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Liberty Latin America Ltd.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted OIBDA returned to growth: Adjusted OIBDA was $436 million, up 5% reported and 3% rebased. The margin was 39.5% against 38.2%. Hurricane Melissa was a $6 million net headwind. Source
  • Adjusted FCF up over $160 million: Adjusted FCF was $58 million in Q2 against $(41) million a year earlier. Management said Adjusted FCF rose by over $160 million year on year in the first half of 2026. Source
  • Liberty Puerto Rico revenue fell: Revenue fell 5% on mobile pressure from a smaller prepaid base after the Boost migration, and lower roaming. Adjusted OIBDA rose 7%, helped by lower inventory, programming and bad debt charges. Source
  • Postpaid additions fell from Q1: Organic postpaid additions were 33,100, against 50,200 in Q1. Organic mobile subscribers fell by 49,300, after prepaid losses of 82,400. Source
  • Hurricane cut $6 million net: The hurricane was a $6 million net headwind to Adjusted OIBDA in the second quarter. Management also cited cost savings starting to flow in Costa Rica. Source
  • Capex rose 19% in Q2: Property and equipment additions were $179 million against $150 million, or 16% of revenue against 14%. First-half additions were $289 million against $271 million. Source
  • Preferred stock distributed, dividend declared: Management said $500 million of preferred stock was distributed in Q2, as discussed at the first quarter. The first quarterly preferred dividend is payable on 15 September 2026. Source
  • Buybacks accelerated into Q3: Management said share repurchases were accelerated into the third quarter, with over $60 million bought in 2026 to date. It will remain opportunistic on further purchases. Source
  • Amdocs IT agreement over 10 years: The 10-year agreement covers IT operations and adds scale, specialist expertise and AI capabilities. Management said it supports cost base reduction, Adjusted OIBDA margin expansion and capital efficiency. Source

“The second quarter represented another strong quarter of postpaid mobile additions as well as highlighting better momentum in broadband.”

President and CEO Balan Nair

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Amdocs agreement, NPV to LLA SourceOver the 10-year contract termin excess of $250 millionNew
Preferred dividend, per share SourceQuarterly, payable 15 September 2026$0.5625 per share

What changed from last quarter

  • New: A 10-year strategic agreement with Amdocs covering LLA's IT operations was announced. Source
  • New: The $500 million preferred stock distribution, flagged in Q1, was completed in Q2, and the first quarterly preferred dividend was declared. Source
  • New: Stock repurchase activity was accelerated, with over $60 million bought to date in 2026. Source
  • Ended: The 2027 Liberty Puerto Rico revolving credit facility was repaid in full in Q2 and then terminated. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue flat on rebased basis: Reported revenue rose 1% to $1,103 million. Rebased revenue was flat, with growth at Liberty Networks offset by declines at Liberty Puerto Rico and Liberty Caribbean. Source
  • Adjusted OIBDA returned to growth: Adjusted OIBDA was $436 million, up 5% reported and 3% rebased. The margin was 39.5% against 38.2%. Hurricane Melissa was a $6 million net headwind. Source
  • Operating income turned positive: Operating income was $181 million, against a loss of $333 million a year earlier. The company cited lower impairment, restructuring and other items after 2025 spectrum impairment. Source
  • Adjusted FCF up over $160 million: Adjusted FCF was $58 million in Q2 against $(41) million a year earlier. Management said Adjusted FCF rose by over $160 million year on year in the first half of 2026. Source

Segments and regions

  • Liberty Puerto Rico revenue fell: Revenue fell 5% on mobile pressure from a smaller prepaid base after the Boost migration, and lower roaming. Adjusted OIBDA rose 7%, helped by lower inventory, programming and bad debt charges. Source
  • Liberty Networks grew on El Salvador: Revenue rose 14% reported and 10% rebased, driven by the El Salvador project and wholesale lease capacity sales. Enterprise grew low single digits. Adjusted OIBDA rose 10%. Source
  • Liberty Caribbean hurricane drag: Revenue fell 1% reported and 2% rebased, with a $6 million net hurricane impact. Residential fixed revenue fell 8% rebased, while residential mobile subscription revenue grew 8%. Source
  • Costa Rica cost savings lifted profit: Adjusted OIBDA rose 18% reported and 7% rebased, from lower call center expenses and sales commissions. Residential fixed revenue fell 11% rebased, while residential mobile revenue rose 6%. Source
  • C&W Panama led subscriber additions: Panama had the highest subscriber additions in the group across broadband and postpaid. Revenue was flat, and Adjusted OIBDA fell 5% on higher professional services and commercial costs. Source

“Adjusted OIBDA returned to YoY growth in the second quarter, while still being impacted by headwinds from Hurricane Melissa.”

President and CEO Balan Nair

Subscribers and broadband

  • Postpaid additions fell from Q1: Organic postpaid additions were 33,100, against 50,200 in Q1. Organic mobile subscribers fell by 49,300, after prepaid losses of 82,400. Source
  • Fixed RGU additions rose to 35,000: Organic RGU additions were 35,000, against 11,900 in Q1. Organic internet additions were 12,100, against 1,800. Total customers rose 7,600 organically. Source
  • Jamaica broadband recovery continues: The CEO linked better broadband momentum to the Jamaica recovery and to stronger net additions elsewhere in the group. Source

Margins and cost initiatives

  • Adjusted OIBDA margin widened: The Adjusted OIBDA margin was 39.5% in Q2 against 38.2%. For the first half it was 38.5% against 37.9%. The operating income margin was 16.4%. Source
  • Hurricane cut $6 million net: The hurricane was a $6 million net headwind to Adjusted OIBDA in the second quarter. Management also cited cost savings starting to flow in Costa Rica. Source

“To further accelerate cost initiatives across the group, we are announcing a 10-year strategic agreement with Amdocs”

President and CEO Balan Nair

Capital spending

  • Capex rose 19% in Q2: Property and equipment additions were $179 million against $150 million, or 16% of revenue against 14%. First-half additions were $289 million against $271 million. Source
  • Capacity and baseline spend rose: Capacity additions were $36.8 million against $23.8 million, and baseline additions $64.5 million against $58.8 million, in Q2. Source
  • Adjusted OIBDA less capex down 3%: Adjusted OIBDA less property and equipment additions was $257.5 million in Q2, down 3%. The first-half figure was $551.9 million, flat on the prior year. Source
  • Liberty Caribbean build count rose: New build and homes upgraded in Liberty Caribbean rose to 31,500 in Q2, from 14,100 a year earlier. Source

Cash, debt and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow rose: Cash provided by operating activities was $217 million in Q2 against $141 million. Year to date it was $259 million against $166 million. Source
  • Preferred stock distributed, dividend declared: Management said $500 million of preferred stock was distributed in Q2, as discussed at the first quarter. The first quarterly preferred dividend is payable on 15 September 2026. Source
  • Buybacks accelerated into Q3: Management said share repurchases were accelerated into the third quarter, with over $60 million bought in 2026 to date. It will remain opportunistic on further purchases. Source
  • Leverage ratios edged higher: Consolidated gross leverage was 5.1x against 4.9x, and consolidated net leverage 4.6x against 4.5x. Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash was $746.9 million. Source

Strategy and the Amdocs agreement

  • Amdocs IT agreement over 10 years: The 10-year agreement covers IT operations and adds scale, specialist expertise and AI capabilities. Management said it supports cost base reduction, Adjusted OIBDA margin expansion and capital efficiency. Source
  • Venezuela interest from geopolitics: Liberty Networks reported increased carrier and enterprise interest in Venezuela, which it attributed to geopolitics. Source
  • Puerto Rico postpaid and SIM-only: Liberty Puerto Rico reported its third consecutive quarter of postpaid additions, with traction on its SIM-only product and diminishing fixed broadband losses. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 August 2026

  • Preferred dividend payment date: The quarterly preferred dividend is payable in cash on 15 September 2026, to holders of record at close of business on 1 September 2026. Source
  • Amdocs benefits to follow: Management said the Amdocs agreement supports efforts to improve the cost base, drive Adjusted OIBDA margin expansion and improve capital efficiency. The release gives no closing date. Source
  • Costa Rica cost savings to continue: Management anticipates that cost saving initiatives will support Adjusted OIBDA trends in coming periods. Source
  • Further share repurchases: Management said it will remain opportunistic on further purchases, with 2026 repurchases to date running above $60 million. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Mobile subscribers, 30 June 2026 Source6,759,800
Organic postpaid net additions Source33,100
Organic prepaid net losses Source(82,400)
Fixed RGUs, organic additions Source35,000
Residential mobile ARPU per mobile subscriber, C&W borrowing group Source$14.34
Residential fixed ARPU per customer relationship, C&W borrowing group Source$46.90
Capital expenditure (property and equipment additions), Q2 2026 Source$178.5 million
Capital expenditures, net, Q2 2026 Source$120.8 million

Risks management discussed

  • External: Hurricane Melissa still affects year-on-year growth in Liberty Caribbean, with a $6 million net revenue effect in Q2. Source
  • Demand: Residential fixed revenue in Liberty Costa Rica fell 11% rebased, against a rise in residential mobile revenue. Source
  • Demand: Liberty Puerto Rico revenue fell 5% on mobile pressure from a smaller prepaid base and lower roaming, plus lower residential fixed pricing. Source
  • Demand: C&W Panama B2B revenue fell 3% on lower rates in data services provided to government-related agencies. Source
  • Financial: Liberty Puerto Rico's covenant consolidated net leverage ratio was 14.1x, calculated on the last two quarters annualized Covenant EBITDA. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said the $500 million preferred stock distribution was completed in the second quarter. Source
  • Not stated: Q2 Adjusted OIBDA returned to year-on-year growth, but management said it was still affected by hurricane headwinds. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it continues to anticipate that cost saving initiatives will support trends in coming periods. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.