Core Insights - Brian Robbins has officially departed from his roles as co-CEO of Paramount Global and President and CEO of Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon, marking the end of a significant tenure that began in 2017 [1][9] Company Performance - During Robbins' leadership, Paramount Pictures achieved 17 No. 1 box office releases, including six in 2022, contributing to one of the studio's most successful years, highlighted by "Top Gun: Maverick," which grossed nearly $1.5 billion globally [1][12] - The studio expanded its franchises, including "Sonic the Hedgehog," "A Quiet Place," "Mission: Impossible," and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," with the latter two generating over $2.5 billion in consumer products revenue in 2023 [1][12] Production and Development - Robbins' administration secured production deals with notable filmmakers and talent, including John Krasinski, Ryan Reynolds, and Damien Chazelle, enhancing the studio's creative output [2] - Upcoming projects include a variety of films such as "A Quiet Place Part III," "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem" sequel, and a biopic of Evel Knievel starring Leonardo DiCaprio [4][5] Nickelodeon Achievements - At Nickelodeon, Robbins oversaw the successful anniversaries of "SpongeBob SquarePants" and "Dora the Explorer," while expanding the franchise with new shows and films [7][13] - The network innovated its relationship with sports, introducing AR-driven NFL broadcasts and achieving significant engagement with younger audiences during major sporting events [8][13] Future Outlook - The company is positioned for continued success with a strong pipeline of projects and leadership transition, as Robbins expressed confidence in the incoming team from Skydance [14]

Core Insights - Paramount Global (PARA) reported adjusted earnings of 46 cents per share for Q2 2025, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 12.2%, but down 15% from the previous year [1][8] - Revenues reached $6.85 billion, slightly missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.22%, with a year-over-year increase of 1% [1][8] - The revenue growth was primarily impacted by softness in TV Media revenues [1] Revenue Details - Advertising revenues, accounting for 31.44% of total revenues, fell 4.4% year over year to $2.153 billion [3] - Affiliate revenues, making up 50.3% of total revenues, increased significantly by 42.3% year over year to $3.445 billion [3] - Theatrical revenues rose 84.05% year over year to $254 million, while licensing and other revenues decreased by 13.32% to $1.009 billion [3] Segment Performance - Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) revenues grew 14.9% year over year to $2.16 billion, with subscription revenues increasing by 21.8% due to subscriber growth and price hikes for Paramount+ [4] - DTC adjusted OIBDA improved by $131 million year over year, indicating strong revenue growth [6] - TV Media revenues decreased by 6.08% year over year to $4.01 billion, driven by declines in affiliate and advertising revenues [7] Financial Metrics - Consolidated adjusted OIBDA fell 5% year over year to $824 million, reflecting improvements in D2C [2] - Selling, general, and administrative expenses decreased by 11.3% year over year to $1.4 billion [2] - As of June 30, 2025, cash and cash equivalents stood at $2.74 billion, with total debt remaining at $14.16 billion [13] Notable Achievements - Paramount+ reached 77.7 million subscribers, despite a decrease of 1.3 million in the quarter [6] - The platform's global ARPU increased by 9%, and domestic watch time per user rose by 11% year over year [6] - CBS maintained its position as the most-watched broadcast network for the 17th consecutive season, airing 14 of the top 20 series [10]

Core Viewpoint - Paramount Global is effectively transitioning from traditional TV to digital platforms, leveraging its content library to enhance direct-to-consumer offerings and drive revenue growth [1]. Financial Performance - Paramount Global reported quarterly earnings of $0.46 per share, exceeding the analyst consensus estimate of $0.35 by 29% [1]. - Quarterly sales reached $6.849 billion, a 1% year-over-year increase, surpassing the analyst consensus estimate of $6.841 billion [1]. Direct-to-Consumer Segment - Direct-to-consumer (DTC) revenue rose to $2.2 billion, reflecting a 14.9% year-over-year increase, driven by growth in Paramount+ subscribers and recent price increases [2]. - Adjusted OIBDA for the DTC segment reached $157 million, above both analyst and market estimates [2]. - Paramount+ experienced record-low churn and a third consecutive quarter of rising watch time per user, which increased by 11% year-over-year [3]. Advertising Revenue - DTC advertising revenue fell by 4% due to increased digital ad supply impacting pricing [3]. - Traditional TV advertising also declined, with rising rates being offset by a decrease in viewership [3]. - Strength in upfront ad sales was noted, with volumes consistent with the previous year and sports bookings increasing by double digits [4]. Future Projections - The price target for Paramount shares is set at $14, based on a 6.8 times OIBDA multiple, reflecting the company's strong content portfolio and shift towards streaming [5]. - Projected third-quarter revenue is $6.77 billion, with an expected EPS of $0.43 [5].

Group 1 - Proactive provides fast, accessible, informative, and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience [2] - The news team covers medium and small-cap markets, as well as blue-chip companies, commodities, and broader investment stories [3] - Proactive's content includes insights across various sectors such as biotech, pharma, mining, natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto, and emerging technologies [3] Group 2 - Proactive is committed to adopting technology to enhance workflows and improve content production [4] - The company utilizes automation and software tools, including generative AI, while ensuring all content is edited and authored by humans [5]

Core Insights - Paramount Global-B (PARA) reported revenue of $6.85 billion for the quarter ended June 2025, reflecting a 0.5% increase year-over-year, but a slight miss of 0.22% against the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.86 billion [1] - The company's EPS was $0.46, down from $0.54 in the same quarter last year, but exceeded the consensus estimate of $0.41 by 12.2% [1] Financial Performance Metrics - Global Paramount Subscribers reached 77.7 million, surpassing the estimated 77.5 million [4] - TV Media revenues were $4.01 billion, slightly above the average estimate of $4 billion, but down 6.1% year-over-year [4] - Filmed Entertainment revenues were $690 million, below the average estimate of $768.72 million, marking a 1.6% increase year-over-year [4] - Direct-to-Consumer revenues totaled $2.16 billion, exceeding the estimate of $2.14 billion, with a significant year-over-year increase of 14.9% [4] - Direct-to-Consumer Advertising revenues were $494 million, slightly below the estimate of $505.59 million, reflecting a 3.7% decrease year-over-year [4] - Revenues from Eliminations were reported at -$12 million, better than the estimate of -$20.48 million, showing a year-over-year change of -29.4% [4] - Filmed Entertainment Licensing and Other revenues were $434 million, below the estimate of $456.4 million, down 18.7% year-over-year [4] - TV Media Advertising revenues were $1.66 billion, slightly above the estimate of $1.62 billion, down 4.4% year-over-year [4] - TV Media Affiliate and Subscription revenues were $1.78 billion, exceeding the estimate of $1.75 billion, down 6.7% year-over-year [4] - TV Media Licensing and Other revenues were $574 million, below the estimate of $636.26 million, down 8.9% year-over-year [4] - Affiliate and Subscription Fees revenues were $3.45 billion, slightly above the estimate of $3.42 billion, reflecting a 5.2% increase year-over-year [4] - Direct-to-Consumer Subscription revenues were $1.67 billion, matching the estimate, with a notable year-over-year increase of 21.8% [4] Stock Performance - Shares of Paramount Global-B have returned +3.6% over the past month, outperforming the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.7% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating expected performance in line with the broader market in the near term [3]

Earnings Performance - Paramount Global reported quarterly earnings of $0.46 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.44 per share, but down from $0.54 per share a year ago, indicating an earnings surprise of +4.55% [1] - The company posted revenues of $6.85 billion for the quarter ended June 2025, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.47%, and showing a slight increase from $6.81 billion year-over-year [2] Stock Performance and Outlook - Since the beginning of the year, Paramount Global shares have increased by approximately 4.4%, while the S&P 500 has gained 8.2% [3] - The company's current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.41 on revenues of $6.85 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $1.25 on revenues of $28.64 billion [7] Industry Context - The Media Conglomerates industry, to which Paramount Global belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 26% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting potential challenges ahead [8] - Empirical research indicates a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which could impact investor sentiment [5]

Group 1: Earnings Performance - Paramount Global-B reported quarterly earnings of $0.46 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.41 per share, but down from $0.54 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of +12.20% [1] - The company posted revenues of $6.85 billion for the quarter ended June 2025, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.22%, compared to revenues of $6.81 billion a year ago [2] - Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times [2] Group 2: Stock Performance and Outlook - Paramount Global-B shares have increased approximately 27.2% since the beginning of the year, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 8.2% [3] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.44 on revenues of $6.68 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $1.28 on revenues of $28.29 billion [7] - The estimate revisions trend for Paramount Global-B was mixed ahead of the earnings release, resulting in a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) for the stock, indicating expected performance in line with the market [6] Group 3: Industry Context - The Media Conglomerates industry, to which Paramount Global-B belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 26% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting potential challenges ahead [8] - Empirical research indicates a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which can impact investor decisions [5]

Core Viewpoint - Paramount Global is preparing for a merger with Skydance, with Shari Redstone expressing confidence in Skydance's ability to manage the company's assets effectively as the merger approaches on August 7 [1][5]. Company Overview - Shari Redstone emphasized the importance of content in the media industry, a philosophy instilled by her father, Sumner Redstone, who built Viacom and CBS over nearly 40 years [2]. - Paramount has achieved significant milestones, including being the number one broadcast network for 17 consecutive years and delivering top-rated programming across various genres [3]. Merger Details - The merger involves Paramount acquiring Skydance in an all-stock deal that values Skydance at $4.75 billion, with Skydance offering up to $4.5 billion in cash for Class A and B shares [5]. - Following the merger, the Skydance investor group will own 100% of New Paramount Class A shares and 69% of outstanding Class B shares [5]. Financial Aspects - Redstone's family holding company, NAI, is being acquired for $2.4 billion as part of the transaction, raising questions about transparency regarding this payout [4][6]. - Paramount's shares have faced significant declines due to challenges in the traditional media landscape, particularly the drop in linear television viewership [6]. Historical Context - The Redstone family's media empire began in 1934 with a drive-in theater and expanded to include major acquisitions like Viacom, Paramount, and CBS [6]. - The current version of Paramount+ was launched in 2021, and Shari Redstone began exploring the sale of the company in late 2024 [7].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported core FFO of $0.17 per share for Q2 2025, exceeding consensus estimates by $0.03 [6][26] - The company raised full year guidance for core FFO to a range of $0.55 to $0.59 per share, representing a $0.03 increase from prior guidance [27] - The same store lease occupancy guidance was increased to a range of 86.9% to 88.9%, reflecting continued strength in the New York portfolio [28] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company executed over 400,000 square feet of leases in Q2 2025, with a year-to-date total of approximately 690,000 square feet [7][18] - The weighted average term for leases signed during the quarter was 12.9 years, with starting rents above $90 per square foot [18][26] - The New York portfolio was 88.1% leased, up 70 basis points quarter over quarter, while the San Francisco portfolio was 75.1% leased, down 720 basis points due to a scheduled lease expiration [22][25] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In New York, leasing activity excluding renewals was 3.8 million square feet, 10% ahead of the five-year quarterly average [20] - San Francisco's overall leasing volumes are still below long-term averages, but there are signs of stabilization with a decline in availability by 110 basis points quarter over quarter [22][13] - AI-based companies accounted for over 800,000 square feet of leasing year-to-date in San Francisco, indicating a growing demand in that sector [23] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on capital allocation strategies that include selective dispositions, joint ventures, and reinvestment into high-conviction assets [15] - The company is committed to enhancing tenant relationships and delivering market-leading hospitality to secure renewals and fill vacant spaces [19] - The company is actively pursuing refinancing opportunities and maintaining balance sheet strength with over $534 million in cash [16][29] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted a sustained flight to quality in the New York market, with tenants prioritizing well-located, amenity-rich buildings [10] - In San Francisco, management observed a gradual recovery with increasing tenant interest, particularly from sectors like AI and professional services [14] - Management expressed confidence in the long-term recovery of the San Francisco market despite near-term softness due to lease expirations [28] Other Important Information - The company is undergoing a strategic review to maximize shareholder value, but no further comments were provided during the call [4] - The company completed the sale of a 25% equity interest in 1 Front Street, generating $11.5 million in net proceeds [30] - The company designated Market Center as a non-core asset and has completed its disposal [31] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you talk about tenant demand for 1633 Broadway? - Management indicated active showings and strong retail performance, with asking rents ranging from $70 to $90 per square foot [34][38] Question: What are your thoughts on concessions and future pricing? - Management noted that concessions have stabilized and expect net effective rents in New York to increase, while San Francisco remains elevated [39][41] Question: Can you provide commentary on large move-outs and renovations? - Management confirmed ongoing improvements at 1633 Broadway and expressed optimism about demand in Midtown [48][50] Question: How is the political situation in New York affecting leasing? - Management reported no hesitation from tenants regarding long-term leases despite political changes [51][52] Question: Is the SEC investigation impacting the strategic review? - Management stated that the SEC inquiry is not expected to significantly impact the strategic review [53][54] Question: How is San Francisco's leasing strategy adjusting to market conditions? - Management noted increased activity across various sectors, not just AI, and a positive trend in tenant engagement [58][61]

Portfolio Overview - Paramount focuses on Class A office properties in New York and San Francisco[10] - The company has ~$7.2 billion in total assets under management across 17 assets[11] - The portfolio consists of 12.3 million square feet of REIT-owned assets and 0.8 million square feet of managed assets[11] - The average lease term is 7.1 years, and the portfolio is 94% leased[16] - The average rent is $90 per square foot[14] Financial Highlights - The midpoint of Cash NOI assumptions used in deriving the Full Year 2025 guidance is $302 million[11] - Net Debt / Enterprise Value is 66.5%[65] - Net Debt / Annualized Adjusted EBITDAre is 9.0x[65] Lease Expirations - The 5-year average lease expiration in San Francisco is 302,000 square feet, or 5.5% per annum[39] - The 5-year average lease expiration in New York is 154,000 square feet, or 12.5% per annum[40] - The 5-year average lease expiration for the total portfolio is 456,000 square feet, or 6.8% per annum[42] Capital Structure - The stock price is $5.75 per share[65] - The company has 220,311,000 common shares and 17,876,000 Operating Partnership Units outstanding[65] - The equity market capitalization is $1,369,578,000[65] - Total debt is $3,248,054,000, including $877,400,000 in notes & mortgages payable and $274,374,000 in unconsolidated joint ventures debt[65]