Net Revenue Drives 1Q Operating Income of
$127.1 Million, Net Income of $56.9 Million,
BCF of $207.7 Million, Adjusted EBITDA of
$178.4 Million and Free Cash Flow of $120.4 Million
Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXST) (“Nexstar” or “the
Company”) today reported financial results for the first quarter
ended March 31, 2019 as summarized below.
Summary 2019 First Quarter
Highlights
Three Months Ended March 31, ($ in
thousands)
2019 2018 Change Local
Revenue $ 188,166 $ 193,268 (2.6 )% National Revenue $ 63,678 $
67,045 (5.0 )% Political Revenue $ 1,307 $ 9,266 (85.9 )%
Television Ad Revenue $ 253,151 $
269,579 (6.1 )% Retransmission Fee Revenue $ 313,974
$ 275,941 +13.8 % Digital Revenue $ 52,835 $ 62,804 (15.9 )% Trade
/ Other Revenue $ 6,687 $ 7,012 (4.6 )%
Net Revenue $
626,647 $ 615,336 +1.8 %
Income from
Operations $ 127,074 $ 117,616 +8.0
%
Net income $ 56,887 $
47,341 +20.2 %
Broadcast Cash Flow(1)
$
207,730 $ 204,503 +1.6 %
Broadcast Cash
Flow Margin(2)
33.1 % 33.2 %
Adjusted EBITDA Before One-Time Transaction Expenses(1)
$ 183,762 $ 182,091 +0.9 %
Adjusted
EBITDA(1)
$ 178,365 $ 181,110 (1.5
)%
Adjusted EBITDA Margin(2)
28.5 %
29.4 % Free Cash Flow Before One-Time
Transaction Expenses(1)
$ 125,762 $
122,449 +2.7 %
Free Cash Flow(1)
$
120,365 $ 121,468 (0.9 )%
(1) Definitions and disclosures regarding non-GAAP financial
information including reconciliations are included at the end of
the press release.
(2) Broadcast cash flow margin is broadcast cash flow as a
percentage of net revenue. Adjusted EBITDA margin is Adjusted
EBITDA as a percentage of net revenue.
CEO CommentPerry A. Sook, Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Nexstar Media Group, Inc. commented, “Our
record first quarter 2019 results, before one-time expenses,
reflect another period of operating and growth momentum and
represent the start of a very exciting year for Nexstar as we
balance our focus on current operations, including preparations for
the 2020 election cycle and a significant level of retransmission
consent agreement renewals, with the expected completion of the
highly accretive Tribune Media transaction later this year. We
generated record first quarter net revenue, despite the absence of
non-recurring political and Olympic revenue, which led to record
first quarter operating income, net income, BCF, Adjusted EBITDA
and free cash flow of $125.8 million before $5.4 million of
one-time transaction expenses. For the quarter, we delivered about
20% of every net revenue dollar to the free cash flow line allowing
us to invest in our local media platform and content as well as
initiatives to drive shareholder returns. Reflecting our return of
capital, leverage reduction and total shareholder return focus,
during the first quarter we paid down funded debt by approximately
$92.0 million while returning approximately $21.0 million to
shareholders through our recently upsized quarterly cash
dividend.
“During and just subsequent to the end of the first quarter we
announced three definitive divestiture agreements marking further
progress with our comprehensive regulatory compliance plan which
moves us closer to completing the strategic and financially
compelling Tribune Media transaction. In aggregate, and concurrent
with the closing of the Tribune transaction later this year, we
will divest a total of 21 stations in 16 markets for gross proceeds
of $1.36 billion. The total gross proceeds from the proposed
station divestitures exceed our initial estimate by approximately
36%, while the cash flow to be divested, inclusive of the
elimination of certain synergies, is less than those in our prior
projections. As a result, our borrowings and leverage will be lower
than anticipated at closing which collectively serves to reinforce
our confidence that the Tribune transaction will result in
approximately 46% growth in Nexstar’s average annual free cash flow
in the 2018/2019 cycle to approximately $900 million.
“First quarter television advertising revenue excluding
political advertising declined by $8.5 million or 3.3%, reflecting
approximately $20.0 million of Winter Olympics net revenue recorded
in the comparable 2018 period, which was non-recurring in 2019.
Excluding political, TV ad spending increased by low single digits
on a percentage basis in January and March, partially offset by a
high single digit decline in February related to the absence of
Olympic ad spending. Importantly, our local teams remain on track
to meet our full year expectations for non-political television
advertising revenue growth in the low single-digit range.
“Combined first quarter digital media and retransmission fee
revenue of $366.8 million rose 8.3% over the prior-year period and
accounted for 58.5% of net revenue compared to 55.1% of net revenue
in the 2018 first quarter, illustrating again the positive and
ongoing shift in our revenue mix. Retransmission fee revenue
increased by $38.0 million or 13.8% over the prior-year period,
reflecting recent renewals of distribution agreements with
multichannel video programming distributors, and contributions from
distribution agreements with various OTT providers. With
retransmission consent agreements representing approximately 10.0%
of our subscriber base renewed in late 2018 and more than 70% to be
renewed by 2019 year-end, continued revenue growth from this source
remains highly visible for 2019 and beyond. First quarter 2019
digital revenue declined by approximately $10.0 million or 15.9%,
primarily due to marketplace changes which affected select
demand-side platform customer buying with local customer buying
trends remaining on track, as well as approximately $1.0 million of
cyclical Winter Olympics net digital revenue recorded in comparable
2018 period.
“The rise in first quarter station direct operating expenses
(net of trade expense) primarily reflects the growth in budgeted
increases in network affiliation expense. The $4.0 million or 3.4%
decline in SG&A expense primarily reflects the decrease in
variable costs of our legacy stations related to special political
programming and sales that occurred in the 2018 first quarter.
First quarter corporate expense excluding non-cash compensation and
one-time transaction expenses was essentially flat, and in line
with our expectations.
“Overall, we believe our first quarter results continue to
highlight the value of the strategy we’ve successfully executed for
over 23 years. During this period, the Company has grown from a
single station to become an industry leader based on our
disciplined approach to completing accretive acquisitions, a focus
on enhancing the operating results of acquired stations and digital
media properties, and an organization-wide commitment to localism.
At the same time, our development of complementary retransmission
and digital revenue streams have materially diversified our revenue
mix and we continue to focus on implementing new standards and
technologies to monetize the unrivaled reach, trust and influence
of our leading local platforms. We also we continue to raise our
commitment to support the evolving needs of the viewers, businesses
and local communities that we serve each day by working with our
network partners and distributors to deliver our content anywhere,
anytime and on any device. This approach has positioned Nexstar to
continue investing in our business and our employees, while
reducing leverage and returning capital to shareholders.
“Since the beginning, Nexstar has remained true to our mission
of upholding the public interest principles of localism, diversity
and unbiased broadcast journalism. In the face of our unregulated
competition, our company and industry continue to support the
preservation of democratic life in America by putting in the hard
work and making the investments necessary to deliver the local
stories that matter to our local communities who rely on our
stations to sort the facts from falsehoods. As Nexstar stands at
the precipice of completing our transformative acquisition of
Tribune Media making us the largest company in local television
broadcasting, we have identified many opportunities in acquired
markets to add more local programming and enhance overall community
involvement. Similar to the Media General transaction, the
resources of the combined company will allow us to once again
expand our Washington DC news bureau, as well as fund and create
additional news bureaus in state capitals across our footprint and
make other enhancements focused on expanding audience reach and
engagement.
“Looking ahead, with significant and growing free cash flow and
the expected closing later this year of the Tribune Media
transaction, Nexstar is positioned with the financial capacity and
flexibility to reduce leverage while returning capital to
shareholders and in January we announced a 20% increase in the
amount of our quarterly cash dividend. As we begin to benefit from
initial contributions from Tribune later this year, the continued
double-digit growth of combined retransmission and digital revenue,
a large number of distribution contract renewals at 2019 year-end
and the return of the political cycle with the upcoming 2020
presidential election, we have excellent visibility to delivering
on our free cash flow and leverage targets and a clear path for the
continued near- and long-term enhancement of shareholder
value.”
The consolidated debt of Nexstar and independently-owned
Variable Interest Entities (VIEs) including, Mission Broadcasting,
Inc., Marshall Broadcasting Group, Inc. and Shield Media, LLC
(collectively, the “Company”) at March 31, 2019, was $3,892.8
million including senior secured debt of $2,324.7 million. The
Company’s total net leverage ratio at March 31, 2019 was 3.57x and
first lien net leverage ratio at March 31, 2019 was 2.09x compared
to a covenant of 4.25x.
The table below summarizes the Company’s debt obligations (net
of financing costs and discounts):
($ in millions)
3/31/2019
12/31/2018 Revolving Credit Facilities $ 5.6 $ 5.6 First
Lien Term Loans $ 2,319.1 $ 2,407.5 6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes $
273.6 $ 273.4 5.875% Senior Unsecured Notes $ 405.8 $ 406.2 5.625%
Senior Unsecured Notes $ 888.7 $ 888.2
Total Funded Debt
$ 3,892.8 $ 3,980.9 Cash on
Hand $ 128.6 $ 145.1
First Quarter Conference CallNexstar will host a
conference call at 10:00 a.m. ET today. Senior management will
discuss the financial results and host a question and answer
session. The dial in number for the audio conference call is
334/323-0509, conference ID 6276693 (domestic and international
callers). Participants can also listen to a live webcast of the
call through the “Events and Presentations” section under “Investor
Relations” on Nexstar’s website at www.nexstar.tv. A webcast replay will be available
for 90 days following the live event at www.nexstar.tv.
Definitions and Disclosures Regarding non-GAAP Financial
InformationBroadcast cash flow is calculated as net income,
plus interest expense (net), loss on extinguishment of debt, income
tax expense (benefit), depreciation, amortization of intangible
assets and broadcast rights (excluding barter), (gain) loss on
asset disposal, corporate expenses, other expense (income) and
goodwill and intangible assets impairment, minus pension and other
postretirement plans credit (net), reimbursement from the FCC
related to station repack and broadcast rights payments. We
consider broadcast cash flow to be an indicator of our assets’
operating performance. We also believe that broadcast cash flow and
multiples of broadcast cash flow are useful to investors because it
is frequently used by industry analysts, investors and lenders as a
measure of valuation for broadcast companies.
Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as broadcast cash flow, plus
pension and other postretirement plans credit (net), minus
corporate expenses. We consider Adjusted EBITDA to be an indicator
of our assets’ operating performance and a measure of our ability
to service debt. It is also used by management to identify the cash
available for strategic acquisitions and investments, maintain
capital assets and fund ongoing operations and working capital
needs. We also believe that Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors
and lenders as a measure of valuation and ability to service
debt.
Free cash flow is calculated as net income, plus interest
expense (net), loss on extinguishment of debt, income tax expense
(benefit), depreciation, amortization of intangible assets and
broadcast rights (excluding barter), (gain) loss on asset disposal,
stock-based compensation expense, goodwill and intangible assets
impairment and other expense (income), minus payments for broadcast
rights, cash interest expense, capital expenditures, proceeds from
disposals of property and equipment, and net operating cash income
taxes. We consider Free Cash Flow to be an indicator of our assets’
operating performance. In addition, this measure is useful to
investors because it is frequently used by industry analysts,
investors and lenders as a measure of valuation for broadcast
companies, although their definitions of Free Cash Flow may differ
from our definition.
For a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measurements to
the GAAP financial results cited in this news announcement, please
see the supplemental tables at the end of this release.
With respect to our forward-looking guidance, no reconciliation
between a non-GAAP measure to the closest corresponding GAAP
measure is included in this release because we are unable to
quantify certain amounts that would be required to be included in
the GAAP measure without unreasonable efforts and we believe such
reconciliations would imply a degree of precision that would be
confusing or misleading to investors. In particular, reconciliation
of forward-looking Free Cash Flow to the closest corresponding GAAP
measure is not available without unreasonable efforts on a
forward-looking basis due to the high variability, complexity and
low visibility with respect to the charges excluded from these
non-GAAP measures such as the measures and effects of stock-based
compensation expense specific to equity compensation awards that
are directly impacted by unpredictable fluctuations in our stock
price and other non-recurring or unusual items such as impairment
charges, transaction-related costs and gains or losses on sales of
assets. We expect the variability of these items to have a
significant, and potentially unpredictable, impact on our future
GAAP financial results.
About Nexstar Media Group, Inc.Nexstar Media Group is a
leading diversified media company that leverages localism to bring
new services and value to consumers and advertisers through its
traditional media, digital and mobile media platforms. Nexstar
owns, operates, programs or provides sales and other services to
174 full power television stations and related digital multicast
signals reaching 100 markets or nearly 39% of all U.S. television
households. Nexstar’s portfolio includes primary affiliates of NBC,
CBS, ABC, FOX, MyNetworkTV and The CW. Nexstar’s community portal
websites offer additional hyper-local content and verticals for
consumers and advertisers, allowing audiences to choose where, when
and how they access content while creating new revenue
opportunities. For more information please visit www.nexstar.tv.
Forward-Looking StatementsThis communication includes
forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking
statements on our current expectations and projections about future
events. Forward-looking statements include information preceded by,
followed by, or that includes the words "guidance," "believes,"
"expects," "anticipates," "could," or similar expressions. For
these statements, Nexstar claims the protection of the safe harbor
for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements
contained in this communication, concerning, among other things,
future financial performance, including changes in net revenue,
cash flow and operating expenses, involve risks and uncertainties,
and are subject to change based on various important factors,
including the impact of changes in national and regional economies,
the ability to service and refinance our outstanding debt,
successful integration of acquired television stations and digital
businesses (including achievement of synergies and cost
reductions), pricing fluctuations in local and national
advertising, future regulatory actions and conditions in the
television stations' operating areas, competition from others in
the broadcast television markets, volatility in programming costs,
the effects of governmental regulation of broadcasting, industry
consolidation, technological developments and major world news
events. Nexstar undertakes no obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise. In light of these risks, uncertainties
and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this
communication might not occur. You should not place undue reliance
on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the
date of this release. For more details on factors that could affect
these expectations, please see Nexstar’s other filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
-tables follow-
Nexstar Media Group, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of
Operations
(in thousands, except per share amounts,
unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2019 2018 Net revenue $ 626,647
$ 615,336 Operating expenses (income): Corporate expenses
30,765 26,343 Direct operating expenses, net of trade 289,432
275,479 Selling, general and administrative expenses, excluding
corporate 111,595 115,562 Trade expense 3,431 3,484 Depreciation
27,437 25,814 Amortization of intangible assets 36,738 36,302
Amortization of broadcast rights 14,362 16,100 Reimbursement from
the FCC related to station repack (14,187 ) (1,364 )
Total operating expenses 499,573 497,720 Income from
operations 127,074 117,616 Interest expense, net (52,957 ) (54,589
) Loss on debt extinguishment (1,698 ) (1,005 ) Pension and other
postretirement plans credit, net 1,400 2,950 Other expenses
(491 ) (127 ) Income before income taxes 73,328 64,845
Income tax expense (16,441 ) (17,504 ) Net income
56,887 47,341 Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling
interests (1,995 ) 781 Net income attributable to
Nexstar $ 54,892 $ 48,122 Net income per common share
attributable to Nexstar Media Group, Inc.: Basic $ 1.20 $ 1.04
Diluted $ 1.15 $ 1.01 Weighted average number of common
shares outstanding: Basic 45,785 46,075 Diluted 47,784 47,685
Nexstar Media Group, Inc.
Reconciliation of Broadcast Cash Flow
and Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP Measures)
UNAUDITED (in thousands)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
Broadcast Cash Flow and Adjusted EBITDA: 2019
2018 Net income $ 56,887 $ 47,341 Add
(Less): Interest expense, net 52,957 54,589 Loss on extinguishment
of debt 1,698 1,005 Income tax expense 16,441 17,504 Depreciation
27,437 25,814 Amortization of intangible assets 36,738 36,302
Amortization of broadcast rights 14,362 16,100 Amortization of
right-of-use assets attributable to favorable (unfavorable) leases
152 - Gain on asset disposal, net (533 ) (59 ) Loss on operating
lease terminations 411 - Corporate expenses 30,765 26,343 Other
expenses 491 127 Pension and other postretirement plans credit, net
(1,400 ) (2,950 ) Reimbursement from the FCC related to station
repack (14,187 ) (1,364 ) Payments for broadcast rights
(14,489 ) (16,249 ) Broadcast cash flow 207,730
204,503 Margin % 33.1 % 33.2 % Add (Less): Pension and other
postretirement plans credit, net 1,400 2,950 Corporate expenses,
excluding one-time transaction expenses (25,368 )
(25,362 ) Adjusted EBITDA before one-time transaction
expenses 183,762 182,091 Margin % 29.3 % 29.6 % Less:
Corporate one-time transaction expenses (5,397 ) (981
) Adjusted EBITDA $ 178,365 $ 181,110 Margin % 28.5 % 29.4 %
Nexstar Media Group, Inc.
Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow
(Non-GAAP Measure)
UNAUDITED (in thousands)
Three Months Ended
December 31,
Free Cash Flow: 2019 2018 Net income $
56,887 $ 47,341 Add (Less): Interest expense, net 52,957
54,589 Loss on extinguishment of debt 1,698 1,005 Income tax
expense 16,441 17,504 Depreciation 27,437 25,814 Amortization of
intangible assets 36,738 36,302 Amortization of broadcast rights
14,362 16,100 Amortization of right-of-use assets attributable to
favorable (unfavorable) leases 152 - Gain on asset disposal, net
(533 ) (59 ) Loss on operating lease terminations 411 - Non-cash
compensation expense - 560 Stock-based compensation expense 8,069
6,400 Corporate one-time transaction expenses 5,397 981 Other
expenses 491 127 Payments for broadcast rights (14,489 ) (16,249 )
Cash interest expense (51,015 ) (51,963 ) Capital expenditures,
excluding station repack and CVR spectrum(1) (13,236 ) (14,653 )
Capital expenditures related to station repack (14,710 ) (5,422 )
Proceeds from disposals of property and equipment 588 2,847
Operating cash income tax (payments) refund, net (1,883 )
1,225 Free cash flow before one-time transaction
expenses 125,762 122,449 Less: Corporate one-time
transaction expenses (5,397 ) (981 ) Free cash
flow $ 120,365 $ 121,468
(1) During the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018,
capital expenditures related to relinquishment of the CVR spectrum
were $0.6 million and $1.0 million, respectively.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190508005285/en/
Thomas E. CarterChief Financial OfficerNexstar Media Group,
Inc.972/373-8800
Joseph Jaffoni, Jennifer NeumanJCIR212/835-8500 or
nxst@jcir.com
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