American TowerAMTBUYNov 15, 2012Stock price when the opinion was issued
As of Aug 06, 2026. Market Open.
Cell phone tower owner/operator - leases out to providers. Very good business as towers don't need to be re-developed. Able to grow earnings at a consistent basis. A little bit more debt than is preferred, but with falling interest rates - will be good for business. Good time to invest in company, and has been buying shares.
As a REIT, some benefit with respect to rate expectations. Just sold tower business in India, which was an overhang, using proceeds to reduce leverage. Capital allocation moving towards developed (away from developing) countries, which adds certainty, higher inflation protection, and more data. Yield is 2.7%.
(Analysts’ price target is $237.64)AMT is a $77.5B REIT which pays a 3.8% yield. Forward sales and earnings estimates are decent, and its historical growth rates are strong. Its margins have been weakening over the past few years and its valuation has come down alongside the rapid rise in interest rates. It generates good free cash flows, which are partly used for distributions and partially for paying down debt. It has a good balance sheet, and it is fundamentally strong, but its valuations are somewhat high and declining based on competition from other high-yielding assets with much less risk such as GICs and high-interest savings accounts. We feel that a catalyst that could help its share price is interest rates stalling or even declining. The central banks indicating that they are done with hiking interest rates can act as a catalyst for AMT and other REITs.
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Anyone with kids can see how much data is being consumed through handheld devices. This one has a portfolio of telecom towers all over the world and is in the process of converting to a REIT. Dividend will grow at 15-20% per year. Not insignificant dividend today. A great area to focus on and is one of the few secular themes in this economy.