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Meredith Reports Fiscal 2014 Third Quarter And Nine Month Results

Friday 25. April 2014 - Local Media Group Delivers Record Revenues and Operating Profit for a Fiscal Third Quarter

Meredith Corporation (NYSE:MDP; www.meredith.com) today reported fiscal 2014 third quarter earnings per share of $0.41, compared to $0.65 in the prior-year period.  Total company revenues were $367 million, compared to $370 million.  Excluding special items in both periods, fiscal 2014 third quarter earnings per share were $0.70, compared to $0.72 in the prior-year quarter (See Tables 1 – 4).
“Growth in retransmission, circulation, and brand licensing revenues partially offset a difficult ad environment for Meredith and our media industry peers,” said Meredith Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Stephen M. Lacy.  “However, our advertising outlook is significantly better for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, with expected gains in our television and digital businesses, and improving magazine advertising trends.”
Fiscal 2014 third quarter results include special items of $13 million after tax, or $0.29 per share.  The special items include transaction-related expenses resulting from previously announced agreements to purchase broadcast assets; selected workforce reductions, including those associated with transitioning Ladies’ Home Journal to a special interest publication and closing the Company’s sales force training practice; and certain other non-cash items.  Prior-year third quarter earnings per share included a special item of $3 million after tax, or $0.07 per share, for professional fees and expenses related to a transaction that didn’t materialize.
Lacy noted the following fiscal 2014 third quarter highlights compared to the prior-year period:
Local Media Group revenues increased 14 percent to $98 million, and operating profit grew 11 percent to $27 million, both records for a fiscal third quarter. Growth was driven by increased retransmission-related revenues and strong performance from Meredith television stations in Nashville, Phoenix and Las Vegas.
Meredith began its ownership of KMOV-TV in St. Louis, the newest addition to its broadcasting portfolio. The CBS affiliate has tremendous news and advertising sales momentum.
National Media Group non-advertising business performance was strong, as circulation and brand licensing revenues each grew in the mid-single-digits. Growth was driven by the launch of Allrecipes magazine and initiatives to grow its rate base, along with continued strong sales of Better Homes and Gardens’ licensed products at Walmart. This performance partially offset a weak advertising environment.
Meredith continued to demonstrate its commitment to Total Shareholder Return, increasing its dividend 6 percent to $1.73 on an annualized basis, a yield of approximately 4 percent. Additionally, Meredith repurchased 200,000 shares of its stock in the third quarter, and has repurchased 1.4 million shares in the first nine months of fiscal 2014.
Fiscal 2014 nine month earnings per share were $1.61, compared to $2.00 in the prior-year period.  Excluding special items in both periods, fiscal 2014 nine month earnings per share were $1.92, compared to $2.17 (See Tables 1 – 4).   Meredith recorded $37 million, or $0.49 per share, less of political advertising revenues in the first nine months of fiscal 2014, as expected in an off-election year.  Total revenues were approximately even at $1.1 billion for both periods.
OPERATING GROUP DETAIL
NATIONAL MEDIA GROUP
Meredith’s National Media Group includes leading national consumer media brands delivered over multiple platforms, offering clients access to 100 million unduplicated American women every month – a reach unmatched in the industry.  It also features robust brand licensing activities and innovative business-to-business marketing services.
Fiscal 2014 third quarter National Media Group operating profit was $14 million ($33 million excluding special items), compared to $43 million.  Revenues were $270 million, compared to $284 million.
Looking more closely at performance in the third quarter of fiscal 2014 compared to the prior-year period:
Total advertising revenues were $112 million, compared to $129 million. The food, beauty and financial services categories were weaker, while the pets, non-prescription drug and entertainment categories were stronger. Meredith also expanded its innovative Meredith Sales Guarantee program to digital platforms.
Meredith grew its share of magazine advertising revenues in its competitive set by one share point to 40 percent, according to the most recent data from Publishers Information Bureau.
Circulation revenues grew 5 percent to $96 million, due primarily to the launch of Allrecipes magazine and initiatives to grow its rate base, along with strong performance from Meredith’s parenthood brands and Better Homes and Gardens.
Brand Licensing revenues grew 6 percent, led by continued strong sales of over 3,000 SKU’s of Better Homes and Gardens’ licensed products at more than 4,000 Walmart stores nationwide.
Meredith’s connection with consumers strengthened during the third quarter of fiscal 2014. Meredith’s monthly magazine audience was an impressive 116 million, and average household income of Meredith’s audience grew over the prior-year period, according to the most current data from Mediamark Research and Intelligence.
Digital traffic averaged 51 million unique visitors, a record for a fiscal third quarter.  The Meredith Women’s Network is now No. 1 in comScore’s Lifestyle category, the first time Meredith has topped the rankings.  In addition, Allrecipes continues to lead in comScore’s Food category.  Meredith generated 4.6 million digital orders for print magazine subscriptions during the first nine months of fiscal 2014, an increase of nearly 20 percent compared to the prior year.
“Growth in circulation and brand licensing revenues, as well as digital traffic again demonstrated the strong relationships our brands have with individual consumers,” said National Media Group President Tom Harty.  “We grew market share among our competitive set in a challenging advertising environment, and we continued to attract new participants to the Meredith Sales Guarantee program.”
Fiscal 2014 first nine month National Media Group operating profit was $70 million, compared to $95 million in the prior-year period.  Excluding special items in both periods, operating profit was $90 million, compared to $100 million.  Revenues were $786 million, compared to $801 million.
LOCAL MEDIA GROUP
Meredith’s Local Media Group consists of leading television stations, many in fast-growing markets, and a video content creation unit that produces nationally syndicated broadcast and custom video programming.
Fiscal 2014 third quarter Local Media Group operating profit was $27 million ($28 million excluding special items), compared to $24 million in the prior-year period, and EBITDA margin was 35 percent in the current period.  Revenues increased 14 percent to $98 million.
Looking more closely at performance in the third quarter of fiscal 2014 compared to the prior-year period:
Non-political advertising revenues grew 6 percent to $70 million. Results reflect strength from the restaurant, home and retail categories, along with one month of operations of KMOV.
Digital advertising revenues grew 27 percent, driven by increased traffic across the desktop and video platforms, the launch of new mobile apps and one month of operations of KMOV.
Other revenues and operating expenses both increased, due primarily to growth in retransmission revenues from subscription television operators and programming fees paid to affiliated networks.
On December 23, 2013, Meredith announced agreements to purchase the broadcast assets of KTVK and KASW in Phoenix, and KMOV in St. Louis.  The St. Louis transaction closed on February 28, 2014, and Meredith anticipates the Phoenix transactions will close in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014.
Meredith’s connection with viewers strengthened in the third quarter of fiscal 2014.  Nearly all of Meredith’s stations grew morning news viewership during the most recent February ratings period, with Hartford, Saginaw, Portland and Las Vegas leading their markets.  St. Louis, Portland and Las Vegas were No. 1 in late news, while Hartford and Saginaw were No. 1 in sign-on to sign-off.
The Better Show, the daily syndicated program produced by Meredith Video Studios, was renewed for an eighth season in syndication.  It’s currently available in 160 markets across the United States, and also airs in 90 million homes on the Hallmark Channel.
“We’re pleased to deliver another quarter of record operating results,” said Local Media Group President Paul Karpowicz.  “We’re excited to have KMOV in St. Louis as part of the Meredith portfolio.  KMOV’s addition – along with improving non-political advertising, growth in digital advertising and an anticipated robust political advertising cycle – point to a strong calendar 2014 for our business.”
Fiscal 2014 first nine month Local Media Group operating profit was $88 million, compared to $96 million in the prior-year period.  Excluding special items in both periods, operating profit was $91 million, compared to $98 million, and EBITDA margin was 38 percent in the current period.  Revenues increased 3 percent to $292 million.  Meredith recorded $37 million less of political advertising revenues in the first nine months of fiscal 2014, as expected in an off-election year.
OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Consistent with its Total Shareholder Return strategy, Meredith repurchased more than 1.4 million shares of its stock in the first nine months of fiscal 2014.  At March 31, 2014, $16 million remained under the current repurchase authorization.  Key elements of Meredith’s TSR strategy are (1) An annual dividend of $1.73 per share, which reflects a 6 percent increase in the annual dividend over the prior year, and a 70 percent increase since launching its TSR strategy in October 2011; (2) A $100 million share repurchase program; and (3) Ongoing investments to scale the business and increase shareholder value.
Total debt was $525 million at March 31, 2014, and the weighted average interest rate was 2.6 percent.  Meredith’s debt-to-EBITDA ratio for the 12 months ended March 31, 2014, was 2.0 to 1.
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.  All fiscal 2014 third quarter and first nine month comparisons are against the prior-year periods.
OUTLOOK
Looking more closely at the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 compared to the prior-year period, excluding operating results and transaction expenses related to the pending acquisition of television stations in Phoenix:
Total company revenues are expected to be up low-single digits.
Total Local Media Group revenues are expected to be up high teens.
Total National Media Group revenues are expected to be down mid-single digits.
Meredith expects fiscal 2014 fourth quarter earnings per share to range from $0.81 to $0.86, compared to $0.75 in the prior-year period.
When adding fourth quarter expected results to the $1.92 (before special items) generated in the first nine months, Meredith expects fiscal 2014 full year earnings per share to be approximately at the mid-point of the $2.60 to $2.95 range established at the beginning of fiscal 2014.  As a reminder, these amounts are before special items, and exclude operating results and transaction expenses related to the pending acquisition of television stations in Phoenix.