News Corp Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results for Fiscal 2020Fiscal 2020 Fourth Quarter Key Financial Highlights
Beginning with the fourth quarter, the Company is presenting Dow Jones as a separate reportable segment, which better highlights its growth and value; Dow Jones Segment EBITDA grew 13% in the fourth quarter
Revenues were $1.92 billion, a 22% decline compared to $2.47 billion in the prior year, primarily driven by the negative impacts related to COVID-19 and the sale of News America Marketing
Net loss of $(401) million, which includes non-cash impairment charges of $292 million and higher restructuring costs due to COVID-19, compared to $(42) million in the prior year
Total Segment EBITDA was $195 million compared to $269 million in the prior year; decline reflects the negative impacts related to COVID-19 and the sale of News America Marketing
Reported EPS were $(0.67) compared to $(0.09) in the prior year - Adjusted EPS In the fourth quarter,
Segment EBITDA at Book Publishing grew 9%, partly as a result of the strong performance in digital revenues which increased 26% and represented 29% of its Consumer revenues
Move, operator of realtor.com , increased its profit contribution in the fourth quarter and saw record traffic in June with over 30% growth in unique users
In the quarter, Dow Jones achieved record average subscriptions of 3.8 million to its consumer products, led by 28% growth in digital-only subscriptions, including 23% growth in digital-only subscriptions at The Wall Street Journal
New York, NY - August 6, 2020 - News Corporation ( News Corp or the Company ) (Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV) today reported financial results for the three months and fiscal year ended June 30, 2020.
Commenting on the results, Chief Executive Robert Thomson said:
The resegmentation of News Corp is a particularly historic moment and a fulfillment of our pledge to make the Company more transparent and its potential more obvious. The presentation of Dow Jones as a separate segment highlights what we believe are two incontrovertible facts: the substantial and growing value of that business; and its superior profit profile and prospects compared to those of our nearest competitor. In what has been a difficult year for many media companies, Dow Jones reported a 13 percent increase in Segment EBITDA, based on the strength of its Professional Information Business, digital growth and the pre-eminence of The Wall Street Journal.
Across the Company, we have taken stringent action to reduce costs, and the benefits of those cuts will be felt in coming quarters. We have also launched a Shared Services program that we believe will transform the Company, by centralizing many of our functions. We are confident that this program should appreciably cut costs and expect it to have a materially positive impact on our bottom line.
The closure in Australia of many of our storied print editions and the renewed emphasis on digital was evidence of our willingness to be decisive at a historic inflection point. One result of our candid approach on costs was that, despite the COVID-19 impact, our cash position strengthened to $1.5 billion from $1.3 billion as of December 31st. We also saw increased profitability at Foxtel and our campaign to reset sports rights prices was successful. Just this week, we crossed the one million OTT paying subscribers mark, setting a new record thanks to our expanded streaming strategy.
The changed terms of trade with the digital platforms is having a positive impact on our earnings. For News Corp, this favorable outcome would not have been possible without the leadership of Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch, and the support of a Board which backed our advocacy, even when News Corp stood alone in pursuit of the principle of a premium for premium content.
Fourth Quarter Results
The Company reported fiscal 2020 fourth quarter total revenues of $1.92 billion, 22% lower compared to $2.47 billion in the prior year period. The decline primarily reflects an estimated $330 million, or 13%, negative impact related to the novel coronavirus pandemic ( COVID-19 ) and a $179 million, or 7%, negative impact from the divestiture of News America Marketing. The decline also reflects a $63 million, or 3%, negative impact from foreign currency fluctuations. Adjusted Revenues (which exclude the foreign currency impact, acquisitions and divestitures as defined in Note 2) declined 13%.
Net loss for the quarter was $(401) million compared to $(42) million in the prior year, reflecting $292 million of non-cash impairment charges, primarily related to fixed assets in the U.K. and Australia, higher restructuring costs due to COVID-19 and lower Total Segment EBITDA, as discussed below.
The Company reported fourth quarter Total Segment EBITDA of $195 million, a 28% decline compared to $269 million in the prior year, primarily due to lower revenues, as discussed above, a $43 million, or 16%, negative impact due to the lower contribution from News America Marketing as a result of the sale and the $8 million, or 3%, negative impact from foreign currency fluctuations. The decline was partially offset by cost savings across the businesses and lower sports rights and production costs at Foxtel related to COVID-19. The negative impact from COVID-19 on Total Segment EBITDA for the quarter is estimated to be $40-$55 million and represents the Company's best estimate based on historical trends in operating performance and known identifiable impacts. Adjusted Total Segment EBITDA (as defined in Note 2) declined 10%.
Net loss per share attributable to News Corporation stockholders was $(0.67) as compared to $(0.09) in the prior year.
Adjusted EPS (as defined in Note 3) were $(0.03) compared to $0.07 in the prior year.
Full Year Results
The Company reported fiscal 2020 full year total reve
