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Belize Telemedia Limited says it has closed its strongest financial year on record. The company reported a net profit of 36.9 million dollars for the 2025–2026 fiscal year, up 31 percent from the year before. The figures were presented yesterday during BTL’s twentieth Annual General Meeting. Chairman Mark Lizarraga described it as a significant year for the company, saying BTL ended its latest five-year strategy with stronger finances and better returns for shareholders. According to Lizarraga, BTL is now in the final stages of paying off the debt it inherited.
Mark Lizarraga, BTL Chairman: “The clearest measure of BTL’s transformation, of course, is our financial performance. At the beginning of this term in 2020, BTL reported a net profit of 5.4 million. And by physical 25/26 our net profit had reached a record 36.9 million, an increase of 581 percent over this period. Earnings per share increased as well, 10-fold, from 7 cents to 70 cents. Revenue grew at an average annual rate over the period of approximately 4%, culminating at 164.9 million. Return on equity improved from 1.9 to 15 percent, surpassing even our targets, reflecting a significantly stronger ability to convert shareholder investment into substantial and sustainable earnings and long-term value. The strengthening of our balance sheet has been equally significant. Cash and cash equivalents increased from 5.3 million to 62.8 million. Long-term debt declined from 77.8 million to 15.6 million during this period. And today, our company is in the final stages of repaying all our imperative debt. Financial strength gave the company a much greater capacity to invest, innovate, and respond to the future opportunities while continuing to create substantial value for our stakeholders. This strong financial position has allowed us to continue investing in the infrastructure upon which an increasingly digital Belize depends.”
BTL says its earnings per share increased to 70 cents. Five years ago, that figure stood at seven cents. The company also reported a return on equity of 15.2 percent. Its debt position has also changed considerably. Long-term debt fell from 77.8 million dollars to 15.6 million dollars over the five-year period. Chief Executive Officer Ivan Tesucum broke down the numbers and explained how much the company’s financial position has changed.
Ivan Tesecum, Chief Executive Officer, DIGI: “We recorded the highest net income in BTL’s history with 36.9 million, which was a year-on-year growth of 31%. When we look at earnings per share, which is what every shareholder wants to know, at the end of this year it was at 70 cents. At the start of the five-year period, we were at 7 cents. That’s at 10 times growth. Return on equity, you want to know what you get. When you go and you put your money at a credit union you want to know what your dividend is. 15.2% return on equity. We had a five-year strategy that was planned by the board and delivered and executed by management and staff of 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 percent. Five years, one percent incrementally on your return on equity. And whilst one percent may sound small, one percent as you’re growing each year, it’s more than one percent. But we’re happy to say that for the end of this year, we delivered above that requirement or that goal set out at 12% and we landed at 15.2%.”
Tesucum said BTL moved from owing 35.8 million dollars more than it held in cash to having a net cash position of 45.9 million dollars.The company also reported growth in its customer base and network. Over the five-year period, broadband customers increased from about 30 thousand to 47 thousand, while the number of mobile customers also went up. BTL says it built 41 new mobile sites and expanded its fibre-to-the-home network into 37 additional areas. Company officials say the results put BTL in a stronger position to invest in its network, improve service and provide better returns to shareholders
English (US) ·