KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 6): Maxis Bhd (KL:MAXIS) on Friday reported a 8.5% increase in its net profit in the third quarter from a year earlier thanks to higher service revenue as well as lower costs.

Net profit for the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2026 (3QFY2026) was RM447 million compared to the RM412 million a year prior, according to a bourse filing. Revenue rose 3.7% year-on-year to RM2.68 billion in a quarter marked by the launch of Apple’s latest iPhone 18 series and Samsung foldables.  

“With this steady momentum, our full-year guidance remains firmly on track,” Maxis chief executive officer Goh Seow Eng said in a statement.

Maxis guided for a “low single-digit” increase in service revenue and in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda), as well as capital expenditure of about 10% of its total revenue in 2026.

An interim dividend per share of 4.5 sen was declared and payable on Dec 22, bringing the total to 12.50 sen year-to-date.

For the first nine months, net profit totalled RM1.30 billion, a 10.1% increase from the same period last year, thanks partly to cost control at the mobile network operator. Revenue rose 4.0% year-on-year to RM8.07 billion. Device revenue, in particular, surged nearly 15%.

Service revenue, which excludes sales of devices, was up 1.1% during the nine-month period while Ebitda rose 3.6%. Capital expenditure totalled RM548 million.

Shares of Maxis were down 10 sen or less than 3% to RM3.50, giving the company a market capitalisation of about RM27 billion ahead of the results announcement during the noon trading break.