Fox Reports Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2021 Net Income Of $272 Million, Earnings Per Share Of $0.43 And Revenues Of $2.89 Billion

NEW YORK, Aug. 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Fox Corporation (Nasdaq: FOXA, FOX) ("FOX" or the "Company") today reported financial results for the three months and twelve months ended June 30, 2021.

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

"Our exceptional Fiscal 2021 financial results highlight the strength of our distinct strategy and serve as a foundation for sustained operating momentum. Despite the challenges presented by COVID, our businesses continued to inform and entertain households across the country. And in the midst of it all, we strengthened our core brands and expanded our digital capabilities, which together provide a robust platform for future growth. We look forward to the year ahead, anticipating the return of normalized sports and entertainment calendars and the start of the midterm election cycle. FOX's core live event programming, coupled with its growing digital businesses, will continue to deliver audiences on an unmatched scale for our advertising and distribution partners."

FOURTH QUARTER COMPANY RESULTS

The Company reported quarterly net income of $272 million as compared to the $145 million reported in the prior year quarter. Net Income attributable to Fox Corporation stockholders was $253 million ($0.43 per share) as compared to the $122 million ($0.20 per share) reported in the prior year quarter. Adjusted net income attributable to Fox Corporation stockholders¹ was $381 million ($0.65 per share) as compared to the $375 million ($0.62 per share) reported in the prior year quarter.

Total quarterly revenues increased 20% to $2.89 billion with strong growth across all revenue categories. Affiliate revenues increased 10% with 16% growth at the Television segment and 6% growth at the Cable Network Programming segment. Advertising revenues increased 38%, reflecting 51% growth at the Television segment and 17% growth at the Cable Network Programming segment. Other revenues increased by $56 million or 30%.

Quarterly Adjusted EBITDA² was $717 million as compared to the $742 million reported in the prior year quarter, as the revenue increases noted above were more than offset by higher programming rights amortization, primarily due to schedule changes caused by Coronavirus Disease 2019 ("COVID-19"), and increased digital investment.

FULL YEAR COMPANY RESULTS

The Company reported full year net income of $2.20 billion as compared to the $1.06 billion reported in the prior year. Net Income attributable to Fox Corporation stockholders was $2.15 billion ($3.61 per share) as compared to the $999 million ($1.62 per share) reported in the prior year. Adjusted net income attributable to Fox Corporation stockholders was $1.71 billion ($2.88 per share) as compared to the $1.53 billion ($2.48 per share) reported in the prior year.

Total full year revenues increased 5% to $12.91 billion. Reported affiliate revenues increased 9%, led by 20% growth at the Television segment. Advertising revenues increased 2% as 15% growth at the Cable Network Programming segment, the consolidation of Tubi and record political revenues at the FOX Television Stations were partially offset by the absence of the prior year's broadcast of Super Bowl LIV at the Television segment. Other revenues were $1.04 billion as compared to the $1.06 billion reported in the prior year, primarily due to the timing of sports sublicensing revenues at the Cable Network Programming segment as a result of COVID-19.

Full year Adjusted EBITDA increased 11% to $3.09 billion as the revenue increases noted above were partially offset by higher expenses. The increase in expenses primarily reflects the consolidation of Tubi and contractual annual rights escalators at FOX Sports, partially offset by the absence of the prior year's broadcast of Super Bowl LIV.

REVIEW OF OPERATING RESULTS

CABLE NETWORK PROGRAMMING

Three Months Ended June 30, 2021

Cable Network Programming reported quarterly segment revenues of $1.40 billion, an increase of $128 million or 10% from the amount reported in the prior year quarter. Affiliate revenues increased $58 million or 6%, driven by contractual price increases, including the impact of distribution agreement renewals. Advertising revenues increased $45 million or 17%, primarily due to continued digital monetization at FOX News Media and the impact of additional live events and studio shows at FOX Sports in the current year quarter, as compared to the postponements and cancellations in the prior year quarter as a result of COVID-19. Other revenues increased $25 million, primarily due to the timing of sublicensing revenues at FOX Sports as a result of COVID-19 and higher subscription revenues at FOX News Media.

Cable Network Programming reported quarterly segment EBITDA of $674 million, unchanged from the prior year quarter, as the revenue increases noted above were offset by higher expenses. The increase in expenses primarily reflects higher programming rights amortization at FOX Sports associated with the return of live events and increased digital investment at FOX News Media.

Twelve Months Ended June 30, 2021

Cable Network Programming reported full year segment revenues of $5.68 billion, an increase of $191 million or 3% from the amount reported in the prior year. Advertising revenues increased $173 million or 15%, primarily due to stronger linear and digital results at FOX News Media, including the impact of the presidential election cycle. Affiliate revenues increased $125 million or 3% as healthy underlying increases in affiliate revenues were partially offset by the impact of an accrual for potential distribution credits as a result of cancelled college football games due to COVID-19. Other revenues were $351 million as compared to the $458 million reported in the prior year, primarily due to the timing of sports sublicensing revenues and pay-per-view boxing content at FOX Sports as a result of COVID-19.

Cable Network Programming reported full year segment EBITDA of $2.88 billion, an increase of $170 million or 6% from the amount reported in the prior year, primarily due to the revenue increases noted above. 

TELEVISION

Three Months Ended June 30, 2021

Television reported quarterly segment revenues of $1.45 billion, an increase of $334 million or 30% from the amount reported in the prior year quarter. Advertising revenues increased $225 million or 51%, primarily due to a recovering base market at the FOX Television Stations, as compared to the impact of COVID-19 in the prior year quarter, continued growth at Tubi and strong pricing at FOX Entertainment. Affiliate revenues increased $88 million or 16%, driven by increases in fees from third-party FOX affiliates and higher average rates at the Company's owned and operated television stations. Other revenues increased $21 million or 18%, primarily due to higher content revenues at Bento Box and FOX Entertainment.

Television reported quarterly segment EBITDA of $148 million, as compared to the $169 million reported in the prior year quarter, as the revenue trends noted above were more than offset by higher expenses. The increase in expenses primarily reflects the timing of programming rights amortization at FOX Entertainment as a result of COVID-19 and increased investment at Tubi.

Twelve Months Ended June 30, 2021

Television reported full year segment revenues of $7.05 billion, an increase of $387 million or 6% from the amount reported in the prior year. Affiliate revenues increased $402 million or 20%, driven by increases in fees from third-party FOX affiliates and higher average rates at the Company's owned and operated television stations. Other revenues increased $60 million or 13%, primarily due to higher content revenues at Bento Box. Advertising revenues were $4.09 billion as compared to the $4.17 billion reported in the prior year, as the impact of the consolidation of Tubi and record political advertising revenues at the FOX Television Stations were more than offset by the absence of the prior year's broadcast of Super Bowl LIV.

Television reported full year segment EBITDA of $555 million, an increase of $125 million or 29% from the amount reported in the prior year, as the revenue increases noted above were partially offset by higher expenses. The increase in expenses primarily reflects the consolidation of Tubi and contractual annual rights escalators at FOX Sports, partially offset by the absence of the prior year's broadcast of Super Bowl LIV.

DIVIDEND

The Company's Board of Directors has authorized an increase in the Company's semi-annual dividend and has declared a dividend of $0.24 per Class A and Class B share. This dividend is payable on September 29, 2021 with a record date for determining dividend entitlements of September 1, 2021.

SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM

On November 6, 2019, the Company announced the authorization of a $2 billion stock repurchase program. On June 17, 2021, the Company announced the authorization of incremental stock repurchases up to an additional $2 billion. To date, the Company has repurchased $1.17 billion of its Class A common stock and $484 million of its Class B common stock.

IMPACT OF COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in widespread and continuing negative impacts on the macroeconomic environment and disruption to the Company's business. Weak economic conditions and increased volatility and disruption in the financial markets pose risks to the Company and its business partners, including advertisers whose expenditures tend to reflect overall economic conditions. Although the COVID-19 pandemic did not cause a significant reduction in the Company's advertisers' spending in fiscal 2021, future declines in the economic prospects of advertisers or the economy in general could negatively impact their advertising expenditures further. To date, the Company has not experienced meaningful subscriber declines due to the pandemic. However, there could be industry-wide changes in consumer behavior due to the pandemic, such as increasing numbers of consumers canceling or foregoing subscriptions to MVPD services, that could adversely affect the Company's affiliate fee and advertising revenues. In addition, the Company's business depends on the volume and popularity of the content it distributes, particularly sports content. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been cancellations or postponements of live sports events to which the Company has broadcast rights and suspensions of the production of certain entertainment content. These content disruptions have adversely affected the Company's advertising and affiliate fee revenues and there could be additional adverse impacts on its advertising or affiliate fee revenues in the future. To the extent the COVID-19 or other pandemic further negatively impacts the timing of or the Company's ability to air sports events, particularly MLB, NFL or college sports, it could result in a significantly greater adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations than the Company has experienced thus far.

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, 2020 filed with the SEC on August 10, 2020, 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 https://www.foxcorporation.com. 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS 

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 June 30, 2021 and 2020:

The following table reconciles net income and EPS attributable to Fox Corporation stockholders to Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS for the twelve months ended June 30, 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, Interest income, Other, net and Income tax 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 and twelve months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020:

¹ Excludes net income effects of Impairment and restructuring charges, adjustments to Equity (losses) earnings of affiliates, Other, net and tax provision adjustments. See Note 1 for a description of adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share attributable to Fox Corporation stockholders, which are considered non-GAAP financial measures, and a reconciliation of reported net income and earnings per share attributable to Fox Corporation stockholders to adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share attributable to Fox Corporation stockholders.

² Adjusted EBITDA is considered a non-GAAP financial measure. See Note 2 for a description of Adjusted EBITDA and a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA.

³ Adjusted EBITDA is considered a non-GAAP financial measure. See Note 2 for a description of Adjusted EBITDA and a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA.

⁴ Other, net presented above includes Equity losses of affiliates.

⁵ Other, net presented above excludes Equity losses of affiliates.

⁶ Other, net presented above excludes Equity losses of affiliates.

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SOURCE Fox Corporation