PCCW: Proforma Net Debt/ EBITDA May Drop to 3.7x; Series of Original Content to Be Launched in 2H24 w/ More Beauty Pageants

　　PCCW (00008.HK) +0.080 (+2.046%) Short selling $1.04M; Ratio 4.396% declared an interim dividend of $9.77 cents per share, flat YoY.

　　Benefiting from the solid growth of HKT-SS (06823.HK) +0.270 (+2.932%) Short selling $5.91M; Ratio 4.353% , PCCW will continue to adopt a prudent dividend policy in the future, with a view to optimizing its financial position and delivering attractive returns to shareholders while achieving sustainable growth, Susanna Hui, an Executive Director, Acting Group Managing Director and Group Chief Financial Officer, said.

　　A total of 7 original dramas tailor-made for local audiences had been broadcasted in 1H24 to further consolidate its market position, and a series of competitive original content had been arranged for 2H24, including beauty pageants and reality shows, from which casting would be made for the self-produced dramas, Hui added.

　　The Group's operating expense to revenue ratio remained stable at 17.4%, while the capital expenditure to revenue ratio improved by 0.3 ppts to 6.5%, Marco Wong, PCCW's Head of Investor Relations, said. The proforma net debt/ EBITDA ratio is expected to fall to 3.69x, compared to 4.21x at the end of June 2024.

　　(HK stocks quote is delayed for at least 15 mins.Short Selling Data as at 2024-07-26 16:25.)