Liberty Global Clears the Air to Smoother Flying

Liberty Global (LBTYK) faced a lot of headwinds in 2014 including slower than expected benefits of the acquisition of Virgin Media in the UK, a lengthy period with no buybacks awaiting the acquisition of Ziggo in the Netherlands, foreign currency weakness (100% of operations are in Europe, Chile, and Puerto Rico), and tough competitive conditions […]

Liberty Global Ready for Liftoff

Liberty Global (LBTYK) had an eventful week. The company closed on its acquisition of Ziggo, giving it nationwide coverage in the Netherlands for its broadband and cable network, reported third quarter earnings, and restarted its share repurchase program. Each item is positive and complements the other which should set the stage for strong performance from […]

Liberty Global Growth Acceleration Beginning

Liberty Global (LBTYK) reported improved March quarter earnings after several expected but slower growth quarters. What LBTYK calls rebased revenue grew 2.3% just slightly below estimates of 3%. The upside surprise came in operating cash flow which saw rebased growth of 6%, well ahead of consensus for 4%. An investment cycle, cost related to several […]

Liberty Global Growth Set to Accelerate

Liberty Global (LBTYK) reported its slowest quarterly growth of 2013 in the December quarter, with low single digit gains in revenue and operating income. The numbers were not a surprise as a difficult competitive environment in the UK and Netherlands and initial dis-synergies form the acquisition of Virgin Media in the UK held back results. […]

Liberty Global Set to Accelerate Growth in 2014

Liberty Global (LBTYK) reported results that matched Wall Street expectations with rebased revenue and EBITDA growth of 3%. New subscriber growth surprised meaningfully to the upside following last quarter’s disappointing growth. Investors have been worried about the second half of 2013 growth due to tough competition in Netherlands and England and last quarter’s modest slowing […]

Comcast and Liberty Global Remain Leaders in Bullish Cable Industry

Cable stocks have performed well this year due to a combination of steady moderate growth, industry consolidation rumors, and companies returning cash to shareholders via dividend increases and share repurchases. The most recent set of quarterly earnings reports support current bullish trends in these areas. Northlake clients own positions in Comcast (CMCSK) and Liberty Global […]

Liberty Global Growth Overshadowed by Acquisition of Virgin Media

Liberty Global (LBTYK) reported another excellent quarter with continued rapid growth in cable, broadband, and telephone subscriptions and accelerating growth in financial metrics. This news was expected. What was not expected was the company’s acquisition of Virgin Media (VMED). LBTYK is a very acquisitive company but expectations for the next big merger were focused on […]

Mixed Media Earnings Better Than Stock Reactions

Most major media companies reported earnings this week including those in Northlake’s portfolio of individual stocks. As has been the case with the broader market, earnings reports and guidance from Northlake’s portfolio was mixed. CBS was the clear winner with a solid quarter amid tough circumstances and a confident outlook for the December quarter and […]

Liberty Global: Sunshine in Stormy Weather

Liberty Global (LBYTK) reported another solid quarter despite having virtually all of its cable operations in Europe. The company operates primarily in the stronger Northern European countries of Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and Switzerland. However, the real secret to another quarter of solid growth is the well-timed acquisition in German over the past few years. For […]

From Virgin Media and England to Liberty Global and Germany

All Northlake client positions in Virgin Media (VMED) have been swapped into Liberty Global (LBTYK). Both companies are leaders in supplying cable TV, telephony, and internet. VMED operates solely in England, while LBTYK operates throughout Northern and Central Europe with a major focus on Germany. I think both stocks have similar upside of 20-30%. However, […]