FOXA - FOX REPORTS SECOND QUARTER FISCAL 2022 REVENUES OF $4.44 BILLION

PR Newswire

NEW YORK , Feb. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fox Corporation (Nasdaq: FOXA, FOX) ("FOX" or the "Company") today reported financial results for the three months ended December 31, 2021 .

The Company reported total quarterly revenues of $4.44 billion , a 9% increase from the $4.09 billion reported in the prior year quarter. Affiliate revenues increased 11% with 12% growth at the Cable Network Programming segment and 10% growth at the Television segment. Advertising revenues increased 6%, primarily due to continued pricing strength at the FOX Network, underpinned by the strength of the Company's sports portfolio, and continued growth at Tubi. Other revenues increased 20%, led by higher sports sublicensing revenues at the Cable Network Programming segment which were impacted by Coronavirus Disease 2019 ("COVID-19") in the prior year quarter.

The quarterly net loss was $73 million compared to net income of $230 million reported in the prior year quarter. The variance was primarily due to the change in fair value of the Company's investments recognized in Other, net. The net loss attributable to Fox Corporation stockholders was $85 million ( $(0.15) per share) as compared to net income attributable to Fox Corporation stockholders of $224 million ( $0.37 per share) reported in the prior year quarter. Adjusted net income attributable to Fox Corporation stockholders ¹ was $77 million ( $0.13 per share) as compared to the $93 million ( $0.16 per share) reported in the prior year quarter.

Quarterly Adjusted EBITDA ² increased 2% to $310 million from $305 million reported in the prior year quarter, led by higher contributions at the Cable Network Programming segment.

Commenting on the results, Executive Chair and Chief Executive Officer Lachlan Murdoch said:

"Against the high bar we set in our fiscal second quarter last year, we have once again delivered revenue and Adjusted EBITDA growth in the second quarter of our 2022 fiscal year, while continuing to invest in our digital growth initiatives. These strong results and broad-based operating momentum are underpinned by the most valuable news franchise in the country, the leading live sports franchise, our top broadcast network reinforced by a strategic stations portfolio, as well as the emerging leader in AVOD. This focused portfolio is delivering consistent growth for our shareholders in a thoughtful and disciplined manner."

Cable Network Programming reported quarterly segment revenues of $1.64 billion , an increase of $150 million or 10% from the amount reported in the prior year quarter. Affiliate revenues increased $111 million or 12%, primarily due to contractual price increases, including the impact of distribution agreement renewals, and the absence of the prior year accrual for potential distribution credits as a result of cancelled college football games. Advertising revenues increased $13 million or 3%, primarily due to continued pricing strength at FOX News Media, despite the absence of the prior year election cycle, and stronger pricing and additional MLB playoff games at the national sports networks. Other revenues increased $26 million or 22%, driven by higher sports sublicensing revenues, which were impacted by COVID-19 in the prior year quarter, and higher FOX Nation subscription revenues.

Cable Network Programming reported quarterly segment EBITDA of $668 million , an increase of $97 million or 17% from the amount reported in the prior year quarter, as the revenue increases noted above were partially offset by higher expenses. The increase in expenses primarily reflects higher programming rights amortization at the national sports networks and increased digital investment at FOX News Media.

Television reported quarterly segment revenues of $2.76 billion , an increase of $203 million or 8% from the amount reported in the prior year quarter. Advertising revenues increased $113 million or 6% despite the comparative impact of record political advertising revenues in the prior year quarter. This growth was primarily due to continued pricing strength at the FOX Network, underpinned by the strength of the Company's sports portfolio, continued growth at Tubi, and the benefit of the ongoing recovery in the base market at the FOX Television Stations following the disruptions caused by COVID-19 in the prior year quarter. Affiliate revenues increased $59 million or 10%, driven by higher average rates at the Company's owned and operated television stations and increases in fees from third-party FOX affiliates. Other revenues increased $31 million or 25%, primarily due to higher content revenues at FOX Entertainment, as well as the acquisitions of MarVista Entertainment and TMZ.

Television reported a quarterly segment EBITDA loss of $273 million , as compared to a loss of $185 million reported in the prior year quarter, as the revenue increases noted above were more than offset by higher expenses. The increase in expenses primarily reflects higher sports and entertainment programming rights amortization at the FOX Network, including comparisons to the disruptions caused by COVID-19 in the prior year quarter, and increased digital investment at Tubi.

DIVIDEND

The Company has declared a dividend of $0 .24 per Class A and Class B share. This dividend is payable on March 30, 2022 with a record date for determining dividend entitlements of March 2, 2022 .

SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM

The Company has authorized a $4 billion stock repurchase program. To date, the Company has repurchased $1.5 billion of its Class A common stock and $634 million of its Class B common stock.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may," "will," "should," "likely," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "believes," "estimates," "outlook" and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements in this press release due to changes in economic, business, competitive, technological, strategic and/or regulatory factors and other factors affecting the operation of the Company's businesses, including the impact of COVID-19 and other widespread health emergencies or pandemics and measures to contain their spread. More detailed information about these factors is contained in the documents the Company has filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021 filed with the SEC on August 10, 2021 , and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

Statements in this press release speak only as of the date they were made, and the Company undertakes no duty to update or release any revisions to any forward-looking statement made in this press release or to report any events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or to conform such statements to actual results or changes in the Company's expectations, except as required by law.

To access a copy of this press release through the Internet, access Fox Corporation's corporate website located at http://www.foxcorporation.com .

NOTE 1 – ADJUSTED NET INCOME AND ADJUSTED EPS

The Company uses net income and earnings per share ("EPS") attributable to Fox Corporation stockholders excluding net income effects of Impairment and restructuring charges, adjustments to Equity (losses) earnings of affiliates, Other, net, and tax provision adjustments ("Adjusted Net Income" and "Adjusted EPS" respectively) to evaluate the performance of the Company's operations exclusive of certain items that impact the comparability of results from period to period.

Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS are not measures of performance under GAAP and should be considered in addition to, and not as substitutes for, net income attributable to Fox Corporation stockholders and EPS as reported in accordance with GAAP. However, management uses these measures in comparing the Company's historical performance and believes that they provide meaningful and comparable information to management, investors and equity analysts to assist in their analysis of the Company's performance relative to prior periods and the Company's competitors.

The following table reconciles net income and EPS attributable to Fox Corporation stockholders to Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:

NOTE 2 – ADJUSTED EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as Revenues less Operating expenses and Selling, general and administrative expenses. Adjusted EBITDA does not include: Amortization of cable distribution investments, Depreciation and amortization, Impairment and restructuring charges, Interest expense, net, Other, net and Income tax (benefit) expense.

Management believes that information about Adjusted EBITDA assists all users of the Company's Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements by allowing them to evaluate changes in the operating results of the Company's portfolio of businesses separate from non-operational factors that affect net income, thus providing insight into both operations and the other factors that affect reported results. Adjusted EBITDA provides management, investors and equity analysts a measure to analyze the operating performance of the Company's business and its enterprise value against historical data and competitors' data, although historical results, including Adjusted EBITDA, may not be indicative of future results (as operating performance is highly contingent on many factors, including customer tastes and preferences and the impact of COVID-19 and other widespread health emergencies or pandemics and measures to contain their spread).

Adjusted EBITDA is considered a non-GAAP financial measure and should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, net income, cash flow and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP. In addition, this measure does not reflect cash available to fund requirements and excludes items, such as depreciation and amortization and impairment charges, which are significant components in assessing the Company's financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

The following table reconciles net income to Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020: