On April 27, Alltel (NYSE:AT) released first-quarter earnings for the period ended March 31.

  • While gaining a record 237,000 customers created revenue growth, operating costs increased 11%, eating away at margins.
  • New packages offering bundled data and voice services, and the My Circle calling plan helped generate favorable operating metrics.
  • In continuation of its $3 billion repurchase plan, Alltel bought back 15.3 million shares in the first quarter and has returned almost $2.7 billion in cash to shareholders since the inception of the program.
  • Alltel seems to be holding its own against the leading industry competitors as it rates three stars in comparison to Verizon's (NYSE:VZ) three-star and Sprint's (NYSE:S) two-star status in the Motley Fool CAPS community.

(Figures in millions, except per-share data)

Income Statement Highlights

Q1 2007

Q1 2006

Change

Sales

$2,078.5

$1,843.2

12.8%

Net Profit*

$230.3

$297.4

(22.6%)

EPS

$0.64

$0.77

(16.9%)

Diluted Shares

359.8

389.7

(7.7%)

*Income from continuing operations.

Get back to basics with the income statement.

Margin Checkup

Q1 2007

Q1 2006

Change*

Operating Margin

17.1%

15.8%

1.2

Net Margin

11.1%

16.1%

(5.1)

*Expressed in percentage points.

Margins are the earnings engine.

Balance Sheet Highlights

Assets

Q1 2007

Q1 2006

Change

Cash + ST Invest.

$576.8

$886.5

(34.9%)

Accounts Rec.

$765.2

$1,015.0

(24.6%)

Inventory

$214.4

$193.9

10.6%

Liabilities

Q1 2007

Q1 2006

Change

Long-Term Debt

$2,661.3

$5,661.9

(53.0%)

Accounts Payable

$487.9

$517.2

 (5.7%)

Learn the ways of the balance sheet.

Cash Flow Highlights

Q1 2007

Q1 2006

Change

Cash From Ops.

$561.2

$384.8

45.8%

Capital Expenditures

$169.6

$158.4

7.1%

Free Cash Flow

$391.5

$226.5

72.9%

Free cash flow is a Fool's best friend.

Operating Highlights

Q1 2007

Q1 2006

Change

Subscribers

12

11

11.3%

Average Revenue per User*

$52.49

$51.23

2.5%

Cost per Gross Addition

$644

$626

2.9%

Churn Rate*

1.8%

2.0%

(0.2)

*Monthly.

Find out more about service provider metrics.

Related Foolishness:

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