Entravision Communications Corporation is a diversified Spanish-language media company utilizing a combination of television and radio operations to reach Hispanic consumers across the United States, as well as the border markets of Mexico. Entravision owns and/or operates 53 primary television stations and is the largest affiliate group of both the top-ranked Univision television network and Univision’s TeleFutura network, with television stations in 20 of the nation’s top 50 Hispanic markets. The Company also operates one of the nation’s largest groups of primarily Spanish-language radio stations, consisting of 48 owned and operated radio stations.
Michael Kupinski, Director of Research, Equity Research Analyst, Digital, Media & Technology , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Jacob Mutchler, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Noblecon19. On December 4th, management presented at Noblecon19 at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in Boca Raton, Florida, to the investment community. The presentation conducted by Chris Young, Chief Financial Officer, highlighted the company’s digital growth initiatives, its strong and improving balance sheet and favorable industry undercurrents. A replay of the presentation can be viewed here: https://www.channelchek.com/videos/entravision-communications-noblecon19-replay.
Digital growth. On a trailing twelve-month basis from Q3, digital revenue comprised 82% of total revenue, and its operations spanned 40 countries. From 2019 to 2022, total company revenue grew at a 52% CAGR, a result of its fast growing digital businesses. Notably, the company is focused on improving digital margins after Facebook reduced commissions from 10% to 7%.
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*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) is a diversified media company focused on creating a better-informed world. As one of the nation’s largest local TV broadcasters, Scripps serves communities with quality, objective local journalism and operates a portfolio of 61 stations in 41 markets. The Scripps Networks reach nearly every American through the national news outlets Court TV and Newsy and popular entertainment brands ION, Bounce, Defy TV, Grit, ION Mystery, Laff and TrueReal. Scripps is the nation’s largest holder of broadcast spectrum. Scripps runs an award-winning investigative reporting newsroom in Washington, D.C., and is the longtime steward of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Founded in 1878, Scripps has held for decades to the motto, “Give light and the people will find their own way.”
Michael Kupinski, Director of Research, Equity Research Analyst, Digital, Media & Technology , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Jacob Mutchler, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Noblecon19. On December 4th, management presented at Noblecon19 at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in Boca Raton, Florida, to the investment community. The fireside chat presentation conducted by Lisa Knutson, Chief Operating Officer, highlighted the dynamic value proposition of Scripps Sports, favorable retransmission trends, implications of the Disney/Charter deal and green shoots in advertising. A replay of the presentation can be viewed here: https://www.channelchek.com/videos/e-w-scripps-noblecon19-replay.
Favorable sports model. Scripps Sports employs a unique model that offers sports teams wider viewership than the traditional Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) model that is now failing. Management indicated that its two NHL sports licenses for the Arizona Coyotes and the Vegas Golden Knights will account for a 4% point increase in its core advertising in Q4 and 3% for full year 2024.
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This Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
Cumulus Media (NASDAQ: CMLS) is an audio-first media company delivering premium content to over a quarter billion people every month — wherever and whenever they want it. Cumulus Media engages listeners with high-quality local programming through 406 owned-and-operated radio stations across 86 markets; delivers nationally-syndicated sports, news, talk, and entertainment programming from iconic brands including the NFL, the NCAA, the Masters, CNN, the AP, the Academy of Country Music Awards, and many other world-class partners across more than 9,500 affiliated stations through Westwood One, the largest audio network in America; and inspires listeners through the Cumulus Podcast Network, its rapidly growing network of original podcasts that are smart, entertaining and thought-provoking. Cumulus Media provides advertisers with personal connections, local impact and national reach through broadcast and on-demand digital, mobile, social, and voice-activated platforms, as well as integrated digital marketing services, powerful influencers, full-service audio solutions, industry-leading research and insights, and live event experiences. Cumulus Media is the only audio media company to provide marketers with local and national advertising performance guarantees. For more information visit www.cumulusmedia.com.
Michael Kupinski, Director of Research, Equity Research Analyst, Digital, Media & Technology , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Jacob Mutchler, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Noblecon19. On December 4th, management presented at Noblecon19 at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in Boca Raton, Florida, to the investment community. The presentation conducted by Frank Lopez-Balboa, CFO, highlighted the company’s digital growth initiatives, debt reduction focus and provided insight into the current advertising environment. A replay of the presentation can be viewed here: https://www.channelchek.com/videos/cumulus-media-noblecon19-replay.
Digital growth initiatives. Management highlighted its digital growth strategy and key drivers for podcasting and digital marketing services (DMS) growth. Importantly, 50% of digital revenues are derived from national adverting, thus an improvement in the national advertising environment would positively impact digital revenue. Notably, the company has increased its focus on growing its hyper-local Digital Marketing Services business, a development we view favorably.
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This Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
Michael Kupinski, Director of Research, Equity Research Analyst, Digital, Media & Technology , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Jacob Mutchler, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Noblecon19. On December 4th, management presented at Noblecon19 at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in Boca Raton, Florida, to the investment community. The presentation conducted by Patrick Elliott highlighted the company’s award winning machine learning technology and sizeable opportunities for company growth. A replay of the presentation can be viewed at: https://www.channelchek.com/videos/adtheorent-noblecon19-replay.
Favorable growth trends. The company is experiencing a number of favorable growth trends. Notably, the company’s self-service platform was its fastest growing product offering in 2023 and is expected to be a significant driver of growth in 2024. Additionally, the company is well positioned to benefit from the growing usage of Connected TV (CTV) and has sizeable room for growth in its healthcare vertical.
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This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
Townsquare is a community-focused digital media and digital marketing solutions company with market leading local radio stations, principally focused outside the top 50 markets in the U.S. Our assets include a subscription digital marketing services business, Townsquare Interactive, providing website design, creation and hosting, search engine optimization, social media and online reputation management as well as other digital monthly services for approximately 26,800 SMBs; a robust digital advertising division, Townsquare IGNITE, a powerful combination of a) an owned and operated portfolio of more than 330 local news and entertainment websites and mobile apps along with a network of leading national music and entertainment brands, collecting valuable first party data, and b) a proprietary digital programmatic advertising technology stack with an in-house demand and data management platform; and a portfolio of 321 local terrestrial radio stations in 67 U.S. markets strategically situated outside the Top 50 markets in the United States. Our portfolio includes local media brands such as WYRK.com, WJON.com, and NJ101.5.com and premier national music brands such as XXLmag.com, TasteofCountry.com, UltimateClassicRock.com and Loudwire.com.
Michael Kupinski, Director of Research, Equity Research Analyst, Digital, Media & Technology , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Jacob Mutchler, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Noblecon19 highlights. On December 5th, management presented at Noblecon19 at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in Boca Raton, Florida, to the investment community. The presentation conducted by Stuart Rosenstein, CFO, and Claire Yenicay, VP Business Development, highlighted the company’s strong cash flow generating ability of its hyper-local digital and legacy broadcast radio businesses. Notably, the company stands to benefit from high margin political revenue and prospective improved advertising environment in 2024.
Digital growth engine. The company is focused on growing its digital businesses, which have been a catalyst for revenue and cash flow growth for the past several years. In Q3 digital revenues accounted for 52% of total company revenue, and are anticipated to account for a greater percentage in the future. Notably, the company’s fastest growing business segment, programmatic advertising, is benefitting from the rising popularity of CTV.
Equity Research is available at no cost to Registered users of Channelchek. Not a Member? Click ‘Join’ to join the Channelchek Community. There is no cost to register, and we never collect credit card information.
This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
Snail is a leading, global independent developer and publisher of interactive digital entertainment for consumers around the world, with a premier portfolio of premium games designed for use on a variety of platforms, including consoles, PCs and mobile devices.
Michael Kupinski, Director of Research, Equity Research Analyst, Digital, Media & Technology , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Patrick McCann, CFA, Research Analyst, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Noblecon19. On December 4th, management presented at Noblecon19 at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in Boca Raton, Florida, to the investment community. The presentation conducted by Jim Tsai, CEO, and Heidy Chow, CFO, highlighted the success of the recently released Ark: Survival Ascended title and provided notable updates on the product release roadmap heading into 2024.
Strong release. Ark: Survival Ascended is a remastered version of the Ark game with all previously released DLC packages. In the first 30 days following the release of Ark: Survival Ascended, 700 thousand units were sold on Steam and it was the best seller the weekend of the launch.
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This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc. owns and operates 61 stations (47 FM and 14 AM) in 15 large- and mid-size markets in the United States. Approximately 20 million consumers listen to the Company’s radio stations weekly over-the-air, online and on smartphones and tablets, and millions regularly engage with the Company’s brands and personalities through digital platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, text messaging, digital and web applications and email. The Overwatch League’s Houston Outlaws esports team is a wholly owned subsidiary. The Company also owns BeasleyXP, a national esports content hub, and AXLR-R8, a Rocket League Championship Series team, in its esports portfolio. For more information, please visit www.bbgi.com.
Michael Kupinski, Director of Research, Equity Research Analyst, Digital, Media & Technology , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Jacob Mutchler, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Noblecon19. On December 4th, management presented at Noblecon19 at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in Boca Raton, Florida, to the investment community. The presentation conducted by Caroline Beasley, CEO, Tina Murley, CRO, and Marie Tedesco, CFO, focused on growing digital revenues, improving digital margins and reducing debt.
Digital growth. From Q3 2019 to Q3 2023, the company’s digital revenues have grown at a 23% CAGR, and comprised nearly 19% of total revenues in Q3 2023. Notably, the company has a monthly average digital audience of 13.6 million and its owned and operated assets are viewed as a catalyst for improving digital margins.
Equity Research is available at no cost to Registered users of Channelchek. Not a Member? Click ‘Join’ to join the Channelchek Community. There is no cost to register, and we never collect credit card information.
This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
With over 300,000 wishlist additions on Steam, Bellwright is poised to be a game-changer in the survival town building RPG genre
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Snail, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNAL) (“Snail” or “the Company”), a leading, global independent developer and publisher of interactive digital entertainment, in collaboration with Donkey Crew, proudly presented a new trailer for its upcoming title, Bellwright, at The Game Awards. Renowned for its dedication to showcasing cutting-edge gaming experiences, this showcase comes a week after the exciting announcement of Bellwright’s debut in Steam Early Access in early 2024 and its successful feature on the PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted.
Key Highlights:
Trailer Debut: Snail captivated the audience with the mesmerizing story elements, “You Are The Bellwright” with visually appealing graphics, intricate crafting, and dynamic action and exploration elements. This open-world survival game introduces a medieval setting with a rich and compelling lore, distinguishing itself as a groundbreaking addition to Snail’s portfolio.
Wishlist Milestone: First introduced at the Steam’s Next Fest this summer, now with over 300,000 wishlists on Steam, Bellwright emerges as one of Snail’s most anticipated titles.
Snail’s expertise in the open-world survival gaming niche is exemplified by the strong install base and hours played of the ARK franchise. The unveiling of Bellwright, further underscores Snail’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of open-world survival gaming and solidifies the company’s reputation as a leader in creating immersive and engaging open-world experiences. Bellwright’s medieval backdrop and intricate lore demonstrates the versatility and depth of Snail’s prowess within this gaming genre.
Bellwright Key Features:
Survive and Explore: Engage in a challenging world where gathering, hunting, building, and crafting are essential for survival. Embark on a journey through the land to uncover its secrets and adventures, transcending the oppressive rule of the Crown and its Royal Army.
Conquer and Expand: Rise from a humble camp to become the leader of a rebellion. Strengthen your cause by improving relations with settlements, growing armies, and liberating regions from the Crown’s influence. Gain followers with unique knowledge, unlocking new resources to advance your town’s technologies.
Resource and Town Management: As you free villages from the Crown’s oppression, build, manage, and upgrade your outposts and towns. Organize your workers and train formidable soldiers, fostering the rebellion against the Crown.
Skill-Based Directional Combat: Choose from a diverse array of medieval weapons and armor, honing your unique style in directional combat. From swords and axes to heavy mauls and bows, showcase your skill in battle.
Army Command: Lead your armies strategically, employing cunning tactics to gain an advantage. Customize and train your troops to assert your dominance on the battlefield.
Deep Progression: Enhance your combat and survival skills, train your soldiers, and witness your workers evolve into master craftsmen. Each recruit brings unique knowledge, offering endless growth opportunities.
Story and Roleplay: Unravel family secrets, discover the truth behind the accused murder of the Prince, and navigate the mysteries of the kingdom as you expand your influence.
Early Access on Steam: The game’s Early Access phase on Steam will allow players to shape its development through valuable feedback.
“Bellwright is a testament to our unwavering dedication to crafting exceptional open-world survival experiences. Our success with the ARK franchise serves as a foundation for Bellwright, and we are eager to continue to bring innovation to the genre and share this new and captivating journey with our players.” – Jim Tsai, Chief Executive Officer of Snail, Inc.
Snail is a leading, global independent developer and publisher of interactive digital entertainment for consumers around the world, with a premier portfolio of premium games designed for use on a variety of platforms, including consoles, PCs and mobile devices.
Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. Many of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “expect,” “should,” “plan,” “intend,” “may,” “predict,” “continue,” “estimate” and “potential,” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements appear in a number of places in this press release and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Snail’s intent, belief or current expectations. These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future results of Snail’s business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, plans and objectives. The statements Snail makes regarding the following matters are forward-looking by their nature: growth prospects and strategies; launching new games and additional functionality to games that are commercially successful; expectations regarding significant drivers of future growth; its ability to retain and increase its player base and develop new video games and enhance existing games; competition from companies in a number of industries, including other game developers and publishers and both large and small, public and private Internet companies; its relationships with third-party platforms; expectations for future growth and performance; and assumptions underlying any of the foregoing.
Michael Kupinski, Director of Research, Equity Research Analyst, Digital, Media & Technology , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Patrick McCann, CFA, Research Analyst, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Initiating coverage with an Outperform rating and $4 price target. AdTheorent is a privacy-forward, programmatic advertising company that uses cutting edge, machine-learning technology to deliver targeted ad campaigns. We believe the company has meaningful technology advantage over many of its peers, which may rely on user IDs and third-party cookies, explained in this report. Our favorable rating is based on our positive cash flow growth outlook for the company.
Ahead of the curve. Through its proprietary machine learning technology, the company’s demand-side platform (DSP) uses anonymized data points to create predictive algorithms to target digital audiences. Given Google’s indication that it will be phasing out the use of third-party cookies, AdTheorent’s ML technology could be a significant competitive advantage in the digital advertising industry going forward.
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*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
Codere Online refers, collectively, to Codere Online Luxembourg, S.A. and its subsidiaries. Codere Online launched in 2014 as part of the renowned casino operator Codere Group. Codere Online offers online sports betting and online casino through its state-of-the art website and mobile application. Codere currently operates in its core markets of Spain, Italy, Mexico, Colombia, Panama and the City of Buenos Aires (Argentina). Codere Online’s online business is complemented by Codere Group’s physical presence throughout Latin America, forming the foundation of the leading omnichannel gaming and casino presence in the region.
Michael Kupinski, Director of Research, Equity Research Analyst, Digital, Media & Technology , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Patrick McCann, CFA, Research Analyst, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Strong Q3 results. The company reported Q3 revenue of €43.2 million, beating our estimate of €37.0 million by 16.8%. Adj. EBITDA in the quarter was zero, which was substantially better than our estimate of negative €6.2 million. The better than expected Q3 results were driven by strong year over year revenue growth in Spain and Mexico.
Key market performance. The company’s strong Q3 performance is partially due to year over year revenue growth of 63% in Mexico and 27% in Spain. Revenue growth in both regions was driven by an increase in the number of users and increased spend per customer. Additionally, increased profitability in the quarter was partially due to reduced marketing spend from the prior year period.
Equity Research is available at no cost to Registered users of Channelchek. Not a Member? Click ‘Join’ to join the Channelchek Community. There is no cost to register, and we never collect credit card information.
This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
Snail is a leading, global independent developer and publisher of interactive digital entertainment for consumers around the world, with a premier portfolio of premium games designed for use on a variety of platforms, including consoles, PCs and mobile devices.
Michael Kupinski, Director of Research, Equity Research Analyst, Digital, Media & Technology , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Patrick McCann, CFA, Research Analyst, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Strong Q3 results. The company reported Q3 revenue of $9.0 million, exceeding our forecast of $5.8 million. Adj. EBITDA for the quarter was a loss of $5.1 million, in line with our forecast.
Impressive launch. In October, the company launched ARK: Survival Ascended, which was the #1 selling game on the PC gaming platform, Steam, on launch day. Management noted that, so far, the game is performing 60% better than expectations, in terms of units sold.
Equity Research is available at no cost to Registered users of Channelchek. Not a Member? Click ‘Join’ to join the Channelchek Community. There is no cost to register, and we never collect credit card information.
This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
CULVER CITY, Calif., Nov. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Snail, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNAL), a leading, global independent developer and publisher of interactive digital entertainment, announced today that it will report financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023, today, November 14, 2023, after the U.S. stock market closes. Management will host a conference call and webcast today at 5:00 p.m. ET to discuss the results.
Participants may listen to the live webcast and replay on the Company’s investor relations website at https://investor.snail.com/.
About Snail, Inc. Snail is a leading, global independent developer and publisher of interactive digital entertainment for consumers around the world, with a premier portfolio of premium games designed for use on a variety of platforms, including consoles, PCs, and mobile devices.
IRVING, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Salem Media Group, Inc. (the “company”) (Nasdaq: SALM) released its results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023.
Third Quarter 2023 Results
For the three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2022:
Consolidated
Total revenue decreased 5.0% to $63.5 million from $66.9 million;
Total operating expenses increased 31.9% to $99.8 million from $75.6 million;
Operating expenses, excluding stock-based compensation expense, debt modification costs, gains and losses on the sale or disposition of assets, impairments, depreciation expense and amortization expense (1) increased 0.2% to $61.0 million from $60.8 million;
Operating loss increased to $36.3 million from $8.8 million;
Net loss increased to $31.3 million, or $1.15 net loss per share, from $11.9 million, or $0.44 net loss per share;
EBITDA (1) decreased to $(33.1) million from $(5.7) million; and
Adjusted EBITDA (1) increased 9.3% to $2.5 million from $2.3 million.
Broadcast
Net broadcast revenue decreased 4.2% to $49.0 million from $51.1 million;
Station Operating Income (“SOI”) (1) decreased 31.8% to $6.8 million from $10.0 million;
Same Station (1) net broadcast revenue decreased 4.9% to $48.6 million from $51.0 million; and
Same Station SOI (1) decreased 28.2% to $7.3 million from $10.1 million.
Digital Media
Digital media revenue decreased 2.2% to $10.0 million from $10.2 million; and
Digital Media Operating Income (1) decreased 20.9% to $1.5 million from $1.9 million.
Publishing
Publishing revenue decreased 17.5% to $4.6 million from $5.5 million; and
Publishing Operating Loss (1) increased 36.6% to $1.4 million from $1.0 million.
Included in the results for the three months ended September 30, 2023 are:
A $35.1 million ($26.0 million, net of tax, or $0.95 per share) impairment charge to the value of broadcast licenses in Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Colorado Springs, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Greenville, Little Rock, Miami, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco and Tampa;
A $0.7 million ($0.5 million, net of tax, or $0.02 per share) impairment charge to the value of goodwill in Townhall and Salem Author Services;
A $0.5 million ($0.3 million, net of tax, or $0.01 per diluted share) net gain on the disposition of asset relates primarily to the $0.4 million pre-tax gain on the sale of radio stations in Seattle, Washington; and
A $0.1 million non-cash compensation charge ($0.1 million, net of tax) related to the expense of stock options.
Included in the results for the three months ended September 30, 2022 are:
A $7.7 million ($5.7 million, net of tax, or $0.21 per share) impairment charge to the value of broadcast licenses in Boston, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Greenville, Honolulu, Little Rock, Orlando, Philadelphia, Portland, Sacramento, and San Francisco;
A $0.2 million ($0.1 million, net of tax) loss on the disposal of assets;
A $3.8 million ($2.8 million, net of tax, or $0.10 per share) legal settlement expense; and
A $0.1 million non-cash compensation charge related to the expensing of stock options.
Per share numbers are calculated based on 27,216,787 diluted weighted average shares for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022.
Year to Date 2023 Results
For the nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2022:
Consolidated
Total revenue decreased 2.7% to $192.8 million from $198.2 million;
Total operating expenses increased 21.9% to $237.3 million from $194.6 million;
Operating expenses, excluding gains or losses on the disposition of assets, stock-based compensation expense, debt modification costs, changes in the estimated fair value of contingent earn-out consideration, impairments, depreciation expense and amortization expense (1) increased 5.4% to $186.2 million from $176.6 million;
The company had an operating loss of $44.6 million as compared to operating income of $3.5 million;
The company recognized $4.0 million in film distribution income from an unconsolidated equity investment in the nine months ended September 30, 2022;
Net loss increased to $43.5 million, or $1.60 net loss per share, from $1.0 million, or $0.04 net loss per share;
EBITDA (1) decreased to $(34.3) million from $17.0 million; and
Adjusted EBITDA (1) decreased 68.4% to $6.6 million from $20.8 million.
Broadcast
Net broadcast revenue decreased 3.3% to $147.0 million from $152.0 million;
SOI (1) decreased 40.7% to $18.5 million from $31.2 million;
Same station (1) net broadcast revenue decreased 3.8% to $146.1 million from $151.8 million; and
Same station SOI (1) decreased 35.9% to $20.1 million from $31.3 million.
Digital media
Digital media revenue increased 0.1% to $31.3 million; and
Digital media operating income (1) decreased 22.4% to $4.8 million from $6.2 million.
Publishing
Publishing revenue decreased 2.7% to $14.4 million from $14.8 million; and
Publishing Operating Loss (1) increased 81.3% to $2.9 million from $1.6 million.
Included in the results for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 are:
A $38.4 million ($28.4 million, net of tax, or $1.04 per share) impairment charge to the value of broadcast licenses in Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Colorado Springs, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Greenville, Little Rock, Miami, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco and Tampa;
A $2.6 million ($1.9 million, net of tax, or $0.07 per share) impairment charge to the value of goodwill in Townhall and Salem Author Services;
A $0.1 million loss on the early retirement of long-term debt associated with the 2024 Notes;
A $0.3 million ($0.2 million, net of tax, or $0.01 per diluted share) net gain on the disposition of assets reflects a $3.3 million pre-tax gain on the sale of the economic interests in the leases at our Greenville, South Carolina to a related party and a $0.4 million estimated pre-tax gain on the sale of radio station KNTS-AM and KLFE-FM in Seattle, Washington that was offset by a $3.3 million estimated pre-tax loss on the pending sale of radio station KSAC-FM in Sacramento, California and $0.1 million of net losses from various fixed asset disposals; and
A $0.3 million ($0.2 million, net of tax, or $0.01 per share) non-cash compensation charge related to the expense of stock options.
Included in the results for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 are:
A $11.7 million ($8.6 million, net of tax, or $0.32 per share) impairment charge to the value of broadcast licenses in Boston, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Greenville, Honolulu, Little Rock, Orlando, Philadelphia, Portland, Sacramento and San Francisco;
A $8.5 million ($6.3 million, net of tax, or $0.23 per diluted share) net gain on the disposition of assets related primarily to the $6.5 million pre-tax gain on the sale of land used in the company’s Denver, Colorado broadcast operations, the $1.8 million pre-tax gain on sale of land used in the company’s Phoenix, Arizona broadcast operations, and $0.5 million pre-tax gain on the sale of the company’s radio stations in Louisville, Kentucky offset by various fixed asset disposals;
A $4.8 million ($3.5 million, net of tax, or $0.13 per share) legal settlement expense;
A $0.1 million ($0.1 million, net of tax) goodwill impairment charge;
A $0.2 million ($0.2 million, net of tax, or $0.01 per share) charge for debt modification costs; and
A $0.2 million ($0.2 million, net of tax, or $0.01 per share) non-cash compensation charge related to the expensing of stock options.
Per share numbers are calculated based on 27,216,787 diluted weighted average shares for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, and 27,202,983 diluted weighted average shares for the nine months ended September 30, 2022.
Balance Sheet
As of September 30, 2023, the company had $159.4 million outstanding on the 7.125% senior secured notes due 2028 (“2028 Notes”) and $20.5 million outstanding on the ABL facility.
Acquisitions and Divestitures
The following transactions were completed since July 1, 2023:
On November 6, 2023 the company sold radio stations WGTK-FM, WRTH-FM and WLTE-FM in Greenville, South Carolina for $6.8 million.
On July 21, 2023 the company sold radio station KNTS-AM in Seattle, Washington for $0.2 million.
On July 13, 2023 the company sold radio station KLFE-AM in Seattle, Washington for $0.5 million. Radio station KLFE-AM was being programmed under a Time Brokerage Agreement (“TBA”) as of August 1, 2022.
Pending transactions:
On October 17, 2023 the company entered into an agreement to sell land in Sarasota, Florida for $9.5 million. The closing is conditional upon getting the property rezoned, and the company expects to close the sale in late 2024.
On September 29, 2023 the company entered into an agreement to sell Salem Church Products for $30.0 million. At closing the company will receive $22.5 million in cash and a promissory note of $7.5 million. The principal shall be due and payable in three installments in the amount of $2.5 million starting the one-year anniversary of the closing date in 2024 through 2026. When the transaction closes, the parties will also enter into a $10.0 million multi-year agreement for the company to advertise Gloo platform’s products and services across its radio and digital platform. The company expects to close the sale in the fourth quarter of this year.
On September 1, 2023 the company entered into an agreement to sell radio station WTWD-AM and an translator in Tampa, Florida for $0.7 million subject to approval of the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”). The company expects to close the sale in the fourth quarter of this year.
On June 29, 2023 the company entered into an agreement to sell radio station KSAC-FM in Sacramento, California for $1.0 million subject to approval of the FCC. Radio station KSAC-FM started being programmed under a TBA on August 1, 2023. The company expects to close the sale in the fourth quarter of this year.
Conference Call Information
The company will host a teleconference to discuss its results on November 13, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. Central Time. To access the teleconference, please dial (888) 770-7291, and then ask to be joined into the Salem Media Group Third Quarter 2023 call or listen via the investor relations portion of the company’s website, located at investor.salemmedia.com. A replay of the teleconference will be available through November 27, 2023 and can be heard by dialing (800) 770-2030, passcode 2413416 or on the investor relations portion of the company’s website, located at investor.salemmedia.com.
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Fourth Quarter 2023 Outlook
For the fourth quarter of 2023, the company is projecting total revenue to decline between 6% and 8% from the fourth quarter 2022 total revenue of $68.8 million. This guidance assumes the closing of the pending sale of Salem Church Products in the fourth quarter. Excluding the impact of the 2022 political revenue and the financial results from the pending asset sale, the company would project total revenue to decline between 2% and 4%. The company is also projecting operating expenses before gains or losses on the sale or disposal of assets, stock-based compensation expense, legal settlement, changes in the estimated fair value of contingent earn-out consideration, impairments, depreciation expense and amortization expense (“Recurring Operating Expenses”) to be between flat and a decrease 3% compared to the fourth quarter of 2022 Recurring Operating Expenses of $61.6 million. Excluding the impact of the pending asset sale, expenses are projected to be between an increase of 1% and a decrease of 2%.
A reconciliation of Recurring Operating Expenses (a non-GAAP measure) to the most directly comparable GAAP measure is not available without unreasonable efforts on a forward-looking basis due to the potential high variability, complexity and low visibility with respect to the charges excluded from this non-GAAP financial measure, in particular, the change in the estimated fair value of earn-out consideration, impairments and gains or losses from the disposition of fixed assets. The company expects the variability of the above charges may have a significant, and potentially unpredictable, impact on its future GAAP financial results.
About Salem Media Group, Inc.
Salem Media Group is America’s leading multimedia company specializing in Christian and conservative content, with media properties comprising radio, digital media and book and newsletter publishing. Each day Salem serves a loyal and dedicated audience of listeners and readers numbering in the millions nationally. With its unique programming focus, Salem provides compelling content, fresh commentary and relevant information from some of the most respected figures across the Christian and conservative media landscape. Learn more about Salem Media Group, Inc. at www.salemmedia.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements used in this press release that relate to future plans, events, financial results, prospects or performance are forward-looking statements as defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the ability of the company to close and integrate announced transactions, market acceptance of the company’s radio station formats, competition from new technologies, inflation and other adverse economic conditions, and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the company’s reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K and other filings filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, changed circumstances or unanticipated events.
(1)
Regulation G
Management uses certain non-GAAP financial measures defined below in communications with investors, analysts, rating agencies, banks and others to assist such parties in understanding the impact of various items on its financial statements. The company uses these non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate financial results, develop budgets, manage expenditures and as a measure of performance under compensation programs.
The company’s presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as a substitute for or superior to the most directly comparable financial measures as reported in accordance with GAAP.
Regulation G defines and prescribes the conditions under which certain non-GAAP financial information may be presented in this earnings release. The company closely monitors EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Station Operating Income (“SOI”), Same Station net broadcast revenue, Same Station broadcast operating expenses, Same Station Operating Income, Digital Media Operating Income, Publishing Operating Loss, and operating expenses excluding gains or losses on the disposition of assets, stock-based compensation, changes in the estimated fair value of contingent earn-out consideration, impairments, depreciation and amortization, all of which are non-GAAP financial measures. The company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information about its core operating results, and thus, are appropriate to enhance the overall understanding of its financial performance. These non-GAAP financial measures are intended to provide management and investors a more complete understanding of its underlying operational results, trends and performance.
The company defines Station Operating Income (“SOI”) as net broadcast revenue minus broadcast operating expenses. The company defines Digital Media Operating Income as net Digital Media Revenue minus Digital Media Operating Expenses. The company defines Publishing Operating Loss as net Publishing Revenue minus Publishing Operating Expenses. The company defines EBITDA as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. The company defines Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA before gains or losses on the disposition of assets, before debt modification costs, before changes in the estimated fair value of contingent earn-out consideration, before impairments, before net miscellaneous income and expenses, before (gain) loss on early retirement of long-term debt and before non-cash compensation expense. SOI, Digital Media Operating Income, Publishing Operating Loss, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are commonly used by the broadcast and media industry as important measures of performance and are used by investors and analysts who report on the industry to provide meaningful comparisons between broadcasters. SOI, Digital Media Operating Income, Publishing Operating Loss, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not measures of liquidity or of performance in accordance with GAAP and should be viewed as a supplement to and not a substitute for or superior to its results of operations and financial condition presented in accordance with GAAP. The company’s definitions of SOI, Digital Media Operating Income, Publishing Operating Loss, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
The company defines Same Station net broadcast revenue as broadcast revenue from its radio stations and networks that the company owns or operates in the same format on the first and last day of each quarter, as well as the corresponding quarter of the prior year. The company defines Same Station broadcast operating expenses as broadcast operating expenses from its radio stations and networks that the company owns or operates in the same format on the first and last day of each quarter, as well as the corresponding quarter of the prior year. The company defines Same Station SOI as Same Station net broadcast revenue less Same Station broadcast operating expenses. Same Station operating results include those stations that the company owns or operates in the same format on the first and last day of each quarter, as well as the corresponding quarter of the prior year. Same Station operating results for a full calendar year are calculated as the sum of the Same Station operating results for each of the four quarters of that year. The company uses Same Station operating results, a non-GAAP financial measure, both in presenting its results to stockholders and the investment community, and in its internal evaluations and management of the business. The company believes that Same Station operating results provide a meaningful comparison of period over period performance of its core broadcast operations as this measure excludes the impact of new stations, the impact of stations the company no longer owns or operates, and the impact of stations operating under a new programming format. The company’s presentation of Same Station operating results is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. The company’s definition of Same Station operating results is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
For all non-GAAP financial measures, investors should consider the limitations associated with these metrics, including the potential lack of comparability of these measures from one company to another.
The Supplemental Information tables that follow the condensed consolidated financial statements provide reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures that the company uses in this earnings release to the most directly comparable measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. The company uses non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate financial performance, develop budgets, manage expenditures, and determine employee compensation. The company’s presentation of this additional information is not to be considered as a substitute for or superior to the directly comparable measures as reported in accordance with GAAP. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231106203825/en/ Evan D. Masyr Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (805) 384-4512 evan@salemmedia.com Source: Salem Media Group, Inc. Released November 13, 2023
