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Gannett Reports Third Quarter 2019 Results

November 4, 2019 6:55 AM

Digital Revenues Reach 38% of Total Revenues

Digital Advertising and Marketing Services Revenues Reach 53% of Total Advertising and Marketing Services Revenues

MCLEAN, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) ("Gannett" or "company" or "we" or "our") today reported third quarter 2019 financial results for the period ended September 30, 2019.

"In the third quarter, we delivered our best same store revenue performance of the year driven by improved print and digital trends across our Marketing Solutions business and stable trends within our Consumer operations," said Paul Bascobert, president and chief executive officer. "We were pleased to see our ReachLocal segment return to same store revenue growth led by strong gains at WordStream and our local markets. We expect continued improvement within our digital advertising and marketing services revenues as we head into the fourth quarter."

"Our same store operating expenses fell 8.4% in the quarter enabling us to deliver flat Adjusted EBITDA margins year-over-year," said Ali Engel, senior vice president and chief financial officer. "We continue to focus on finding efficiencies across our operations, while also investing in strategic areas to drive future growth."

Third Quarter 2019 Consolidated Results

Third Quarter 2019 Publishing Segment

Third Quarter 2019 ReachLocal Segment

Third Quarter 2019 Cash Flow

Outlook

For 2019, the company expects the following (assuming the company remains a stand-alone entity though the end of the year)(3):

1

The company defines adjusted EBITDA as earnings before income taxes, interest expense, equity income, other non-operating items, restructuring costs, acquisition-related expenses, asset impairment charges, depreciation, amortization and other items. We define the non-GAAP effective tax rate as the tax rate excluding any non-recurring one-item tax adjustments. Because of the variability of these and other items as well as the impact of future events on these items, management is unable to reconcile without unreasonable effort the company's forecasted range of adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP tax rate for the full year to a comparable GAAP range.

2

The total aggregate principal related to our offering of convertible notes was $201.3 million. At issuance, this principal value was bifurcated into liability and equity components totaling $171.1 million and $30.2 million, respectively. The carrying value of the liability component as of September 30, 2019 is $173.1 million.

3

The company currently expects to close its pending merger with New Media Investment Group Inc. (“New Media”) shortly following the Gannett and New Media special stockholder meetings that are scheduled for November 14, 2019. The completion of the merger remains subject to the receipt of certain approvals from Gannett and New Media stockholders and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.

Conference Call Information

The company will hold a conference call at 10:00 a.m. ET today to discuss its third quarter results. The call can be accessed via live webcast through the company's investor site, http://investors.gannett.com/ or listen-only conference lines. U.S. callers should dial 855-462-1958 and international callers should dial 503-343-6635 at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call. The confirmation code for the conference call is 6391979. A conference call replay will be available through November 18, 2019. U.S. callers should dial 855-859-2056 and international callers should dial 404-537-3406.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements regarding business strategies, market potential, future financial performance and other matters. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts. The words “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “could,” “should,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “project” and similar expressions, among others, generally identify forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made and are not guarantees of future performance. Where, in any forward-looking statement, an expectation or belief as to future results or events is expressed, such expectation or belief is based on the current plans and expectations of our management and expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that the expectation or belief will result or be achieved or accomplished. Whether or not any such forward-looking statements are in fact achieved will depend on future events, some of which are beyond our control. The matters discussed in these forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, trends, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, among other things:

A further description of these and other important risks, trends, uncertainties and other factors is provided in the company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the company’s annual report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2018. Any forward-looking statements should be evaluated in light of these important risk factors. The company is not responsible for updating or revising any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release also contains a discussion of certain non-GAAP financial measures that the company presents to allow investors and analysts to measure, analyze and compare its financial condition and results of operations in a meaningful and consistent manner. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures can be found in the tables accompanying this press release.

About Gannett

Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) is an innovative, digitally focused media and marketing solutions company committed to strengthening communities across our network. With an unmatched local-to-national reach, Gannett touches the lives of more than 125 million people monthly with our Pulitzer-Prize winning content, consumer experiences and benefits, and advertiser products and services. Gannett brands include USA TODAY NETWORK with the iconic USA TODAY and more than 100 local media brands, digital marketing services companies ReachLocal, WordStream and SweetIQ, and U.K. media company Newsquest. To connect with us, visit www.gannett.com.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

Gannett Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited, in thousands (except per share amounts)

Table No. 1

Three months ended

Nine months ended

September 30,
2019

September 30,
2018

September 30,
2019

September 30,
2018

Operating revenues:

Advertising and marketing services

$

345,223

$

403,374

$

1,078,786

$

1,233,849

Circulation

240,591

258,873

740,410

789,265

Other

49,755

49,467

140,135

142,319

Total operating revenues

635,569

711,714

1,959,331

2,165,433

Operating expenses:

Cost of sales

396,152

446,423

1,210,405

1,355,460

Selling, general and administrative expenses

186,060

200,093

581,230

612,235

Depreciation and amortization

32,281

38,427

104,792

117,057

Gain on sale of property

(7,669

)

(41,319

)

Restructuring costs

2,540

11,535

30,270

33,445

Asset impairment charges

632

1,701

1,435

15,940

Total operating expenses

609,996

698,179

1,886,813

2,134,137

Operating income

25,573

13,535

72,518

31,296

Non-operating income (expense):

Interest expense

(6,739

)

(7,135

)

(20,583

)

(17,548

)

Other non-operating items, net

(5,393

)

9,800

(14,527

)

18,153

Non-operating income (expense)

(12,132

)

2,665

(35,110

)

605

Income before income taxes

13,441

16,200

37,408

31,901

Provision for income taxes

2,796

2,848

11,943

2,620

Net income

$

10,645

$

13,352

$

25,465

$

29,281

Earnings per share - basic

$

0.09

$

0.12

$

0.22

$

0.26

Earnings per share - diluted

$

0.09

$

0.11

$

0.22

$

0.25

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:

Basic

114,615

113,047

114,529

112,916

Diluted

118,232

116,271

117,660

116,113

SEGMENT INFORMATION

Gannett Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited, in thousands

Table No. 2

Three months ended

Nine months ended

September 30,
2019

September 30,
2018

September 30,
2019

September 30,
2018

Operating revenues:

Publishing

$

549,774

$

616,384

$

1,705,114

$

1,899,595

ReachLocal

101,132

109,566

296,879

306,489

Corporate and Other

2,458

1,731

5,751

5,516

Intersegment eliminations

(17,795

)

(15,967

)

(48,413

)

(46,167

)

Total

$

635,569

$

711,714

$

1,959,331

$

2,165,433

Adjusted EBITDA:

Publishing

$

68,964

$

72,739

$

241,011

$

244,855

ReachLocal

12,755

17,340

32,586

33,820

Corporate and Other

(19,510

)

(19,987

)

(71,840

)

(67,916

)

Total

$

62,209

$

70,092

$

201,757

$

210,759

Depreciation and amortization:

Publishing

$

16,831

$

21,382

$

54,328

$

71,828

ReachLocal

11,087

12,096

37,171

29,505

Corporate and Other

4,363

4,949

13,293

15,724

Total

$

32,281

$

38,427

$

104,792

$

117,057

Capital expenditures:

Publishing

$

6,026

$

4,421

$

14,566

$

14,851

ReachLocal

5,313

5,422

15,162

13,164

Corporate and Other

4,011

6,498

11,540

15,848

Total

$

15,350

$

16,341

$

41,268

$

43,863

SAME STORE REVENUE DETAIL

Gannett Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited, in thousands

Table No. 3

Three months ended

September 30,
2019

September 30,
2018

% Change

Reported total revenue

$

635,569

$

711,714

(10.7

%)

Acquired revenues

(194

)

***

Currency impact

3,945

***

Day-adjusted

6,364

***

Exited operations

(11,488

)

(100.0

%)

Same store revenue

$

645,684

$

700,226

(7.8

%)

Reported advertising and marketing services revenue

$

345,223

$

403,374

(14.4

%)

Acquired revenues

(194

)

***

Currency impact

2,577

***

Day-adjusted

4,257

***

Exited operations

(11,477

)

(100.0

%)

Same store advertising and marketing services revenue

$

351,863

$

391,897

(10.2

%)

Reported circulation revenue

$

240,591

$

258,873

(7.1

%)

Currency impact

1,044

***

Day-adjusted

2,107

***

Exited operations

***

Same store circulation revenue

$

243,742

$

258,873

(5.8

%)

*** Indicates an absolute value percentage change greater than 100.

PUBLISHING REVENUE DETAIL

Gannett Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited, in thousands

Table No. 4

Three months ended

September 30,
2019

September 30,
2018

% Change

Publishing revenue detail

Print advertising:

Local

$

71,150

$

90,713

(21.6

%)

Classified

54,613

67,970

(19.7

%)

National

35,846

45,341

(20.9

%)

Total print advertising

161,609

204,024

(20.8

%)

Digital advertising and marketing services:

Digital media

64,532

67,504

(4.4

%)

Digital classified

13,540

18,181

(25.5

%)

Digital marketing services

22,205

20,066

10.7

%

Total digital advertising and marketing services

100,277

105,751

(5.2

%)

Total advertising and marketing services

261,886

309,775

(15.5

%)

Circulation

240,591

258,873

(7.1

%)

Other

47,297

47,736

(0.9

%)

Total Publishing revenue

$

549,774

$

616,384

(10.8

%)

USE OF NON-GAAP INFORMATION

The company uses non-GAAP financial performance and liquidity measures to supplement the financial information presented on a GAAP basis. These non-GAAP financial measures, which may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies, should not be considered in isolation from or as a substitute for the related GAAP measures and should be read together with financial information presented on a GAAP basis.

The company defines its non-GAAP measures as follows:

The company uses non-GAAP financial measures for purposes of evaluating its performance and liquidity. Therefore, the company believes that each of the non-GAAP measures presented provides useful information to investors by allowing them to view our businesses through the eyes of our management and Board of Directors, facilitating comparison of results across historical periods, and providing a focus on the underlying ongoing operating performance of our business. Many of our peer group companies present similar non-GAAP measures to better facilitate industry comparisons.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ADJUSTED EBITDA

Gannett Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited, in thousands

Table No. 5

Three months ended September 30, 2019

Publishing

ReachLocal

Corporate and Other

Consolidated Total

Net income (GAAP basis)

$

10,645

Provision for income taxes

2,796

Interest expense

6,739

Other non-operating items, net

5,393

Operating income (loss) (GAAP basis)

$

57,279

$

(186

)

$

(31,520

)

$

25,573

Depreciation and amortization

16,831

11,087

4,363

32,281

Gain on sale of property

(7,669

)

(7,669

)

Restructuring costs

1,885

233

422

2,540

Asset impairment charges

632

632

Other items (a)

6

1,621

7,225

8,852

Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP basis)

$

68,964

$

12,755

$

(19,510

)

$

62,209

(a) Includes costs incurred related to the pending merger with New Media of $6.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019

Three months ended September 30, 2018

Publishing

ReachLocal

Corporate and Other

Consolidated Total

Net income (GAAP basis)

$

13,352

Provision for income taxes

2,848

Interest expense

7,135

Other non-operating items, net

(9,800

)

Operating income (loss) (GAAP basis)

$

45,009

$

2,483

$

(33,957

)

$

13,535

Depreciation and amortization

21,382

12,096

4,949

38,427

Restructuring costs

4,919

1,159

5,457

11,535

Asset impairment charges

1,430

271

1,701

Other items (b)

(1

)

1,331

3,564

4,894

Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP basis)

$

72,739

$

17,340

$

(19,987

)

$

70,092

(b) Includes acquisition costs of $2.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ADJUSTED EBITDA

Gannett Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited, in thousands

Table No. 5 (continued)

Nine months ended September 30, 2019

Publishing

ReachLocal

Corporate and Other

Consolidated Total

Net income (GAAP basis)

$

25,465

Provision for income taxes

11,943

Interest expense

20,583

Other non-operating items, net

14,527

Operating income (loss) (GAAP basis)

$

198,693

$

(10,360

)

$

(115,815

)

$

72,518

Depreciation and amortization

54,328

37,171

13,293

104,792

Gain on sale of property

(41,319

)

(41,319

)

Restructuring costs

25,964

473

3,833

30,270

Asset impairment charges

1,435

1,435

Other items (c)

1,910

5,302

26,849

34,061

Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP basis)

$

241,011

$

32,586

$

(71,840

)

$

201,757

(c) Includes costs incurred as a direct result of the proxy contest of $17.9 million and costs incurred related to the pending merger with New Media of $7.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019

Nine months ended September 30, 2018

Publishing

ReachLocal

Corporate and Other

Consolidated Total

Net income (GAAP basis)

$

29,281

Provision for income taxes

2,620

Interest expense

17,548

Other non-operating items, net

(18,153

)

Operating income (loss) (GAAP basis)

$

133,212

$

(2,179

)

$

(99,737

)

$

31,296

Depreciation and amortization

71,828

29,505

15,724

117,057

Restructuring costs

22,603

4,704

6,138

33,445

Asset impairment charges

15,669

271

15,940

Other items (d)

1,543

1,519

9,959

13,021

Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP basis)

$

244,855

$

33,820

$

(67,916

)

$

210,759

(d) Includes acquisition costs of $6.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ADJUSTED DILUTED EPS

Gannett Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited, in thousands (except per share amounts)

Table No. 6

Three months ended

Nine months ended

September 30,
2019

September 30,
2018

September 30,
2019

September 30,
2018

Gain on sale of property

$

(7,669

)

$

$

(41,319

)

$

Restructuring costs (including accelerated depreciation)

2,540

13,665

32,524

41,722

Asset impairment charges

632

1,701

1,435

15,940

Loss (gain) from other non-operating activities

472

(5,510

)

4,780

(5,002

)

Other items (a)

8,887

4,708

33,483

10,639

Pretax impact

4,862

14,564

30,903

63,299

Income tax impact of above items

(1,292

)

(4,062

)

(7,776

)

(16,161

)

Tax benefit

(529

)

(2,623

)

Other tax-related items

$

$

$

1,879

$

Impact of items affecting comparability on net income

$

3,570

$

9,973

$

25,006

$

44,515

Net income (GAAP basis)

$

10,645

$

13,352

$

25,465

$

29,281

Impact of items affecting comparability on net income

3,570

9,973

25,006

44,515

Adjusted net income (non-GAAP basis)

$

14,215

$

23,325

$

50,471

$

73,796

Earnings per share - diluted (GAAP basis)

$

0.09

$

0.11

$

0.22

$

0.25

Impact of items affecting comparability on net income

$

0.03

$

0.09

$

0.21

$

0.39

Adjusted earnings per share - diluted (non-GAAP basis)

$

0.12

$

0.20

$

0.43

$

0.64

Diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding (GAAP basis)

118,232

116,271

117,660

116,113

Diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding (non-GAAP basis)

118,232

116,271

117,660

116,113

(a) Includes costs incurred as a direct result of the proxy contest of $17.9 million and costs incurred related to the pending merger with New Media of $7.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION

FREE CASH FLOW

Gannett Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited, in thousands

Table No. 7

Three months
ended
September 30,
2019

Nine months
ended
September 30,
2019

Net cash flow from operating activities (GAAP basis)

$

64,210

$

99,856

Capital expenditures

(15,350

)

(41,268

)

Free cash flow (non-GAAP basis)

$

48,860

$

58,588

For investor inquiries:

Stacy Cunningham

VP, Financial Planning & Investor Relations

703-854-3168

[email protected]

For media inquiries:

Stephanie Tackach

Director, Public Relations

212-715-5490

[email protected]

Source: Gannett Co., Inc.

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