Lee Enterprises reports first quarter Adjusted EBITDA growth and strong digital growth
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Insights
The reported growth in Adjusted EBITDA and the significant increase in digital-only subscribers are positive indicators for Lee Enterprises' ongoing digital transformation. The shift towards digital revenue, which now represents nearly half of the total operating revenue, suggests a successful adaptation to the changing media landscape. The 60% increase in digital subscription revenue is particularly noteworthy, as it reflects both an increase in subscribers and a rise in average rates, which can be seen as a strong market position and pricing power. The expectation that digital revenue will exceed print highlights the potential for a sustainable revenue model, given the declining trend in print media consumption. However, the unchanged outlook for the 2024 fiscal year, with an Adjusted EBITDA range indicating a potential decrease at the lower end, may raise questions about the cost management strategies and potential margin pressures as the company continues to invest in its digital transformation.
From a financial perspective, the company's debt level and the terms of its Credit Agreement are of interest. The fixed interest rate of 9.0% on a 25-year maturity, with no fixed principal payments or financial performance covenants, provides a stable long-term financing structure. However, with a net debt position of $439 million, the company's leverage and interest obligations must be carefully managed against its cash flow. The modest net income juxtaposed with the substantial increase in digital revenue and the decline in operating expenses could indicate that the company is effectively controlling costs in the short term. Investors may want to monitor how these factors affect the company's ability to generate free cash flow and service its debt in the long term, especially in the context of the projected capital expenditures and tax payments for the fiscal year.
The emphasis on digital growth and the Three Pillar Digital Growth Strategy reflects a proactive approach to evolving consumer behaviors and the competitive digital media environment. The growth in digital-only subscribers is a key metric for the industry, as it demonstrates the company's ability to attract and monetize its audience in a digital context. The reported 46% of total operating revenue from digital sources is a testament to the company's successful pivot and aligns with broader industry trends where digital revenue streams are becoming increasingly critical for media companies. The transition towards a majority digital revenue base is significant, as it suggests a strategic shift away from reliance on traditional print revenue, which is often associated with higher variable costs and declining consumer interest. The impact of this transformation on the company's long-term sustainability and competitive positioning in the market will be an area of focus for stakeholders.
Adjusted EBITDA(1) growth of
Digital-only subscribers totaled 735,000 (+
Total Digital Revenue(3) represented
DAVENPORT, Iowa, Feb. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 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
“Because of our impressive digital subscription revenue growth combined with solid gains at Amplified Digital®, digital revenue reached
"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 , an11% increase over the prior year(2), and represented46% 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 a30% increase in digital-only subscribers and a20% 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 , an18% decline over the prior year. - Net income totaled
$1 million and Adjusted EBITDA totaled$19 million , a6% increase over the prior year.
2024 Fiscal Year Outlook (unchanged):
| Total Digital Revenue | |
| Digital-only subscribers | 771,000 (+ |
| Adjusted EBITDA | |
Debt and Free Cash Flow:
The Company has
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) | December 24, 2023 | December 25, 2022 | Percent Change |
| 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 | |
| Subscription revenue | 71,339 | 79,699 | (10.5)% |
| Print other revenue | 8,492 | 11,120 | (23.6)% |
| Digital other revenue | 4,960 | 4,727 | |
| 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) | December 24, 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) ( | 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 | % | |||
| 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 | % | |||
| 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 | |
| (6) | TNI refers to TNI Partners publishing operations in Tucson, AZ. MNI refers to Madison Newspapers, Inc. publishing operations in Madison, WI. |
FAQ
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