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Meredith Delivers Strong Fiscal 2013 Second Quarter And First Half Results

Friday 25. January 2013 - Local Media Group Posts Record Revenue and Profit Performance

National Media Group Doubles Digital Advertising Revenues and Audience
Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP ), the leading media and marketing company serving American women, today reported fiscal 2013 second quarter earnings per share of $0.79, including a previously announced special charge of $0.10 per share. Total Company revenues rose 10 percent to $361 million, including an 18 percent increase in advertising revenues to $217 million.
Excluding the special charge, earnings per share grew 27 percent from the prior-year period to a record $0.89, and operating profit margin increased more than a full percentage point to 18 percent. Information on the special charge is available in Tables 1 and 2 of this press release.
“Our Local Media Group delivered record-setting revenue and operating profit performance for the second quarter and the first half of fiscal 2013,” said Meredith Chairman and CEO Stephen M. Lacy. “Our digital business continued its rapid growth, and our recent acquisitions again delivered strong contributions. We once again delivered higher cash flow and returns to shareholders, and we expect to continue to do so over time.”
For the first six months of fiscal 2013, Meredith’s earnings per share were $1.34. Total Company revenues increased 9 percent to $715 million, including a 15 percent increase in advertising revenues. Excluding the special charge, earnings per share rose 22 percent from the prior-year period to $1.44.
Lacy noted the following business highlights achieved during the first half of fiscal 2013:
Local Media Group revenues grew nearly 30 percent to $198 million, a record high for a first half. Net political advertising revenues were a record $38 million. Operating profit grew nearly 90 percent to $72 million. Excluding the special charge, operating profit grew more than 90 percent to $74 million, and the Group’s EBITDA margin was 43 percent, both record highs for a fiscal first half.
National Media Group revenues grew 3 percent. Advertising revenues increased 9 percent, driven by the acquisitions of the Allrecipes.com, EveryDay with Rachael Ray and FamilyFun brands. Absent these recent acquisitions, advertising revenues were down 9 percent.
Total Company digital advertising revenues nearly doubled, reaching a record high for a fiscal first half. National Media Group digital advertising revenues increased more than 110 percent, while Local Media Group digital advertising revenues rose approximately 15 percent.
Consumer engagement strengthened across all of Meredith’s media platforms. Meredith magazine readership is at an all-time high of 116 million, while several of Meredith’s local television stations delivered strong performances during the November ratings period. Traffic to Meredith’s websites rose approximately 85 percent to 40 million average monthly unique visitors.
Meredith remains strongly committed to a Total Shareholder Return (TSR) financial strategy. Key elements of Meredith’s TSR program include: (1) A current annual dividend of $1.53 per share; (2) A $100 million share repurchase program; and (3) Ongoing strategic investments to scale the business and increase shareholder value over time.
OPERATING GROUP DETAIL
LOCAL MEDIA GROUP
Meredith’s Local Media Group – which consists of local television affiliates, many in fast-growing markets, and a video content creation unit that produces national broadcast and custom programming – delivered record performance during the second quarter and first half of fiscal 2013.
Fiscal 2013 second quarter Local Media Group operating profit grew 65 percent from the prior-year period to $45 million. Revenues rose 32 percent to $111 million. Excluding the special charge, operating profit grew 70 percent to $46 million and EBITDA margin was 47 percent. All were records for any quarter in the Group’s history.
For the first six months of fiscal 2013, Local Media Group operating profit grew nearly 90 percent from the prior-year period to $72 million. Revenues rose 29 percent to $198 million. Excluding the special charge, operating profit grew 93 percent to $74 million, and EBITDA margin was 43 percent. All were records for a first half in the Group’s history.
Looking more closely at performance for the first half of fiscal 2013 compared to the prior-year period:
Net political advertising revenues were a record $38 million. Performance was particularly strong at Meredith’s stations in Las Vegas, Hartford and Phoenix.
Non-political advertising revenues were down slightly, as record demand for political advertising prior to the November 6 elections displaced non-political advertising. However, non-political advertising revenues rose 3 percent for the period following the election.
Automotive, Meredith’s largest non-political advertising category, rose 10 percent.
Other revenues and operating expenses both increased, due primarily to growth in retransmission revenues from cable and satellite television operators, and programming fees paid to affiliated networks.
Meredith successfully renewed long-term affiliation agreements with CBS Corp. and Fox Broadcasting Co.
Meredith’s connection with viewers also strengthened in the important November ratings period, and its stations in Hartford, Portland, Las Vegas and Saginaw maintained their market leadership in news.
“We continued to excel at our goal of delivering compelling content to viewers across broadcast, digital and mobile media platforms,” said Local Media Group President Paul Karpowicz. “At the same time, we did a great job monetizing the strength of our audience, as local over-the-air television once again demonstrated its unique ability to build brands and deliver unmatched results for advertising clients.”
NATIONAL MEDIA GROUP
Meredith’s National Media Group includes leading national consumer media brands delivered over multiple platforms that offer clients access to 100 million unduplicated American women every month – a reach unmatched in the industry. It also features brand licensing activities and business-to-business marketing products and services. Meredith continues to execute on a series of strategic initiatives including growing its market share of magazine advertising; expanding its digital footprint; and increasing revenues not dependent on advertising.
Fiscal 2013 second quarter National Media Group revenues grew 2 percent compared to the prior-year period to $249 million. Operating profit was $22 million, compared to $36 million. Excluding the special charge, operating profit was $28 million.
For the first six months of fiscal 2013, National Media Group revenues grew 3 percent compared to the prior-year period to $516 million. Operating profit was $52 million, compared to $72 million. Excluding the special charge, operating profit was $57 million.
Operating profit declines in both periods were due primarily to lower advertising revenues at comparable magazine titles, investments in digital and circulation initiatives, and weaker performance at Meredith Xcelerated Marketing.
Looking more closely at advertising performance for the first half of fiscal 2013 compared to the prior-year period:
Total advertising revenues grew 9 percent compared to the year-ago period. Excluding recent acquisitions, total advertising revenues declined 9 percent.
The food and beverage, retail, and media and entertainment categories were stronger in Meredith’s titles. The direct response and financial categories were weaker.
Meredith’s share of total magazine advertising revenues grew to 11.0 percent from 10.3 percent, according to the most recent data by Publishers Information Bureau. The average net revenue per magazine page also rose 2 percent.
Digital advertising revenues grew more than 110 percent, boosted by the addition of Allrecipes.com. Excluding recent acquisitions, digital advertising revenues grew almost 15 percent.
The Meredith Sales Guarantee demonstrates quantitatively that advertising in Meredith magazines increases retail sales. Currently, 13 consumer brands are participating in the program.
Circulation revenues grew 9 percent in the first half of fiscal 2013 compared to the prior-year period, and were down 2 percent excluding the recent acquisitions. Meredith generated more than 2 million digital orders for print magazine subscriptions in the first half of fiscal 2013, up nearly 60 percent from what was generated in the prior-year period.
Meredith’s connection to consumers strengthened as well. Readership for Meredith’s magazines stands at a record 116 million, according to the most recent data from Mediamark Research and Intelligence. Digital traffic more than doubled to nearly 35 million average unique visitors in the first half of fiscal 2013, driven primarily by the acquisition of Allrecipes.com – along with aggressive digital marketing initiatives.
“We continue to develop multi-platform capabilities for our consumers and clients, deliver innovative sales programs – such as the Meredith Sales Guarantee – and grow the scale of our digital properties,” said National Media Group President Tom Harty. “As a result, we are growing our consumer connection; increasing our advertising market share; and our digital activities are performing at record levels.”
Other revenues were $121 million in the first half of fiscal 2013, compared to $141 million in the prior-year period. This was due primarily to performance at Meredith Xcelerated Marketing which, as previously communicated, experienced reductions in programs from certain clients in calendar 2012. However, the pipeline for new business is strong, and Meredith expects growth for Meredith Xcelerated Marketing in calendar 2013 when compared to the prior year. Notably, Meredith Xcelerated Marketing recently secured several new accounts – including United Healthcare and Bank of America – along with expansions of its significant business with Chrysler.
OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Consistent with its Total Shareholder Return strategy, Meredith repurchased 750,000 shares of Company stock in the first half of fiscal 2013. At December 31, 2012, $62 million remained under the current repurchase authorization.
Total debt was $365 million at December 31, 2012. Meredith’s debt-to-EBITDA ratio was 1.5 to 1 for the 12 months ended December 31, 2012, and the weighted average interest rate was 3.5 percent at December 31, 2012.
Fiscal 2013 first half total Company expenses increased 9 percent; however they declined 1 percent excluding the recent acquisitions, reflecting ongoing cost-management initiatives.
Cash flow from operations increased in the first half of fiscal 2013 compared to the prior-year period, and totaled approximately $195 million for the 12 months ended December 31, 2012.
All earnings per share figures in the text of this release are diluted. Both basic and diluted earnings per share can be found in the attached Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
OUTLOOK
Meredith expects fiscal 2013 third quarter earnings per share to range from $0.65 to $0.70. Looking more closely at the third quarter of fiscal 2013 compared to the year-ago period:
Total Local Media Group revenues are expected to increase in the high-single digits. Non-political advertising revenues are expected to be flat to up slightly.
National Media Group advertising revenues are expected to be up in the mid-single digits including recent acquisitions, and down in the low-single digits on a comparable basis.
Meredith also reconfirms its original full fiscal year 2013 earnings per share expectation of $2.60 to $2.95, excluding the special charge.
A number of uncertainties remain that may affect Meredith’s outlook as stated in this press release for the third quarter and full year fiscal 2013. These and other uncertainties are referenced below under “Safe Harbor” and in certain filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.