Fox Corporation FOX

NEW YORK, May 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Fox Corporation (Nasdaq: FOXA, FOX; "FOX" or the "Company") today reported financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2024.

The Company reported total quarterly revenues of $3.45 billion as compared to the $4.08 billion reported in the prior year quarter. Affiliate fee revenues increased 4%, driven by 9% growth at the Television segment and 1% growth at the Cable Network Programming segment. Advertising revenues were $1.24 billion as compared to the $1.88 billion reported in the prior year quarter, primarily due to the absence of the prior year broadcast of Super Bowl LVII and fewer NFL games at FOX Sports. Other revenues were $274 million as compared to the $352 million reported in the prior year quarter, primarily due to the timing of sports sublicensing revenues at the national sports networks.

The Company reported quarterly net income of $704 million as compared to a net loss of $50 million reported in the prior year quarter. The increase primarily reflects the absence of charges associated with legal settlement costs at FOX News Media recognized in Restructuring, impairment and other corporate matters, as well as a gain on USFL assets contributed to the United Football League joint venture recognized in Non-operating other, net in the current year quarter. Net income attributable to Fox Corporation stockholders was $666 million ($1.40 per share) as compared to a net loss of $54 million ($(0.10) per share) reported in the prior year quarter. Adjusted net income attributable to Fox Corporation stockholders¹ was $520 million ($1.09 per share) as compared to the $494 million ($0.94 per share) reported in the prior year quarter.

Quarterly Adjusted EBITDA² was $891 million, an increase of $58 million or 7% from the amount reported in the prior year quarter. Expenses decreased in the quarter, primarily due to lower sports programming rights amortization and production costs, led by the absence of the prior year broadcast of Super Bowl LVII and fewer NFL games.

Commenting on the results, Executive Chair and Chief Executive Officer Lachlan Murdoch said:

"FOX's fiscal third quarter results once again demonstrate how our unique strategy continues to distinguish FOX from our peers. The strength and leadership of our core brands, coupled with our focus on live content and must-have event programming, is clearly valued by our audiences, advertisers and distribution partners. The consistent financial delivery from this strategy supports our investments in innovation which are driving momentum in our digital portfolio, led by Tubi. Our balanced capital allocation approach, fortified by our strong balance sheet, underpins our ability to drive long-term value creation for our shareholders."

 

Cable Network Programming reported quarterly segment revenues of $1.47 billion as compared to the $1.57 billion reported in the prior year quarter. Affiliate fee revenues increased $11 million or 1% as contractual price increases were partially offset by the impact of net subscriber declines. Advertising revenues were $296 million as compared to the $316 million reported in the prior year quarter. This is primarily due to lower digital advertising revenues and moderating direct response pricing declines at FOX News Media, as well as the absence of the prior year broadcast of the World Baseball Classic at the national sports networks. Other revenues were $72 million as compared to the $161 million reported in the prior year quarter, primarily due to the timing of sports sublicensing revenues at the national sports networks.

Cable Network Programming reported quarterly segment EBITDA of $819 million, an increase of $27 million or 3% from the amount reported in the prior year quarter. Expenses decreased in the quarter, primarily due to the timing of sports programming rights amortization at the national sports networks, lower costs at FOX News Media led by lower legal costs and the deconsolidation of the USFL.

Television reported quarterly segment revenues of $1.94 billion as compared to the $2.48 billion reported in the prior year quarter. Advertising revenues were $939 million as compared to the $1.56 billion reported in the prior year quarter, primarily due to the absence of the prior year broadcast of Super Bowl LVII and fewer NFL games, partially offset by continued growth at Tubi. Affiliate fee revenues increased $70 million or 9%, led by higher rates at both the Company's owned and operated stations and third-party FOX affiliates. Other revenues increased $13 million or 9%, primarily due to the timing of deliveries from FOX Entertainment Studios.

Television reported quarterly segment EBITDA of $145 million, an increase of $28 million or 24%. Expenses decreased in the quarter, primarily due to lower sports and entertainment programming rights amortization and production costs, led by the absence of the prior year broadcast of Super Bowl LVII, fewer NFL games and fewer hours of original scripted programming due to the impact of the industry guild labor disputes in 2023.

SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM

As of March 31, 2024, the Company has repurchased approximately $4.35 billion of its Class A common stock and approximately $1 billion of its Class B common stock, with a remaining authorization of up to $1.65 billion. During the quarter, the Company repurchased approximately $250 million of its Class A common stock.

DEBT MATURITY

In January 2024, $1.25 billion of 4.030% senior notes matured and were repaid in full.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may," "will," "should," "likely," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "believes," "estimates," "outlook" and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements in this press release due to changes in economic, business, competitive, technological, strategic and/or regulatory factors and other factors affecting the operation of the Company's businesses. More detailed information about these factors is contained in the documents the Company has filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

Statements in this press release speak only as of the date they were made, and the Company undertakes no duty to update or release any revisions to any forward-looking statement made in this press release or to report any events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or to conform such statements to actual results or changes in the Company's expectations, except as required by law.

To access a copy of this press release through the Internet, access Fox Corporation's corporate website located at http://www.foxcorporation.com.

 

 

 

NOTE 1 – ADJUSTED NET INCOME AND ADJUSTED EPS

The Company uses net income attributable to Fox Corporation stockholders and earnings per share ("EPS") attributable to Fox Corporation stockholders excluding net income effects of Restructuring, impairment and other corporate matters, adjustments to Equity (losses) earnings of affiliates, Non-operating other, net, Tax provisions and Noncontrolling interest adjustments ("Adjusted Net Income" and "Adjusted EPS" respectively) to evaluate the performance of the Company's operations exclusive of certain items that impact the comparability of results from period to period.

Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS are not measures of performance under GAAP and should be considered in addition to, and not as substitutes for, net income attributable to Fox Corporation stockholders and EPS as reported in accordance with GAAP. However, management uses these measures in comparing the Company's historical performance and believes that they provide meaningful and comparable information to management, investors and equity analysts to assist in their analysis of the Company's performance relative to prior periods and the Company's competitors.

The following table reconciles net income attributable to Fox Corporation stockholders and EPS attributable to Fox Corporation stockholders to Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023:

NOTE 2 – ADJUSTED EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as Revenues less Operating expenses and Selling, general and administrative expenses. Adjusted EBITDA does not include: Amortization of cable distribution investments, Depreciation and amortization, Restructuring, impairment and other corporate matters, Interest expense, net, Non-operating other, net and Income tax expense.

Management believes that information about Adjusted EBITDA assists all users of the Company's Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements by allowing them to evaluate changes in the operating results of the Company's portfolio of businesses separate from non-operational factors that affect Net income, thus providing insight into both operations and the other factors that affect reported results. Adjusted EBITDA provides management, investors and equity analysts a measure to analyze the operating performance of the Company's business and its enterprise value against historical data and competitors' data, although historical results, including Adjusted EBITDA, may not be indicative of future results (as operating performance is highly contingent on many factors, including customer tastes and preferences).

Adjusted EBITDA is considered a non-GAAP financial measure and should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, net income, cash flow and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP. In addition, this measure does not reflect cash available to fund requirements and excludes items, such as depreciation and amortization and impairment charges, which are significant components in assessing the Company's financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

The following table reconciles net income to Adjusted EBITDA for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023:

 

 

 

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SOURCE Fox Corporation