Sky's Earnings Climb, But Shares Fall--Update
April 21 2016 - 10:18AM
Dow Jones News
(Rewrites, adds detail.)
By Simon Zekaria
LONDON--Sky PLC's (SKY.LN) earnings climbed Thursday as
subscriber growth and demand for new products in the U.K. and
Germany pushed up revenue, but shares in the pan-European satellite
broadcaster and pay-TV giant fell amid concerns over the company's
outlook.
Sky, Europe's biggest pay-TV group by customer numbers, said
operating profit before exceptional items--a key measurement of
business performance--in the nine months ended March 31 rose to
1.14 billion pounds ($1.64 billion) from GBP1.03 billion in the
same period a year earlier, and in line with market expectations.
It didn't disclose net profit.
Revenue increased to GBP8.72 billion from GBP8.45 billion, also
in line with forecasts.
"It's been another strong quarter for Sky," Chief Executive
Jeremy Darroch said.
Sky is 39%-owned by 21st Century Fox Inc. (FOXA), which until
June 2013 was part of the same company as The Wall Street Journal
parent News Corp (NWS).
Still, at 1324 GMT, shares fell 5% to 977 pence, valuing the
company at GBP17.7 billion.
Morningstar analyst Allan Nichols said the stock is overvalued,
which is depressing market sentiment. He said investors are aware
the company faces challenges to its business centered around the
firm's ongoing battle to secure prized soccer broadcasting
rights.
"The firm reported that revenue increased 5% year over year,
with 6% growth in the U.K. and 10% growth in Germany partially
offset by a 2% decline in Italy. The firm added net subscribers in
all its markets, which is particularly impressive in Italy,
considering that it lost the rights to Champions League soccer,"
said Mr. Nichols.
"That said, we remain concerned with Sky's ability to drive
revenue growth in its Italian business. In the U.K., the Premier
League is much more important than Champions League, so we are much
less concerned about the lost rights in the UK."
"The firm's cost control is continuing, enabling its margins to
increase. Its operating margin jumped by 12% year over year, but we
expect this improvement will reverse when the next Premier League
contract starts in fiscal 2018," said Mr. Nichols.
Charles Huggins, analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, also said
soccer rights are proving a cost burden for Sky.
"Profit progression over the next few years could be lumpy, as
Sky seeks to absorb GBP630 million per annum of additional Premier
League rights costs. The group are currently in the process of
bidding for German football rights, with analysts expecting around
a 40% increase in costs. Even so, by June 2018 analysts are
forecasting earnings per share of around 70 pence, a 26% increase
on the last financial year."
Sky is battling with other media companies across Europe as
operators seek to gather in customers by securing subscriptions to
services across Internet broadband, telephony and TV. The prize for
soccer rights is fierce as broadcasters hone in on the popularity
of the sport to win eyeballs.
Write to Simon Zekaria at simon.zekaria@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
April 21, 2016 10:03 ET (14:03 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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