We use more and more data, and Proximus will benefit

Internet The rising data usage is a good case for Proximus. Although the telecoms group in terms of sales disappointment, exceeded Proximus profit forecasts thanks to the customers who more and more data slurping.

We use our smartphone more and more. To pay, to surf, to watch tv. And that has as a result that the amount of traffic at Proximus quickly neglected. To give you an idea: on average, consumed a customer during the first quarter to 2.7 gigabytes per month, or over 67% more than a year ago. But the more data customers consume, the more benefit they have in mobile subscriptions with a large data transfer. That are usually more expensive subscriptions, and that explains Proximus is already a success. Saw the group the number of subscribers to its all-inbundel Tuttimus with about 29,000 increase, making all 538.000 Proximus customers to this package.

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However, it is not all moonlight and roses. Both the growth of tv customers (+7,000 people) mobile subscribers (stable) was a disappointment. Also the sales of smartphones had a serious dip, with a decrease of 18% to 68 million euros. Furthermore, texting and calling people less and less. They give more and more to prefer conversations over Whatsapp or Messenger. And that eats away at the revenue that Proximus will gain from incoming mobile traffic. The result is that the sales during the first three months declined 1.8% to 1,41 billion euros. If one takes into account only the domestic market, the decline from 2.2%.

Promise

Thanks to the use of data knew Proximus, however, the expectations in terms of brutobedrijfswinst to surpass. That is profit thickness by 2.1% to 463 million euros. Also, the strict cost control contributed to improved profitability. Under the mark - net, so - loved Proximus 134 million euros, that is 8,6% more than a year ago. This is mainly due to the lower interest charges. For the rest of the year continues to Proximus in his promise to the sales to stabilize, just as the brutobedrijfswinst.

most analysts see few reasons for their advice to hit. Both at KBC Securities, as Degroof Petercam the advice for the stock on ‘hold’ with a target price of 28 and 26 euro.