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AMC Networks Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2024 Results

November 8, 2024 8:30 AM

NEW YORK, Nov. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AMC Networks Inc. ("AMC Networks" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: AMCX) today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024.

Chief Executive Officer Kristin Dolan said: "As we manage this business within a complex and changing environment, we remain focused on our key strategic pillars - programming, partnerships and profitability. During the quarter, we made significant advancements across all three areas. We have generated $293 million of free cash flow year to date and are well on our way to delivering our stated goal of approximately half a billion dollars in cumulative free cash over two years. We also entered into new and enhanced partnerships with major companies like Charter, Netflix, Amazon and others which are driving our company forward as we continue to provide distinctive, high-quality programming to customers across an expanding array of platforms."

Operational Highlights:

Financial Highlights – Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2024:

Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts2024 2023 Change 2024 2023 Change
Net Revenues$599,614 $636,954 (5.9)% $1,822,009 $2,033,029 (10.4)%
Operating Income$93,653 $120,850 (22.5)% $214,619 $399,855 (46.3)%
Adjusted Operating Income$131,476 $177,268 (25.8)% $433,407 $569,808 (23.9)%
Diluted Earnings Per Share$0.76 $1.44 (47.2)% $1.21 $5.40 (77.6)%
Adjusted Earnings Per Share$0.91 $1.85 (50.8)% $3.27 $6.49 (49.6)%
Net cash provided by operating activities$62,235 $106,092 (41.3)% $317,507 $131,139 142.1%
Free Cash Flow$53,941 $99,150 (45.6)% $293,255 $102,747 185.4%


(1)See page 5 of this earnings release for a discussion of non-GAAP financial measures used in this release. This discussion includes the definition of Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted EPS and Free Cash Flow.

Segment Results:
(dollars in thousands)

Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
2024 2023 Change 2024 2023 Change
Net Revenues:
Domestic Operations$530,243 $541,198 (2.0)% $1,592,760 $1,734,871 (8.2)%
International 73,706 97,598 (24.5)% 239,406 304,974 (21.5)%
Inter-segment Eliminations (4,335) (1,842) (135.3)% (10,157) (6,816) (49.0)%
Total Net Revenues$599,614 $636,954 (5.9)% $1,822,009 $2,033,029 (10.4)%
Operating Income (Loss):
Domestic Operations$129,978 $161,627 (19.6)% $374,730 $523,645 (28.4)%
International 8,702 7,985 9.0% (26,484) 10,422 n/m
Corporate / Inter-segment Eliminations (45,027) (48,762) 7.7% (133,627) (134,212) 0.4%
Total Operating Income$93,653 $120,850 (22.5)% $214,619 $399,855 (46.3)%
Adjusted Operating Income (Loss):
Domestic Operations$150,189 $185,011 (18.8)% $467,856 $589,205 (20.6)%
International 13,542 13,067 3.6% 56,207 53,390 5.3%
Corporate / Inter-segment Eliminations (32,255) (20,810) (55.0)% (90,656) (72,787) (24.5)%
Total Adjusted Operating Income$131,476 $177,268 (25.8)% $433,407 $569,808 (23.9)%

Domestic Operations

Third Quarter Results:

International

Third Quarter Results:

Other Matters

BBC America Transaction

On November 1, 2024, the Company closed a transaction with BBC Studios in which the Company acquired the remaining 50.1% of the BBC America joint-venture that it had not previously owned for $42.0 million in cash. The Company now owns 100% of the BBC America business, with full operational control, and will continue to fully consolidate BBC America.

Assuming the transaction had closed on September 30, 2024, $132.9 million of redeemable noncontrolling interest related to BBC America, and reflected on the condensed consolidated balance sheet, would have been eliminated. Additionally, the Company’s future contractual programming commitments to BBC Studios would have been significantly reduced.

Going forward, AMC Networks will no longer be making any related cash distributions to non-controlling interests.

Partial Prepayment of Term Loan A Facility Borrowings

During the third quarter of 2024, the Company repaid $8.1 million of borrowings under the Term Loan A Facility in accordance with the terms of the amended agreement. Additionally, the Company also voluntarily prepaid $35.0 million of borrowings under the Term Loan A Facility.

Stock Repurchase Program & Outstanding Shares

As previously disclosed, the Company's Board of Directors has authorized a program to repurchase up to $1.5 billion of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock (the "Stock Repurchase Program"). The Stock Repurchase Program has no pre-established termination date and may be suspended or discontinued at any time. During the quarter ended September 30, 2024, the Company did not repurchase any shares. As of September 30, 2024, the Company had $135 million of authorization remaining for repurchase under the Stock Repurchase Program.

As of November 1, 2024, the Company had 32,636,371 shares of Class A Common Stock and 11,484,408 shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding.

Please see the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2024, which will be filed later today, for further details regarding the above matters.

Description of Non-GAAP Measures

Internally, the Company uses net revenues, Adjusted Operating Income (Loss), and Free Cash Flow measures as the most important indicators of its business performance and evaluates management’s effectiveness with specific reference to these indicators.

The Company defines Adjusted Operating Income (Loss), which is a non-GAAP financial measure, as operating income (loss) before share-based compensation expense or benefit, depreciation and amortization, impairment and other charges (including gains or losses on sales or dispositions of businesses), restructuring and other related charges, cloud computing amortization, and including the Company’s proportionate share of adjusted operating income (loss) from majority-owned equity method investees. From time to time, we may exclude the impact of certain events, gains, losses, or other charges (such as significant legal settlements) from AOI that affect our operating performance. Because it is based upon operating income (loss), Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) also excludes interest expense (including cash interest expense) and other non-operating income and expense items. The Company believes that the exclusion of share-based compensation expense or benefit allows investors to better track the performance of the various operating units of the business without regard to the effect of the settlement of an obligation that is not expected to be made in cash.

The Company believes that Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) is an appropriate measure for evaluating the operating performance of the business segments and the Company on a consolidated basis. Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) and similar measures with similar titles are common performance measures used by investors, analysts, and peers to compare performance in the industry. Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) should be viewed as a supplement to and not a substitute for operating income (loss), net income (loss), and other measures of performance presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Since Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) is not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with GAAP, this measure may not be comparable to similar measures with similar titles used by other companies. For a reconciliation of operating income (loss) to Adjusted Operating Income (Loss), please see pages 8-9 of this release.

The Company defines Free Cash Flow, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, as net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures, all of which are reported in our Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. The Company believes the most comparable GAAP financial measure of its liquidity is net cash provided by operating activities. The Company believes that Free Cash Flow is useful as an indicator of its overall liquidity, as the amount of Free Cash Flow generated in any period is representative of cash that is available for debt repayment, investment, and other discretionary and non-discretionary cash uses. The Company also believes that Free Cash Flow is one of several benchmarks used by analysts and investors who follow the industry for comparison of its liquidity with other companies in the industry, although the Company’s measure of Free Cash Flow may not be directly comparable to similar measures reported by other companies. For a reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to Free Cash Flow, please see page 11 of this release.

The Company defines Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share (“Adjusted EPS”), which is a non-GAAP financial measure, as earnings per diluted share excluding the following items: amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets; impairment and other charges (including gains or losses on sales or dispositions of businesses); non-cash impairments of goodwill, intangible and fixed assets; restructuring and other related charges; and the impact associated with the modification of debt arrangements, including gains and losses related to the extinguishment of debt; as well as the impact of taxes on the aforementioned items. The Company believes the most comparable GAAP financial measure is earnings per diluted share. The Company believes that Adjusted EPS is one of several benchmarks used by analysts and investors who follow the industry for comparison of its performance with other companies in the industry, although the Company’s measure of Adjusted EPS may not be directly comparable to similar measures reported by other companies. For a reconciliation of earnings per diluted share to Adjusted EPS, please see pages 12-13 of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This earnings release may contain statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve risks and uncertainties and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including financial community and rating agency perceptions of the Company and its business, operations, financial condition and the industries in which it operates and the factors described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" contained therein. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein.

Conference Call Information

AMC Networks will host a conference call today at 10:00 a.m. ET to discuss its third quarter 2024 results. To listen to the call, please visit investors.amcnetworks.com.

About AMC Networks Inc.

AMC Networks (Nasdaq: AMCX) is home to many of the greatest stories and characters in TV and film and the premier destination for passionate and engaged fan communities around the world. The Company creates and curates celebrated series and films across distinct brands and makes them available to audiences everywhere. Its portfolio includes targeted streaming services AMC+, Acorn TV, Shudder, Sundance Now, ALLBLK and HIDIVE; cable networks AMC, BBC AMERICA (which includes U.S. distribution and sales responsibilities for BBC News), IFC, SundanceTV and We TV; and film distribution labels IFC Films and RLJE Films. The Company also operates AMC Studios, its in-house studio, production and distribution operation behind acclaimed and fan-favorite original franchises including The Walking Dead Universe and the Anne Rice Immortal Universe; and AMC Networks International, its international programming business.

Contacts

Investor RelationsCorporate Communications
Nicholas SeibertGeorgia Juvelis
[email protected][email protected]


AMC NETWORKS INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
2024 2023 2024 2023
Revenues, net$599,614 $636,954 $1,822,009 $2,033,029
Operating expenses:
Technical and operating (excluding depreciation and amortization) 287,746 284,900 840,049 933,590
Selling, general and administrative 191,622 187,232 588,679 567,136
Depreciation and amortization 23,097 28,009 75,416 79,629
Impairment and other charges 5,400 96,819 30,282
Restructuring and other related charges 3,496 10,563 6,427 22,537
Total operating expenses 505,961 516,104 1,607,390 1,633,174
Operating income 93,653 120,850 214,619 399,855
Other income (expense):
Interest expense (45,123) (38,757) (121,180) (115,304)
Interest income 9,303 11,686 27,480 26,944
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net (352) (105)
Miscellaneous, net 8,850 (2,211) 5,153 12,518
Total other expense (27,322) (29,282) (88,652) (75,842)
Income from operations before income taxes 66,331 91,568 125,967 324,013
Income tax expense (19,891) (23,671) (54,433) (82,725)
Net income including noncontrolling interests 46,440 67,897 71,534 241,288
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (5,058) (4,473) (13,583) (4,015)
Net income attributable to AMC Networks' stockholders$41,382 $63,424 $57,951 $237,273
Net income per share attributable to AMC Networks' stockholders:
Basic$0.93 $1.44 $1.31 $5.42
Diluted$0.76 $1.44 $1.21 $5.40
Weighted average common shares:
Basic 44,607 43,951 44,381 43,786
Diluted 56,149 44,041 49,038 43,905


AMC NETWORKS INC.
SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL DATA
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended September 30, 2024
Domestic
Operations
International Corporate /
Inter-segment
Eliminations
Consolidated
Operating income (loss)$129,978 $8,702 $(45,027) $93,653
Share-based compensation expenses 2,608 775 2,393 5,776
Depreciation and amortization 8,695 4,065 10,337 23,097
Restructuring and other related charges 3,454 42 3,496
Cloud computing amortization 3,272 3,272
Majority owned equity investees AOI 2,182 2,182
Adjusted operating income (loss)$150,189 $13,542 $(32,255) $131,476


Three Months Ended September 30, 2023
Domestic
Operations
International Corporate /
Inter-segment
Eliminations
Consolidated
Operating income (loss)$161,627 $7,985 $(48,762) $120,850
Share-based compensation expenses 3,494 815 2,069 6,378
Depreciation and amortization 11,536 4,271 12,202 28,009
Restructuring and other related charges (credits) (783) (4) 11,350 10,563
Impairment and other charges 5,400 5,400
Cloud computing amortization 5 2,331 2,336
Majority owned equity investees AOI 3,732 3,732
Adjusted operating income (loss)$185,011 $13,067 $(20,810) $177,268


AMC NETWORKS INC.
SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL DATA
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024
Domestic
Operations
International Corporate /
Inter-segment
Eliminations
Consolidated
Operating income (loss)$374,730 $(26,484) $(133,627) $214,619
Share-based compensation expenses 8,586 2,446 9,276 20,308
Depreciation and amortization 29,522 12,241 33,653 75,416
Restructuring and other related charges 6,385 42 6,427
Impairment and other charges 28,815 68,004 96,819
Cloud computing amortization 10,103 10,103
Majority owned equity investees AOI 9,715 9,715
Adjusted operating income (loss)$467,856 $56,207 $(90,656) $433,407


Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
Domestic
Operations
International Corporate /
Inter-segment
Eliminations
Consolidated
Operating income (loss)$523,645 $10,422 $(134,212) $399,855
Share-based compensation expenses 10,133 2,500 7,038 19,671
Depreciation and amortization 35,053 13,944 30,632 79,629
Restructuring and other related charges 3,940 1,642 16,955 22,537
Impairment and other charges 5,400 24,882 30,282
Cloud computing amortization 15 6,800 6,815
Majority owned equity investees AOI 11,019 11,019
Adjusted operating income (loss)$589,205 $53,390 $(72,787) $569,808


AMC NETWORKS INC.
SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL DATA
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
CapitalizationSeptember 30, 2024
Cash and cash equivalents$816,377
Credit facility debt (a)$373,750
10.25% Senior Secured Notes due January 2029$875,000
4.25% Senior Notes due February 2029 985,010
4.25% Convertible Senior Notes due February 2029 143,750
Senior notes (b)$2,003,760
Total debt$2,377,510
Net debt$1,561,133
Finance leases 15,678
Net debt and finance leases$1,576,811
Twelve Months Ended
September 30, 2024
Operating Income (GAAP)$203,176
Share-based compensation expense 26,302
Depreciation and amortization 103,189
Restructuring and other related charges 11,677
Impairment and other charges 163,226
Cloud computing amortization 13,831
Majority owned equity investees 12,302
Adjusted Operating Income (Non-GAAP)$533,703
Leverage ratio (c) 3.0 x


(a)Represents the aggregate principal amount of the debt, with maturities of Term Loan A (Non-Extended) $90,000 due February 2026, Term Loan A (Extended) $283,750 due April 2028, and undrawn $175,000 Revolving Credit Facility due April 2028.
(b)Represents the aggregate principal amount of the debt.
(c)Represents net debt and finance leases divided by Adjusted Operating Income for the twelve months ended September 30, 2024. This ratio differs from the calculation contained in the Company's credit facility. No adjustments have been made for consolidated entities that are not 100% owned.


AMC NETWORKS INC.
SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL DATA
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
Free Cash Flow (1)Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2024 2023 2024 2023
Net cash provided by operating activities$62,235 $106,092 $317,507 $131,139
Less: capital expenditures (8,294) (6,942) (24,252) (28,392)
Free Cash Flow$53,941 $99,150 $293,255 $102,747


Supplemental Cash Flow InformationThree Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2024 2023 2024 2023
Restructuring initiatives (2)$(2,248) $(13,084) $(10,351) $(101,590)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests (1,480) (20,459) (18,000) (47,546)


(1)Free Cash Flow includes the impact of certain cash receipts or payments (such as restructuring initiatives, significant legal settlements, and programming write-offs) that affect period-to-period comparability.
(2)Restructuring initiatives includes cash payments of $0.4 million and $2.6 million for content impairments and other exit costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, and $1.8 million and $7.7 million for severance and employee-related costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively. Restructuring initiatives includes cash payments of $9.1 million and $61.3 million for content impairments and other exit costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, and $4.0 million and $40.3 million for severance and employee-related costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively.


AMC NETWORKS INC.
SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL DATA
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
Adjusted Earnings Per Share
Three Months Ended September 30, 2024
Income from
operations
before income
taxes
Income tax
expense
Net (income)
loss attributable
to noncontrolling
interests
Net income
attributable to
AMC Networks'
stockholders
Diluted EPS
attributable to
AMC Networks'
stockholders
Reported Results (GAAP) (1)$67,858 $(20,274) $(5,058) $42,526 $0.76
Adjustments:
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets 7,917 (1,645) (359) 5,913 0.10
Restructuring and other related charges 3,496 (860) 2,636 0.05
Impairment and other charges
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net 352 (93) 259
Adjusted Results (Non-GAAP)$79,623 $(22,872) $(5,417) $51,334 $0.91


(1)Includes the required adjustment for interest expense associated with the convertible debt.

Three Months Ended September 30, 2023
Income from
operations
before income
taxes
Income tax
expense
Net (income)
loss attributable
to noncontrolling
interests
Net income
attributable to
AMC Networks'
stockholders
Diluted EPS
attributable to
AMC Networks'
stockholders
Reported Results (GAAP)$91,568 $(23,671) $(4,473) $63,424 $1.44
Adjustments:
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets 9,839 (2,291) (1,329) 6,219 0.14
Restructuring and other related charges 10,563 (2,618) 7,945 0.18
Impairment and other charges 5,400 (1,343) 4,057 0.09
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net
Adjusted Results (Non-GAAP)$117,370 $(29,923) $(5,802) $81,645 $1.85


AMC NETWORKS INC.
SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL DATA
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
Adjusted Earnings Per Share
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024
Income from
operations
before income
taxes
Income tax
expense
Net (income)
loss attributable
to noncontrolling
interests
Net income
attributable to
AMC Networks'
stockholders
Diluted EPS
attributable to
AMC Networks'
stockholders
Reported Results (GAAP) (1)$127,647 $(54,853) $(13,583) $59,211 $1.21
Adjustments:
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets 26,081 (5,978) (2,283) 17,820 0.36
Restructuring and other related charges 6,427 (1,644) 4,783 0.10
Impairment and other charges 96,819 (3,801) (14,616) 78,402 1.60
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net 105 (27) 78
Adjusted Results (Non-GAAP)$257,079 $(66,303) $(30,482) $160,294 $3.27


(1)Includes the required adjustment for interest expense associated with the convertible debt.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
Income from
operations
before income
taxes
Income tax
expense
Net (income)
loss attributable
to noncontrolling
interests
Net income
attributable to
AMC Networks'
stockholders
Diluted EPS
attributable to
AMC Networks'
stockholders
Reported Results (GAAP)$324,013 $(82,725) $(4,015) $237,273 $5.40
Adjustments:
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets 30,726 (6,466) (4,738) 19,522 0.44
Restructuring and other related charges 22,537 (5,395) (204) 16,938 0.39
Impairment and other charges 30,282 (3,518) (15,949) 10,815 0.25
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net 605 (147) 458 0.01
Adjusted Results (Non-GAAP)$408,163 $(98,251) $(24,906) $285,006 $6.49

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