Back to top

Image: Bigstock

NY Times (NYT) Q4 Earnings Tops, Digital Subscribers Increase

Read MoreHide Full Article

The New York Times Company (NYT - Free Report) posted better-than-expected fourth-quarter 2018 results and registered higher digital-only subscriptions. Digital advertising also improved significantly. This was the tenth straight quarter, when this NY-based company delivered positive earnings surprise, while revenue also beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the fifth consecutive quarter.

The company delivered adjusted earnings from continuing operations of 32 cents a share that beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 28 cents but fell 15.8% from 38 cents recorded in the year-ago period. The newspaper publisher's total revenue of $502.7 million rose 3.8% year over year, and came ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $479.3 million.

Let’s Delve Deep

Subscription revenue fell 2.2% to $263.6 million, principally due to extra week in 2017. Excluding the impact of the additional week, subscription revenue rose 5%. Revenue from digital-only subscriptions products jumped 9.3% to $105.3 million. Management now projects total subscription revenue in first-quarter 2019 to increase in the low to mid-single digits, while digital-only subscription revenue is likely to rise in the mid-teens.

Total advertising revenue came in at $191.7 million in the reported quarter, up 5% year over year. In the preceding quarter, total advertising revenue had increased 7.1%. Total advertising revenue in the first quarter of 2019 is projected to decline in the low to mid-single digits.

Print advertising revenue fell 10.2% to $88.3 million in the quarter under review, following a decline of 0.7% in the preceding quarter.

Digital advertising revenue surged 22.8% to $103.4 million, following an increase of 17.3% in the preceding quarter. Management expects digital advertising revenue to increase in the mid-teens during the first quarter of 2019.

Management expects to take total digital revenue to $800 million by 2020. The company ended 2018 with a total digital revenue of $709 million.

The New York Times Company Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

 

The New York Times Company Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | The New York Times Company Quote

Adjusted operating costs came in at $408.7 million during the quarter, up 8% year over year on account of rise in marketing expenses, labor and raw material costs from commercial printing, and costs associated to advertising business. This was partly offset by fall in print production and distribution costs with respect to newspaper. Management now anticipates adjusted operating costs to increase around 10% in the first quarter of 2019. Total adjusted operating profit declined 11.2% to $94 million.

Other Financial Aspects

The New York Times Company ended the quarter with cash and marketable securities of about $826.4 million, and total debt and capital lease obligations of approximately $253.6 million. The company incurred capital expenditures of about $8 million during the quarter. Management envisions capital expenditures of $45-$55 million in 2019. The company’s board of directors also raised the quarterly dividend by a penny to 5 cents a share.

Wrapping Up

The New York Times Company has come a long way from being a sole provider of news content and advertising on print publications. The company is no longer restricted to print. As readers swarmed to the Internet, advertisers followed suit and so did newspaper companies. Trimmed print operations paved way for online publications that led to the development of paywalls.

The New York Times Company’s pricing system for NYTimes.com. The company notified that the number of paid digital subscribers reached 3,360,000 at the end of fourth-quarter 2018 – rising 265,000 sequentially and 27.1% year over year. The company has set a goal to reach more than 10 million subscriptions by 2025.

Industry experts cited that focus on new avenues of revenue generation is necessary to counter the dwindling print advertising revenues. Surely, The New York Times Company has succeeded in this space. The company’s efforts to aid growth have led this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock to increase roughly 15.3% in the past six months compared with the industry’s growth of 5.2%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Other publishing companies such as New Media Investment Group Inc. , Gannett Co., Inc. (GCI - Free Report) and The McClatchy Company are also trying to adapt to different revenue generating ways.

Will You Make a Fortune on the Shift to Electric Cars?

Here's another stock idea to consider. Much like petroleum 150 years ago, lithium power may soon shake the world, creating millionaires and reshaping geo-politics. Soon electric vehicles (EVs) may be cheaper than gas guzzlers. Some are already reaching 265 miles on a single charge.

With battery prices plummeting and charging stations set to multiply, one company stands out as the #1 stock to buy according to Zacks research.

It's not the one you think.

See This Ticker Free >>


Unique Zacks Analysis of Your Chosen Ticker


Pick one free report - opportunity may be withdrawn at any time


The New York Times Company (NYT) - $25 value - yours FREE >>

Gannett Co., Inc. (GCI) - $25 value - yours FREE >>

Published in