BCE profit jumps 41%

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Boosted by results from CTV and the addition of more smartphone subscribers, BCE Inc. reported a 41 per cent increase in third-quarter profit on Thursday and raised its earnings guidance going forward. The country's biggest telecommunications company made 642 million in the most recent quarter (83 cents <a href="http://www.loveinuggboots.com"><strong>ugg shop</strong></a> a share), compared to last year's Q3 profit of 454 million (60 cents a share).BCE 3-month TSX trading chart That beat the average expectation of analysts polled by Thomson Reuters. They were looking for profit to come in at 74 cents a share. Revenues grew 8.7 per cent to 4.91 billion. Its operating revenue jumped 10.1 per cent to 4.3 billion as revenues from CTV (which was formally acquired on April 1) are now fully included in its new Bell Media unit. BCE said subscriber revenues from specialty TV channels like TSN and its digital services grew strongly and said advertising revenue grew across all of its media properties — especially in conventional and specialty TV. BCE said its wireless data <a href="http://www.loveinuggboots.com"><strong>ugg boots for sale</strong></a> revenue soared 34 per cent year-over-year, reflecting more smartphone users. The company said smartphone users represented 43 per cent of total postpaid subscribers during the third quarter, versus just 26 per cent last year. Bell Wireless now has almost 7.4 million subscribers, up 3.4 per cent from last year. It added 126,854 postpaid wireless subscribers in the quarter. But its traditional residential landline business continued to slide, with the loss of 110,629 subscribers. It also posted a loss of 101 internet subscribers. "Including the results of Bell Media, we generated double-digit revenue growth and robust EBITDA (earnings before interest taxes, depreciation and amortization) performance in an increasingly competitive communications <a href="http://www.loveinuggboots.com"><strong>cheap ugg</strong></a> marketplace," said CEO George Cope in a release. BCE raised its adjusted EPS outlook for the full 2011 fiscal year from a range of 2.95 to 3.05 a share to a range of 3.10 to 3.15 a share. BCE shares were up 25 cents to 39.91 in early Thursday trading.