A. H. Belo Corporation Announces Third Quarter 2017 Financial Results, Real Estate Sales, Special Dividend, Stock Repurchase Program and Voluntary Pension Contribution

October 30, 2017 at 4:15 PM EDT
  • Digital and marketing services revenue represented 39.3 percent of 2017 total advertising and marketing services revenue compared to 36.6 percent in 2016
  • Adjusted operating expense decreased $6.1 million, or 9.8 percent, in 2017 compared to 2016
  • Net income increased $3.1 million in 2017 compared to 2016

DALLAS, Oct. 30, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A. H. Belo Corporation (NYSE:AHC) today reported third quarter 2017 net income attributable to A. H. Belo Corporation (the “Company”) of $2.6 million, or $0.12 per fully diluted share. In the third quarter of 2016, the Company reported net loss attributable to A. H. Belo Corporation of $(0.5) million, or $(0.02) per share.

In the third quarter of 2017, on a non-GAAP basis, the Company reported operating income excluding certain items (“adjusted operating income”) of $4.2 million, an increase of $1.9 million, or 84.8 percent, when compared to adjusted operating income of $2.3 million reported in the third quarter of 2016.

Jim Moroney, chairman, president and Chief Executive Officer, said, “I am pleased that we continue to see excellent growth from our investment in DMV, which saw revenue growth of 20.3 percent compared to the third quarter of 2016. This quarter, we also made steady progress in building a base of paid digital subscribers which increased to 22,103 at the end of the third quarter, a gain of 1,833 subscribers, or 9.0 percent, on a sequential basis, over the total at the end of the second quarter. On a year-over-year basis, digital subscribers grew 9,158, or 70.7 percent, when compared to the total digital subscribers of 12,945 at the end of the third quarter 2016. These are the two most significant growth opportunities in our business and we will continue to drive investment in these areas for the balance of 2017 and into 2018.

“In the third quarter, we closed on the sale of one of our downtown Dallas parking lots and last week, closed on the sale of the remaining two parking lots in downtown Dallas. Our commitment to returning capital to shareholders is a key part of A. H. Belo's financial strategy. As a result, we are announcing a special dividend of $0.14 and we will be re-starting our previously authorized stock repurchase program. The share repurchase authority allows us to utilize another avenue to return capital to shareholders as well as take advantage of market conditions from time to time. In addition to our focus on returning capital to our shareholders, we are committed in our efforts to de-risk our pension plans. In the third quarter, we made a voluntary contribution of $20.0 million and using that contribution with additional plan assets of $23.5 million, executed a transfer of $43.5 million in pension liabilities to an insurance company. This de-risking strategy has reduced the long-term pension liabilities of the Company. We are very pleased with our ability to execute on multiple capital allocation strategies over the last two months.”

Third Quarter Results from Continuing Operations

Total revenue was $60.6 million in the third quarter of 2017, a decrease of $4.2 million, or 6.5 percent, when compared to the third quarter of 2016.

Revenue from advertising and marketing services, including print and digital revenues, was $34.9 million in the third quarter of 2017, a decrease of $3.4 million, or 9.0 percent, when compared to the third quarter of 2016. For the third quarter of 2017, total digital and marketing services revenue was 39.3 percent of total advertising and marketing services revenue, reflecting a 270 basis point increase when compared to the 36.6 percent reported in the third quarter of 2016. Total digital and marketing services revenue was 22.7 percent of total revenue, reflecting a 110 basis point increase when compared to the 21.6 percent reported in the third quarter of 2016.

Circulation revenue was $18.8 million, a decrease of $0.8 million, or 4.0 percent. The decline was primarily due to a decrease in home delivery revenue. Single copy revenue also decreased compared to prior year, driven by a decline in single copy volume, partially offset by an increase in the daily single copy rate, which we put in place in November 2016.

Printing, distribution and other revenue of $6.8 million remained flat when compared to the prior year period, primarily due to a decrease of $0.1 million in revenue related to events the Company did not host in the third quarter of 2017, offset by an increase in other distribution revenue.

Total consolidated operating expense in the third quarter of 2017 was $65.6 million, an increase of $0.3 million, or 0.5 percent, compared to the third quarter of 2016. The slight increase is primarily due to a noncash pension settlement charge of $5.9 million, partially offset by decreases of $1.8 million in employee compensation and benefits expense, $1.0 million in temporary services expense, $0.9 million in distribution expense and $0.7 million in newsprint expense.

In the third quarter of 2017, on a non-GAAP basis, total consolidated operating expense excluding certain items (“adjusted operating expense”) was $56.4 million, a decrease of $6.1 million, or 9.8 percent, compared to $62.5 million of adjusted operating expense reported in the third quarter of 2016. The decline is primarily due to decreases in employee compensation and benefits, temporary services, distribution and newsprint expense.

The Company’s newsprint expense in the third quarter of 2017 was $3.0 million, a decrease of 9.1 percent, compared to the third quarter of 2016. Newsprint consumption declined 13.7 percent to 5,721 metric tons. Compared to the third quarter of 2016, newsprint cost per metric ton increased 3.3 percent and the average purchase price per metric ton for newsprint decreased 0.4 percent.

Real Estate

In the second quarter of 2017, the Company announced that three parcels of land located in downtown Dallas, Texas were available for sale. In September, the company completed the sale of one parcel of land and received net cash proceeds of $8.3 million, generating a gain of approximately $5.0 million. In addition, this month the Company completed the sale of the remaining two parcels of land for net cash proceeds of $13.0 million, generating a gain of approximately $7.5 million. The capital gains generated from these sales will be fully offset by the tax deduction for the pension contribution.

Special Dividend

The Company’s Board of Directors declared a special cash dividend of $0.14 per share on October 27, 2017. The special dividend will be payable on December 1, 2017 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 9, 2017.

Stock Repurchase Program

The Company expects to re-start open market stock repurchases in the fourth quarter of 2017. The Company has approximately 1,000,000 shares of common stock remaining under its prior Board-approved stock repurchase authority.

Pension Plans

In the third quarter, the Company made a voluntary contribution of $20.0 million to the pension plans and using the contribution, in addition to liquidating $23.5 million of plan assets, transferred $43.5 million of pension liabilities to an insurance company. As a result of this de-risking action, the Company not only reduced the number of participants in the Company sponsored pension plans by 796, or 36.0 percent, but also reduced the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation annual fees by $0.5 million, or 38.0 percent. Based on these actions, and holding constant the discount rate and the rate of return on pension assets, the Company does not expect to have a mandatory contribution until 2023, and that payment would be $3.0 million.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

A reconciliation of operating income (loss) to adjusted operating income and of total operating costs and expense to adjusted operating expense is included in the exhibits to this release.

Financial Results Conference Call

A. H. Belo Corporation will conduct a conference call on Tuesday, October 31, 2017, at 9:00 a.m. CDT to discuss financial results. The conference call will be available via webcast by accessing the Company’s website at www.ahbelo.com/invest. An archive of the webcast will be available at www.ahbelo.com in the Investor Relations section.

To access the listen-only conference call, dial 1-800-230-1951 (USA) or 612-338-9017 (International). A replay line will be available at 1-800-475-6701 (USA) or 320-365-3844 (International) from 11:00 a.m. CDT on October 31, 2017 until 11:59 p.m. CST on November 7, 2017. The access code for the replay is 431356.

About A. H. Belo Corporation

A. H. Belo Corporation is a leading local news and information publishing company with commercial printing, distribution and direct mail capabilities, as well as expertise in emerging media and digital marketing. With a continued focus on extending the Company’s media platform, A. H. Belo Corporation delivers news and information in innovative ways to a broad spectrum of audiences with diverse interests and lifestyles. For additional information, visit www.ahbelo.com or email invest@ahbelo.com.

Statements in this communication concerning A. H. Belo Corporation’s business outlook or future economic performance, anticipated profitability, revenues, expenses, dividends, capital expenditures, investments, dispositions, impairments, business initiatives, acquisitions, pension plan contributions and obligations, real estate sales, working capital, future financings and other financial and non-financial items that are not historical facts, are “forward-looking statements” as the term is defined under applicable federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those statements. Such risks, trends and uncertainties are, in most instances, beyond the Company’s control, and include changes in advertising demand and other economic conditions; consumers’ tastes; newsprint prices; program costs; labor relations; technology obsolescence; as well as other risks described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the Company’s other public disclosures and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements, which are as of the date of this filing, are not updated to reflect events or circumstances after the date of the statement.

A. H. Belo Corporation and Subsidiaries                        
Consolidated Statements of Operations                        
                         
    Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,
In thousands, except share and per share amounts (unaudited)   2017     2016     2017     2016  
Net Operating Revenue:                        
Advertising and marketing services   $ 34,875     $ 38,304     $ 106,101     $ 111,581  
Circulation     18,845       19,633       57,099       59,806  
Printing, distribution and other     6,839       6,843       21,349       22,502  
Total net operating revenue     60,559       64,780       184,549       193,889  
Operating Costs and Expense:                        
Employee compensation and benefits     29,693       25,626       82,421       77,417  
Other production, distribution and operating costs     27,460       30,615       85,522       88,844  
Newsprint, ink and other supplies     5,648       6,315       17,542       18,834  
Depreciation     2,607       2,488       7,840       7,725  
Amortization     200       225       599       680  
Goodwill impairment     —       —       228       —  
Total operating costs and expense     65,608       65,269       194,152       193,500  
Operating income (loss)     (5,049 )     (489 )     (9,603 )     389  
Other income, net     7,639       114       7,209       601  
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes     2,590       (375 )     (2,394 )     990  
Income tax provision     10       77       261       1,361  
Net Income (Loss)     2,580       (452 )     (2,655 )     (371 )
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests     —       45       —       65  
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to A. H. Belo Corporation   $ 2,580     $ (497 )   $ (2,655 )   $ (436 )
                         
Per Share Basis                        
Net income (loss) attributable to A. H. Belo Corporation                        
Basic and diluted   $ 0.12     $ (0.02 )   $ (0.13 )   $ (0.02 )
Number of common shares used in the per share calculation:                        
Basic     21,753,166       21,676,260       21,729,212       21,601,828  
Diluted     21,754,627       21,676,260       21,729,212       21,601,828  
                                 


A. H. Belo Corporation and Subsidiaries            
Consolidated Balance Sheets            
             
    September 30,   December 31,
In thousands (unaudited)   2017   2016
Assets            
Current assets:            
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 49,955   $ 80,071
Accounts receivable, net     25,914     29,114
Assets held for sale     5,510     —
Other current assets     13,602     12,939
Total current assets     94,981     122,124
Property, plant and equipment, net     33,591     43,759
Intangible assets, net     4,273     4,872
Goodwill     13,973     14,201
Other assets     6,975     7,775
Total assets   $ 153,793   $ 192,731
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity            
Current liabilities:            
Accounts payable   $ 9,121   $ 9,036
Accrued compensation and other current liabilities     13,036     14,975
Advance subscription payments     12,179     13,243
Total current liabilities     34,336     37,254
Long-term pension liabilities     28,413     54,843
Other liabilities     6,108     8,812
Total liabilities     68,857     100,909
Noncontrolling interest - redeemable     —     2,670
Total shareholders’ equity attributable to A. H. Belo Corporation     84,936     87,918
Noncontrolling interests     —     1,234
Total shareholders' equity     84,936     89,152
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity   $ 153,793   $ 192,731
             


A. H. Belo Corporation - Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Reconciliation of Operating Income (Loss) to Adjusted Operating Income
                         
    Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,
In thousands (unaudited)   2017     2016     2017     2016
Total net operating revenue   $ 60,559     $ 64,780     $ 184,549     $ 193,889
Total operating costs and expense     65,608       65,269       194,152       193,500
Operating Income (Loss)   $  (5,049 )   $  (489 )   $  (9,603 )   $  389
                         
Total operating costs and expense   $ 65,608     $ 65,269     $ 194,152     $ 193,500
Less:                        
Depreciation     2,607       2,488       7,840       7,725
Amortization     200       225       599       680
Severance expense     531       49       1,175       1,049
Pension plan settlement loss     5,911       —       5,911       —
Goodwill impairment     —       —       228       —
Adjusted Operating Expense   $  56,359     $  62,507     $  178,399     $  184,046
                         
Total net operating revenue   $ 60,559     $ 64,780     $ 184,549     $ 193,889
Adjusted operating expense     56,359       62,507       178,399       184,046
Adjusted Operating Income   $  4,200     $  2,273     $  6,150     $  9,843
                               

The Company calculates adjusted operating income by adjusting operating income (loss) to exclude depreciation, amortization, severance expense, pension plan settlement loss and goodwill impairment (“adjusted operating income”). The Company believes that inclusion of certain noncash expenses and other items in the results makes for more difficult comparisons between years and with peer group companies.

Adjusted operating income is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Management uses adjusted operating income and similar measures in internal analyses as supplemental measures of the Company’s financial performance, and for performance comparisons against its peer group of companies. Management uses this non-GAAP financial measure for the purposes of evaluating consolidated Company performance. The Company therefore believes that the non-GAAP measure presented provides useful information to investors by allowing them to view the Company’s business through the eyes of management and the Board of Directors, facilitating comparison of results across historical periods and providing a focus on the underlying ongoing operating performance of its business. Adjusted operating income should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income (loss) from continuing operations, cash flows provided by (used for) operating activities or other comparable measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Additionally, this non-GAAP measure may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures of other companies.

Contact: 
Katy Murray 
214-977-8869

Source: A. H. Belo Corporation

Investor Relations
Katy Murray
President 
DallasNews Corporation
214-977-8869
invest@dallasnews.com

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