
) |
|
Grant proceeds |
|
|
55 |
|
|
|
9 |
|
|
Free cash flow |
|
$ |
114 |
|
|
$ |
99 |
|
|
BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION (unaudited) |
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2026 |
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2025 |
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amounts in millions, except share amounts |
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Assets |
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Current assets: |
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Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
435 |
|
|
416 |
|
|
Trade and other receivables, net of allowance for credit losses of |
|
|
141 |
|
|
141 |
|
|
Prepaid and other current assets |
|
|
62 |
|
|
58 |
|
|
Total current assets |
|
|
638 |
|
|
615 |
|
|
Property and equipment, net |
|
|
1,266 |
|
|
1,257 |
|
|
Intangible assets not subject to amortization |
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||
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|
|
|
638 |
|
|
638 |
|
|
Cable certificates |
|
|
149 |
|
|
149 |
|
|
Other |
|
|
25 |
|
|
25 |
|
|
|
|
|
812 |
|
|
812 |
|
|
Intangible assets subject to amortization, net |
|
|
364 |
|
|
372 |
|
|
Deferred income tax assets |
|
|
25 |
|
|
31 |
|
|
Other assets, net |
|
|
146 |
|
|
147 |
|
|
Total assets |
|
|
3,251 |
|
|
3,234 |
|
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||
|
Liabilities and Equity |
|
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|
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|
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|
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
|
|
122 |
|
|
123 |
|
|
Deferred revenue |
|
|
23 |
|
|
23 |
|
|
Current portion of debt |
|
|
4 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
Other current liabilities |
|
|
44 |
|
|
46 |
|
|
Total current liabilities |
|
|
193 |
|
|
196 |
|
|
Long-term debt, net |
|
|
977 |
|
|
979 |
|
|
Obligations under tower obligations |
|
|
63 |
|
|
69 |
|
|
Long-term deferred revenue |
|
|
128 |
|
|
130 |
|
|
Other liabilities |
|
|
160 |
|
|
154 |
|
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
1,521 |
|
|
1,528 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Redeemable noncontrolling interest in equity of subsidiary |
|
|
18 |
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Equity |
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
Additional paid-in capital |
|
|
2,366 |
|
|
2,360 |
|
|
Retained earnings (deficit) |
|
|
(654 |
) |
|
(672 |
) |
|
Total equity |
|
|
1,712 |
|
|
1,688 |
|
|
Commitments and contingencies |
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Total liabilities and equity |
|
$ |
3,251 |
|
|
3,234 |
|
|
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS INFORMATION (unaudited) |
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|
Three months ended |
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|
|||||
|
|
|
2026 |
|
2025 |
|||
|
|
|
amounts in millions, |
|||||
|
|
|
except per share amounts |
|||||
|
Revenue |
|
$ |
256 |
|
|
266 |
|
|
Operating costs and expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Operating expense (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) |
|
|
132 |
|
|
125 |
|
|
Selling, general and administrative expense (including stock-based compensation) |
|
|
39 |
|
|
30 |
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
52 |
|
|
53 |
|
|
Acquisition costs |
|
|
3 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
226 |
|
|
208 |
|
|
Operating income (loss) |
|
|
30 |
|
|
58 |
|
|
Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Interest expense (including amortization of deferred loan fees) |
|
|
(8 |
) |
|
(10 |
) |
|
Other, net |
|
|
4 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
(4 |
) |
|
(9 |
) |
|
Earnings (loss) before income taxes |
|
|
26 |
|
|
49 |
|
|
Income tax benefit (expense) |
|
|
(8 |
) |
|
(14 |
) |
|
Net earnings (loss) |
|
$ |
18 |
|
|
35 |
|
|
Basic net earnings (loss) attributable to Series A, |
|
$ |
0.45 |
|
|
1.13 |
|
|
Diluted net earnings (loss) attributable to Series A, |
|
$ |
0.45 |
|
|
1.13 |
|
|
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS INFORMATION (unaudited) |
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
Three months ended |
|||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
2026 |
|
2025 |
|||
|
|
|
amounts in millions |
|||||
|
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Net earnings (loss) |
|
$ |
18 |
|
|
35 |
|
|
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash from operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
52 |
|
|
53 |
|
|
Stock-based compensation |
|
|
8 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
Deferred income tax expense (benefit) |
|
|
8 |
|
|
(5 |
) |
|
Other, net |
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
(1 |
) |
|
Change in other assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable |
|
|
— |
|
|
16 |
|
|
Amortization of right-of-use asset |
|
|
12 |
|
|
12 |
|
|
Decrease (increase) in other assets |
|
|
(8 |
) |
|
(2 |
) |
|
(Decrease) increase in operating lease liabilities |
|
|
(12 |
) |
|
(12 |
) |
|
(Decrease) increase in taxes payable |
|
|
— |
|
|
19 |
|
|
(Decrease) increase in payables and other liabilities |
|
|
1 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |
|
|
78 |
|
|
119 |
|
|
Cash flows from investing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Capital expenditures |
|
|
(56 |
) |
|
(65 |
) |
|
Grant proceeds received for capital expenditures |
|
|
1 |
|
|
16 |
|
|
Other investing activities, net |
|
|
— |
|
|
3 |
|
|
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities |
|
|
(55 |
) |
|
(46 |
) |
|
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Borrowings of debt |
|
|
— |
|
|
451 |
|
|
Repayments of debt and tower obligations |
|
|
(2 |
) |
|
(449 |
) |
|
Other financing activities, net |
|
|
(2 |
) |
|
(1 |
) |
|
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
|
|
(4 |
) |
|
1 |
|
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
|
|
19 |
|
|
74 |
|
|
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period |
|
|
429 |
|
|
75 |
|
|
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period |
|
$ |
448 |
|
|
149 |
|
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260506363641/en/
Source: