DALLAS, Nov. 01, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A. H. Belo Corporation (NYSE:AHC) today reported third quarter 2016 net loss attributable to A. H. Belo Corporation (the “Company”) of $(0.5) million, or $(0.02) per share. For the same period in 2015, the Company reported net loss attributable to A. H. Belo Corporation of $(4.0) million, or $(0.18) per share.
In the third quarter of 2016, on a non-GAAP basis, the Company reported operating income excluding certain items (adjusted operating income) of $2.3 million, a decrease of $0.6 million, or 19.8 percent, over the third quarter of 2015.
Jim Moroney, chairman, president and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Our marketing services segment had a strong third quarter performance helping to mitigate the declines experienced in our publishing segment. Due to the positive financial results this year, along with our healthy cash balance, we feel we are well positioned operationally and financially. We look forward to delivering against our strategy for excellence in journalism, revenue diversification and profitability.”
Third Quarter Results from Continuing Operations
Total revenue was $64.8 million in the third quarter of 2016, a decrease of $2.1 million, or 3.2 percent, when compared to the prior year period.
Revenue from advertising and marketing services, including print and digital revenues, was $38.3 million in the third quarter of 2016, a decrease of $0.9 million, or 2.2 percent, when compared to the $39.2 million reported in the third quarter of 2015. Within advertising and marketing services, total digital and marketing services revenue increased 18.7 percent to $14.0 million primarily due to organic growth associated with Speakeasy and DMV. DMV revenue increased $2.5 million, or 106.5 percent, compared to the prior year period. For the third quarter of 2016, total digital and marketing services revenue was 36.6 percent of total advertising and marketing services revenue, reflecting a 650 basis point increase when compared to the 30.1 percent reported in the third quarter of 2015. Total digital advertising and marketing services revenue was approximately 21.6 percent of total revenue, reflecting a 390 basis point increase when compared to the 17.7 percent reported in the third quarter of 2015. The growth in digital advertising and marketing services revenue partially offsets declines in print advertising revenue.
Circulation revenue was $19.6 million, a decrease of $0.6 million, or 3.2 percent, primarily due to lower home delivery and single copy volumes, partially offset by an increase in home delivery subscription rates.
Printing, distribution and other revenue decreased 8.1 percent to $6.8 million in the third quarter of 2016, primarily due to a decrease in commercial printing revenue of $0.2 million and a decrease of $0.2 million related to a CrowdSource event that occurred in the third quarter of 2015, which the Company will not host this year.
Total consolidated operating expense in the third quarter was $65.3 million, a decrease of $4.7 million, or 6.8 percent, compared to the prior year period, primarily due to a decrease in employee compensation and benefits of $3.4 million and a decrease in newsprint, ink and other supplies of $1.0 million.
The Company’s newsprint expense in the third quarter was $3.3 million, a decrease of 12.6 percent, compared to the prior year period. Newsprint consumption declined 11.8 percent to approximately 6,627 metric tons. Compared to the same period in 2015, newsprint cost per metric ton decreased 1.5 percent and the average purchase price per metric ton for newsprint increased 6.0 percent.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
A reconciliation of operating income (loss) to adjusted operating income is included in the exhibits to this release.
Financial Results Conference Call
A. H. Belo Corporation will conduct a conference call on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. CDT to discuss financial results. The conference call will be available via webcast by accessing the Company’s website at www.ahbelo.com/invest. An archive of the webcast will be available at www.ahbelo.com in the Investor Relations section.
To access the listen-only conference call, dial 1-800-230-1092 (USA) or 651-291-0561 (International). A replay line will be available at 1-800-475-6701 (USA) or 320-365-3844 (International) from 11:00 a.m. CDT on November 1, 2016 until 11:59 p.m. CST on November 8, 2016. The access code for the replay is 403803.
About A. H. Belo Corporation
A. H. Belo Corporation is a leading local news and information publishing company with commercial printing, distribution and direct mail capabilities, as well as expertise in emerging media and digital marketing. With a continued focus on extending the Company’s media platform, A. H. Belo Corporation is able to deliver news and information in innovative ways to a broad spectrum of audiences with diverse interests and lifestyles. For additional information, visit www.ahbelo.com or email invest@ahbelo.com.
Statements in this communication concerning A. H. Belo Corporation’s business outlook or future economic performance, anticipated profitability, revenues, expenses, dividends, capital expenditures, investments, dispositions, impairments, business initiatives, acquisitions, pension plan contributions and obligations, real estate sales, working capital, future financings and other financial and non-financial items that are not historical facts, are “forward-looking statements” as the term is defined under applicable federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those statements. Such risks, trends and uncertainties are, in most instances, beyond the Company’s control, and include changes in advertising demand and other economic conditions; consumers’ tastes; newsprint prices; program costs; labor relations; technology obsolescence; as well as other risks described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the Company’s other public disclosures and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements, which are as of the date of this filing, are not updated to reflect events or circumstances after the date of the statement.
A. H. Belo Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
| Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||||||
| In thousands, except share and per share amounts (unaudited) | 2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||||||||
| Net Operating Revenue: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Advertising and marketing services | $ | 38,304 | $ | 39,184 | $ | 111,581 | $ | 114,281 | ||||||||||||
| Circulation | 19,633 | 20,279 | 59,806 | 62,133 | ||||||||||||||||
| Printing, distribution and other | 6,843 | 7,445 | 22,502 | 22,606 | ||||||||||||||||
| Total net operating revenue | 64,780 | 66,908 | 193,889 | 199,020 | ||||||||||||||||
| Operating Costs and Expense: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Employee compensation and benefits | 25,626 | 29,041 | 77,417 | 81,649 | ||||||||||||||||
| Other production, distribution and operating costs | 30,615 | 30,562 | 88,844 | 93,037 | ||||||||||||||||
| Newsprint, ink and other supplies | 6,315 | 7,266 | 18,834 | 23,275 | ||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation | 2,488 | 2,780 | 7,725 | 8,695 | ||||||||||||||||
| Amortization | 225 | 361 | 680 | 1,107 | ||||||||||||||||
| Total operating costs and expense | 65,269 | 70,010 | 193,500 | 207,763 | ||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | (489 | ) | (3,102 | ) | 389 | (8,743 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Other Income (Expense): | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss from equity method investments, net | — | (564 | ) | — | (288 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Other income (expense), net | 114 | (489 | ) | 601 | (912 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Total other income (expense), net | 114 | (1,053 | ) | 601 | (1,200 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes | (375 | ) | (4,155 | ) | 990 | (9,943 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Income tax provision (benefit) | 77 | (188 | ) | 1,361 | (5,601 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Loss from Continuing Operations | (452 | ) | (3,967 | ) | (371 | ) | (4,342 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Loss from divestiture of discontinued operations | — | (52 | ) | — | (62 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Loss from Discontinued Operations | — | (52 | ) | — | (62 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Net Loss | (452 | ) | (4,019 | ) | (371 | ) | (4,404 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests | 45 | (63 | ) | 65 | (219 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Net Loss Attributable to A. H. Belo Corporation | $ | (497 | ) | $ | (3,956 | ) | $ | (436 | ) | $ | (4,185 | ) | ||||||||
| Per Share Basis | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss attributable to A. H. Belo Corporation | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted | $ | (0.02 | ) | $ | (0.18 | ) | $ | (0.02 | ) | $ | (0.19 | ) | ||||||||
| Number of common shares used in the per share calculation: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted | 21,676,260 | 21,651,670 | 21,601,828 | 21,721,875 | ||||||||||||||||
A. H. Belo Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
| September 30, | December 31, | |||||
| In thousands (unaudited) | 2016 | 2015 | ||||
| Assets | ||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 78,341 | $ | 78,380 | ||
| Accounts receivable, net | 26,750 | 31,502 | ||||
| Assets held for sale | 2,600 | — | ||||
| Other current assets | 13,391 | 13,467 | ||||
| Total current assets | 121,082 | 123,349 | ||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net | 45,804 | 51,358 | ||||
| Intangible assets, net | 5,098 | 5,778 | ||||
| Goodwill | 36,883 | 36,883 | ||||
| Other assets | 4,515 | 4,133 | ||||
| Total assets | $ | 213,382 | $ | 221,501 | ||
| Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity | ||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 10,838 | $ | 12,736 | ||
| Accrued compensation and other current liabilities | 12,608 | 11,812 | ||||
| Advance subscription payments | 13,211 | 14,424 | ||||
| Total current liabilities | 36,657 | 38,972 | ||||
| Long-term pension liabilities | 54,831 | 57,446 | ||||
| Other liabilities | 8,716 | 4,812 | ||||
| Total liabilities | 100,204 | 101,230 | ||||
| Noncontrolling interest - redeemable | 1,335 | 1,421 | ||||
| Total shareholders’ equity attributable to A. H. Belo Corporation | 110,562 | 117,781 | ||||
| Noncontrolling interests | 1,281 | 1,069 | ||||
| Total shareholders' equity | 111,843 | 118,850 | ||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 213,382 | $ | 221,501 | ||
A. H. Belo Corporation - Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Reconciliation of Operating Income (Loss) to Adjusted Operating Income
| Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||||
| In thousands (unaudited) | 2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||||||
| Total net operating revenue | $ | 64,780 | $ | 66,908 | $ | 193,889 | $ | 199,020 | ||||||||||
| Total operating costs and expense | 65,269 | 70,010 | 193,500 | 207,763 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating Income (Loss) | $ | (489 | ) | $ | (3,102 | ) | $ | 389 | $ | (8,743 | ) | |||||||
| Addback: | ||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation | $ | 2,488 | $ | 2,780 | $ | 7,725 | $ | 8,695 | ||||||||||
| Amortization | 225 | 361 | 680 | 1,107 | ||||||||||||||
| Severance expense | 49 | 2,796 | 1,049 | 2,746 | ||||||||||||||
| Adjusted Operating Income | $ | 2,273 | $ | 2,835 | $ | 9,843 | $ | 3,805 | ||||||||||
The Company calculates adjusted operating income by adjusting operating income (loss) to exclude depreciation, amortization, severance expense and pension plan settlement expense (“adjusted operating income”). The Company believes that inclusion of certain non-cash and non-recurring expenses in the results makes for more difficult comparisons between years and with peer group companies.
Adjusted operating income is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Management uses adjusted operating income and similar measures in internal analyses as supplemental measures of the Company’s financial performance, and for performance comparisons against its peer group of companies. Management uses this non-GAAP financial measure for the purposes of evaluating consolidated Company performance. The Company therefore believes that the non-GAAP measure presented provides useful information to investors by allowing them to view the Company’s business through the eyes of management and the Board of Directors, facilitating comparison of results across historical periods and providing a focus on the underlying ongoing operating performance of its business. Adjusted operating income should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net loss from continuing operations, cash flows provided by (used for) operating activities or other comparable measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Additionally, this non-GAAP measure may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures of other companies.