News Q2 Earnings Call Highlights

Core Insights - The company reported strong fiscal second-quarter 2026 results, with revenue increasing by 6% year-over-year to $2.4 billion and total segment EBITDA rising by 9% to $521 million, indicating accelerating growth in both revenue and profitability [4][6][5] - Management emphasized a strategic shift towards recurring revenue and accelerated share buybacks, with $172 million in shares repurchased during the quarter, significantly higher than the previous year [1][6] - The company is positioning its proprietary content as increasingly valuable in the age of AI, citing a $1.5 billion payout from Anthropic for the use of pirated books and ongoing negotiations for additional AI licensing agreements [5][8] Financial Performance - Total segment EBITDA growth has been consistent for eleven consecutive quarters, driven by three core growth pillars: Dow Jones, Digital Real Estate, and Book Publishing, which collectively accounted for 95% of profitability in the quarter [2][6] - Adjusted earnings per share increased to $0.40 from $0.33 in the prior quarter, while net income from continuing operations fell by 21% year-over-year to $242 million, attributed to the absence of a prior year's gain [4][6] Segment Highlights - Dow Jones reported record results with revenue of $648 million, up 8% year-over-year, and segment EBITDA of $191 million, up 10%, achieving a profit margin of 29.5% [10][11] - Digital Real Estate Services saw revenue rise by 10% to $511 million, driven by premium products and improved lead volume, while Book Publishing revenue grew by 6% to $633 million [14][17] - In News Media, revenue remained flat at $570 million, with EBITDA declining by 5% to $70 million due to challenges in the print advertising market [18] Strategic Initiatives - The company is focusing on enhancing its digital offerings and increasing engagement through enterprise partnerships, which have contributed to a 12% increase in digital volumes, reaching over six million subscriptions [13][11] - Management is optimistic about the second half of the fiscal year, expecting continued strong B2B growth at Dow Jones and addressing advertising challenges in News Media through cost efficiencies [19][19]