Strategic Foresight - Insights in Business and Technology

Telstra's Dual Strategy: Investor Lens Telstra's first half FY25 results have delivered a strategic surprise that signals management's growing confidence in the company's financial strength. With a clean 6% increase in underlying earnings, Telstra has not only raised its dividend as expected but also announced a significant share buyback program. This dual approach to shareholder returns marks a new chapter for a telecommunications giant that has dramatically transformed recently. Segment Performance: Mobile Leads with World-Class Margins   Mobile dominance continues:  The Mobile division delivered 4% earnings growth, exceeding analyst expectations despite only four months of price increases and disruption from the 3G network shutdown. Why it matters:  With Mobile (>40% market share) accounting for over 60% of total EBITDA and maintaining an extraordinary 47% margin (among the highest globally), this segment remains Telstra's crown jewel. The division's abi...

First, what I wrote about ABB's FY23 Results last year.     Update on ABB's Business  ABB's Acquisition Spree - Ongoing Tussle and Drivers Behind it.  My other post on NBN and its Economics

TPG Heading for a Challenging Future  HY23 Results - Key Takeaways - The merger with Vodafone was a necessary remedy to the NBN, but it hasn’t lived up to expectations. TPG’s plan for the Vodafone merger was to do what it has always done – cram lots of users through a fixed asset base to raise profits. It hasn’t worked out that way. Selling off the wholesale Fibre Business can be likened to relinquishing a fortress, where the installation of the fibre requires minimal capital and new customers translate to higher margins and earnings, with the capacity for expansion being remarkable. This decision can be interpreted as a demonstration of TPG's weakness, rather than one that emanates from a position of strength. The business cannot sustain an expensive multi-brand strategy as it shifts towards a pure RSP play. Hence abandoning it. The emerging trend of choosing Prepaid mobile over post-paid is reemphasised (MVNO Play). Post-paid ARPU increase primarily from price rise in Jan and Feb...