Broadband Services Remain the Primary Growth Driver of Telecommunications Operations
RYE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- LICT Corporation (“LICT” or the “Company”; OTC Pink®: LICT), an integrated provider of broadband and voice services, today reported preliminary, unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2025.
HIGHLIGHTS
Joe Cecin, LICT’s Chief Operating Officer commented, “Solid operating performance in 2025 was a result of expanded broadband deployments across our rural service territories with revenue growth driven primarily by broadband subscriber growth, fiber construction activity and contributions from the Manti Telephone Company (MTC) acquisition completed in early 2025.” Cecin continued, “With our investments in middle mile and distribution fiber we are well-positioned to meet the build-out requirements of federal broadband programs while supporting long-term demand for high-speed connectivity across the LICT markets.”
Broadband services remain LICT’s primary growth engine and represent the fastest growing segment of our revenue base as customers migrate from legacy voice and video services to high-speed internet connectivity. Owned and operated fiber optic cable expanded 19.0% to 8,184 route miles over the same period.
During 2025, LICT invested $77.1 million in network infrastructure, with $24.5 million offset by government grant funding, supporting broadband expansion across underserved communities, for a net outlay of $52.6 million.
Stephen J. Moore, LICT’s Vice President of Finance added, “Management maintains a conservative balance sheet. The company ended the year with net leverage of approximately 1.5x trailing 12-month EBITDA, providing significant financial flexibility for continued infrastructure investment and opportunistic share repurchases.”
Results from Operations
Fourth quarter 2025
Revenues
Total revenues were $36.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared with $33.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2024.
EBITDA
EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2025 increased $1.1 million, or 9.0%, to $13.9 million, compared to $12.8 million for the same period in 2024. EBITDA margin remained stable at approximately 38.4%, compared with 38.3% in the prior-year period. The improvement reflects higher revenues within the Company’s non-regulated operations, partially offset by higher operating expenses. As network expansion projects move from planning into active construction and service deployment, the Company expects operating leverage to support continued margin stability over time.
Net Income and Earnings per Share
Net income for the fourth quarter of 2025 was $1.2 million, or $77 per share, compared with $7.0 million, or $427 per share, for the same period in 2024. The $4.9 million, or 70%, decrease in net income year over year primarily reflects a $6.5 million non-cash gain (or $301 per share) recorded in the fourth quarter of 2024 related to the revaluation of contingent consideration associated with the Manti acquisition.
Excluding this item, adjusted net income for the fourth quarter of 2024 was approximately $2.1 million, or $126 per share. On a comparable basis, adjusted net income declined by approximately $0.9 million, or 43%. This decrease primarily reflects higher depreciation expense related to recent infrastructure investments, along with increased operating and non-operating expenses, partially offset by higher revenues from the Company’s non-regulated operations.
Twelve months ended December 31, 2025
Revenues
Total revenues were $141.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, an increase of 5.4%, compared with $134.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024.
EBITDA
EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2025 was $56.4 million, compared with $55.4 million in the prior-year. EBITDA margin was approximately 39.9%, compared with 41.2% in 2024. The increase in EBITDA primarily reflects additional revenue from a fiber-build project at one of the Company’s subsidiaries, partially offset by higher operating costs, including increased personnel and professional services expenses associated with operational expansion. The decline in EBITDA margin reflects the mix of project-based construction revenue and higher operating costs associated with network expansion during the year.
The following table is a reconciliation of EBITDA:
|
Three Months Ended December 31, |
Twelve Months Ended December 31, |
|||||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
||||
|
Operating profit |
|
$ |
2,652 |
|
$ |
4,453 |
|
$ |
20,584 |
|
$ |
26,146 |
|
Adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Corporate expenses |
|
2,081 |
|
1,278 |
|
6,412 |
|
4,756 |
||||
|
Charitable contributions |
|
|
1,017 |
|
|
543 |
|
|
1,024 |
|
|
543 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
8,180 |
|
|
6,543 |
|
|
28,418 |
|
|
23,913 |
|
Total adjustments |
|
|
11,278 |
|
|
8,364 |
|
|
35,854 |
|
|
29,212 |
|
EBITDA (from operations) |
|
$ |
13,930 |
|
$ |
12,817 |
|
$ |
56,438 |
|
$ |
55,358 |
Net Income and Earnings per Share
Net income for the twelve months ended December 31, 2025 was $12.2 million, or $771 per share, compared with $20.6 million, or $1,235 per share, for the same period in 2024. The $8.4 million, or 40.8%, decrease in net income primarily reflects a $6.5 million one-time non-cash gain recorded in 2024 related to the revaluation of contingent consideration associated with the Manti acquisition.
Excluding this one-time gain, adjusted net income for 2024 was $14.1 million, or $1,007 per share. On a comparable basis, adjusted net income for 2025 declined $1.9 million, or 13.5%, primarily due to a $12.7 million increase in total costs and expenses, largely driven by:
These higher operating and non-cash expenses were partially offset by a $7.2 million increase in revenue, driven by continued broadband growth in Utah and Kansas and fiber-build construction revenue recognized at one of the Company’s subsidiaries. The Company also recorded a $4.1 million decrease in its provision for income taxes, primarily reflecting tax benefits associated with 100% bonus depreciation on qualifying capital expenditures.
Liquidity and Balance Sheet Highlights
Liquidity
As of December 31, 2025, the Company had $63.9 million outstanding under its $100 million facility, with an average interest rate of 6.3%.
Capital Expenditures
Gross capital expenditures totaled $25.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to $25.0 million in the prior-year period. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2025, gross capital expenditures were $77.1 million, compared with $68.5 million in the prior year period. Fourth quarter investments were focused on the continued build-out of E-ACAM broadband infrastructure and early-stage activities associated with ReConnect III and IV programs.
During the twelve months ended December 31, 2025, the Company received $24.5 million in grant proceeds related to these network expansion initiatives. After giving effect to these grant reimbursements, net capital expenditures for the year were approximately $52.6 million. In addition, the Company also continued to invest in fixed wireless network expansion through its Sound Broadband subsidiary.
These investments remain essential to meeting the Company’s regulatory obligations and advancing the availability of high-speed broadband services across LICT’s rural service areas.
Other Assets & Investments
In addition to its core operations, the Company owns various complementary assets and investments, including spectrum licenses and minority interests in other entities. Management currently estimates that these assets collectively have a value in excess of $50 million.
Rural Broadband Expansion Accelerates: A Key Driver of Growth
Government Programs
LICT continues to benefit from federal and state programs that support the expansion of high-speed broadband infrastructure in rural markets. The Company participates in the FCC’s Enhanced Alternative Connect America Cost Model (“E-ACAM”) program, which supports broadband deployment across LICT’s rural service territories.
Broadband Deployment & Subscriber Growth
Broadband services remain the primary growth driver of LICT's telecommunications operations.
The table below provides a comparative summary of the Company’s subscriber and line metrics as of December 31, 2025, versus December 31, 2024.
|
|
December 31, 2025 |
|
December 31, 2024 |
|
Increase (Decrease) |
|
% Increase (Decrease) |
|||
|
Broadband lines |
43,976 |
|
42,497 |
|
1,479 |
|
|
3.5 |
% |
|
|
Fixed Wireless subscribers |
7,002 |
|
7,000 |
|
2 |
|
|
— |
% |
|
|
Total Broadband |
50,978 |
|
49,497 |
|
1,481 |
|
|
3.0 |
% |
|
|
Voice lines |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
ILEC |
16,203 |
|
15,871 |
|
332 |
|
|
2.1 |
% |
|
|
Out of franchise |
5,142 |
|
6,113 |
|
(971 |
) |
|
(15.9 |
)% |
|
|
Total Voice lines |
21,345 |
|
21,984 |
|
(639 |
) |
|
(2.9 |
)% |
|
|
Video subscribers |
3,254 |
|
3,467 |
|
(213 |
) |
|
(6.1 |
)% |
|
|
Total revenue generating units |
75,577 |
|
74,948 |
|
629 |
|
|
0.8 |
% |
|
Strategic Initiatives
The Company continues to focus on improving the capital efficiency of its network investments. By incorporating fixed wireless technologies and alternative access solutions alongside fiber deployment, LICT is able to expand broadband coverage while reducing overall deployment costs in certain markets.
Inorganic Growth - To repeat what we have stated in the past, we are following Warren Buffet and Berkshire Hathaway’s criteria for acquisitions.
- At least $5 million of pre-tax earnings
- Consistent earning power
- Good return on equity with little or no debt
- Management in place
- Simple business
- An offering price
We are looking at other regulated industries such as natural gas (local distribution), water companies and even generators/distributors of electricity.
We are also exploring the opportunity to buy manufacturing companies where we have knowledge. If you know of any, let us know.
|
LICT Corporation Statements of Operations (Unaudited) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Three Months Ended December 31, |
Twelve Months Ended December 31, |
|||||||||||||||
|
(in thousands, except share data) |
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|||||||||
|
Revenues |
$ |
36,303 |
$ |
33,371 |
$ |
141,398 |
$ |
134,241 |
||||||||
|
Cost and expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Cost of revenue, excluding depreciation and amort. |
|
18,913 |
|
|
17,841 |
|
|
72,114 |
|
|
67,994 |
|
||||
|
General and administrative costs at operations |
|
3,460 |
|
|
|
2,712 |
|
|
|
12,846 |
|
|
|
10,889 |
|
|
|
Corporate office expenses |
|
2,081 |
|
|
|
1,278 |
|
|
|
6,412 |
|
|
|
4,756 |
|
|
|
Charitable contributions |
|
1,017 |
|
|
|
543 |
|
|
|
1,024 |
|
|
|
543 |
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
8,180 |
|
|
|
6,544 |
|
|
|
28,418 |
|
|
|
23,913 |
|
|
|
Total costs and expenses |
|
33,651 |
|
|
|
28,918 |
|
|
|
120,814 |
|
|
|
108,095 |
|
|
|
Operating profit |
|
2,652 |
|
|
|
4,453 |
|
|
|
20,584 |
|
|
|
26,146 |
|
|
|
Other income (expense) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Investment income |
|
66 |
|
|
55 |
|
|
956 |
|
|
1,528 |
|
||||
|
Interest expense |
|
(1,455 |
) |
|
|
(945 |
) |
|
|
(5,199 |
) |
|
|
(4,188 |
) |
|
|
Unrealized gain/(loss) on investment |
|
364 |
|
|
|
334 |
|
|
|
333 |
|
|
|
(454 |
) |
|
|
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies |
|
— |
|
|
|
(183 |
) |
|
|
(66 |
) |
|
|
42 |
|
|
|
Other |
|
71 |
|
|
|
6,891 |
|
|
|
23 |
|
|
|
6,063 |
|
|
|
Total other income (expense) |
|
(954 |
) |
|
|
6,152 |
|
|
|
(3,953 |
) |
|
|
2,991 |
|
|
|
Income from operations before income taxes |
|
1,698 |
|
|
|
10,605 |
|
|
|
16,631 |
|
|
|
29,137 |
|
|
|
Provision for income taxes |
|
(503 |
) |
|
|
(3,624 |
) |
|
|
(4,443 |
) |
|
|
(8,522 |
) |
|
|
Net income |
$ |
1,195 |
|
|
$ |
6,981 |
|
|
$ |
12,188 |
|
|
$ |
20,615 |
|
|
|
Basic and Diluted Weighted-Average Shares |
|
15,422 |
|
|
|
16,368 |
|
|
|
15,799 |
|
|
|
16,686 |
|
|
|
Earnings Per Share (excluding one-time events) |
$ |
77 |
|
|
$ |
427 |
|
|
$ |
771 |
|
|
$ |
1,235 |
|
|
|
From continuing operations (excluding one-time events) |
$ |
77 |
|
|
$ |
126 |
|
|
$ |
771 |
|
|
$ |
941 |
|
|
|
Actual shares outstanding at end of period |
|
15,326 |
|
|
|
16,173 |
|
|
|
15,326 |
|
|
|
16,173 |
|
|
|
Highlights: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Capital expenditures |
$ |
25,745 |
|
|
$ |
25,030 |
|
|
$ |
77,130 |
|
|
$ |
68,520 |
|
|
|
Government grants received |
$ |
7,038 |
|
$ |
5,236 |
|
$ |
24,505 |
$ |
5,236 |
||||||
|
LICT Corporation Balance Sheet (Unaudited) |
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
(in thousands) |
|
December 31, 2025 |
|
December 31, 2024 |
||
|
Assets: |
|
|
|
|
||
|
Current assets: |
|
|
|
|
||
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
11,684 |
|
$ |
9,546 |
|
Restricted cash |
|
|
668 |
|
|
1,835 |
|
Accounts receivable, less allowances of $253 and $190, respectively |
|
|
10,361 |
|
|
7,834 |
|
Grants receivable |
|
|
2,539 |
|
|
12,759 |
|
Materials and supplies |
|
|
11,822 |
|
|
12,581 |
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
|
4,516 |
|
|
4,681 |
|
Total current assets |
|
|
41,590 |
|
|
49,236 |
|
Property, plant, and equipment, net |
|
|
219,446 |
|
|
179,910 |
|
Goodwill |
|
|
50,614 |
|
|
48,251 |
|
Other intangibles |
|
|
33,611 |
|
|
34,100 |
|
Investments in affiliated companies |
|
|
6,202 |
|
|
6,723 |
|
Other assets |
|
|
10,790 |
|
|
10,836 |
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
362,253 |
|
$ |
329,056 |
|
Liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
||
|
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
||
|
Accounts payable |
|
$ |
8,441 |
|
$ |
8,908 |
|
Accrued interest payable |
|
|
541 |
|
|
105 |
|
Accrued liabilities |
|
|
15,814 |
|
|
9,227 |
|
Current maturities of long-term debt |
|
|
7,731 |
|
|
80 |
|
Total current liabilities |
|
$ |
32,527 |
|
$ |
18,320 |
|
Long-term debt |
|
|
84,216 |
|
|
66,556 |
|
Deferred income taxes |
|
|
31,402 |
|
|
31,289 |
|
Other liabilities |
|
|
8,895 |
|
|
9,301 |
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
157,040 |
|
|
125,466 |
|
Total shareholders’ equity |
|
|
205,213 |
|
|
203,590 |
|
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity |
|
$ |
362,253 |
|
$ |
329,056 |
About LICT Corporation
LICT Corporation and Subsidiaries (OTC Pink®: LICT) is a diversified broadband and communications company with operations in California, Kansas, Iowa, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Wisconsin. The company also holds investments in wireless spectrum, including MachTen Inc., Aureon Network Services, CVIN LLC and the Kansas Fiber Network. LICT’s strategy is to serve customers with fiber, wireless and next-generation solutions and bring advanced connectivity services not only to rural areas, but also to adjacent urban markets, expanding its footprint and closing the digital divide. More information is available at lictcorp.com.
Cautionary Note Concerning Forward Looking Statements
This release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including without limitation anticipated financial results, financing, capital expenditures and corporate transactions. It should be recognized that such information is based upon certain assumptions, projections and forecasts, including without limitation, business conditions and financial markets, regulatory and other approvals, and the cautionary statements set forth in documents filed by LICT on its website, www.lictcorp.com. As a result, there can be no assurance that any possible transactions will be accomplished or be successful, or that financial targets will be met. Such forward-looking information is subject to uncertainties, risks and inaccuracies, which could be material.
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Joe Cecin
Chief Operating Officer
(914) 921-8821
Stephen J. Moore
Vice President - Finance
(914) 305-3312
Source: LICT Corporation
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