This document provides an investor quarterly update from Sprint Nextel for the third quarter of 2007. It includes highlights of Sprint Nextel's financial performance for Q3 2007, including declines in revenue, adjusted OIBDA, and capital expenditures compared to the prior year. It also discusses operational highlights, trends in wireless subscribers and churn, plans to enhance the customer experience, updates on the Boost Mobile business, capital spending, and a Q&A session with Sprint Nextel executives. Financial guidance for 2007 is tracking slightly below expectations.
2. Cautionary Statement
• This presentation includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the securities laws. The statements in this presentation regarding the
business outlook, expected performance, forward looking guidance, continuation of our previously announced share buy-back program, as well as
other statements that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements. The words quot;estimate,quot; quot;project,quot; ”forecast,” quot;intend,quot; quot;expect,quot;
quot;believe,quot; quot;target,quot; “providing guidance” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are
estimates and projections reflecting management's judgment based on currently available information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. With respect to these forward-looking
statements, management has made assumptions regarding, among other things, customer and network usage, customer growth and retention,
pricing, operating costs, the timing of various events and the economic environment. Future performance cannot be assured. Actual results may
differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include:
• the effects of vigorous competition, including the impact of competition on the price we are able to charge customers for services and equipment we
provide and our ability to attract new customers and retain existing customers; the overall demand for our service offerings, including the impact of
decisions of new subscribers between our post-paid and prepaid services offerings and between our two network platforms; and the impact of new,
emerging and competing technologies on our business;
• the impact of overall wireless market penetration on our ability to attract and retain customers with good credit standing and the intensified
competition among wireless carriers for those customers;
• the potential impact of difficulties we may encounter in connection with the integration of the pre-merger Sprint and Nextel businesses, and the
integration of the businesses and assets of Nextel Partners, Inc. and the PCS Affiliates that we have acquired, including the risk that these difficulties
could prevent or delay our realization of the cost savings and other benefits we expect to achieve as a result of these integration efforts and the risk
that we will be unable to continue to retain key employees;
• the uncertainties related to the implementation of our business strategies, investments in our networks, our systems, and other businesses, including
investments required in connection with our planned deployment of a next generation broadband wireless network;
• the costs and business risks associated with providing new services and entering new geographic markets, including with respect to our development
of new services expected to be provided using the next generation broadband wireless network that we plan to deploy;
• the impact of potential adverse changes in the ratings afforded our debt securities by ratings agencies;
• the effects of mergers and consolidations and new entrants in the communications industry and unexpected announcements or developments from
others in the communications industry;
• unexpected results of litigation filed against us;
• the inability of third parties to perform to our requirements under agreements related to our business operations, including a significant adverse
change in Motorola, Inc.’s ability or willingness to provide handsets and related equipment and software applications, or to develop new technologies
or features for our iDEN®, network;
• the impact of adverse network performance;
• the costs and/or potential customer impacts of compliance with regulatory mandates, particularly requirements related to the reconfiguration of the
800 MHz band used to operate our iDEN network, as contemplated by the Federal Communications Commission’s Report and Order released in August
2004 as supplemented by subsequent memorandums;
• equipment failure, natural disasters, terrorist acts, or other breaches of network or information technology security;
• one or more of the markets in which we compete being impacted by changes in political or other factors such as monetary policy, legal and regulatory
changes or other external factors over which we have no control;
• and other risks referenced from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2006, in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors.”
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3. Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Sprint Nextel provides financial measures generated using generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and using adjustments to GAAP (non-
GAAP). The non-GAAP financial measures reflect industry conventions, or standard measures of liquidity, profitability or performance commonly used
by the investment community for comparability purposes. These non-GAAP measures are not measurements under accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States. These measurements should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, the information contained in our
financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. We have defined below each of the non-GAAP measures we use, but these measures may not
be synonymous to similar measurement terms used by other companies. Sprint Nextel provides reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures in its
financial reporting. Because Sprint Nextel does not predict special items that might occur in the future, and our forecasts are developed at a level of
detail different than that used to prepare GAAP-based financial measures, Sprint Nextel does not provide reconciliations to GAAP of its forward-
looking financial measures.
The measures used in this release include the following:
• Adjusted Earnings per Share (EPS) is defined as income from continuing operations, before special items, net of tax and the diluted EPS
calculated thereon. Adjusted EPS before Amortization is defined as income from continuing operations, before special items and amortization,
net of tax, and the diluted EPS calculated thereon. These non-GAAP measures should be used in addition to, but not as a substitute for, the
analysis provided in the statement of operations. We believe that these measures are useful because they allow investors to evaluate our
performance for different periods on a more comparable basis by excluding items that relate to acquired amortizable intangible assets and not to
the ongoing operations of our businesses.
• Adjusted Net Income is defined as income (loss) from continuing operations before special items. Adjusted Net Income before
Amortization is defined as income (loss) from continuing operations before special items and amortization, net of tax. These non-GAAP
measures should be used in addition to, but not as a substitute for, the analysis provided in the statement of operations. We believe that these
measures are useful because they allow investors to evaluate our performance for different periods on a more comparable basis by excluding
items that do not relate to the ongoing operations of our businesses.
• Adjusted Operating Income is defined as operating income before special items. This non-
• GAAP measure should be used in addition to, but not as a substitute for, the analysis provided in the statement of operations. We believe this
measure is useful because it allows investors to evaluate our operating results for different periods on a more comparable basis by excluding
special items.
• Adjusted OIBDA is defined as operating income before depreciation, amortization, restructuring and asset impairments, and special items.
Adjusted OIBDA less Cap Ex represents Adjusted OIBDA less our capital expenditures. Adjusted OIBDA Margin represents Adjusted OIBDA
divided by non-equipment net operating revenues for Wireless and Adjusted OIBDA divided by net operating revenues for Long Distance. These
non-GAAP measures should be used in addition to, but not as a substitute for, the analysis provided in the statement of operations. We believe
that Adjusted OIBDA and Adjusted OIBDA Margin provide useful information to investors because they are an indicator of the strength and
performance of our ongoing business operations, including our ability to fund discretionary spending such as capital expenditures, spectrum
acquisitions and other investments and our ability to incur and service debt. While depreciation and amortization are considered operating costs
under generally accepted accounting principles, these expenses primarily represent non-cash current period allocation of costs associated with
long-lived assets acquired or constructed in prior periods. Adjusted OIBDA and Adjusted OIBDA Margin are calculations commonly used as a basis
for investors, analysts and credit rating agencies to evaluate and compare the periodic and future operating performance and value of companies
within the telecommunications industry.
• Free Cash Flow is defined as the change in cash and cash equivalents less the change in debt, investment in certain securities, proceeds from
common stock and other financing activities, net, from continuing operations. This non-GAAP measure should be used in addition to, but not as a
substitute for, the analysis provided in the statement of cash flows. We believe that Free Cash Flow provides useful information to investors,
analysts and our management about the cash generated by our core operations after interest and dividends and our ability to fund scheduled
debt maturities and other financing activities, including discretionary refinancing and retirement of debt and purchase or sale of investments.
• Net Debt is consolidated debt, including current maturities, less cash and cash equivalents, current marketable securities and restricted cash.
This non-GAAP measure should be used in addition to, but not as a substitute for, the analysis provided in the balance sheet and statement of
cash flows. We believe that Net Debt provides useful information to investors, analysts and credit rating agencies about the capacity of the
company to reduce the debt load and improve its capital structure.
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4. Normalizing EPS
3Q07 3Q06
Net Income EPS Net Income EPS
(millions) (millions)
Reported - Continuing Operations $64 $0.02 $279 $0.09
Special Items $136 $0.05 $53 $0.02
Amortization $472 $0.16 $619 $0.21
Adjusted $672 $0.23 $951 $0.32
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7. Financial Summary
3Q07 2Q07 QoQ 3Q06 YoY
Total Subscribers on Network 54.0M 54.0M - 51.9M 4%
Net Operating Revenues $10.0B $10.2B -1% $10.5B -4%
Adjusted OIBDA $2.9B $2.9B - $3.4B -14%
Adjusted OIBDA Margin 30.7% 30.1% 50bps 34.9% -420bps
Capital Expenditures $1.2B $1.7B -$0.5B $1.8B -$0.7B
Free Cash Flow $1.3B $0.2B $1.1B $0.8B $0.5B
• Wireless ARPU and subscriber deactivations pressuring top line
• Solid improvement in subsidy costs from 1H levels
• Higher customer care & bad debt, offset by lower variable compensation
• Lower capital spending drives higher cash flow
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8. Revenue Performance
Wireless Service Equipment Wireline
(Billions)
$0.84
$8.23 $1.63
$8.17 $0.66 $1.62
$1.61
$0.61
$8.04
Q3-06 Q2-07 Q3-07 Q3-06 Q2-07 Q3-07 Q3-06 Q2-07 Q3-07
• Voice ARPU decline primarily due to rate plan mix
• Strong aircard and messaging propel 3Q07 data ARPU >$10
• CDMA ARPU up slightly from 3Q06
• iDEN ARPU and base erosion
• Wireline IP revenue up 43% YoY, offset by lower voice and legacy data
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9. Postpaid Trends
Postpaid Subscribers
41.7M 41.4M
35% iDEN
44%
• Growing CDMA gross adds
• Plan to re-ignite demand for
CDMA
65%
Nextel Direct Connect
56%
(incl. PowerSource)
3Q06 3Q07
Postpaid Churn • Drivers of sequential churn:
2.3%
Seasonal & macro-
Intra
Involuntary
Account
economic impacts
Netting
Voluntary
0.9%
Competitive pressure
2.0%
Voluntary
Involuntary
• Actions underway to increase
1.4%
customer retention
2Q07 3Q07
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10. Enhance the Customer Experience
Simplify the Business
Customer
Marketing Sales & Distribution
Management
Balance spending Increase channel Bolster staffing
between retention & efficiency Finish billing migration
acquisition Invest to support Drive quality &
Revise sub-prime small & mid-sized consistency across
offer businesses centers & vendors
More effective Align incentives with Simplify upstream
product & service balanced focus on activity to reduce call
launches acquisition & retention volumes
Simplified pricing and Extend service & care
promotions capabilities in stores
Deliver a Consistent Customer Experience
Across the Business
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11. Boost Mobile Update
Boost Pay-As-You-Go Boost Unlimited
Boost Pay-As-You-Go Boost Unlimited
• Walkie-talkie centric, traditional • 226,000 subscribers
prepaid offering
• Expanding handset lineup
• 4.3M subscribers
• Launching in 10 new markets
• Competitive environment &
• Distribution now includes
macroeconomic trends
RadioShack and Wal-Mart
Declining gross adds
• Introducing web, text messaging,
Lower ARPU & usage
PictureMail
• Action plans
• Criteria for success:
Loyalty programs
Strong customer lifetime value
New handsets
Increased gross add share
Boost Unlimited
Low cost structure
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12. Capital Spending
$4.5B Year-to-Date
(Billions) Wireless
$1.7
CDMA investments in capacity & coverage
$1.6
Growing EVDO rev A footprint to ~230M by YE07
Continued iDEN quality focus
Wireline
Supporting MPLS and Cable VOIP growth
$1.2
WiMAX
Initial network build
Q1-07 Q2-07 Q3-07
Future Capital Investments
Reflect current wireless subscriber trends
Emphasize retention of current subscribers
Support WiMAX build-out and data growth
Seek higher levels of capital efficiency
Note: 2007 YTD capital spending figures do not include the non-network portion of re-banding expenditures.
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13. Financial Update
• Solid financial position
Adjusted OIBDA less cap ex of $3.9B YTD
Ample liquidity with $2.2B of cash
No senior note maturities before Nov-2008
• Share buyback program
$432M used to purchase shares in Q3, 2007
$3.5B invested since inception
Maintaining a conservative approach
Program expires in Q1, 2008
• Tracking slightly below guidance for 2007
• Reduced capital investment preserves FCF
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14. Q&A
• Paul Saleh, Chief Financial Officer and acting CEO
• Mark Angelino, President of Sales & Distribution
• Tim Kelly, Chief Marketing Officer
• Bob Johnson, Chief Service Officer
• Kurt Fawkes, Vice President of Investor Relations
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15. Non-GAAP Reconciliations
Quarter Ended Quarter Ended Year To Date
June 30, June 30, September 30, September 30, September 30, September 30,
2007 2006 2007 2006 2007 2006
Operating Income $ 316 $ 712 $ 398 $ 719 $ 715 $ 1,915
Special items before taxes
Merger and integration expense (2) 163 113 135 107 397 296
(3)
Severance, exit costs and asset impairments 85 40 125 50 384 128
Contingencies and other (5) 5 (2) - 1 46 (1)
Adjusted Operating Income 569 863 658 877 1,542 2,338
Depreciation and amortization 2,313 2,354 2,222 2,488 6,803 7,188
Adjusted OIBDA* 2,882 3,217 2,880 3,365 8,345 9,526
Capital expenditures (b) 1,666 1,359 1,176 1,843 4,449 4,445
Adjusted OIBDA* less Capex $ 1,216 $ 1,858 $ 1,704 $ 1,522 $ 3,896 $ 5,081
Operating Income Margin (c) 3.3% 7.7% 4.2% 7.5% 2.5% 6.8%
Adjusted OIBDA Margin* (c) 30.1% 34.7% 30.7% 34.9% 29.4% 33.8%
(a)
Results for each of the periods reflected include the results of each of the acquired PCS Affiliates, Nextel Partners and Velocita from either the date of the acquisition or the
start of the month closest to the acquisition date.
(b)
Capital expenditures includes capex accruals
(c)
Operating Income Margin and Adjusted OIBDA Margin excludes equipment revenue and revenue generated by the non-core line of business that has been normalized out
of Adjusted OIBDA.
(1), (2), (3), (4), (5)
See accompanying Notes to Financial Data.
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16. Non-GAAP Reconciliations
RECONCILIATIONS OF EARNINGS PER SHARE (Unaudited)
(Millions except per share data)
Quarter Ended Quarter Ended Year To Date
September 30, September 30, June 30, June 30, September 30, September 30,
2007 2006 2007 2006 2007 2006
Income (Loss) Available to Common Shareholders $ 64 $ 279 $ 19 $ 370 $ (128) $ 1,066
Preferred stock dividends paid - - - - - 2
Net Income (Loss) 64 279 19 370 (128) 1,068
Discontinued operations, net - - - (79) - (334)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations 64 279 19 291 (128) 734
Special items (net of taxes) (a)
Merger and integration expense 84 66 100 69 244 181
Severance, exit costs and asset impairment 78 31 52 23 239 77
Contingencies and other - 2 12 - 37 2
Net gains on investment activities and equity in earnings (4) - (11) (8) (15) (40)
Tax audit settlement (19) (42) - - (19) (42)
Gain on early retirement of debt (3) (4) - (5) (5) (9)
Adjusted Net Income* $ 200 $ 332 $ 172 $ 370 $ 353 $ 903
Amortization (net of taxes) 472 619 547 577 1,570 1,760
Adjusted Net Income before Amortization* $ 672 $ 951 $ 719 $ 947 $ 1,923 $ 2,663
Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share 0.02 0.09 0.01 0.12 (0.04) 0.36
Discontinued operations - - - 0.02 - (0.11)
Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share from 0.02 0.09 0.01 0.10 (0.04) 0.25
Continuing Operations
Special items (net of taxes) (a) 0.05 0.02 0.05 0.02 0.16 0.05
Adjusted Earnings Per Share* $ 0.07 $ 0.11 $ 0.06 $ 0.12 $ 0.12 $ 0.30
Amortization (net of taxes) (b) 0.16 0.21 0.19 0.20 0.55 0.59
(b)
Adjusted Earnings Per Share before Amortization* $ 0.23 $ 0.32 $ 0.25 $ 0.32 $ 0.67 $ 0.89
(a)
See accompanying Notes to Financial Data.
(b)
Rounding differences are recorded to the Amortization (net of taxes) line.
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17. Non-GAAP Reconciliations
FREE CASH FLOW (NON GAAP)
(Millions)
Quarter Ended Quarter Ended Year To Date
September 30, September 30, June 30, June 30, September 30, September 30,
2007 2006 2007 2006 2007 2006
Adjusted OIBDA* $ 2,880 $ 3,365 $ 2,882 $ 3,217 $ 8,345 $ 9,526
Adjust for special items (260) (158) (253) (151) (827) (423)
Other operating activities, net (a) 94 (303) (659) (645) (370) (1,511)
Cash from continuing operating activities (GAAP) 2,714 2,904 1,970 2,421 7,148 7,592
Capital expenditures (1,261) (1,885) (1,577) (1,395) (4,651) (4,798)
Expenditures relating to FCC Licenses (204) (51) (151) (271) (462) (458)
Dividends paid (71) (74) (72) (74) (215) (224)
Proceeds from sales of investments and assets 115 54 15 38 157 221
Other investing activities, net (2) (179) (2) 42 (6) 5
Free Cash Flow* 1,291 769 183 761 1,971 2,338
Increase (decrease) in debt, net (775) (1,783) 748 (3,095) - (5,746)
Purchase of common shares (432) (1,523) (1,101) - (1,833) (1,523)
Retirement of redeemable preferred shares - - - - - (247)
Acquisitions net of cash acquired (287) (867) - (6,216) (287) (10,483)
Proceeds from spin-off of local communications business and
proceeds from sale of Embarq notes - - - 6,268 - 6,268
Discontinued operations activity, net - - - 69 - 367
Change in restricted cash - 1,124 - (1,125) - 93
Investments, net (3) 91 5 207 9 1,128
Proceeds from common shares issued 25 46 243 141 337 372
Other financing activities, net - 12 - - - 12
Change in cash and cash equivalents - GAAP $ (181) $ (2,131) $ 78 $ (2,990) $ 197 $ (7,421)
(a)
Other operating activities, net includes the change in working capital, change in deferred income taxes, miscellaneous operating activities and non-operating items in net income (loss).
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