Telefonica, like its European friends, was struggling to publish sturdy progress even earlier than the pandemic struck, is specializing in stoking progress in Brazil, Britain, Spain and Germany and promoting some belongings to chop debt and fund an improve to next-generation 5G networks.
Earnings improved later within the 12 months because the preliminary affect of the well being disaster and lockdowns eased, however the firm nonetheless calculated it had misplaced 977 million euros in working earnings because of decrease service income and handset gross sales.
Working earnings earlier than depreciation and amortisation (OIBDA) fell 10% to 13.5 billion euros together with a 1.2 billion-euro hit from unfavourable alternate charges.
In response Telefonica lowered its proposed dividend on 2021 earnings to 0.30 euros per share from the 0.40 euros it paid for 2020.
CEO Jose Maria Alvarez-Pallete stated he was anticipating income and OIBDA to stabilise this 12 months, and the ratio of capital expenditure to gross sales to settle at 15%.
“In 2020, we’ve got been put to the take a look at,” he stated.
