* 9-mths earnings come in just above forecasts
* Confirms FY OIBDA guidance
(Adds quotes, shares)
PRAGUE, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Net profit at Telefonica O2 Czech
Republic (SPTTsp.PR) dipped 1.2 percent in the first nine months
on falling revenue from mobile phone services, although cost
cutting helped it beat expectations.
Profit dropped to 8.9 billion crowns ($524.1 million), above
the average estimate of 8.36 billion in a Reuters poll.
Revenue fell 6.8 percent to 44.81 billion, but just beat a
forecast of 44.55 billion. Operating profit before interest,
tax, depreciation and amortisation (OIBDA) was down 5 percent to
20.47 billion crowns.
The company confirmed its full-year OIBDA target of a 0 to 4
percent drop.
"Our performance in the third quarter has been negatively
impacted by lower consumption, particularly in the mobile
segment, resulting from continuous macroeconomic deterioration,"
said Salvador Anglada, Telefonica O2 CR's chairman and chief
executive.
"Due to strict financial discipline our OIBDA declined at a
lesser rate than revenues... I can assure you that we stay
focused on delivering our full-year guidance for OIBDA and
operating cash flow."
The phone company did not provide new revenue guidance after
dropping their 2009 target last quarter due to market
uncertainty.
Shares in the biggest Czech telecom firm, 69 percent-owned
by Spanish group Telefonica (TEF.MC), have held broadly steady
this year on the back of its 12 percent dividend yield.
At the same time, however, the stock lagged the market's
recovery this year, having grown by 1 percent as Prague's index
.PX jumped 35 percent.
($1=16.98 Czech Crown)
(Reporting by Jan Korselt; editing by Elaine Hardcastle and
Simon Jessop)
