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The New York Times Company Reports 2012 Second-Quarter Results

Thursday 26. July 2012 - The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT) announced today a 2012 second-quarter diluted loss per share from continuing operations of $.57 compared with diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of $.05 in the same period of 2011.

The loss resulted from an estimated non-cash charge of $.85 per share for the write-down of goodwill at the About Group. Excluding severance, the write-down and other special items discussed below, diluted earnings per share from continuing operations were $.14 in the second quarter of 2012 compared with $.11 in the second quarter of 2011.
The Company had an operating loss of $143.6 million in the second quarter of 2012 compared with an operating profit of $31.5 million in the same period of 2011. Excluding depreciation, amortization, severance and special items, operating profit increased 6.5 percent to $78.1 million from $73.4 million in the second quarter of 2011.
“Our second-quarter results reflect our ongoing strides in repositioning the Times Company for an increasingly multiplatform future,” said Arthur Sulzberger, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer, The New York Times Company. “The growth in operating profit, excluding depreciation, amortization, severance and special items, was largely driven by continued strength in circulation revenues, which offset advertising revenue declines and led to overall revenue growth of about 1 percent. Total Company circulation revenues rose 8 percent, led by the nearly 11 percent growth at The New York Times Media Group as we continued to expand our digital subscription base and grow our robust consumer revenue stream.
“At quarter end, total paid digital subscriptions across the Company were approximately 532,000, up 13 percent from 472,000 as of March 18, 2012, which was the one-year anniversary of NYTimes.com’s digital subscription launch. The growth in paid digital subscriptions benefited from our decision to move the gate on NYTimes.com from 20 to 10 free articles a month, and from a host of marketing and product initiatives that we have been rolling out this year.
“While the advertising market remains challenging, the rate of decline for the Company’s total advertising revenues moderated, due primarily to improved digital advertising revenue trends, compared with first-quarter 2012 levels. This was mainly due to more favorable advertising trends at the About Group, particularly for cost-per-click advertising. Although we recorded a non-cash charge in the quarter, the About Group continues to execute on its turnaround strategy and we expect it to be on track to post continued meaningful improvement in the second half of the year.
“Operating costs declined 1 percent as we remained diligent in managing expenses despite continued investment in digital operations and high-quality news and information across the Company.
“During the quarter we sold our remaining interest in Fenway Sports Group for $63 million. The sale of our entire stake over two years totaled $225 million, a three-fold return on the initial purchase price. The proceeds from this sale, along with solid cash flow from operations, further strengthened our liquidity position and we ended the quarter with total debt and capital lease obligations of $776 million and net debt of $206 million, down from $343 million at the end of the first quarter of 2012.”
Comparisons
Unless otherwise noted, all comparisons are for the second quarter of 2012 to the second quarter of 2011. The results of the Regional Media Group, which had previously been included in the News Media Group, are reported within discontinued operations for all periods presented as a result of the sale of the Group in the first quarter of 2012. This release includes non-GAAP financial measures, a discussion of management’s reasons for the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures and reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP financial measures.
The second-quarter 2012 results included the following special items:
A $194.7 million ($126.1 million after tax or $.85 per share) estimated non-cash charge for the write-down of goodwill at the About Group.
A $37.8 million ($22.0 million after tax or $.15 per share) gain on the sale of the Company’s remaining 210 units in Fenway Sports Group (FSG).
The second-quarter 2011 results included the following special items:
A $9.2 million ($5.8 million after tax or $.04 per share) non-cash charge for the write-down of certain assets held for sale at the News Media Group.
A $4.2 million ($2.7 million after tax or $.02 per share) charge for a pension withdrawal obligation under a multiemployer pension plan at The Boston Globe.
In addition to these special items, the Company had $1.8 million ($1.1 million after tax or $.01 per share) in severance costs in the second quarter of 2012 compared with $1.8 million ($1.1 million after tax or $.00 per share) in the second quarter of 2011.
Second-Quarter Results from Continuing Operations
Revenues
Total revenues increased 0.6 percent to $515.2 million from $512.0 million. Advertising revenues decreased 6.8 percent, circulation revenues increased 8.3 percent and other revenues increased 9.2 percent.
Print advertising revenues decreased 8.0 percent. Digital advertising revenues decreased 4.0 percent led by declines at the About Group. Circulation revenues rose mainly as the addition of digital subscription offerings and the increase in home-delivery and weekday single-copy prices in January 2012 at The Times offset a decline in print copies sold across the News Media Group. Other revenues increased largely because of higher commercial printing revenues at the New England Media Group.
Operating Costs
Operating costs decreased 0.6 percent to $464.1 million from $467.0 million. Depreciation and amortization decreased to $25.2 million from $26.6 million.
Excluding depreciation, amortization and severance, operating costs decreased 0.3 percent to $437.1 million from $438.6 million mainly due to lower professional fees and distribution costs, offset in part by higher compensation and various other costs.
Second-Quarter Business Segment Results
News Media Group
Total News Media Group revenues increased 1.2 percent to $489.8 million from $484.1 million. Advertising revenues declined 6.6 percent, circulation revenues increased 8.3 percent and other revenues increased 9.8 percent.
Print and digital advertising revenues decreased 8.0 percent and 1.6 percent, respectively. Circulation revenues rose mainly as the addition of digital subscription offerings and the increase in home-delivery and weekday single-copy prices in January 2012 at The Times offset a decline in print copies sold across the News Media Group.
Operating costs decreased 0.8 percent to $437.6 million from $441.3 million. Excluding depreciation, amortization and severance, operating costs decreased 0.8 percent to $412.8 million from $416.0 million mainly due to lower distribution and promotion costs, offset by higher compensation costs.
Operating profit increased 77.5 percent to $52.2 million from $29.4 million. Excluding depreciation, amortization, severance and special items, operating profit increased 12.9 percent to $77.0 million from $68.1 million primarily due to higher circulation revenues.
About Group
About Group revenues decreased 8.7 percent to $25.4 million from $27.8 million mainly due to declines in both display and cost-per-click advertising. Display advertising revenues were lower in the quarter as the competitive landscape and uneven economic environment offset progress made in the rebuilding of About.com’s sales team. Cost-per-click advertising revenues reflect lower click-through rates, slightly offset by modest growth in page views and cost-per-click advertising rates.
About Group operating costs increased 6.9 percent to $17.5 million from $16.4 million. Excluding depreciation, amortization and severance, operating costs increased 15.1 percent to $15.2 million from $13.2 million primarily due to higher compensation, content costs and marketing expenses resulting from the launch of a new ad campaign.
The About Group had an operating loss of $186.8 million in the second quarter of 2012 driven by the estimated non-cash charge for the write-down of goodwill compared with operating profit of $11.5 million in the second quarter of 2011. Excluding depreciation, amortization, severance and the write-down, operating profit decreased 30.4 percent to $10.2 million from $14.6 million.
Corporate
Corporate operating costs decreased to $9.0 million from $9.4 million mainly driven by lower professional fees, partially offset by increases in various other costs.
Other Financial Data
Digital
Digital businesses include NYTimes.com, BostonGlobe.com, Boston.com, About.com, other Company Web sites and related digital products. In the second quarter of 2012, total digital advertising revenues decreased 4.0 percent to $76.7 million from $79.9 million primarily due to lower revenues at the About Group. Digital advertising revenues as a percentage of total Company advertising revenues were 31.4 percent in the second quarter of 2012 compared with 30.5 percent in the second quarter of 2011.
Digital advertising revenues at the News Media Group decreased 1.6 percent to $52.6 million from $53.5 million mainly due to declines in national display and real estate classified advertising revenues. Digital advertising revenues as a percentage of total News Media Group advertising revenues were 23.9 percent in the second quarter of 2012 compared with 22.7 percent in the second quarter of 2011.
In the first half of 2012, the Company’s total digital advertising revenues decreased 7.2 percent to $147.8 million from $159.2 million in the first half of 2011. Digital advertising revenues at the News Media Group decreased 1.9 percent to $101.1 million from $103.1 million. Digital advertising revenues as a percentage of total Company advertising revenues were 30.7 percent for the first half of 2012 compared with 30.6 percent in the first half of 2011.
Paid subscribers to digital subscription packages, e-readers and replica editions of The Times and the International Herald Tribune totaled approximately 509,000 as of the end of the second quarter, an increase of approximately 12 percent since March 18, 2012. Paid digital subscribers to BostonGlobe.com and The Boston Globe’s e-readers and replica editions totaled approximately 23,000 as of the end of the second quarter, up approximately 28 percent since March 18, 2012.
Joint Ventures
Income from joint ventures was $1.1 million in the second quarter of 2012 compared with $2.8 million in the second quarter of 2011. Joint venture results for the second quarter of 2012 were primarily impacted by the change in accounting for the Company’s investment in FSG in the first quarter of 2012, offset in part by improved results for the paper mills. Effective with the sale of 100 units in FSG in February 2012, given the Company’s reduced ownership level and lack of influence on the operations of FSG, the Company no longer recognized its proportionate share of the operating results of FSG in results from joint ventures. In May 2012, the Company sold its remaining 210 units in FSG.
Interest Expense, net
Interest expense, net decreased to $15.5 million from $25.2 million mainly due to the prepayment of the Company’s $250 million 14.053 percent senior notes in August 2011.
Income Taxes
The Company had an income tax benefit of $36.5 million (effective tax rate of 30.4 percent) in the second quarter of 2012 and an income tax benefit of $32.5 million (effective tax rate of 31.5 percent) in the first six months of 2012. The effective tax rate for the second quarter and first six months of 2012 was unfavorably impacted by the write-down of goodwill at the About Group.
The Company had an effective tax rate of 16.5 percent and 8.6 percent in the second quarter and the first six months of 2011, respectively. The effective tax rate for the second quarter and first six months of 2011 was affected by adjustments to reduce the Company’s reserve for uncertain tax positions and the favorable impact of state law changes.
Liquidity
The following table details the original maturities and carrying values of the Company’s debt and capital lease obligations as of June 24, 2012. Cash in the table below excludes restricted cash of approximately $24 million that is subject to certain collateral requirements. Net debt represents debt and capital lease obligations, net of cash and short-term investments. The Company believes net debt, a non-GAAP measure, provides a useful measure of the Company’s liquidity and overall debt position.
(in thousands) June 24, 2012*
2012 4.610% senior notes
$ 75,000
2015 5.0% senior notes
250,000
2016 6.625% senior notes
225,000
2019 Option to repurchase ownership interest in headquarters building
250,000
Total $ 800,000
Less: Unamortized amounts (31,304 )
Carrying value of debt $ 768,696
Capital lease obligations 7,119
Total debt and capital lease obligations $ 775,815
Less: Cash and short-term investments (570,149 )
Net debt $ 205,666
*As of March 25, 2012, net debt was $342,937, reflecting $774,283 of total debt and capital lease obligations, less $431,346 of cash and short-term investments.
The Company’s liquidity position improved by approximately $139 million in the second quarter of 2012 from the first quarter of 2012 due to proceeds from the sale of the Company’s remaining 210 units in FSG and cash flows from operations.
As of June 24, 2012, there were no outstanding borrowings under the Company’s $125 million revolving credit facility.
Capital Expenditures
Capital expenditures totaled approximately $10 million in the second quarter of 2012, and approximately $17 million in the first six months of 2012.
Outlook
Total advertising revenue trends in the third quarter of 2012 are expected to improve from the second-quarter levels due to better digital advertising performance across the Company.
Total circulation revenues are projected to increase in the mid- to high-single digits in the third quarter of 2012 because of growth in digital subscriptions as well as from the print price increases implemented earlier this year.
The Company expects operating costs to increase in the low- to mid-single digits in the third quarter of 2012.
In addition, the Company expects the following on a pre-tax basis in 2012:
Results from joint ventures: $6 to $8 million,
Depreciation and amortization: $105 to $110 million,
Interest expense, net: $60 to $65 million, and
Capital expenditures: approximately $50 million.