DALLAS, May 02, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A. H. Belo Corporation (NYSE:AHC) today reported first quarter operating income from continuing operations excluding certain items (adjusted operating income) of $1.8 million, an increase of $3.6 million, or 204 percent, over the first quarter of 2015.
In the first quarter of 2016, on a GAAP basis, the net loss attributable to A. H. Belo Corporation (the “Company”) was $ (0.6) million, or $ (0.03) per share. For the same period in 2015, the Company reported net income attributable to A. H. Belo Corporation of $0.4 million, or $0.02 per fully diluted share.
Jim Moroney, chairman, president and Chief Executive Officer, said, “While core print revenues continue to decline, we were highly encouraged that the strong 2015 operating results we experienced continued through the first quarter of 2016. Our performance this quarter highlights our ongoing efforts to diversify our revenue sources, manage-out product lines that can’t sustain profitability and closely scrutinize spending."
First Quarter Results from Continuing Operations
Total revenue was $62.5 million in the first quarter of 2016, a decrease of $3.0 million, or 4.5 percent, when compared to the prior year period.
Revenue from advertising and marketing services, including print and digital revenues, was $35.2 million in the first quarter of 2016, down 4.3 percent from the $36.8 million reported in the first quarter of 2015, resulting from the decrease in print advertising revenue mostly offset by the increase in digital and marketing services revenue.
Total digital and marketing services revenue increased 23.5 percent to $11.5 million primarily due to organic growth in marketing services revenue associated with Speakeasy and DMV Digital Holdings, Inc. (“DMV Holdings”), which was acquired on January 2, 2015. For the first quarter of 2016, total digital and marketing services revenue was 32.7 percent of total advertising and marketing services revenue, reflecting a 730 basis point increase when compared to the 25.4 percent reported in the first quarter of 2015. Total digital advertising and marketing services revenue is approximately 18.5 percent of total revenue, reflecting a 420 basis point increase when compared to the 14.3 percent reported in the first quarter of 2015.
Circulation revenue was $20.4 million, a decrease of $0.7 million or 3.3 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 8.9 percent to $6.9 million in the first quarter of 2016, primarily due to a decrease of $0.2 million in commercial printing revenue and a decrease of $0.4 million resulting from the timing of Savor, Dallas’ four-day celebration of food, wine and spirits, which, in 2015, occurred in the first quarter. In 2016, the festival occurred in April.
Total consolidated operating expense in the first quarter was $64.3 million, a decrease of $6.3 million or 8.9 percent compared to the prior year period, primarily due to a decrease in newsprint, ink and other supplies of $2.1 million, a decrease in operating expenses related to the 2015 DMV Holdings acquisition of $0.7 million and a decrease in employee compensation and benefits of $0.5 million.
The Company’s newsprint expense in the first quarter was $3.2 million, a decrease of 28.3 percent compared to the prior year period. Newsprint consumption declined 15.0 percent to approximately 6,589 metric tons. Compared to the same period in 2015, newsprint cost per metric ton decreased 13.6 percent and the average purchase price per metric ton for newsprint decreased 10.3 percent.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
A reconciliation of income from continuing operations to adjusted income from continuing operations are included as exhibits to this release.
Financial Results Conference Call
A. H. Belo Corporation will conduct a conference call on Monday, May 2, 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 (www.ahbelo.com/invest) or by dialing 1-800-230-1074 (USA) or 612-234-9960 (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 May 2, 2016, until 11:59 p.m. CDT on May 9, 2016. The access code for the replay is 391207.
About A. H. Belo Corporation
A. H. Belo Corporation (NYSE:AHC) 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 ahbelo.com or email invest@ahbelo.com.
Statements in this communication concerning A. H. Belo Corporation’s (the “Company’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 our 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 March 31, | ||||||||||
| In thousands, except share and per share amounts (unaudited) | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||
| Net Operating Revenue | ||||||||||
| Advertising and marketing services | $ | 35,237 | $ | 36,831 | ||||||
| Circulation | 20,352 | 21,038 | ||||||||
| Printing, distribution and other | 6,894 | 7,567 | ||||||||
| Total net operating revenue | 62,483 | 65,436 | ||||||||
| Operating Costs and Expense | ||||||||||
| Employee compensation and benefits | 27,017 | 27,503 | ||||||||
| Other production, distribution and operating costs | 28,331 | 31,460 | ||||||||
| Newsprint, ink and other supplies | 6,058 | 8,166 | ||||||||
| Depreciation | 2,632 | 3,040 | ||||||||
| Amortization | 226 | 373 | ||||||||
| Total operating costs and expense | 64,264 | 70,542 | ||||||||
| Operating loss | (1,781 | ) | (5,106 | ) | ||||||
| Other Income (Expense), Net | ||||||||||
| Loss on equity method investments, net | — | (414 | ) | |||||||
| Other income, net | 79 | 109 | ||||||||
| Total other income (expense), net | 79 | (305 | ) | |||||||
| Loss from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes | (1,702 | ) | (5,411 | ) | ||||||
| Income tax benefit | (1,109 | ) | (5,730 | ) | ||||||
| Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations | (593 | ) | 319 | |||||||
| Loss related to the divestiture of discontinued operations, net | — | (12 | ) | |||||||
| Loss from Discontinued Operations, Net | — | (12 | ) | |||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | (593 | ) | 307 | |||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests | 39 | (56 | ) | |||||||
| Net Income (Loss) Attributable to A. H. Belo Corporation | $ | (632 | ) | $ | 363 | |||||
| Per Share Basis | ||||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to A. H. Belo Corporation | ||||||||||
| Basic and diluted | $ | (0.03 | ) | $ | 0.02 | |||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding | ||||||||||
| Basic | 21,514,133 | 21,770,698 | ||||||||
| Diluted | 21,514,133 | 21,845,197 | ||||||||
| A. H. Belo Corporation and Subsidiaries | ||||||
| Consolidated Balance Sheets | ||||||
| March 31, | December 31, | |||||
| In thousands (unaudited) | 2016 | 2015 | ||||
| Assets | ||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 74,656 | $ | 78,380 | ||
| Accounts receivable, net | 26,355 | 31,502 | ||||
| Other current assets | 17,069 | 13,467 | ||||
| Total current assets | 118,080 | 123,349 | ||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net | 50,822 | 51,358 | ||||
| Intangible assets, net | 5,552 | 5,778 | ||||
| Goodwill | 36,883 | 36,883 | ||||
| Other assets | 4,129 | 4,133 | ||||
| Total assets | $ | 215,466 | $ | 221,501 | ||
| Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity | ||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 9,950 | $ | 12,736 | ||
| Accrued compensation and other current liabilities | 9,733 | 11,812 | ||||
| Advance subscription payments | 15,564 | 14,424 | ||||
| Total current liabilities | 35,247 | 38,972 | ||||
| Long-term pension liabilities | 56,574 | 57,446 | ||||
| Other liabilities | 5,579 | 4,812 | ||||
| Total liabilities | 97,400 | 101,230 | ||||
| Noncontrolling interest - redeemable | 1,335 | 1,421 | ||||
| Total shareholders’ equity attributable to A. H. Belo Corporation | 115,801 | 117,781 | ||||
| Noncontrolling interests | 930 | 1,069 | ||||
| Total shareholders' equity | 116,731 | 118,850 | ||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 215,466 | $ | 221,501 | ||
| A. H. Belo Corporation - Non-GAAP Financial Measures | ||||||||||
| Reconciliation of Operating Loss to Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) | ||||||||||
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||
| In thousands (unaudited) | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||
| Total Net Operating Revenue | $ | 62,483 | $ | 65,436 | ||||||
| Total Operating Costs and Expense | 64,264 | 70,542 | ||||||||
| Operating Loss | (1,781 | ) | (5,106 | ) | ||||||
| Addback: | ||||||||||
| Depreciation | 2,632 | 3,040 | ||||||||
| Amortization | 226 | 373 | ||||||||
| Severance expense | 742 | (55 | ) | |||||||
| Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) | $ | 1,819 | $ | (1,748 | ) | |||||
The Company evaluates adjusted operating income (loss) from continuing operations, calculated by adjusting operating loss for depreciation, amortization, severance expense and pension plan settlement (“Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)”). The Company believes that such expenses and charges are not indicative of normal, ongoing operations and their inclusion in the results makes for more difficult comparisons between years and with peer group companies.
Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Management uses Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) 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 (Loss) should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income from continuing operations, cash flows provided by 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.