Telenor cuts 2026 outlook after second-quarter EBITDA misses estimates

The telecom group trimmed full-year guidance after tougher year-on-year comparisons, delayed commercial initiatives, transformation costs and weakness in Bangladesh and Norway weighed on the quarter.

Summary

Telenor kept pressure on its 2026 outlook after second-quarter performance was weighed down by tough year-on-year comparables, the timing of commercial initiatives, transformation costs and a challenging macroeconomic backdrop in Bangladesh. The Norwegian telecommunications provider also flagged a softer market in Norway and said near-term macro visibility in Asia is limited because of the unstable situation in the Middle East. Earlier, the company reported adjusted EBITDA of 7.99 billion Norwegian crowns, down 9% and below the 8.30 billion crowns average analyst estimate, and lowered its outlook for organic adjusted EBITDA growth to flat to slightly negative from flat to low-single-digit growth. It also reduced its free cash flow forecast to around NOK 10 billion from a prior NOK 10 billion to NOK 11 billion range.

Terms & Concepts
  • EBITDA: Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation.
  • organic adjusted EBITDA growth: Underlying profit growth excluding certain non-operational effects and changes such as acquisitions or disposals.
  • free cash flow: Cash left after operating costs and capital spending.