The Idiot Index

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Sector
Operational MarkupApplied to wireless, broadband, and integrated communications carriers. COGS captures network cost of services; OpEx is dominated by SG&A and depreciation on enormous capital plants. Markup ratios understate the picture because the capital base isn't in COGS — Operational Markup…
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Operational Markup in Telecom · FY 2023

1 of 6 companies · highest first
  1. 1
    LUMNLumen
    $1 of cost+opex becomes $1.16 of revenue
    1.1554
    × revenue / (cost + opex)

Not yet covered (5)

These companies are in the Telecom cohort but don't have a Operational Markup computed for FY 2023. Either the underlying inputs aren't tagged in their XBRL filings, the DEF 14A pay-ratio narrative didn't parse cleanly, or this fiscal year hasn't been ingested for them yet.

What this measures

Full methodology →

Revenue per dollar of cost + operating expenses. The multiplier after legitimate operations.

Ratio
Operational Markup
Sector
Telecom
Methodology version
v1.0.0
Formula
Revenue / (COGS + OperatingExpenses)
Sector context

Applied to wireless, broadband, and integrated communications carriers. COGS captures network cost of services; OpEx is dominated by SG&A and depreciation on enormous capital plants. Markup ratios understate the picture because the capital base isn't in COGS — Operational Markup is the more honest gross indicator. Shareholder Extraction is structurally high in this sector because mature carriers run large dividends.

The multiplier after legitimate operations. A high Markup combined with a low Operational Markup tells a specific story: surplus is being reinvested in the business. A high Markup combined with a high Operational Markup tells the opposite story: surplus is going to shareholders.

Source data: Revenues, CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold, OperatingExpenses (us-gaap) or equivalents in IFRS.