TBR Weekly Preview: May 13-17

As we move further into May, we will shift from initial earnings reports to larger, detailed reports on the vendors we cover, plus the benchmarks and market forecasts for the broader areas, such as cloud and telecom. And definitely do not miss Wednesday’s webinar on digital transformation.

Monday

• The IBM Cloud report highlights how cloud remains an increasingly key component to IBM’s hybrid business model and long-term strategy. IBM reported single-digit cloud year-to-year growth, at 7%, a remarkably smaller rate than its larger cloud peers, which underscores the continued messaging and go-to-market shortcomings it needs to overcome. Cloud is often relied on as IBM tries to bounce back, but the cloud business also needs some attention. IBM will continue to sell off noncore software assets to hone its hybrid IT focus and messaging — the success of which is largely contingent on the planned acquisition of Red Hat in late 2019 by IBM. — Cassandra Mooshian, Senior Analyst

Wednesday

• Strengthening its focus on premium customers enabled AT&T to improve the EBITDA margins of its Mobility and Entertainment Group divisions in 1Q19, despite competitive pressures hindering subscriber growth. Though AT&T will continue to trail T-Mobile in postpaid phone net additions throughout 2019, AT&T will boost Mobility margins through its premium unlimited data plans and by being disciplined in its device promotions. Conversely, AT&T continues to lose video subscribers to over-the-top platforms, but the operator’s higher DIRECTV price points will help strengthen Entertainment Group margins. — Steve Vachon, Analyst

Thursday

• TBR’s first public sector IT services report of the quarter, Raytheon Intelligence, Information & Services (IIS), will discuss how Raytheon’s IIS business group continues to deliver market-leading fiscal performance, despite the run-off of a major defense sector support contract. IIS delivered double-digit top-line growth in 1Q19, driven principally by continued robust expansion of its core cybersecurity and space programs. Growth in these key sectors, particularly in the classified arena, was critical in enabling IIS to deflect the impact of declining work volumes on the Warfighter Field Operations Customer Support program, though the wind down of this program will become increasingly taxing during 2019. Meanwhile, a newly centralized base of operations in the United Arab Emirates will generate mindshare and market share gains for Raytheon in the Middle East while the company positions itself at the forefront of the 5G revolution in federal IT as the premier contractor to escort defense agencies into the 5G era. Finally, Raytheon is targeting the lucrative European security market as an opportunity to leverage its cyber leadership and expand international sales. — John Caucis, Senior Analyst
• Cisco strengthens its portfolio by attaching services to new product offerings to capture data center, IT infrastructure and workplace transformation engagements. However, declines within its deferred revenue signal the company could face challenges in maintaining services revenue expansion. — Kelly Lesiczka, Analyst
• Capgemini continues to sustain its profitable growth through an operating model based on three pillars: a unified go-to-market strategy that presents one face to the client and sells the entire Capgemini portfolio, industry focus, and an agile and competitive portfolio. Changes Capgemini made during 2018 to its portfolio, organizational structure and sales model enable the company to address rising demand from clients’ business side and strengthen relationships with clients to expand wallet share. Offering industry expertise, such as through the new Unified Commerce Solution for Grocery, enables Capgemini to attract clients’ C-Suites by addressing their business-specific needs. Capgemini has a competitive portfolio and global services capabilities around fast-growing and emerging solutions and revitalized core outsourcing offerings that will continue to drive revenue growth for the company. — Elitsa Bakalova, Senior Analyst
• Industry specialization is becoming a central focus of Atos’ strategy as the company articulates and delivers digital value and customer excellence leveraging its technology expertise and partnerships in areas such as security, cloud, IoT and quantum computing. One of Atos’ strengths is its ability to strictly execute on the plans it sets for its financial performance over three-year horizons and present consistent messaging to the industry analyst community. TBR expects Atos to execute on its plan to provide clients with innovative solutions that enable technology-powered strategies and business models. Deconsolidating Worldline as a stand-alone business as of Jan. 1 is a logical move that will have an immediate positive impact and enable Atos to focus on its core digital services activities. — Elitsa Bakalova, Senior Analyst
• Despite the maturing smartphone market and competition from new mobile virtual network operators such as Xfinity Mobile and Spectrum Mobile, significant opportunity remains for T-Mobile to sustain subscriber growth, exemplified by the company gaining higher postpaid phone net additions in 1Q19 compared to 1Q18. Decreased postpaid phone churn, which has been lower than that of AT&T the past two consecutive quarters, is a main driver of T-Mobile’s higher net additions, as customers are becoming more satisfied with T-Mobile’s service options, network coverage and customer service. — Steve Vachon, Analyst
• The strength of its broadband business will enable Comcast to sustain Cable Communications revenue growth through 2020 despite continued video subscriber losses as consumers shift to over-the-top offerings. Comcast will also sustain revenue growth long term through the company’s burgeoning businesses, including Xfinity Mobile, Xfinity Home and its machineQ IoT venture. — Steve Vachon, Analyst

Friday

• Fujitsu Services benefits from portfolio investments but needs to reorient its focus on client retention to sustain growth. We expect Fujitsu will look to its services portfolio offerings and onshore centers, showcasing its technology expertise to create differentiation and extract additional wallet share as well as generate opportunities outside its traditional client base. — Kelly Lesiczka, Analyst