América Móvil, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE:AMX) Q2 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

Daniel Hajj: Thank you.

Operator: Thank you. The next question goes to Walter Piecyk of Lightshed Partners. Walter, please go ahead. Your line is open.

Walter Piecyk: Thanks. I got knocked off the call briefly, so I apologize if this question was asked. But Daniel, in Mexico, when I look at the service revenue, obviously growth, but a little bit slower than what you’ve been doing in prior quarters. Certainly, the sub growth is — it looks fine. So maybe a little bit less recharge in the June quarter. Is that — I mean can you just comment on that a little bit? Is there any — is that a reflection of economy? I know inflation I think has been coming down in Mexico. I think they’re maybe at 5% now and the trend has been down. So just kind of, if you could comment on the use or the — I guess the ARPU and specifically the service revenue growth in Mexico and is it — should we expect some moderation here.

Daniel Hajj: On Mexico, we’re gaining traction again in postpaid. So in postpaid, we’re doing better than what we used to be last year. So we’re again gaining traction. And it’s exactly what you were saying, in prepaid, we have more customers, more active customers so we can see the customers that recharge, let’s say, June last year and June this year and we have lot more customers recharging these. So what we’re seeing, yes, the growth has been slowing down a little bit and it’s I think that people is recharging a little bit less. It’s maybe it’s something on the economy, a little bit on the economy. Inflation is going down. I think Mexico is having a lot of new investments. So I think that will go again high. So my expectation is that on prepaid, again people start to recharge a little bit more in the future.

Walter Piecyk: Okay. And then on equipment sales, I noticed that in past years, in the second quarter that equipment revenue in Mexico tends to go up. I’m not sure why that is. Are people buying more expensive phones or is that a cycle when —

Daniel Hajj: It’s Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day is something very important and it’s on May. So that’s why always in second quarter there is increase in equipment revenue, yes.

Walter Piecyk: So for this year, I guess, what I noticed that because in past years it’s been up and this year I guess it was a little bit more flat. I guess people weren’t buying their mothers some replacement phones that is fresh this year.

Daniel Hajj: Yeah. I think people is starting to wait a little bit more to replace the phone. I think it’s more or less the same thing as you see in prepaid, people wait a little bit to recharge again the phone. And here they wait a little bit to buy a new phone. What we’re doing and being successful is we have a new platform called Amigo Paguitos that we’re financing to some customers a prepaid phone and it’s been successful, it’s growing. We are being a little bit cautious with that. But as we finance in the postpaid segment, we are starting to finance also in the prepaid segment. Good, I think it’s good for the people, it’s good for us and it’s been taking traction. We have been putting this platform in America in Telcel. I think we’re going to do that all around America Movil if it works and we’re happy the way it’s been developing.

Walter Piecyk: Okay. And then just one last one for Carlos, if you don’t mind, Carlos. With, I guess, inflation kind of moderating maybe the outlook seems a little bit better. Just curious if there’s any — it’s a question I always ask you, I guess, target leverage ratios, any change in how you’re thinking about leverage ratio as it relates to capital return?