Telefonica 2015 Profit Rises 30% Excl. Items; Revenues Up 8.7%

(RTTNews) - Telefonica (TDE.L, TEF) reported 2015 profit from continuing operations of 298 million euros compared to 2.8 billion euros, last year. Loss per share from continuing operation was 0.02 euros compared to profit of 0.50 euros. The company said its net income was affected by extraordinary factors, mainly a non-recurrent impact of 2.60 billion euros in the fourth quarter of 2015 related to the Voluntary Suspension Plan in Telefónica España. Excluding non-recurring impacts, net profit increased nearly 30% year-on-year, reaching 5.79 billion euros, raising the basic earnings per share to 1.12 euros in 2015, up 23.9% from last year.

Operating income before D&A, or OIBDA, was 11.4 billion euros compared to 13.8 billion euros, last year. OIBDA stood at 14.93 billion euros excluding non-recurring impacts. In organic terms, OIBDA increased 3.6%.

Revenues were 47.22 billion euros compared to 43.46 billion euros, a year ago. In organic terms, revenues grew 4% year-on-year.

For 2016, the company expects: revenue growth to be greater than 4% year-on-year; and OIBDA margin stabilizing compared to 2015. The 2016 dividend is set at 0.75 euros per share.