Crown Castle 10-Q 2025-03-31

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2025

OR

For the transition period to

Commission File Number 001-16441

CROWN CASTLE INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

8020 Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas 77024

(Address of principal executives office) (Zip Code)

(713) 570-3000

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

Number of shares of common stock outstanding at May 7, 2025: 435,458,808

CROWN CASTLE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX

Cautionary Language Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q ("Form 10-Q") contains forward-looking statements that are based on our management's expectations as of the filing date of this report with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Statements that are not historical facts are hereby identified as forward-looking statements. In addition, words such as "estimate," "anticipate," "project," "plan," "intend," "believe," "expect," "likely," "predicted," "positioned," "continue," "target," "seek," "focus" and any variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include our full year 2025 outlook and plans, projections, expectations and estimates regarding (1) our strategy and the value of our business model, (2) demand for our towers, including factors driving such demand, (3) the growth potential of the U.S. market for towers, (4) demand for data and factors driving such demand, (5) tenants' investment to improve network quality and expand capacity (6) our ability to service our debt and comply with debt covenants, (7) the level of commitment under our debt instruments, (8) our ability to remain qualified as a real estate investment trust ("REIT"), (9) site rental revenues, (10) sources and uses of liquidity, (11) impact from the Sprint Cancellations (as defined below), (12) drivers of cash flow growth, (13) dividends and share repurchases, (14) discretionary and sustaining capital expenditures, (15) non-renewals, (16) timing of payments related to restructuring activities, (17) pending sale of our Fiber Business (as defined below), (18) our capital allocation framework, (19) refinancing of our Tower Revenue Notes, Series 2015-2, and (20) maintenance of an investment grade credit profile. Dividends and the share repurchase program remain subject to the approval of our board of directors, which has the discretion to determine whether to declare dividends or authorize a repurchase program and the amounts and timing of the dividends and share repurchase program.

Such forward-looking statements should, therefore, be considered in light of various risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including prevailing market conditions, risk factors described in "Item 1A. Risk Factors" of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 ("2024 Form 10-K") and other factors. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expected.

Our filings with the SEC are available through the SEC website at www.sec.gov or through our investor relations website at investor.crowncastle.com. We use our investor relations website to disclose information about us that may be deemed to be material. We encourage investors, the media and others interested in us to visit our investor relations website from time to time to review up-to-date information or to sign up for e-mail alerts to be notified when new or updated information is posted on the site.

Interpretation

As used herein, the term "including," and any variation thereof, means "including without limitation." The use of the word "or" herein is not exclusive. Unless this Form 10-Q indicates otherwise or the context otherwise requires, the terms "we," "our," "our company," "the company" or "us" as used in this Form 10-Q refer to Crown Castle Inc. ("CCI") and its predecessor (organized in 1995), as applicable, each a Delaware corporation, and their subsidiaries. Additionally, unless the context suggests otherwise, references to "U.S." are to the United States of America and Puerto Rico, collectively. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Form 10-Q have the same meaning given to them in the 2024 Form 10-K.

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

CROWN CASTLE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (Unaudited)

(Amounts in millions, except par values)

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

CROWN CASTLE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (Unaudited)

(Amounts in millions, except per share amounts)

Showing the first 8K of 78K characters. Open the full section

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the response to Part I, Item 1 of this report and the consolidated financial statements of the Company including the related notes and "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" ("MD&A") included in the 2024 Form 10-K.

General Overview

Overview

We own, operate and lease shared communications infrastructure that is geographically dispersed throughout the U.S., including (1) more than 40,000 towers and other structures, such as rooftops (collectively, "towers"), (2) approximately 105,000 small cell nodes either currently generating revenue or under contract and (3) approximately 90,000 route miles of fiber primarily supporting small cells and fiber solutions. Our towers, small cells and fiber solutions assets are collectively referred to herein as "communications infrastructure," and the Company's customers on its communications infrastructure are referred to herein as "tenants." The Company provides access, including space or capacity, to its communications infrastructure via long-term contracts in various forms, including lease, license, sublease and service agreements (collectively, "tenant contracts").

Our towers have a significant presence in each of the top 100 basic trading areas ("BTAs"), and the majority of our small cells and fiber assets are located in major metropolitan areas, including a presence in most major U.S. markets.

On March 13, 2025, management signed a definitive agreement ("Strategic Fiber Agreement") to sell our small cells and fiber solutions businesses, together with certain supporting assets and personnel ("Fiber Business"), with Zayo Group Holdings Inc. ("Zayo") acquiring the fiber solutions business and EQT Active Core Infrastructure fund ("EQT") acquiring the small cells business ("Strategic Fiber Transaction"). Under the Strategic Fiber Agreement, we will receive $8.5 billion in aggregate cash proceeds, subject to certain closing adjustments.

As the Strategic Fiber Transaction represents a material strategic shift for the Company, the Fiber Business' results and net assets are presented herein as discontinued operations and comparable prior periods have been recast to reflect this change. Upon classification as "held for sale", the Company recognized a loss of $830 million, inclusive of estimated transaction fees, during the first quarter of 2025. The Strategic Fiber Transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026, subject to certain closing conditions and required government and regulatory approvals. Pending the closing of the Strategic Fiber Transaction, we will continue to operate the Fiber Business in accordance with the Strategic Fiber Agreement.

Following the classification of the Fiber Business as discontinued operations, the Company has one reportable segment that constitutes consolidated results consisting of its towers operations. Unless otherwise noted, all activities and amounts reported below relate to the continuing operations of the Company and exclude activities and amounts related to discontinued operations. See notes 3 and 11 to our condensed consolidated financial statements for a discussion of discontinued operations and operating segment.

Site rental revenues represented 95% of our first quarter 2025 consolidated net revenues. The vast majority of our site rental revenues are of a recurring nature and are derived from long-term tenant contracts.

Strategy

As a leading provider of towers in the U.S., our strategy is to create long-term stockholder value via a combination of (1) growing cash flows generated from our existing portfolio of towers, (2) returning a meaningful portion of our cash generated by operating activities to our common stockholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases and (3) investing capital efficiently to grow cash flows. Our strategy is based, in part, on our belief that the U.S. is the most attractive market in the world for towers. We measure our efforts to create "long-term stockholder value" by the combined payments of dividends to stockholders and growth in our per-share results. The key elements of our strategy are to:

• Grow cash flows from our existing towers. We are focused on maximizing the recurring site rental cash flows generated from providing our tenants with long-term access to our towers, which we believe is the core driver of value for our stockholders. Tenant additions or modifications of existing tenant equipment (collectively, "tenant additions") enable our tenants to expand coverage and capacity in order to meet increasing demand for data while generating high incremental returns for our business. We believe our towers provide an efficient and cost-effective solution for our wireless tenants' growing networks that provides an opportunity to generate cash flows and increase stockholder return.

• Return cash generated by operating activities to stockholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases. We believe that distributing a meaningful portion of our cash generated by operating activities appropriately provides stockholders with increased certainty for a portion of expected long-term stockholder value while still allowing us to retain sufficient flexibility to invest in our business and deliver growth. We believe this decision reflects the translation of the high-quality, long-term contractual cash flows of our business into stable capital returns to stockholders.

*•*Invest capital efficiently to grow cash flows. In addition to adding tenants to our existing towers, we seek to invest our available capital, including the net cash generated by our operating activities and external financing sources, in a manner that will increase long-term stockholder value. These investments include acquisition of land interests, making improvements and structural enhancements to our existing towers, and constructing and acquiring new towers that we expect will generate future cash flow growth and attractive long-term returns by adding tenants to those assets over time.

Our strategy to create long-term stockholder value is based on our belief that there will be considerable future demand for our towers based on the location of our assets and the rapid and continuing growth in the demand for data. We believe that such demand for our towers will continue, will result in growth of our cash flows due to tenant additions on our existing towers, and will create other growth opportunities for us, such as demand for newly constructed or acquired towers, as described above. Further, we seek to augment the long-term value creation associated with growing our recurring site rental cash flows by offering certain ancillary site development services.

Highlights of Business Fundamentals and Results

• We operate as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes

◦As a REIT, we are generally entitled to a deduction for dividends that we pay and, therefore, are not subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax on our net taxable income that is currently distributed to our stockholders.

◦To remain qualified and be taxed as a REIT, we are generally required to annually distribute to our stockholders at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, after the utilization of our net operating loss carryforwards ("NOLs") (determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction and excluding net capital gain).

◦See note 7 to our condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion of our REIT status.

• Potential growth resulting from the increasing demand for data

◦We expect existing and potential new tenant demand for our towers will result from (1) new technologies, (2) increased usage of mobile entertainment, mobile internet, and machine-to-machine applications, (3) adoption of other emerging and embedded wireless devices (including smartphones, laptops, tablets, wearables and other devices), (4) increasing smartphone penetration, (5) wireless carrier focus on expanding both network quality and capacity, (6) the adoption of other bandwidth-intensive applications (such as cloud services, artificial intelligence and video communications), (7) the availability of additional spectrum and (8) increased government initiatives to support connectivity throughout the U.S.

◦We expect U.S. wireless carriers will continue to focus on improving network quality and expanding capacity (including through 5G initiatives). We believe our towers provide an efficient and cost-effective solution to our wireless tenants' growing infrastructure needs.

◦Tenant additions on our towers are achieved at a low incremental operating cost, delivering high incremental returns.

• Substantially all of our towers can accommodate additional tenancy, either as currently constructed or with appropriate modifications.

• Investing capital efficiently to grow cash flows (see also "Item 2. MD&A—General Overview—Strategy")

◦We had discretionary capital expenditures of $33 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025. The capital expenditures predominately related to improvements to existing towers in order to support additional tenants.

◦We expect to continue to construct and acquire new towers based on our tenants' needs and generate attractive long-term returns by adding additional tenants over time.

• Site rental revenues under long-term tenant contracts

◦Our tenant contracts have initial terms generally between five to 15 years, with contractual escalators and multiple renewal periods generally between five to 10 years each, exercisable at the option of the tenant.

◦As of March 31, 2025, our weighted-average remaining term was approximately six years, exclusive of renewals exercisable at the tenants' option, currently representing approximately $29.6 billion of expected future cash inflows.

• Majority of our revenues from large wireless carriers

◦For the three months ended March 31, 2025, approximately 89% of our site rental revenues were derived from T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon Wireless.

• Majority of land under our towers under long-term control

◦For the three months ended March 31, 2025, approximately 90% of our towers site rental gross margin and approximately 80% of our towers site rental gross margin was derived from towers located on land that we own or control for greater than 10 and 20 years, respectively. The aforementioned percentages include towers located on land that is owned, including through fee interests and perpetual easements, which represented approximately 40% of our towers site rental gross margin.

• Minimal sustaining capital expenditure requirements

◦For the three months ended March 31, 2025, sustaining capital expenditures represented approximately 1% of net revenues.

• Debt portfolio with long-dated maturities extended over multiple years, with the vast majority of such debt having a fixed rate (see note 5 to our condensed consolidated financial statements and "Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" for a further discussion of our debt)

◦As of March 31, 2025, our outstanding debt had a weighted-average interest rate of 3.9% and weighted-average maturity of approximately six years (assuming anticipated repayment dates on certain debt).

◦As of March 31, 2025, 89% of our debt had fixed rate coupons.

◦Our debt service coverage and leverage ratios are within their respective financial maintenance covenants.

• Significant cash flows from operations

◦Net cash provided by operating activities was $641 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025.

◦In addition to the positive impact of contractual escalators, we expect to grow our core business of providing access to our towers as a result of future anticipated additional demand.

• Returning cash flows provided by operations to stockholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases.

◦During the three months ended March 31, 2025, we paid a common stock dividend of $1.565 per share, totaling approximately $690 million.

◦We are updating our capital allocation framework to focus more on free cash flow generation and financial flexibility, which we currently expect to result in a reduction to our dividend, beginning with our expected second quarter 2025 dividend. As we grow cash flows thereafter, we expect to increase our dividend per share. See note 10 to our condensed consolidated financial statements for further information regarding our common stock and dividends.

• Restructuring Plans

◦In July 2023, we initiated a restructuring plan ("2023 Restructuring Plan") as part of our efforts to reduce costs to better align our operational needs with lower tower activity. See note 13 to our condensed consolidated financial statements and "Item 2. MD&A—Results of Operations" for further discussion of the 2023 Restructuring Plan.

◦In June 2024, we initiated a restructuring plan ("2024 Restructuring Plan," and together with 2023 Restructuring Plan, "Restructuring Plans") as part of our efforts to drive operational efficiencies, enhance returns by increasing return thresholds on new growth opportunities and reduce operating costs and capital expenditures, with a primary focus on our small cells and fiber solutions businesses. See note 13 to our condensed consolidated financial statements and "Item 2. MD&A—Results of Operations" for further discussion of the 2024 Restructuring Plan.

• In December 2023, we announced a strategic and operating review of our Fiber Business, and in the second quarter of 2024, we concluded our operating review and implemented changes to our operating plans based on the findings. Additionally, in March 2025, we concluded the strategic review following the announcement of the Strategic Fiber Transaction, as discussed above. See note 13 to our condensed consolidated financial statements and "Item 2. MD&A—Outlook Highlights" for further discussion of the 2024 Restructuring Plan; in addition, see note 3 to our condensed consolidated financial statements and "Item 2. MD&A—Overview" for further discussion of the pending sale of the Fiber Business.

Outlook Highlights

The following are certain highlights of our outlook that impact our business fundamentals described above.

• We expect a year over year reduction in site rental revenues related to (1) higher towers non-renewals in 2025, which are expected to reduce site rental revenues by approximately $200 million, as a result of the T-Mobile US, Inc. and Sprint network consolidation ("Sprint Cancellations") and (2) a decline in long-term prepaid rent amortization.

• We also expect sustaining capital expenditures of approximately 1% of net revenues for full year 2025, relatively consistent with historical annual levels.

Results of Operations

The following discussion of our results of operations should be read in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements and the 2024 Form 10-K.

The following discussion of our results of operations is based on our condensed consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP, which requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts (see "Item 2. MD&A—Accounting and Reporting Matters—Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates" and note 2 to our consolidated financial statements in the 2024 Form 10-K). See "Item 2. MD&A—Accounting and Reporting Matters—Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for a discussion of our use of (1) Adjusted EBITDA, (2) Adjusted Site Rental Gross Margin and (3) Adjusted Services and Other Gross Margin, including their respective definitions and reconciliations to net income (loss).

The Fiber Business is predominately comprised of the assets that we previously reported under the historic Fiber segment. Following the classification of the Fiber Business as discontinued operations, we have one reportable segment that constitutes consolidated results consisting of our towers operations. Following the execution of the Strategic Fiber Agreement, the Fiber Business is treated as discontinued operations for all periods presented because the anticipated disposal represents a strategic shift that will have a material impact on our operating results. As such, we recast results for all periods presented to reflect the Fiber Business as discontinued operations.See note 11 to our condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion of our operating segment.

Highlights of our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 are depicted below.

(a)See reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to Net income (loss) and definitions included in "Item 2. MD&A—Accounting and Reporting Matters—Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

Site rental revenues decreased $57 million, or 5%, for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024. This decrease was predominately comprised of the factors depicted in the chart below:

(In millions of dollars)

(a)Represents site rental revenues growth from tenant additions and renewals or extensions of tenant contracts, exclusive of the impacts from both straight-line accounting and amortization of prepaid rent, in accordance with GAAP.

(b)Includes $51 million of towers non-renewals related to Sprint Cancellations.

(c)Includes the growth or reduction in site rental revenues as a result of non-recurring contractual billings and adjustments, expense recoveries, sales credits and other amounts not captured in core leasing activity.

(d)Prepaid rent amortization includes amortization of upfront payments received from long-term tenants and other deferred credits.

Site rental revenues and Adjusted Site Rental Gross Margin for the first quarter of 2025 were $1.0 billion and $776 million, respectively, compared to $1.1 billion and $829 million, respectively, in the same period in the prior year. The decrease of $57 million and $53 million in site rental revenue and Adjusted Site Rental Gross Margin, respectively, was primarily due to higher towers non-renewals as a result of the Sprint Cancellations, as well as a decrease in prepaid rent amortization, as new leasing activity and contractual cash escalators were substantially offset by a decline in the associated straight-line accounting adjustment.

Adjusted Services and Other Gross Margin was $22 million for the first quarter of 2025 and increased by $4 million from $18 million during the same period in the prior year, which is a reflection of the volume of activity from carriers' network enhancements and the volume and mix of services and other work. Our services and other offerings are of a variable nature as these revenues are not under long-term tenant contracts.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2025 were $93 million and decreased by $21 million, or 18%, from $114 million during the same period in the prior year. This decrease was primarily related to a decrease in employee- and facility-related costs as a result of our aforementioned restructuring activities, as well as the absence of certain advisory fees related to the strategic review of the Fiber Business.

Depreciation, amortization and accretion was $177 million for first quarter of 2025 and decreased by $14 million, or 7%, from the same period in the prior year. This decrease predominately resulted from certain site rental contracts and tenant relationships intangible assets becoming fully amortized.

There were no restructuring charges recorded in the first quarter of 2025 compared to $11 million recorded during the same period in the prior year relating to the 2023 Restructuring Plan. See note 13 to our condensed consolidated financial statements.

Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs, net were $236 million for the first quarter of 2025 and increased by $10 million, or 4%, from $226 million during the same period in the prior year. The increase predominately resulted from an increase in our outstanding indebtedness due to the financing of our discretionary capital expenditures. See note 5 to our condensed consolidated financial statements for a further discussion of our debt and "Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" for a further discussion of our interest rate exposure.

The provision for income taxes was $5 million for the first quarter of 2025 and decreased by $1 million, or 17%, from $6 million during the same period in the prior year. For the first quarter 2025 and 2024, the effective tax rate differs from the federal statutory rate predominately due to our REIT status, including the dividends paid deduction. See note 7 to our condensed consolidated financial statements and also note 9 to our consolidated financial statements in the 2024 Form 10-K.

Income (loss) from continuing operations was $284 million for the first quarter of 2025 compared to $294 million during the first quarter of 2024. The decrease was primarily related to the aforementioned decrease in Adjusted Site Rental Gross Margin which was partially offset by decreases in selling, general and administrative expenses, depreciation, amortization and accretion and restructuring charges.

Income (loss) from discontinued operations before gain (loss) from disposal, net of tax, was $82 million for the first quarter of 2025 compared to $17 million during the first quarter of 2024. The increase was primarily related to (1) a decrease in depreciation, amortization and accretion related to the halting of depreciation and amortization of the Fiber Business assets classified as "held for sale", (2) an increase in revenue and (3) decreased employee costs as a result of our 2024 Restructuring Plan. See note 13 to our condensed consolidated financial statements.

Gain (loss) from disposal of discontinued operations, net of tax, was $830 million for the first quarter of 2025. The loss was primarily related to the classification of the Fiber Business as "held for sale", and the loss represents the excess of the carrying value of the Fiber Business over the purchase price, less estimated costs to sell.

Net income (loss) was $(464) million for the first quarter of 2025 compared to $311 million during the first quarter of 2024. The decrease was primarily due to the aforementioned loss from disposal of discontinued operations, net of tax.

Adjusted EBITDA decreased by $32 million, or 4%, from the first quarter of 2024 to the first quarter of 2025, reflecting the aforementioned decrease in Adjusted Site Rental Gross Margin, partially offset by the aforementioned decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Overview

General. Our core business generates revenues under long-term tenant contracts (see "Item 2. MD&A—General Overview—Overview") from the largest U.S. wireless carriers and other tenants. As a leading provider of towers in the U.S., our strategy is to create long-term stockholder value via a combination of (1) growing cash flows generated from our towers, (2) returning a meaningful portion of our cash generated by operating activities to our stockholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases, and (3) investing capital efficiently to grow cash flows. Our strategy is based, in part, on our belief that the U.S. is the most attractive market for towers investment with the greatest long-term growth potential. We measure our efforts to create "long-term stockholder value" by the growth in our per share results.

We have engaged, and expect to continue to engage, in discretionary investments that we believe will maximize long-term stockholder value. These investments include the acquisition of land interests, making improvements and structural enhancements to our existing towers, and constructing and acquiring new towers that we expect will generate future cash flow growth and attractive long-term returns by adding tenants to those assets over time. We have recently spent, and expect to continue to spend, a significant percentage of our discretionary investments on the construction of small cells and fiber until the closing of the sale of the Fiber Business. See note 3 to our condensed consolidated financial statements and and "Item 2. MD&A—General Overview" for further discussion of the pending sale of the Fiber Business. Also, see note 13 to our condensed consolidated financial statements and "Item 2. MD&A—Outlook Highlights" for a discussion of the 2024 Restructuring Plan, which resulted in, among other things, an increase in return thresholds on new growth opportunities in our small cells and fiber solutions businesses. We seek to fund our discretionary investments with both cash generated by operating activities and cash available from financing capacity, such as the use of our availability under our 2016 Revolver, issuances under our CP Program, debt financings and issuances of equity or equity-related securities, including under our 2024 ATM Program.

We seek to maintain a capital structure that we believe drives long-term stockholder value and optimizes our weighted-average cost of capital, and we expect to maintain an investment grade credit profile. Our contractual debt maturities over the next 12 months, consist of (1) Commercial Paper Notes, of which we had $1.4 billion outstanding as of May 7, 2025, (2) the 1.350% senior unsecured notes due July 2025 ("1.350% Senior Notes") and (3) principal payments on certain outstanding debt. We currently expect to refinance $700 million of Tower Revenue Notes, Series 2015-2 on or prior to the anticipated repayment date of May 15, 2025. Amounts available under our CP Program may be repaid and re-issued from time to time and we intend to maintain available commitments under our 2016 Revolver in an amount at least equal to the amount of Commercial Paper Notes outstanding.

We operate as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We expect to continue to pay minimal cash income taxes as a result of our REIT status and our NOLs. See note 7 to our condensed consolidated financial statements and also the 2024 Form 10-K.

Liquidity Position. The following is a summary of our capitalization and liquidity position as of March 31, 2025. See "Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" and note 5 to our condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding our debt as well as note 10 to our condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding our 2024 ATM Program.

(a)Inclusive of $5 million included within "Other assets, net" on our condensed consolidated balance sheet.

(b)Availability at any point in time is subject to certain restrictions based on the maintenance of financial covenants contained in our 2016 Credit Facility. See the 2024 Form 10-K. At any point in time, we intend to maintain available commitments under our 2016 Revolver in an amount at least equal to the amount of outstanding Commercial Paper Notes. See note 5 to our condensed consolidated financial statements.

Over the next 12 months:

• Our liquidity sources may include (1) cash on hand, (2) cash generated by our operating activities, (3) availability under our 2016 Revolver, (4) issuances under our CP Program, and (5) issuances of equity pursuant to our 2024 ATM Program. Our liquidity uses over the next 12 months are expected to include (1) debt obligations of $3.2 billion (consisting of Commercial Paper Notes, the 1.350% Senior Notes, the 4.450% Senior Notes and principal payments on certain outstanding debt), (2) common stock dividend payments, (3) capital expenditures and (4) purchase shares of our common stock. We currently expect to refinance the Tower Revenue Notes, Series 2015-2 on or prior to the anticipated repayment date of May 15, 2025, see "Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" for further discussion.

• Amounts available under our CP Program may be repaid and re-issued from time to time and we intend to maintain available commitments under our 2016 Revolver in an amount at least equal to the amount of Commercial Paper Notes outstanding. During the next 12 months, while our liquidity uses are expected to exceed our cash generated by operating activities, we expect that our liquidity sources described above should be sufficient to cover our expected uses. Historically, from time to time, we have accessed the capital markets to issue debt and equity.

• See "Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" for a discussion of interest rate risk and note 5 to our condensed consolidated financial statements for a tabular presentation of our debt maturities and a discussion of anticipated repayment dates.

• Upon the closing of the Strategic Fiber Transaction, which is expected to occur in the first half of 2026, the Company expects to use a portion of the cash proceeds to repay existing indebtedness and fund anticipated share repurchases.

Summary Cash Flow Information

(a)Inclusive of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents included in discontinued operations.

Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities of $641 million for the first three months of 2025 increased by $42 million, or 7%, compared to the first three months of 2024, due primarily to a net increase from changes in working capital. Changes in working capital contribute to variability in net cash provided by operating activities, largely due to the timing of advanced payments by us and advanced receipts from tenants. We expect to grow our net cash provided by operating activities in the future (exclusive of changes in working capital) if we realize expected growth in our core business.

Investing Activities

Net cash used for investing activities of $255 million for the first three months of 2025 decreased by $65 million, or 20%, from the first three months of 2024 primarily as a result of a decrease in discretionary capital expenditures related to discontinued operations.

Our capital expenditures are categorized as discretionary or sustaining as described below.

*•*Discretionary capital expenditures relating to continuing operations are those made with respect to activities which we believe exhibit sufficient potential to enhance long-term stockholder value. Discretionary capital expenditures, including with respect to discontinued operations, primarily consist of expansion or development of our communications infrastructure (including capital expenditures related to (1) enhancing communications infrastructure in order to add new tenants for the first time or support subsequent tenant equipment augmentations or (2) modifying the structure of a communications infrastructure asset to accommodate additional tenants) and construction of new communications infrastructure. Discretionary capital expenditures also include purchases of land interests (which primarily relate to land assets under towers as we seek to manage our interests in the land beneath our towers), certain technology-related investments necessary to support and scale future customer demand for our communications infrastructure, and other capital projects. The expansion or development of existing communications infrastructure to accommodate new leasing typically varies based on, among other factors: (1) the type of communications infrastructure, (2) the scope, volume, and mix of work performed on the communications infrastructure, (3) existing capacity prior to installation, or (4) changes in structural engineering regulations and standards. Currently, construction of new communications infrastructure is predominately comprised of the construction of small cells and fiber (including certain construction projects that may take 18 to 36 months to complete). Our decisions regarding discretionary capital expenditures are influenced by the availability and cost of capital and expected returns on alternative uses of cash, such as payments of dividends and investments.

• Sustaining capital expenditures consist of those capital expenditures (including with respect to discontinued operations) not otherwise categorized as discretionary capital expenditures, such as (1) maintenance capital expenditures on our communications infrastructure assets that enable our tenants' ongoing quiet enjoyment of the communications infrastructure and (2) ordinary corporate capital expenditures.

A summary of our capital expenditures for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 is as follows:

(a)Includes $1 million and $4 million of capital expenditures incurred during the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, in connection with tenant installations and upgrades on our towers.

The reduction in discretionary capital expenditures for our discontinued operations was primarily related to the higher return thresholds on new growth opportunities as a result of the review of the Fiber Business completed in the second quarter of 2024, while the discretionary capital expenditures for our continuing operations were primarily impacted by the timing of tenant activity that was partially offset by an increase in land purchases under our towers during the first three months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. See also "Item 2. MD&A—General Overview—Outlook Highlights" for our expectations surrounding 2025 capital expenditures.

Financing Activities

We seek to allocate cash generated by our operations in a manner that will enhance long-term stockholder value, which may include various financing activities such as (in no particular order): (1) paying dividends on our common stock, (2) purchasing our common stock or (3) purchasing, repaying, or redeeming our debt. See notes 5 and 10 to our condensed consolidated financial statements.

Net cash used for financing activities of $403 million for the first three months of 2025 increased by $142 million from the first three months of 2024 as a result of the net impact from our issuances and repayments of debt (including with respect to our 2016 Credit Facility and CP Program). See "Item 2. MD&A—General Overview—Highlights of Business Fundamentals and Results" and notes 5 and 10 to our condensed consolidated financial statements for further information.

Credit Facility. The proceeds from our 2016 Revolver may be used for general corporate purposes, which may include the financing of capital expenditures, acquisitions, the repayment or repurchase of any outstanding indebtedness and purchases of our common stock. As of May 7, 2025, there was no outstanding balance and $7.0 billion in undrawn availability under our 2016 Revolver. At any point in time, we intend to maintain available commitments under our 2016 Revolver in an amount at least equal to the amount of outstanding Commercial Paper Notes. See note 5 to our condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding our Credit Facility.

Commercial Paper Program. The proceeds from our Commercial Paper Notes may be used for general corporate purposes, which may include the financing of capital expenditures, acquisitions, the repayment or repurchase of any outstanding indebtedness and purchases of our common stock. As of May 7, 2025, there was $1.4 billion outstanding under our CP Program. See note 5 to our condensed consolidated financial statements for further information regarding our CP Program.

Incurrence, Purchases, and Repayments of Debt. See "Item 7. MD&A—General Overview", "MD&A—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Overview—Liquidity Position" and note 7 of our consolidated financial statements in the 2024 Form 10-K for further discussion of our recent issuances, purchases, redemptions and repayments of debt.

Common Stock Activity. See note 10 to our condensed consolidated financial statements for further information regarding our common stock and dividends.

ATM Program. In March 2024, we established the 2024 ATM Program through which we may issue and sell shares of our common stock having an aggregate gross sales price of up to $750 million. Sales under the 2024 ATM Program may be made by means of ordinary brokers' transactions on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") or otherwise at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or, subject to our specific instructions, at negotiated prices. We intend to use the net proceeds from any sales under the 2024 ATM Program for general corporate purposes, which may include (1) the funding of future acquisitions or investments or (2) the repayment or repurchase of any outstanding indebtedness. We have not sold any shares of common stock under the 2024 ATM Program.

Debt Covenants. Our 2016 Credit Agreement contains financial maintenance covenants. We are currently in compliance with these financial maintenance covenants and, based upon our current expectations, we believe we will continue to comply with our financial maintenance covenants. In addition, certain of our debt agreements contain restrictive covenants that place restrictions on us and may limit our ability to, among other things, incur additional debt and liens, purchase our securities, make capital expenditures, dispose of assets, undertake transactions with affiliates, make other investments, pay dividends or distribute excess cash flow. See the 2024 Form 10-K for a further discussion of our debt covenants, certain restrictive covenants and factors that are likely to determine our subsidiaries' ability to comply with current and future debt covenants.

Accounting and Reporting Matters

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our critical accounting policies and estimates are those that we believe (1) are most important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations or (2) require our most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. In many cases, the accounting treatment of a particular transaction is specifically prescribed by GAAP. In other cases, management is required to exercise judgment in the application of accounting principles with respect to particular transactions. Accordingly, actual results could differ materially from our estimates. Our critical accounting policies and estimates as of December 31, 2024 are described in "Item 7. MD&A—Accounting and Reporting Matters" and in note 2 of our consolidated financial statements in the 2024 Form 10-K.

Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements. See note 2 to our condensed consolidated financial statements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted. See note 2 to our condensed consolidated financial statements.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We define earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and accretion, as adjusted ("Adjusted EBITDA") as net income (loss) plus restructuring charges (credits), asset write-down charges, goodwill impairment, acquisition and integration costs, depreciation, amortization and accretion, amortization of prepaid lease purchase price adjustments, interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs, net, (gains) losses on retirement of long-term obligations, net (gain) loss on interest rate swaps, (gains) losses on foreign currency swaps, impairment of available-for-sale securities, interest income, other (income) expense, (benefit) provision for income taxes, (income) loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle and stock-based compensation expense, net.

We use Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, as an indicator of consolidated financial performance. Our measure of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies, including companies in the towers sector or other REITs, and is not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for operating income (loss), net income (loss), net cash provided by (used for) operating, investing and financing activities or other income statement or cash flow statement data prepared in accordance with GAAP and should be considered only as a supplement to net income (loss) computed in accordance with GAAP as a measure of our performance. There are material limitations to using a measure such as Adjusted EBITDA, including the difficulty associated with comparing results among more than one company, including our competitors, and the inability to analyze certain significant items, including depreciation and interest expense, that directly affect our net income (loss). Management compensates for these limitations by considering the economic effect of the excluded expense items independently as well as in connection with their analysis of net income (loss). The reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to our net income (loss) is set forth below:

(a)The above reconciliation excludes the items included in our Adjusted EBITDA definition which are not applicable to the periods shown.

We believe Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors or other interested parties in evaluating our financial performance because:

• it is frequently used by our management (1) to evaluate the economic productivity of our operations and (2) for purposes of making decisions about allocating resources to, and assessing the performance of, our operations;

• although specific definitions may vary, it is widely used by investors or other interested parties in evaluation of the communications infrastructure sector and other REITs to measure financial performance without regard to items such as depreciation, amortization and accretion, which can vary depending upon accounting methods and the book value of assets;

• we believe it helps investors and other interested parties meaningfully evaluate and compare the results of our operations (1) from period to period and (2) to our competitors by removing the impact of our capital structure (primarily interest charges from our outstanding debt) and asset base (primarily depreciation, amortization and accretion) from our financial results; and

• it is similar to the measure of current financial performance generally used in our debt covenant calculations.

Our management uses Adjusted EBITDA:

• as a component in the employee annual incentive compensation calculation;

• as a measurement of financial performance because it assists us in comparing our financial performance on a consistent basis as it removes the impact of our capital structure (primarily interest charges from our outstanding debt) and asset base (primarily depreciation, amortization and accretion) from our operating results;

• in presentations to our board of directors to enable it to have the same measurement of financial performance used by management;

• for planning purposes, including preparation of our annual operating budget;

• as a valuation measure in strategic analyses in connection with the purchase and sale of assets;

• in determining self-imposed limits on our debt levels, including the evaluation of our leverage ratio; and

• with respect to compliance with our debt covenants, which require us to maintain certain financial ratios that incorporate concepts such as, or similar to, Adjusted EBITDA.

We define Adjusted Site Rental Gross Margin as net income (loss) plus services and other costs of operations, selling, general and administrative expenses, restructuring charges (credits), asset write-down charges, goodwill impairment, acquisition and integration costs, depreciation, amortization and accretion, amortization of prepaid lease purchase price adjustments, interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs, net, (gains) losses on retirement of long-term obligations, net (gain) loss on interest rate swaps, (gains) losses on foreign currency swaps, impairment of available-for-sale securities, interest income, other (income) expense, (benefit) provision for income taxes, (income) loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle and stock-based compensation expense, net, recorded in consolidated site rental costs of operations, less services and other revenues.

We define Adjusted Services and Other Gross Margin as net income (loss) plus site rental costs of operations, selling, general and administrative expenses, restructuring charges (credits), asset write-down charges, goodwill impairment, acquisition and integration costs, depreciation, amortization and accretion, interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs, net, (gains) losses on retirement of long-term obligations, net (gain) loss on interest rate swaps, (gains) losses on foreign currency swaps, impairment of available-for-sale securities, interest income, other (income) expense, (benefit) provision for income taxes, (income) loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle and stock-based compensation expense, net, recorded in consolidated services and other costs of operations, less site rental revenues.

We use Adjusted Site Rental Gross Margin and Adjusted Services and Other Gross Margin, which are non-GAAP financial measures, as indicators of financial performance. Our measures of Adjusted Site Rental Gross Margin and Adjusted Services and Other Gross Margin may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies, including companies in the towers sector or other REITs, and are not measures of performance calculated in accordance with GAAP. There are material limitations to using measures such as Adjusted Site Rental Gross Margin and Adjusted Services and Other Gross Margin, including the difficulty associated with comparing results among more than one company, including our competitors, and the inability to analyze certain significant items, including selling, general and administrative expenses and depreciation, amortization, and accretion, that directly affect our net income (loss). Management compensates for these limitations by considering the economic effect of the excluded expense items independently as well as in connection with their analysis of net income (loss). The reconciliations of Adjusted Site Rental Gross Margin and Adjusted Services and Other Gross Margin to our net income (loss) is set forth below:

(a)Exclusive of depreciation, amortization and accretion, shown separately.

We believe Adjusted Site Rental Gross Margin and Adjusted Services and Other Gross Margin are useful to investors or other interested parties in evaluating our financial performance because:

• they are measures used by our management (1) to evaluate the economic productivity of our business, (2) to identify underlying business trends that are impacting our performance, and (3) for purposes of making decisions about allocating resources to, and assessing the performance of, our business; and

• we believe it helps investors and other interested parties meaningfully evaluate and compare the results of our operations from period to period.

Our management uses Adjusted Site Rental Gross Margin and Adjusted Services and Other Gross Margin:

• as a measurement of financial performance because it assists us in comparing our financial performance excluding the impact of certain non-cash items such as stock-based compensation expense, net and amortization of prepaid lease purchase price adjustments and asset base (primarily depreciation, amortization and accretion) from our operating results and before consideration of selling, general and administrative expenses;

• in the evaluation of pricing of new projects and new tenant agreements; and

• for planning purposes, including preparation of our annual operating budget.

The following section updates "Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" in the 2024 Form 10-K and should be read in conjunction with that report as well as our condensed consolidated financial statements.

Interest Rate Risk

Our interest rate risk as of March 31, 2025 relates primarily to the impact of interest rate movements on the following:

• our $2.8 billion of floating rate debt as of March 31, 2025, which represented approximately 11% of our total debt as of March 31, 2025; and

• potential future borrowings of incremental debt, including borrowings under our 2016 Credit Facility and issuances under our CP Program.

Since March 2022, the Federal Reserve repeatedly raised the federal funds rate, which has adversely impacted the interest rates on our variable rate debt and refinancings of fixed rate debt. Recently, the Federal Reserve has started to loosen its monetary policy by lowering the federal funds rate; however, any prolonged period of elevated interest rates or further increases to interest rates could increase our costs of borrowing. See also "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in the 2024 Form 10-K for a discussion of risks stemming from interest rate increases.

We currently have no interest rate swaps.

Sensitivity Analysis.

We manage our exposure to market interest rates on our existing debt by controlling the mix of fixed and floating rate debt. As of March 31, 2025, we had $2.8 billion of floating rate debt. As a result, a hypothetical unfavorable fluctuation in market interest rates on our existing debt of 1/4 of a percent point over a 12-month period would increase our interest expense by approximately $7 million.

Future Principal Payments and Interest Rates.

The following table provides information about our market risk related to changes in interest rates. The future principal payments and weighted-average interest rates are presented as of March 31, 2025. These debt maturities reflect final maturity dates and do not consider the impact of the principal payments that commence following the anticipated repayment dates of certain debt (see footnotes (b) and (d)). The information presented below regarding the variable rate debt is supplementary to our sensitivity analysis regarding the impact of changes in the interest rates. See notes 5 and 6 to our condensed consolidated financial statements and the 2024 Form 10-K for additional information regarding our debt.

(a)The fair value of our debt is based on indicative quotes, non-binding quotes from brokers that require judgment to interpret market information, including implied credit spreads for similar borrowings on recent trades or bid/ask offers. These fair values are not necessarily indicative of the amount, which could be realized in a current market exchange.

(b)The impact of principal payments that will commence following the anticipated repayment dates is not considered (see footnote (d) below). The Tower Revenue Notes, Series 2015-2 and Series 2018-2 have principal amounts of $700 million and $750 million, with anticipated repayment dates in 2025 and 2028, respectively.

(c)The average interest rate represents the weighted-average stated coupon rate (see footnote (d) below).

(d)If the Tower Revenue Notes are not repaid in full by the applicable anticipated repayment dates, the applicable interest rate increases by approximately 5% per annum and monthly principal payments commence using the Excess Cash Flow (as defined in the indenture governing the applicable Tower Revenue Notes) of the issuers of the Tower Revenue Notes. The Tower Revenue Notes are presented based on their contractual maturity dates ranging from 2045 to 2048 and include the impact of an assumed 5% increase in interest rate that would occur following the anticipated repayment dates but exclude the impact of monthly principal payments that would commence using Excess Cash Flow of the issuers of the Tower Revenue Notes. The full year 2024 Excess Cash Flow of the issuers of the Tower Revenue Notes was approximately $1.0 billion. We currently expect to refinance these notes on or prior to the respective anticipated repayment dates.

(e)See note 7 to our consolidated financial statements in the 2024 Form 10-K for information regarding potential upward or downward adjustments to the interest rate spread and unused commitment fee percentage on our 2016 Credit Facility if we achieve specified annual sustainability targets or fail to meet annual sustainability metrics. Each period presented assumes the downward adjustments in the interest rate spread and unused commitment fee percentage on our 2016 Credit Facility.

(f)Predominately consists of outstanding indebtedness under our CP Program. Such amounts may be issued, repaid or re-issued from time to time.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company conducted an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's management, including the Company's Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"), of the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon their evaluation, the CEO and CFO concluded that as of March 31, 2025, the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective in alerting them in a timely manner to material information relating to the Company required to be included in the Company's periodic reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal quarter covered by this Form 10-Q that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

See the disclosure in note 9 to our condensed consolidated financial statements.

There are no material changes to the risk factors discussed in "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in the 2024 Form 10-K.

None.

Exhibit Index

• Filed herewith.

** Certain portions of this exhibit have been omitted in accordance with Item 601(a)(5) and Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K, as applicable. The registrant agrees to furnish supplementally the omitted portions of this exhibit to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request.

† Furnished herewith.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.