daln-20211025x8k
false000141389800014138982021-10-252021-10-25

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549  

FORM 8-K 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 25, 2021

 

DallasNews CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Commission file number: 1-33741

 

Texas

 

38-3765318

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

P. O. Box 224866, Dallas, Texas 75222-4866

 

(214977-7342

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Trading Symbol

Name of each exchange on which registered

Series A Common Stock, $0.01 par value

DALN

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  


Item 2.02.  Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On October 25, 2021, DallasNews Corporation announced its consolidated financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2021. A copy of the announcement press release is furnished with this report as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit Number

Description

99.1

Press Release issued by DallasNews Corporation on October 25, 2021

104

 

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

 



SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: October 25, 2021

 

 

DALLASNEWS CORPORATION

 

 

By:

 

/s/ Katy Murray

 

 

 

Katy Murray

 

 

 

Executive Vice President/Chief Financial Officer

EX 991-Q3 2021 Earnings Release

Exhibit 99.1

DallasNews CORPORATION



DallasNews Corporation Announces Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results



DALLAS –  DallasNews Corporation (Nasdaq: DALN) today reported third quarter 2021 net income of $1.6 million, or $0.30 per share, and an operating loss of $2.6 million.  In the third quarter of 2020,  the Company reported a net loss of  $0.1 million, or $(0.02) per share, and an operating loss of $2.4 million. Third quarter 2021 net income includes a tax benefit of $2.4 million primarily related to the release of a non-cash uncertain tax reserve whereby the federal statute of limitations lapsed.

For the third quarter of 2021, on a non-GAAP basis, DallasNews reported an operating loss adjusted for certain items (adjusted operating loss)  of $1.2 million,  a  decline of $1.1 million when compared to an adjusted operating loss of $0.1 million reported in the third quarter of 2020. The decline is due to increases of $0.9 million in employee compensation and benefits expense and $0.7 million in revenue-related outside services expense, partially offset by an increase in total revenue of $0.6 million.

Robert W. Decherd, chairman, president and Chief Executive Officer, said, While employment expense was adjusted back to pre-pandemic levels and there were some reserves released in the prior year third quarter, operating trends were generally positive. We are particularly pleased that total revenue was slightly higher than the prior year and that digital subscription growth continued at a positive pace. Adjusted operating income / loss will be under pressure for the next 15 months as The Dallas Morning News continues to invest in digital products and digital marketing initiatives. These investments have the highest potential for long-term returns for the Company and its shareholders.

Third Quarter Results



Total revenue was $38.3 million in the third quarter of 2021,  an increase of $0.6 million or 1.5 percent when compared to the third quarter of 2020.


 

DallasNews Corporation Announces Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results

October 25, 2021

Page 2

 

Revenue from advertising and marketing services, including print and digital revenues, was $18.1 million in the  third quarter of 2021,  an increase of $0.6 million or 3.6 percent when compared to the $17.5 million reported for the third quarter of 2020. The improvement is primarily due to a  $0.9 million increase in digital advertising revenue.

Circulation revenue was $16.2 million in the third quarter of 2021, a slight increase when compared to the $16.1 million reported for the third quarter of 2020.  Digital-only subscription revenue increased $0.7 million or 42.5 percent, offset by a print circulation decline of $0.7 million or 4.9 percent.

Printing, distribution and other revenue decreased $0.1 million, or 2.5 percent, to $4.1 million, primarily due to a reduction in commercial printing revenue.

Total consolidated operating expense in the third quarter of 2021, on a GAAP basis, was $40.9 million,  an increase of $0.7 million or 1.8 percent compared to the third quarter of 2020. The change is primarily due to increases of $0.7 million in revenue-related outside services expense and $0.6 million in employee compensation and benefits expense, partially offset by a decrease of $0.7 million in depreciation expense. The employee compensation and benefits expense increase is primarily due to medical cost savings in the third quarter of 2020 and restoring employees’ base salaries to pre-pandemic amounts.

In the third quarter of 2021, on a non-GAAP basis, adjusted operating expense was $46.2 million,  an increase of $5.2 million or 12.7 percent when compared to $41.0 million of adjusted operating expense in the third quarter of 2020.  The change is primarily due to increases of $3.6 million in contra expense, which includes items like certain cost of sales, $0.7 million in outside services expense, and $0.9 million in employee compensation and benefits expense.


 

DallasNews Corporation Announces Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results

October 25, 2021

Page 3

 

As of September 30,  2021,  the Company had 672 employees, a decrease of 78 full-time equivalents, or 10.4 percent, when compared to the prior year period. Cash and cash equivalents were $34.7 million and the Company had no debt.


 

DallasNews Corporation Announces Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results

October 25, 2021

Page 4

 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures





Reconciliations of operating loss to adjusted operating loss, total net operating revenue to adjusted operating revenue, and total operating costs and expense to adjusted operating expense are included in the exhibits to this release.

 


 

DallasNews Corporation Announces Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results

October 25, 2021

Page 5

 

 

Financial Results Conference Call





DallasNews Corporation will conduct a conference call on Tuesday, October 26, 2021, 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 investor.dallasnewscorporation.com/events.  An archive of the webcast will be available at dallasnewscorporation.com in the Investor Relations section.

To access the listen-only conference call, dial 1-844-867-6169 and enter the following access code when prompted: 670105.  A replay line will be available at 1-866-207-1041 from 12:00 p.m. CDT on October 26, 2021 until 11:59 p.m. CDT on November 1, 2021.  The access code for the replay is 2131223.


 

DallasNews Corporation Announces Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results

October 25, 2021

Page 6

 

 

About DallasNews Corporation





DallasNews Corporation is the leading local news and information publishing company in Texas. The Company has a growing presence in emerging media and digital marketing, and maintains capabilities related to commercial printing, distribution and direct mail. DallasNews delivers news and information in innovative ways to a broad range of audiences with diverse interests and lifestyles. For additional information, visit dallasnewscorporation.com or email invest@dallasnews.com.



Statements in this communication concerning DallasNews Corporation’s business outlook or future economic performance, revenues, expenses, and other financial and non-financial items that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company’s expectations relating to the reverse stock split,  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; cybersecurity incidents; technological obsolescence; and the current and future impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other risks, there can be no guarantee that the board of directors will approve a quarterly dividend in future quarters; 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.





 


 

 

DallasNews 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)

 

2021

 

2020

 

2021

 

2020

Net Operating Revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advertising and marketing services

 

$

18,101 

 

$

17,474 

 

$

53,471 

 

$

52,392 

Circulation

 

 

16,157 

 

 

16,111 

 

 

48,272 

 

 

48,248 

Printing, distribution and other

 

 

4,053 

 

 

4,157 

 

 

12,051 

 

 

12,860 

Total net operating revenue

 

 

38,311 

 

 

37,742 

 

 

113,794 

 

 

113,500 

Operating Costs and Expense:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employee compensation and benefits

 

 

17,131 

 

 

16,499 

 

 

53,194 

 

 

52,512 

Other production, distribution and operating costs

 

 

20,041 

 

 

19,307 

 

 

59,282 

 

 

58,958 

Newsprint, ink and other supplies

 

 

2,439 

 

 

2,476 

 

 

7,158 

 

 

8,018 

Depreciation

 

 

1,018 

 

 

1,753 

 

 

3,127 

 

 

5,320 

Amortization

 

 

 —

 

 

63 

 

 

64 

 

 

191 

Loss on sale/disposal of assets, net

 

 

30 

 

 

61 

 

 

29 

 

 

56 

Asset impairments

 

 

232 

 

 

 —

 

 

232 

 

 

 —

Total operating costs and expense

 

 

40,891 

 

 

40,159 

 

 

123,086 

 

 

125,055 

Operating loss

 

 

(2,580)

 

 

(2,417)

 

 

(9,292)

 

 

(11,555)

Other income, net

 

 

1,827 

 

 

2,095 

 

 

4,694 

 

 

4,778 

Loss Before Income Taxes

 

 

(753)

 

 

(322)

 

 

(4,598)

 

 

(6,777)

Income tax benefit

 

 

(2,384)

 

 

(224)

 

 

(1,982)

 

 

(1,644)

Net Income (Loss)

 

$

1,631 

 

$

(98)

 

$

(2,616)

 

$

(5,133)



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Per Share Basis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted (1)

 

$

0.30 

 

$

(0.02)

 

$

(0.49)

 

$

(0.96)

Number of common shares used in the per share calculation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted (1)

 

 

5,352,490 

 

 

5,352,490 

 

 

5,352,490 

 

 

5,352,490 





(1)

All share and per share amounts have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the one-for-four reverse stock split effective June 8, 2021.  All fractional shares were settled in cash in connection with the reverse stock split.



 


 

 

DallasNews Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets





 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

September 30,

 

December 31,

In thousands (unaudited)

 

2021

 

2020

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

34,659 

 

$

42,015 

Accounts receivable, net

 

 

14,249 

 

 

16,562 

Notes receivable

 

 

22,400 

 

 

22,775 

Other current assets

 

 

7,417 

 

 

6,754 

Total current assets

 

 

78,725 

 

 

88,106 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

 

9,208 

 

 

11,959 

Operating lease right-of-use assets

 

 

18,219 

 

 

20,406 

Intangible assets, net

 

 

 —

 

 

64 

Deferred income taxes, net

 

 

102 

 

 

76 

Other assets

 

 

2,203 

 

 

2,604 

Total assets

 

$

108,457 

 

$

123,215 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

6,197 

 

$

7,759 

Accrued compensation and other current liabilities

 

 

12,151 

 

 

10,829 

Contract liabilities

 

 

12,139 

 

 

12,896 

Total current liabilities

 

 

30,487 

 

 

31,484 

Long-term pension liabilities

 

 

14,317 

 

 

18,520 

Long-term operating lease liabilities

 

 

19,863 

 

 

21,890 

Other liabilities

 

 

1,487 

 

 

4,913 

Total liabilities

 

 

66,154 

 

 

76,807 

Total shareholders' equity

 

 

42,303 

 

 

46,408 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

108,457 

 

$

123,215 

 


 

 

DallasNews Corporation - Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Reconciliation of Operating Loss to Adjusted Operating Loss







 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

In thousands (unaudited)

 

2021

 

2020

 

2021

 

2020

Total net operating revenue

 

$

38,311 

 

$

37,742 

 

$

113,794 

 

$

113,500 

Total operating costs and expense

 

 

40,891 

 

 

40,159 

 

 

123,086 

 

 

125,055 

Operating Loss

 

$

(2,580)

 

$

(2,417)

 

$

(9,292)

 

$

(11,555)



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total net operating revenue

 

$

38,311 

 

$

37,742 

 

$

113,794 

 

$

113,500 

Addback:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advertising contra revenue

 

 

6,596 

 

 

3,012 

 

 

18,908 

 

 

5,400 

Circulation contra revenue

 

 

106 

 

 

104 

 

 

296 

 

 

205 

Adjusted Operating Revenue

 

$

45,013 

 

$

40,858 

 

$

132,998 

 

$

119,105 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total operating costs and expense

 

$

40,891 

 

$

40,159 

 

$

123,086 

 

$

125,055 

Addback:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advertising contra expense

 

 

6,596 

 

 

3,012 

 

 

18,908 

 

 

5,400 

Circulation contra expense

 

 

106 

 

 

104 

 

 

296 

 

 

205 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation

 

 

1,018 

 

 

1,753 

 

 

3,127 

 

 

5,320 

Amortization

 

 

 —

 

 

63 

 

 

64 

 

 

191 

Severance expense

 

 

115 

 

 

418 

 

 

1,721 

 

 

621 

Loss on sale/disposal of assets, net

 

 

30 

 

 

61 

 

 

29 

 

 

56 

Asset impairments

 

 

232 

 

 

 —

 

 

232 

 

 

 —

Adjusted Operating Expense

 

$

46,198 

 

$

40,980 

 

$

137,117 

 

$

124,472 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating revenue

 

$

45,013 

 

$

40,858 

 

$

132,998 

 

$

119,105 

Adjusted operating expense

 

 

46,198 

 

 

40,980 

 

 

137,117 

 

 

124,472 

Adjusted Operating Loss

 

$

(1,185)

 

$

(122)

 

$

(4,119)

 

$

(5,367)



The Company calculates adjusted operating income (loss) by adjusting operating income (loss) to exclude depreciation, amortization, severance expense, (gain) loss on sale/disposal of assets, and asset impairments (“adjusted operating income (loss)”). 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.

The Company adopted the new revenue guidance (Topic 606)  using the modified retrospective approach as of January 1, 2018. While the Company adjusts operating revenue and expense for non-GAAP presentation, these adjustments have no effect on adjusted operating income (loss).

Adjusted operating income (loss) is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Management uses adjusted operating income (loss) and similar measures in internal analyses as supplemental measures of the Company’s financial performance, and for performance comparisons versus 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 (loss) should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income (loss), 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.