BCE Inc Stock Price, News & Analysis

BCE reported mixed Q1 2025 results with net earnings of $683M, up 49.5% YoY, while adjusted net earnings declined 3.2% to $633M. Operating revenues decreased 1.3% to $5.93B, with adjusted EBITDA essentially flat at $2.56B. The company announced a significant dividend reduction from $3.99 to $1.75 annualized per share to strengthen its balance sheet. Free cash flow increased to $798M from $85M in Q1 2024. Notable developments include a strategic partnership with PSP Investments for U.S. fiber expansion through Ziply Fiber, with potential commitments exceeding US$1.5B. Bell Media revenue grew 6.9% with 35.9% adjusted EBITDA growth. The company faced challenges including intense price competition and regulatory uncertainty, leading to postpaid mobile phone net subscriber losses of 9,598 compared to net additions of 45,247 in Q1 2024.

BCE Inc. (TSX: BCE) (NYSE: BCE) has announced significant changes to its Shareholder Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (DRP). Starting with the dividend payable on July 15, 2025, common shares distributed under the DRP will no longer be issued from treasury at a 2% discount. Instead, shares will be purchased on the secondary market by TSX Trust Company using cash provided by BCE.

The DRP will continue to offer eligible shareholders a convenient way to acquire additional common shares without commission or brokerage fees through dividend reinvestment or optional cash payments. Existing participants will remain enrolled unless they terminate their participation. For the July 15 dividend, termination requests must be received by June 9, 2025, 4:00 p.m. Eastern time.

BCE and PSP Investments have announced the formation of Network FiberCo, a strategic partnership to accelerate fiber infrastructure development through Ziply Fiber in underserved U.S. markets. PSP Investments will own 51% of Network FiberCo with a potential commitment exceeding US$1.5 billion, while BCE will hold 49% through Ziply Fiber. The partnership aims to develop approximately 1 million fiber passings in Ziply Fiber's existing states and targets up to 5 million additional passings, enabling Ziply Fiber to potentially reach 8 million total fiber passings.

Network FiberCo will utilize non-recourse debt financing and operate with BCE's operational capabilities combined with PSP Investments' infrastructure experience. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2025, subject to BCE's acquisition of Ziply Fiber. Ziply Fiber will serve as the exclusive Internet service provider for Network FiberCo's passed locations.

BCE (TSX: BCE) (NYSE: BCE) has announced it will release its first-quarter 2025 financial results on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 8:00 am eastern. The earnings conference call will feature presentations from President and CEO Mirko Bibic and CFO Curtis Millen.

The company will host a conference call with a live audio webcast available on BCE's website. Media representatives are invited to join in listen-only mode. Participants can dial toll-free 1-844-933-2401 or 647-724-5455 to join. A replay will be accessible until June 8, 2025 via 1-877-454-9859 or 647-483-1416 using passcode 7485404.

BCE Inc. (TSX: BCE) (NYSE: BCE) has announced the filing of its 2024 annual report on Form 40-F with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The filing includes the company's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024.

The Form 40-F documentation is now accessible on BCE's website in the Investors section and the SEC's website. Shareholders can request printed copies of the audited financial statements free of charge through BCE Investor Relations via phone, email, or mail.

Bell Canada has announced a US$2.25 billion offering of Fixed-to-Fixed Rate Junior Subordinated Notes in two series. The first series consists of US$1 billion notes due 2055 with an initial 6.875% interest rate, resetting every five years from September 15, 2030. The second series comprises US$1.25 billion notes due 2055 with an initial 7.000% interest rate, resetting every five years from September 15, 2035.

The notes will be publicly offered in the United States through underwriters, with closing expected on February 18, 2025. BCE Inc. will fully guarantee the notes. Bell plans to use the proceeds to repurchase, redeem, or repay senior indebtedness and for general corporate purposes. The offering is being made in the U.S. under a prospectus supplement to Bell's amended shelf prospectus dated February 6, 2025.

BCE reported Q4 2024 results with operating revenues of $6,422 million, down 0.8% year-over-year. Net earnings increased 16.1% to $505 million, with adjusted EBITDA up 1.5% to $2,605 million. The company achieved its highest Q4 adjusted EBITDA margin in over three decades at 40.6%.

Key highlights include 151,413 mobile phone and connected device net activations, 34,187 retail Internet net subscriber additions, and digital revenues growth of 6%. Bell Media saw revenue and adjusted EBITDA growth of 1.2% and 14.2% respectively. The company maintained its annualized common share dividend at $3.995.

For full-year 2024, BCE's operating revenue decreased 1.1% to $24,409 million, while adjusted EBITDA grew 1.7% to $10,589 million. Free cash flow decreased 8.1% to $2,888 million. The company achieved all non-revenue targets and met revised revenue guidance for 2024.

BCE Inc. has announced the results of its Series AE and AF Preferred Share conversion process. On February 1, 2025, 8,050 of 8,779,487 fixed-rate Series AF Preferred Shares will convert to floating-rate Series AE Preferred Shares, while 2,479,334 of 5,810,913 Series AE Preferred Shares will convert to Series AF Preferred Shares.

Following these conversions, there will be 11,250,771 Series AF Preferred Shares and 3,339,629 Series AE Preferred Shares outstanding. Both series will continue trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange under BCE.PR.F and BCE.PR.E symbols respectively. The Series AF shares will pay quarterly fixed dividends at an annual rate of 5.496% for the next five years, while Series AE shares will continue paying monthly floating adjustable dividends based on the prime rate.

BCE Inc. has announced it will hold its fourth-quarter 2024 results and 2025 guidance conference call on February 6, 2025, at 8:00 am eastern. The call will feature presentations from Mirko Bibic, President and CEO, and Curtis Millen, CFO. Media representatives are invited to join in listen-only mode.

The conference call will be accessible via toll-free numbers and will include a live audio webcast on BCE's website. A replay option will be available until March 6, 2025, with specific dial-in numbers and passcode provided for interested parties.