Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (NASDAQ: LEE), a digital-first
subscription platform providing high quality, trusted, local news,
information and a major platform for advertising in 73 markets,
today reported preliminary first quarter fiscal 2024 financial
results(4) for the period ended December 24, 2023.
“Our Three Pillar Digital Growth Strategy is
driving audience growth, improving consumer engagement, and
increasing digital subscribers. We now have 735,000 subscribers to
our digital-only products and digital-only subscription revenue
grew 60% on a Same-store basis(2)," said Kevin Mowbray, Lee's
President and Chief Executive Officer.
“Because of our impressive digital subscription
revenue growth combined with solid gains at Amplified Digital®,
digital revenue reached 46% of total operating revenue in the
quarter. We expect digital revenue will exceed print in the back
half of the year. This is an important milestone in our digital
transformation as it results in the majority of our revenue coming
from sustainable and growing sources,” Mowbray added.
"Our first quarter results demonstrate our
confidence in Lee's digital transformation. We are on a clear path
to becoming sustainable solely from the revenue and cash flow from
our digital products. We expect strong digital revenue combined
with cost management execution to keep us on track to achieve our
overall Adjusted EBITDA guidance for the full year," added
Mowbray.
Key First Quarter
Highlights:
- Total operating
revenue was $156 million.
- Total Digital
Revenue was $71 million, an 11% increase over the prior year(2),
and represented 46% of our total operating revenue.
- Digital-only
subscription revenue increased 60% in the first quarter compared to
the same quarter last year(2) due to a 30% increase in digital-only
subscribers and a 20% increase in average rates. Digital-only
subscribers totaled 735,000 at the end of the quarter.
- Digital
advertising and marketing services revenue represented 66% of our
total advertising revenue and totaled $46 million.
- Digital services
revenue, which is predominantly BLOX Digital, totaled $5 million in
the quarter.
- Operating expenses
totaled $149 million and Cash Costs(1) totaled $139 million, an 18%
decline over the prior year.
- Net income totaled
$1 million and Adjusted EBITDA totaled $19 million, a 6% increase
over the prior year.
2024 Fiscal Year Outlook
(unchanged):
Total Digital Revenue |
$310 million (+13% YOY) - $330 million (+21% YOY) |
Digital-only subscribers |
771,000 (+7% YOY) |
Adjusted EBITDA |
$83 million (-3% YOY) - $90 million (+6% YOY) |
|
|
Debt and Free Cash Flow:
The Company has $454 million of debt outstanding
under our Credit Agreement(5) with BH Finance. The financing has
favorable terms including a 25-year maturity, a fixed annual
interest rate of 9.0%, no fixed principal payments, and no
financial performance covenants.
As of and for the period ended December 24, 2023:
- The principal
amount of debt decreased $2 million in the first quarter and
totaled $454 million.
- Cash on the balance sheet totaled
$15 million. Debt, net of cash on the balance sheet, totaled $439
million.
- Capital expenditures totaled $1
million for the quarter. We expect $10 million of capital
expenditures in FY24.
- We expect cash paid for income
taxes to total between $10 million and $15 million in 2024.
- We do not expect any material
pension contributions in the fiscal year as our plans are fully
funded in the aggregate.
Conference Call Information:
As previously announced, we will hold an
earnings conference call and audio webcast today at 9 a.m. Central
Time. The live webcast will be accessible at www.lee.net and will
be available for replay 24 hours later. Analysts have been invited
to ask questions on the call. Questions from other participants may
be submitted by participating in the webcast. To participate in the
live conference call via telephone, please register here. Upon
registering, a dial-in number and unique PIN will be provided to
join the conference call.
About Lee:
Lee Enterprises is a major subscription and
advertising platform and a leading provider of local news and
information, with daily newspapers, rapidly growing digital
products and nearly 350 weekly and specialty publications serving
73 markets in 26 states. Year to date, Lee's newspapers have an
average daily circulation of 1.0 million, and our legacy websites,
including acquisitions, reach more than 33 million digital unique
visitors. Lee's markets include St. Louis, MO; Buffalo, NY; Omaha,
NE; Richmond, VA; Lincoln, NE; Madison, WI; Davenport, IA; and
Tucson, AZ. Lee Common Stock is traded on NASDAQ under the symbol
LEE. For more information about Lee, please visit www.lee.net.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS — The Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor”
for forward-looking statements. This release contains information
that may be deemed forward-looking that is based largely on our
current expectations, and is subject to certain risks, trends and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those anticipated. Among such risks, trends and other
uncertainties, which in some instances are beyond our control,
are:
- The long-term or permanent changes
the COVID-19 pandemic may have on the publishing industry; which
may result in permanent revenue reductions and other risks and
uncertainties;
- We may be required to indemnify the
previous owners of BH Media or The Buffalo News for unknown legal
and other matters that may arise;
- Our ability to manage declining
print revenue and circulation subscribers;
- The impact and duration of adverse
conditions in certain aspects of the economy affecting our
business;
- Changes in advertising and
subscription demand;
- Changes in technology that impact
our ability to deliver digital advertising;
- Potential changes in newsprint,
other commodities and energy costs;
- Interest rates;
- Labor costs;
- Significant cyber security breaches
or failure of our information technology systems;
- Our ability to achieve planned
expense reductions and realize the expected benefit of our
acquisitions;
- Our ability to maintain employee
and customer relationships;
- Our ability to manage increased
capital costs;
- Our ability to maintain our listing
status on NASDAQ;
- Competition; and
- Other risks detailed from time to
time in our publicly filed documents.
Any statements that are not statements of
historical fact (including statements containing the words "aim",
“may”, “will”, “would”, “could”, “believes”, “expects”,
“anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “projects”, “considers” and
similar expressions) generally should be considered forward-looking
statements. Statements regarding our plans, strategies, prospects
and expectations regarding our business and industry, including
statements regarding the impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic and our
responses thereto may have on our future operations, are
forward-looking statements. They reflect our expectations, are not
guarantees of performance and speak only as of the date the
statement is made. Readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are made as of
the date of this release. We do not undertake to publicly update or
revise our forward-looking statements, except as required by
law.
Contact:IR@lee.net(563) 383-2100
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
OPERATIONS(UNAUDITED)
|
Three months ended |
(Thousands of Dollars, Except Per Common Share Data) |
December24, 2023 |
December 25, 2022 |
PercentChange |
|
|
|
|
Operating revenue: |
|
|
|
Print advertising revenue |
24,435 |
41,836 |
(41.6)% |
Digital advertising revenue |
46,452 |
47,749 |
(2.7)% |
Advertising and marketing services revenue |
70,887 |
89,585 |
(20.9)% |
Print subscription revenue |
51,872 |
67,370 |
(23.0)% |
Digital subscription revenue |
19,467 |
12,329 |
57.9% |
Subscription revenue |
71,339 |
79,699 |
(10.5)% |
Print other revenue |
8,492 |
11,120 |
(23.6)% |
Digital other revenue |
4,960 |
4,727 |
4.9% |
Other revenue |
13,452 |
15,847 |
(15.1)% |
Total operating revenue |
155,678 |
185,131 |
(15.9)% |
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
Compensation |
59,676 |
75,446 |
(20.9)% |
Newsprint and ink |
4,843 |
7,432 |
(34.8)% |
Other operating expenses |
74,776 |
86,774 |
(13.8)% |
Depreciation and amortization |
7,295 |
7,886 |
(7.5)% |
Assets gain on sales, impairments and other |
(1,469) |
(2,563) |
(42.7)% |
Restructuring costs and other |
4,265 |
646 |
NM |
Total operating expenses |
149,386 |
175,621 |
(14.9)% |
Equity
in earnings of associated companies |
1,541 |
1,668 |
(7.6)% |
Operating income |
7,833 |
11,178 |
(29.9)% |
Non-operating income (expense): |
|
|
|
Interest expense |
(10,131) |
(10,408) |
(2.7)% |
Pension and OPEB related benefit (cost) and other, net |
186 |
1,494 |
(87.6)% |
Curtailment/Settlement gains |
3,593 |
— |
NM |
Total non-operating expense, net |
(6,352) |
(8,914) |
(28.7)% |
Income before income taxes |
1,481 |
2,264 |
(34.6)% |
Income
tax expense |
248 |
440 |
(43.6)% |
Net Income |
1,233 |
1,824 |
(32.4)% |
Net
income attributable to non-controlling interests |
(545) |
(725) |
(24.8)% |
Income attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated |
688 |
1,099 |
(37.4)% |
|
|
|
|
Earnings (loss) per common
share: |
|
|
|
Basic |
0.12 |
0.19 |
(36.8)% |
Diluted |
0.12 |
0.19 |
(36.8)% |
DIGITAL / PRINT REVENUE
COMPOSITION(UNAUDITED)
|
Three months ended |
(Thousands of Dollars) |
December 24, 2023 |
December 25, 2022 |
|
|
|
Digital Advertising and Marketing Services Revenue |
46,452 |
47,749 |
Digital Only Subscription Revenue |
19,467 |
12,329 |
Digital Services Revenue |
4,960 |
4,727 |
Total Digital Revenue |
70,879 |
64,805 |
Print Advertising Revenue |
24,435 |
41,836 |
Print Subscription Revenue |
51,872 |
67,370 |
Other Print Revenue |
8,492 |
11,120 |
Total Print Revenue |
84,799 |
120,326 |
Total Operating Revenue |
155,678 |
185,131 |
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL
MEASURES(UNAUDITED)
The table below reconciles the non-GAAP financial performance
measure of Adjusted EBITDA to net income, its most directly
comparable U.S. GAAP measure:
|
Three months ended |
(Thousands of Dollars) |
December24, 2023 |
|
December 25, 2022 |
|
|
|
|
Net income |
1,233 |
|
1,824 |
|
Adjusted to exclude |
|
|
Income tax expense |
248 |
|
440 |
|
Non-operating expenses, net |
6,352 |
|
8,914 |
|
Equity in earnings of TNI and MNI |
(1,541 |
) |
(1,668 |
) |
Depreciation and amortization |
7,295 |
|
7,886 |
|
Restructuring costs and other |
4,265 |
|
646 |
|
Assets gain on sales, impairments and other, net |
(1,469 |
) |
(2,563 |
) |
Stock compensation |
214 |
|
349 |
|
Add: |
|
|
Ownership share of TNI(6) and MNI EBITDA(6) (50%) |
2,052 |
|
1,791 |
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
18,649 |
|
17,619 |
|
The table below reconciles the non-GAAP
financial performance measure of Cash Costs to Operating expenses,
the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure:
|
Three months ended |
(Thousands of Dollars) |
December 24, 2023 |
|
December 25, 2022 |
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses |
149,386 |
|
175,621 |
|
Adjustments |
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
7,295 |
|
7,886 |
|
Assets gain on sales, impairments and other, net |
(1,469 |
) |
(2,563 |
) |
Restructuring costs and other |
4,265 |
|
646 |
|
Cash Costs |
139,295 |
|
169,652 |
|
The table below reconciles the non-GAAP
financial performance measure of Same-store Revenues to Operating
Revenues, its most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure:
|
Three months ended |
(Thousands of Dollars) |
December 24, 2023 |
|
December 25, 2022 |
|
Percent Change |
|
|
|
|
|
Print Advertising Revenue |
24,435 |
|
41,836 |
|
(41.6)% |
Exited operations |
(78 |
) |
(7,916 |
) |
NM |
Same-store, Print Advertising Revenue |
24,357 |
|
33,920 |
|
(28.2)% |
Digital Advertising Revenue |
46,452 |
|
47,749 |
|
(2.7)% |
Exited operations |
(90 |
) |
(786 |
) |
NM |
Same-store, Digital Advertising Revenue |
46,362 |
|
46,963 |
|
(1.3)% |
Total Advertising Revenue |
70,887 |
|
89,585 |
|
(20.9)% |
Exited operations |
(168 |
) |
(8,702 |
) |
NM |
Same-store, Total Advertising Revenue |
70,719 |
|
80,883 |
|
(12.6)% |
Print Subscription Revenue |
51,873 |
|
67,370 |
|
(23.0)% |
Exited operations |
(174 |
) |
(682 |
) |
NM |
Same-store, Print Subscription Revenue |
51,699 |
|
66,688 |
|
(22.5)% |
Digital Subscription Revenue |
19,467 |
|
12,329 |
|
57.9% |
% |
Exited operations |
(96 |
) |
(236 |
) |
NM |
Same-store, Digital Subscription Revenue |
19,371 |
|
12,093 |
|
60.25 |
% |
Total Subscription Revenue |
71,339 |
|
79,699 |
|
(10.5)% |
Exited operations |
(270 |
) |
(918 |
) |
NM |
Same-store, Total Subscription Revenue |
71,069 |
|
78,781 |
|
(9.8)% |
Print Other Revenue |
8,492 |
|
11,120 |
|
(23.6)% |
Exited operations |
(1 |
) |
(121 |
) |
NM |
Same-store, Print Other Revenue |
8,491 |
|
10,999 |
|
(22.8)% |
Digital Other Revenue |
4,960 |
|
4,727 |
|
4.9 |
% |
Exited operations |
— |
|
— |
|
NM |
Same-store, Digital Other Revenue |
4,960 |
|
4,727 |
|
4.9% |
% |
Total Other Revenue |
13,452 |
|
15,847 |
|
(15.1)% |
Exited operations |
(1 |
) |
(121 |
) |
NM |
Same-store, Total Other Revenue |
13,451 |
|
15,726 |
|
(14.5)% |
Total Operating Revenue |
155,678 |
|
185,131 |
|
(15.9)% |
Exited operations |
(439 |
) |
(9,741 |
) |
NM |
Same-store, Total Operating Revenue |
155,239 |
|
175,390 |
|
(11.5)% |
NOTES
(1) |
|
The following are non-GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles) financial measures for which reconciliations to
relevant U.S GAAP measures are included in tables accompanying this
release: |
- Adjusted EBITDA is
a non-GAAP financial performance measure that enhances financial
statement users overall understanding of the operating performance
of the Company. The measure isolates unusual, infrequent or
non-cash transactions from the operating performance of the
business. This allows users to easily compare operating performance
among various fiscal periods and how management measures the
performance of the business. This measure also provides users with
a benchmark that can be used when forecasting future operating
performance of the Company that excludes unusual, nonrecurring or
one-time transactions. Adjusted EBITDA is a component of the
calculation used by stockholders and analysts to determine the
value of our business when using the market approach, which applies
a market multiple to financial metrics. It is also a measure used
to calculate the leverage ratio of the Company, which is a key
financial ratio monitored and used by the Company and its
investors. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income (loss), plus
non-operating expenses, income tax expense, depreciation and
amortization, assets loss (gain) on sales, impairments and other,
restructuring costs and other, stock compensation and our 50% share
of EBITDA from TNI and MNI, minus equity in earnings of TNI and
MNI.
- Cash Costs
represent a non-GAAP financial performance measure of operating
expenses which are measured on an accrual basis and settled in
cash. This measure is useful to investors in understanding the
components of the Company’s cash-settled operating costs.
Periodically, the Company provides forward-looking guidance of Cash
Costs, which can be used by financial statement users to assess the
Company's ability to manage and control its operating cost
structure. Cash Costs are defined as compensation, newsprint and
ink and other operating expenses. Depreciation and amortization,
assets loss (gain) on sales, impairments and other, other non-cash
operating expenses and other expenses are excluded. Cash Costs also
exclude restructuring costs and other, which are typically paid in
cash.
(2) |
|
Same-store revenues is a non-GAAP performance measure based on U.S.
GAAP revenues for Lee for the current period, excluding exited
operations. Exited operations include (1) business divestitures and
(2) the elimination of stand-alone print products discontinued
within our markets. |
|
|
|
(3) |
|
Total Digital Revenue is defined as digital advertising and
marketing services revenue (including Amplified Digital®),
digital-only subscription revenue and digital services
revenue. |
|
|
|
(4) |
|
This earnings release is a preliminary report of results for the
periods included. The reader should refer to the Company's most
recent reports on Form 10-Q and on Form 10-K for definitive
information. |
|
|
|
(5) |
|
The Company's debt is the $576 million term loan under a credit
agreement with BH Finance LLC dated January 29, 2020 (the "Credit
Agreement"). Excess Cash Flow is defined under the Credit Agreement
as any cash greater than $20,000,000 on the balance sheet in
accordance with U.S. GAAP at the end of each fiscal quarter,
beginning with the quarter ending June 28, 2020. |
|
|
|
(6) |
|
TNI refers to TNI Partners publishing operations in Tucson, AZ. MNI
refers to Madison Newspapers, Inc. publishing operations in
Madison, WI. |
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