News Corporation Class B - NWS STOCK NEWS

News Corporation reported its fiscal 2023 second quarter financial results, revealing revenues of $2.52 billion, a 7% decline from the previous year, largely due to $171 million in foreign currency impacts. Net income fell to $94 million, down 64% from $262 million. Total Segment EBITDA dropped 30% to $409 million, reflecting higher costs and losses from equity affiliates. Growth was noted in the Dow Jones segment, with a 45% revenue increase attributed to recent acquisitions. In response to economic challenges, a 5% workforce reduction is anticipated. A semi-annual dividend of $0.10 per share was declared, payable April 12, 2023.

The U.S. housing market displayed increased buyer activity in January 2023, with mortgage rates dropping and inventory rising. The typical median listing price reached $400,000, reflecting an 8.1% year-over-year increase. However, new listings declined by 5.4%, indicating a slowdown in sales. Notably, 56% of listing views were directed at out-of-metro homes, particularly in affordable areas of the Midwest and Northeast. Active listings surged by 65.5%, yet still remain lower than pre-pandemic levels. The share of listings with price reductions also rose to 15.3%, enhancing buyer negotiation power despite ongoing challenges due to high prices and financing costs.

News Corp will announce its second quarter Fiscal 2023 results on February 9, 2023, with a live audio webcast at 5:00 p.m. EST. CEO Robert Thomson and CFO Susan Panuccio will present the findings. The earnings release will be accessible before the call at investors.newscorp.com. News Corp operates in diverse media sectors including digital real estate, subscription video services in Australia, and news publishing. The company is headquartered in New York and its services are distributed globally.

The Fifth, a social-creative agency based in Los Angeles, has appointed Brett Brown as its new Head of Creative. This strategic move is aimed at enhancing the agency's creative vision and expanding its U.S. market presence. Since its inception in 2019, The Fifth has rapidly grown, executing impactful creator-driven marketing campaigns for clients like Disney and YouTube. Brown's diverse experience in the industry positions him to lead the agency's ambitious growth plans, which include adding eight new team members to meet demand. The Fifth operates out of FOX Studios, backed by News Corp.

The latest Realtor.com® Monthly Rental Report reveals that renting is significantly cheaper than buying a starter home in many U.S. metros as of December 2022. Renters saved an average of 41.4% ($792) compared to first-time homebuyers, with Austin, Texas (121.3% savings) leading the way. Nationwide, the median rent was $1,712, while typical monthly starter home payments rose 37.4% year-over-year to $2,504. Despite lower rent growth (+3.2%), rental affordability remains a pressing issue. The report indicates that, among 50 major markets, renting was more affordable in 45, a considerable increase from 30 last year, driven by high mortgage rates.

Realtor.com has identified the 10 best markets for first-time homebuyers in 2023, aiming to assist buyers amidst rising affordability challenges. The top locations ranked include Portsmouth, VA, DeForest, WI, and Windsor Locks, CT, highlighting regions with strong job opportunities, shorter commute times, and an abundance of amenities. These markets offer an average of 47.8 listings per 1,000 households, exceeding the national average of 45.2, and a forecasted home sales growth of 1.2%, significantly better than the national decline of 14.1%. This report emphasizes the importance of community and economic viability for buyers.

The U.S. housing market showed signs of normalizing in December 2022, with a 54.7% increase in active listings year-over-year, but still 38.2% lower than pre-pandemic levels. The median listing price rose 8.4% to $400,000, marking the first time in a year that annual growth fell below double digits. Homes spent an average of 67 days on the market, 11 days longer than last year. The share of listings with price reductions increased to 13.6%. Market demand has softened, yet prices remain significantly higher than in 2019.

Realtor.com® has launched enhanced listing intelligence features to support real estate professionals in a challenging market. Offering predictive insights, these tools help agents showcase their market knowledge and improve client services. Key features include buyer info, demand analysis by ZIP code, listing performance scores, and tracking market trends like median days on market. Available at no cost through the Realtor.com® Pro Dashboard, these tools aim to assist agents in converting leads and managing seller expectations effectively.