close
Edit Metric
Company
Value
Source
Source URL
Notes
Cancel
 
close
Edit  |  History
Details
Company:
Value :
Source:
Source URL:
Notes:
 
Feedback
Get involved
FAQ

Add a New Bears Reason

Company: Clearwire (CLWR)
Current price:
Headline: (100 character max)
Analysis:
Cancel
100%
agree
1 votes

edit Burning cash at a high rate to fund large capital expenditures

Burning cash at a high rate to fund large capital expenditures. Time to positive cash flow is uncertain. Having already tapped the debt markets, CLWR may find accessing new capital more difficult in the future. Clearwire is banking on the fact that as it expands and brings in new subscribers, it will gain enough incremental revenue to offset its rapidly rising cost structure. While this model typifies many technological startup companies, the model has some drawbacks when working with billion dollar expense levels. As the economy has become more challenging, the strategy has been revised to reduce the number of new markets the company will expand into. While this decreases the additional rollout costs for now, it also pressures assumptions as to new subscriber additions which is the lifeblood of a growing company. Additionally, management has decided to turn to voice as well as data as it attempts to sign on new subscribers. While the public story is that this move leverages existing relationships with clients, there is reason to believe this move was necessary because the data rollout was coming along slower than expected.

Net subscriber additions came in a bit higher than expectations, but looking at the way this number is calculated raises additional concerns. The number is affected both by gross subscriber adds (new customers) and by the churn rate (loss of existing customers). The gross subscriber additions were much higher than some analysts expected which is certainly a positive data point. However, the churn rate came in above expectations which may or may not be due to customers dis-satisfaction with the products offered. At any rate, a higher churn rate coupled with rising costs to acquire new subscribers is a recipe for losses. Management is guiding analysts to expect higher churn rates and this metric bears close watching in the coming quarters.

The biggest concern when looking at the long-term condition of the company is a funding gap of roughly $2.1 to $2.3 billion that Clearwire must raise in order to complete its nationwide buildout of its data network. With credit markets still in an illiquid position, and the stock dropping below pre-IPO levels, there are not many attractive ways that management could raise capital without hurting current investors. Debt financing is not likely to be available on the billion dollar scale for a technology company that is EBITDA negative to the tune of 81.2 million per quarter. At the same time, if a block of stock is sold via an underwriting transaction, it will likely push the stock down another 10 to 20% with the underwriters taking another large chunk of the capital as their fee.

(100 character max) Cancel
0%
agree
0 votes

edit CLWR may find accessing new capital more difficult in the future

Having already tapped the debt markets, CLWR may find accessing new capital more difficult in the future.

(100 character max) Cancel
0%
agree
0 votes

edit Clearwire faces increasing competition from other wireless technologies

Will face increasing competition from other wireless technologies (including LTE, satellite and municipal WiFi) and alternative last mile broadband technologies (broadband over powerlines, etc).

(100 character max) Cancel
The Shelf
Contributions
Help make Wikinvest better! Learn how to get involved. And create an account to build your reputation.
Did you know…?
Bookmarks
Worried about pump and dump?
We review changes
for stock spam
Want to make Wikinvest better?
We need your help,
contribute today
Do you write software?
We are recruiting
the best engineers
Like Wikinvest?
Spread the word —
Tell your friends!
Wikinvest © 2006, 2007, 2008. Use of this site is subject to express Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimer. By continuing past this page, you agree to abide by these terms. Any information provided by Wikinvest, including but not limited to company data, competitors, business analysis, market share, sales revenues and other operating metrics, earnings call analysis, conference call transcripts, industry information, or price targets should not be construed as research, trading tips or recommendations, or investment advice and is provided with no warrants as to its accuracy. Stock market data, including US and International equity symbols, stock quotes, share prices, earnings ratios, and other fundamental data is provided by data partners. Stock market quotes delayed at least 15 minutes for NASDAQ, 20 mins for NYSE and AMEX. See data providers for more details. Company names, products, services and branding cited herein may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. The use of trademarks or service marks of another is not a representation that the other is affiliated with, sponsors, is sponsored by, endorses, or is endorsed by Wikinvest.
Powered by MediaWiki