The Arena Group Delivers Second Consecutive Profitable Quarter; Generates $7.2 Million in Income from Continuing Operations for Fourth Quarter of 2024

Rhea-AI Summary

The Arena Group (NYSE: AREN) reported strong Q4 2024 financial results, marking its second consecutive profitable quarter. The company generated $7.2 million in income from continuing operations ($0.15 per diluted share), up from $4.8 million in Q3 2024.

Key financial metrics include:

• Q4 2024 revenue of $36.2 million, up 8% from Q3 2024
• Q4 2024 Adjusted EBITDA of $13.0 million, compared to $11.1 million in Q3 2024
• FY 2024 loss from continuing operations of $7.7 million, improved from $37.2 million in FY 2023
• FY 2024 Adjusted EBITDA of $27.0 million, up from $13.2 million in FY 2023

Operational highlights show strong performance across key brands: Athlon Sports reached 284M page views in Q4 (up 325% YoY), Parade achieved 53M monthly users and 74M monthly page views, and TheStreet maintained 36M monthly page views.

Positive

• Second consecutive profitable quarter with $7.2M income from continuing operations
• Q4 revenue up 8% sequentially to $36.2M
• Q4 Adjusted EBITDA increased to $13.0M from $11.1M in Q3
• Significant reduction in annual losses from $37.2M to $7.7M
• Athlon Sports traffic grew 325% YoY
• Management expects profitability in every quarter of 2025

Negative

• Full year 2024 still showed a loss of $7.7M from continuing operations

Insights

Financial Analyst

The Arena Group's Q4 2024 results demonstrate a compelling financial inflection point with two consecutive profitable quarters and significant operational improvements. Quarterly revenue reached $36.2 million, up 8% sequentially, while income from continuing operations hit $7.2 million ($0.15 per diluted share), improving from $4.8 million in Q3.

The company's adjusted EBITDA of $13 million for Q4 shows healthy margin expansion compared to $11.1 million in Q3. Year-over-year progress is even more dramatic, with full-year 2024 losses shrinking to $7.7 million from $37.2 million in 2023, while adjusted EBITDA more than doubled to $27 million.

These financial improvements stem from Arena's successful execution of its "competitive publishing" model, particularly evident in Athlon Sports' 325% year-over-year page view growth. The diversified media portfolio provides multiple growth vectors, with Parade reaching 53 million monthly users and TheStreet maintaining its high-value financial audience.

For a company with a $93 million market cap generating $36.2 million in quarterly revenue, the current valuation appears conservative if management delivers on its projection of profitability across all quarters of 2025. The sequential operational improvements and audience growth metrics suggest the turnaround strategy is gaining meaningful traction.

Athlon Sports’ Momentum Provides Blueprint for Scalable, Profitable Growth for Media Brands

Management Posts Video Reviewing Quarterly Results and Strategy

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE American: AREN) (“Arena”), a technology platform and media company home to hundreds of media brands, including TheStreet, Parade Media (“Parade”), Men’s Journal, Surfer, Powder and Athlon Sports, today announced financial results for the three months ending December 31, 2024 (“Q4 2024”) and full year ended December 31, 2024 (“FY 2024”).

Financial Highlights for Q4 2024:

• Quarterly revenue from continuing operations was $36.2 million, up 8% sequentially compared to Q3 2024.
• Income from continuing operations was $7.2 million, or $0.15 per diluted share for Q4 2024, compared to $4.8 million, or $0.13 per diluted share in Q3 2024.
• Adjusted EBITDA for Q4 2024 was $13.0 million compared to $11.1 million for Q3 2024.

Financial Highlights for fiscal year 2024:

• Loss from continuing operations was $7.7 million in FY 2024 compared to $37.2 million in FY 2023.
• Adjusted EBITDA was $27.0 million in FY 2024 compared to $13.2 million for FY 2023.

“In 2024, we built a strong foundation with Athlon Sports. This started with premium content, expanding our print products at newsstands and growing our social footprint,” said Paul Edmondson, CEO of Arena. “We then coupled this with what we call ‘competitive publishing’ to expand our reach.”

“Competitive publishing is a new model designed for 24/7 breaking news coverage where multiple talented teams compete. It’s proven to grow audiences, pay talent better and more fairly, and be profitable for The Arena Group. A true win win.” Edmondson continued, “We launched this model on Men’s Journal in Q1 2025, and at Parade and The Street at the start of Q2 2025. The results are very promising. We expect to be profitable in every quarter of 2025.”

Operational highlights

• Athlon Sports: Audience traffic continues to grow substantially, increasing to 284M page views in Q4 2024 (up 20% vs Q3 2024, and 325% vs Q4 2023). The site averaged 94M page views a month in Q4 2024.
• Parade: Digital traffic of Parade and Parade Pets also remained strong in Q4 2024 with more than 53M average monthly users and 74M average monthly page views (up 6% vs Q3 2024). It has balanced, diversified revenue as its performance marketing business and social media audience continue to grow.
• TheStreet: The financial brand continues to reach a dedicated, high-net-worth, audience, delivering 36M average monthly page views in Q4 2024, up 1% vs Q3 2024.

Video Message:

Paul Edmondson, The Arena Group’s Chief Executive Officer, has posted a video reviewing Arena’s quarterly results and business strategy. The video addresses selected questions previously submitted by investors and other interested parties. It has been shared across Arena’s social media channels and is available HERE.

About The Arena Group

The Arena Group (NYSE American: AREN) is an innovative technology platform and media company with a proven cutting-edge playbook that transforms media brands. Our unified technology platform empowers creators and publishers with tools to publish and monetize their content, while also leveraging quality journalism of anchor brands like TheStreet, Parade, Men’s Journal and Athlon Sports to build their businesses. We aggregate content across a diverse portfolio of brands, reaching over 100 million users monthly. Visit us at thearenagroup.net and discover how we are revolutionizing the world of digital media.

THE ARENA GROUP HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
	Three Months Ended December 31,						Years Ended December 31,
		2024			2023			2024			2023
	($ in thousands, except share data)
Revenue	$	36,228		$	44,144		$	125,907		$	143,630
Cost of revenue (includes amortization of platform development and developed technology for 2024 and 2023 of $5,988 and $8,782, respectively)		17,154			26,366			70,189			88,357
Gross profit		19,074			17,778			55,718			55,273
Operating expenses
Selling and marketing		2,222			5,090			12,548			24,263
General and administrative		5,609			8,267			30,399			43,783
Depreciation and amortization		899			1,027			3,704			4,243
Loss on impairment of assets		-			-			1,198			119
Loss on sale of assets		-			325			-			325
Total operating expenses		8,730			14,709			47,849			72,733
Income (loss) from operations		10,344			3,069			7,869			(17,460	)
Other (expense) income
Change in valuation of contingent consideration		-			(541	)		(313	)		(1,010	)
Interest expense, net		(2,921	)		(4,740	)		(14,668	)		(17,965	)
Liquidated damages		(77	)		(128	)		(306	)		(583	)
Total other expense		(2,998	)		(5,409	)		(15,287	)		(19,558	)
Income (loss) before income taxes		7,346			(2,340	)		(7,418	)		(37,018	)
Income tax provision		(133	)		(52	)		(249	)		(197	)
Income (loss) from continuing operations		7,213			(2,392	)		(7,667	)		(37,215	)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax		(334	)		(3,163	)		(93,043	)		(18,367	)
Net income (loss)	$	6,879		$	(5,555	)	$	(100,710	)	$	(55,582	)
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations	$	0.15		$	(0.10	)	$	(0.22	)	$	(1.67	)
Discontinued operations		(0.01	)		(0.13	)		(2.63	)		(0.82	)
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share	$	0.14		$	(0.23	)	$	(2.85	)	$	(2.49	)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic and diluted		47,437,158			24,414,979			35,405,336			22,323,763

THE ARENA GROUP HOLDINGS, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
	Years Ended December 31,
		2024			2023
	($ in thousands, except share data)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	4,362		$	9,284
Accounts receivables, net		31,115			31,676
Prepayments and other current assets		4,757			5,791
Current assets from discontinued operations		-			43,648
Total current assets		40,234			90,399
Property and equipment, net		148			328
Operating lease right-of-use assets		2,340			176
Platform development, net		8,115			8,723
Acquired and other intangible assets, net		22,789			27,457
Other long term assets		151			1,003
Goodwill		42,575			42,575
Noncurrent assets from discontinued operations		-			18,217
Total assets	$	116,352		$	188,878
Liabilities, mezzanine equity and stockholders’ deficiency
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		4,844			7,803
Accrued expenses and other		10,990			28,903
Line of credit		-			19,609
Unearned revenue		6,349			16,938
Subscription refund liability		430			46
Operating lease liability, current portion		254			358
Contingent consideration		-			1,571
Liquidating damages payable		3,230			2,924
Bridge notes		-			7,887
Debt		-			102,309
Current liabilities from discontinued operations		96,159			47,673
Total current liabilities		122,256			236,021
Unearned revenue, net of current portion		403			542
Operating lease liability, net of current portion		1,964			-
Other long-term liabilities		-			406
Deferred tax liabilities		802			599
Simplify loan		10,651			-
Debt		110,436			-
Noncurrent liabilities from discontinued operations		-			10,137
Total liabilities		246,512			247,705
Mezzanine equity:
Series G redeemable and convertible preferred stock, $0.01 par value, $1,000 per share liquidation value and 1,800 shares designated; aggregate liquidation value: $168; Series G shares issued and outstanding: 168; common shares issuable upon conversion: 8,582 at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023		168			168
Total mezzanine equity		168			168
Stockholders' deficiency:
Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 1,000,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding: 47,556,267 and 23,836,706 shares at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively		475			237
Additional paid-in capital		348,560			319,421
Accumulated deficit		(479,363	)		(378,653	)
Total stockholders’ deficiency		(130,328	)		(58,995	)
Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and stockholders’ deficiency	$	116,352		$	188,878

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We report our financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”); however, management believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures provide users of our financial information with useful supplemental information that enables a better comparison of our performance across periods. We believe Adjusted EBITDA provides visibility to the underlying continuing operating performance by excluding the impact of certain items that are noncash in nature or not related to our core business operations. We calculate Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) as adjusted for loss from discontinued operations, with additional adjustments for (i) interest expense (net), (ii) income taxes, (iii) depreciation and amortization, (iv) stock-based compensation, (v) change in valuation of contingent consideration, (vi) liquidated damages, (vii) loss on impairment of assets, (viii) loss on sale of assets; (ix) employee retention credit, (x) employee restructuring payments, and (xi) professional and vendor fees. Our non-GAAP measure may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies, have limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our operating results as reported under GAAP. Additionally, we do not consider our non-GAAP measure as superior to, or a substitute for, the equivalent measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Some of the limitations are that our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA:

• does not reflect interest expense and financing fees, or the cash required to service our debt, which reduces cash available to us;
• does not reflect income tax provision or benefit, which is a noncash income or expense;
• does not reflect depreciation and amortization expense and, although this is a noncash expense, the assets being depreciated may have to be replaced in the future, increasing our cash requirements;
• does not reflect stock-based compensation and, therefore, does not include all of our compensation costs;
• does not reflect the change in valuation of contingent consideration and, although this is a noncash income or expense, the change in the valuations each reporting period are not impacted by our actual business operations but is instead strongly tied to the change in the market value of our common stock;
• does not reflect liquidated damages and, therefore, does not include future cash requirements if we repay the liquidated damages in cash instead of shares of our common stock (which the investor would need to agree to);
• does not reflect any losses from the impairment of assets, which is a noncash operating expense;
• does not reflect any losses from the sale of assets, which is a noncash operating expense
• does not reflect the employee retention credits recorded by us for payroll related tax credits under the CARES Act;
• does not reflect payments related to employee severance and employee restructuring changes for our former executives;
• does not reflect the professional and vendor fees incurred by us for services provided by consultants, accountants, lawyers, and other vendors, which services were related to certain types of events that are not reflective of our business operations; and
• may not reflect proper non direct cost allocations.

The following table presents a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss), which is the most directly comparable GAAP measure, for the periods indicated:

	Three Months Ended December 31,					Years Ended December 31,
		2024		2023			2024			2023
Income (loss) from continued operations		7,213		(2,392	)		(7,667	)		(37,215	)
Add:
Interest expense (net)		2,921		4,740			14,668			17,965
Income taxes		133		52			249			197
Depreciation ad amortization		2,357		2,926			9,692			13,025
Stock-based compensation		281		1,175			2,425			16,292
Change in valuation of contingent consideration		-		541			313			1,010
Liquidated damages		77		128			306			583
Loss on impairment of assets		-		-			1,198			119
Loss on sale of assets		-		325			-			325
Employee retention credit		-		-			-			(3,890	)
Employee restructuring payments		-		317			5,776			3,570
Professional and vendor fees		-		1,194			-			1,194
Adjusted EBITDA	$	12,982	$	9,006		$	26,960		$	13,175

Forward-Looking Statements

This Press Release of The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. (the “Company,” “we,” “our,” and “us”) contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and include, without limitation, statements concerning our business strategy, future revenues and profitability, cost reductions, market growth, capital requirements, product introductions, expansion plans and the adequacy of our funding and our ability to alleviate the conditions that raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern (as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the SEC on April 15, 2025 (the “2024 10-K”)). Other statements contained in this Press Release that are not historical facts are also forward-looking statements. We have tried, wherever possible, to identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” and other stylistic variants denoting forward-looking statements.

We caution investors that any forward-looking statements presented in this Press Release, or that we may make orally or in writing from time to time, are based on information currently available, as well as our beliefs and assumptions. The actual outcome related to forward-looking statements will be affected by known and unknown risks, trends, uncertainties, and factors that are beyond our control or ability to predict. Although we believe that our assumptions are reasonable, they are not guarantees of future performance, and some will inevitably prove to be incorrect. As a result, our actual future results can be expected to differ from our expectations, and those differences may be material. Accordingly, investors should use caution in relying on forward-looking statements, which are based only on known results and trends at the time they are made, to anticipate future results or trends. We detail other risks in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including in Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors, in the 2024 10-K. The discussion in this Press Release should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in Part II, Item 8 of the 2024 10-K.

This Press Release and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. We do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this Press Release except as may be required by law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250415668228/en/

The Arena Group Contact:

Steve Janisse, The Arena Group

404-574-9206

c-sjanisse@thearenagroup.net

The Arena Group Investor Contact:

Rob Fink

FNK IR

646-809-4048

aren@fnkir.com

Source: The Arena Group Holdings, Inc.

FAQ

What was The Arena Group's (AREN) Q4 2024 revenue and profit?

AREN reported Q4 2024 revenue of $36.2 million and income from continuing operations of $7.2 million ($0.15 per diluted share).

How did Athlon Sports' traffic perform in Q4 2024?

Athlon Sports achieved 284M page views in Q4 2024, up 20% vs Q3 2024 and 325% vs Q4 2023, averaging 94M monthly page views.

What was AREN's Adjusted EBITDA for full year 2024?

The Arena Group's Adjusted EBITDA for FY 2024 was $27.0 million, compared to $13.2 million in FY 2023.

How did Parade's digital traffic perform in Q4 2024?

Parade achieved over 53M average monthly users and 74M average monthly page views, up 6% compared to Q3 2024.

What was The Arena Group's (AREN) improvement in annual losses for 2024?

AREN reduced its loss from continuing operations to $7.7 million in FY 2024, compared to $37.2 million in FY 2023.