This image released by Sony Pictures shows characters, from left, Modo, voiced by Nick Kroll, Lenny, voiced by Stephen Curry, Will, voiced by Caleb McLaughlin, Olivia, voiced by Nicola Coughlan, Jett, voiced by Gabrielle Union, and Archie, voiced by David Harbour, in a scene from the animated film "GOAT." (Columbia Pictures and Sony Picture Animation via AP)It was a battle of the holdovers at the North American box office this weekend, with the family friendly film “GOAT” edging out the R-rated “Wuthering H ...

The company's BetMGM joint venture reports strong revenue and earnings growth in the fourth quarter. ...

Core Insights - The company is experiencing a significant shift in its web ecosystem, with a 13% year-over-year decline in core web sessions, primarily due to a 50% drop in Google Search referrals over the past two years [1][6] - Digital revenue growth of 14% in the quarter was driven by advertising, performance marketing, and licensing, despite a 23% decline in print revenue [2][6][3] - The company is focusing on off-platform distribution, with off-platform views nearly doubling over two years and non-session-based revenue growing 37% year-over-year, now representing about 38% of total digital revenue [6][7] Financial Performance - Print revenue fell by 23%, attributed to a lack of political advertising compared to the previous year and ongoing declines in the print sector [2] - Licensing revenue increased by 36%, supported by partnerships with Apple News and Meta, while performance marketing grew by 17% during the holiday period [2][3] - The company reported adjusted EBITDA guidance for People Inc. of $310 million to $340 million, with expectations of mid- to high-single-digit growth in digital revenue and digital adjusted EBITDA [5][15] Strategic Initiatives - The company is shifting towards a strategy that includes developing standalone products and services to mitigate risks from AI-driven disintermediation, leveraging iconic content brands [8] - New initiatives include a "recipe locker" with 3 million registered users and a relaunched People app with 300,000 downloads, focusing on user engagement [19] - The company has increased its stake in MGM to 25% and repurchased $337 million of its shares, reducing the share count by approximately 10% [5][18] Guidance and Future Outlook - IAC will cease providing quarterly guidance, opting for annual targets instead, citing volatility in the industry [5][14] - The company anticipates approximately $15 million in litigation costs related to Google AdTech in 2026, which will impact corporate expenses [15] - IAC expects over 50% EBITDA-to-free-cash-flow conversion in 2026, supported by low capital expenditures and minimal cash taxes [17]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a solid fourth quarter with digital revenue growth of 14%, driven by strong execution across advertising, performance marketing, and licensing [5][14] - Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter grew 9% in digital, with digital margins at 26% [16] - For the full year, total revenue reached $1.8 billion, with digital revenue accounting for $1.1 billion and growing 10% year-over-year [17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Advertising revenue grew by 9% despite a 13% decline in core sessions, indicating success in the off-platform strategy [14] - Performance marketing saw a 17% increase during the holiday period, reflecting strong consumer engagement [14] - Licensing revenue surged by 36%, aided by partnerships with Apple News and Meta [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The print segment experienced a decline of 23%, attributed to a prior period's political advertising revenue and ongoing sectoral declines [16] - Core web sessions fell by 13% year-over-year, primarily due to a 50% drop in Google Search referrals over the last two years [20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on transforming traditional content businesses into new consumer products and revenue streams that are less susceptible to disintermediation [6][12] - New product initiatives include Southern Living and Food & Wine, aimed at creating unique consumer experiences and leveraging existing brand strengths [6][8] - The strategy emphasizes off-platform audience engagement, with non-session-based revenue now comprising about 38% of total digital revenue and growing 37% year-over-year [22] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's growth trajectory, particularly in the face of AI disruption, and highlighted the strength of their brands [5][12] - The outlook for 2026 is optimistic, with expectations for People Inc to exceed conservative guidance due to strong momentum [34] - The company plans to continue evaluating buybacks and is mindful of the current undervaluation of IAC [13] Other Important Information - The company will stop providing quarterly guidance to focus on long-term value creation, while still offering annual guidance [27] - The expected litigation expenses related to Google AdTech litigation are projected at approximately $15 million for the year [28] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you elaborate on the key drivers of non-session-based revenue growth? - Management indicated that the growth is driven by diversifying traffic sources and developing new distribution channels, moving away from reliance on Google [36][38] Question: What are IAC's M&A aspirations? - Management expressed interest in finding unique opportunities but noted that currently, there are no exciting prospects on the horizon [51][53] Question: How scalable are the new curated experiences? - Management emphasized the importance of direct relationships with audiences and advertisers, highlighting successful new initiatives like MyRecipes and the People app [64][66] Question: What is the outlook for the Care segment? - The Care segment is expected to return to growth by midyear, with ongoing improvements in product offerings and marketing investments [25] Question: Can you provide insights on the ad market? - Management rated the current ad market as a six out of ten, noting solid performance in health, pharma, and travel sectors, while some macro-exposed sectors are facing challenges [95]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a solid fourth quarter with digital revenue growth of 14%, driven by strong performance across advertising, performance marketing, and licensing [5][14] - Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter grew 9% in digital, with digital margins at 26% [16] - For the full year, total revenue reached $1.8 billion, with digital revenue accounting for $1.1 billion, reflecting a 10% growth [17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Advertising revenue grew by 9% despite a 13% decline in core sessions, indicating success in the off-platform strategy [14] - Performance marketing saw a 17% increase during the holiday period, showcasing strong execution [14] - Licensing revenue surged by 36%, aided by engagement with content across platforms like Apple News [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Core web sessions declined by 13% year-over-year, primarily due to a 50% drop in Google Search referrals over the last two years [20] - Non-session-based revenue sources now comprise about 38% of total digital revenue, growing 37% year-over-year in Q4 [22] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on transforming traditional content businesses into new consumer products and services, aiming for stronger revenue streams [6][12] - There is a significant emphasis on off-platform growth, with brands expanding their presence across social media and other platforms [5][21] - The company plans to continue investing in new products and services, with a focus on direct relationships with audiences and advertisers [66] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's growth potential, particularly in the face of AI disruption, and highlighted the strength of their brands [5][12] - The outlook for 2026 is optimistic, with expectations for People Inc to exceed current guidance due to strong momentum [34] Other Important Information - The company will stop providing quarterly guidance to focus on long-term value creation, while still offering annual guidance [27][28] - The company has repurchased $337 million of its shares over the past 12 months, reducing the share count by 10% [30] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you elaborate on the key drivers of non-session-based revenue growth? - Management highlighted that the growth is driven by diversifying distribution channels and aligning with audience trends, moving away from reliance on Google [36][38] Question: What are IAC's M&A aspirations? - Management indicated a cautious approach to M&A, focusing on opportunities that align with their current assets, particularly MGM and People [53][54] Question: How scalable are the new curated experiences? - Management emphasized the importance of direct relationships with audiences and advertisers, noting that new products like MyRecipes and the People app are showing strong engagement [66] Question: What is the outlook for the Care segment? - The Care segment is expected to return to growth by midyear, with ongoing improvements in product offerings and marketing investments [25] Question: How is the ad market performing? - Management rated the ad market as a six out of ten, noting solid performance in health, pharma, and travel sectors, while some macro-exposed sectors are facing challenges [96]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a solid fourth quarter with $1.8 billion in revenue, of which $1.1 billion was digital revenue, reflecting a 10% year-over-year growth [15][14] - Adjusted EBITDA for the year was $331 million, with digital EBITDA margins remaining flat year-over-year at 28% [15][14] - In Q4, adjusted EBITDA grew 9% in digital, with incremental digital margins at 26% [14][15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Digital revenue grew by 14% in Q4, driven by advertising (up 9%), performance marketing (up 17%), and licensing (up 36%) [13][14] - The print segment saw a decline of 23%, attributed to a prior period's political advertising revenue and ongoing sectoral decline [14] - Care revenue declined by 9% in Q4, with enterprise revenue down 13% due to tightened employer benefits spending [23] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Core web sessions decreased by 13% year-over-year, primarily due to a 50% drop in Google Search referrals over the last two years [19] - Non-session-based revenue sources now comprise about 38% of total digital revenue, growing 37% year-over-year in Q4 [21] - Off-platform views nearly doubled in the last two years, with a 43% year-over-year growth last quarter [20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on transforming traditional content businesses into new consumer products and services, aiming for stronger revenue streams [5][11] - There is a significant emphasis on off-platform strategies and expanding brand presence across social media and other platforms [4][20] - The company plans to continue evaluating buybacks and is optimistic about the growth potential in its People segment [12][29] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate AI disruptions and highlighted the strength of its brands [4][12] - The outlook for 2026 is bullish, with expectations for People to exceed conservative guidance due to strong momentum [32] - Management noted that the advertising market remains generally favorable, with specific strengths in health, pharma, and travel sectors [94] Other Important Information - The company will stop providing quarterly guidance to focus on long-term value creation, while still offering annual guidance [26] - The company expects litigation expenses related to Google AdTech litigation to impact corporate expenses significantly [27] - Corporate adjusted EBITDA was $23 million, down from the previous year, as the company continues to reduce overhead [24] Q&A Session Summary Question: Could you elaborate on the key drivers of non-session-based revenue growth? - Management highlighted that the growth is driven by diversifying traffic sources and developing new distribution channels, moving away from reliance on Google [34][36] Question: What are IAC's M&A aspirations? - Management indicated interest in finding unique opportunities like MGM but noted a lack of attractive options currently available [50] Question: How scalable are the new curated experiences at People? - Management emphasized the importance of direct relationships with audiences and advertisers, noting strong engagement metrics from new products like MyRecipes and the People app [61][62] Question: What is the outlook for the Care segment? - Management expects Care revenue to return to growth by midyear, driven by product improvements and marketing investments [23] Question: Can you provide an update on the Google litigation? - Management stated that the litigation is based on antitrust claims against Google, with expectations to recover significant damages [86][87]

Industry Overview - The American iGaming industry is still growing and has not yet reached maturity compared to its European counterparts [1] - The analysis focuses on the four strongest stocks in American iGaming and their potential performance by 2026 [1] DraftKings – DKNG - DraftKings started as a fantasy sports service and expanded into sports betting and online casino services following the easing of betting restrictions in 2018 [3] - The stock is currently trading in the $35 to $36 range, with previous highs of $47 and $53 in 2025 [4] - DraftKings is entering the predictions market, driven by services like Kalshi and Polymarket, and plans to offer this in regions where sports betting is not available [4] - Anticipated boost in usage during the FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the US, with a moderate buy recommendation targeting $44 [5] FanDuel – FLUT - FanDuel has transitioned from a fantasy sports service to a comprehensive iGaming platform, focusing heavily on online casino technology [6] - The stock is trading in the $215 to $219 range, with expectations for growth due to consistent profitability and favorable regulatory trends [7] - Rated as a strong buy with a price target of $300 for the year [7] BetMGM – MGM - BetMGM, associated with the MGM brand, has been expanding its online casino experience since 2018 and has formed partnerships with major sports leagues [8] - The focus for 2026 is on achieving a $500 million positive EBITDA, which could lead to a re-rating of the stock [9] theScore Bet – PENN - theScore Bet operates in the US under Penn Entertainment and is focusing on a lean, efficient operation after exiting an ESPN partnership [11] - The strategy involves cutting excess and leveraging technology for profitability, with a loyal customer base in Ontario [12] - The launch of a new iGaming market in Alberta could impact its operations, leading to a speculative buy rating [12]

Core Viewpoint - Paramount is facing significant challenges in its pursuit of acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery, with its leadership making questionable decisions and struggling under a weakened asset base, while Netflix stands to benefit regardless of the outcome of the bidding war [1][3][21]. Group 1: Paramount's Acquisition Efforts - Paramount has made multiple bids for Warner Bros. Discovery, with its latest offer being $30 per share, but it is reportedly not its "best and final offer," which undermines its credibility [4][6]. - The company has faced rejection for its takeover bid for the eighth time, leading to a lawsuit against Warner Bros. Discovery for greater financial disclosure regarding its preference for Netflix's bid [6]. - Paramount's CEO David Ellison's strategy appears to focus on leveraging intellectual property rather than investing in original content, raising concerns about the long-term viability of the studio [9][11]. Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Netflix has positioned itself advantageously in the bidding war, with its Co-CEOs confident enough to offer a $5.8 billion breakup fee if the government blocks their deal with Warner [16]. - The streaming giant has access to a highly sought-after content library from HBO and Warner Bros., which includes popular franchises and critically acclaimed shows, enhancing its competitive edge [2][3]. - Paramount's potential acquisition of Warner would burden the new entity with nearly $55 billion in new debt, raising concerns about its financial health and ability to invest in content creation [8][21]. Group 3: Industry Context and Historical Precedents - The media industry has a history of cautionary tales regarding acquisitions, with past examples like RKO and MGM illustrating the risks of mismanagement and talent flight following ownership changes [12][14][22]. - Paramount's leadership is seen as politically influenced, which could further complicate its acquisition efforts and lead to talent losses across its assets, including CNN [18]. - The involvement of Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds in Paramount's bid raises governance concerns and potential scrutiny from regulatory bodies [19][20].

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M&A Activity - Paramount has raised its breakup fee to $5 billion in its bid for Sky Dance, indicating confidence in clearing regulatory hurdles [1] - Netflix is reportedly the lead bidder for Sky Dance, with its bid now consisting of 85% cash, raising concerns about the price being too high [3][4] - Warner Brothers Discovery's M&A situation continues to dominate the media landscape, with concerns about antitrust implications due to overlapping businesses among bidders [2][5] Antitrust Considerations - Paramount is viewed as having an advantage from an antitrust perspective due to its management's relationship with the administration [6] - Netflix's global size and its pursuit of studio and streaming assets may present regulatory challenges not only in the U.S. but also internationally [7] Box Office Trends - The box office is still recovering from pre-pandemic levels, with expectations for improvement next year due to increased supply from studios like Amazon and MGM [8] - There are concerns about consumer demand, as presale tracking for upcoming films like Avatar shows softer than anticipated interest [9] - A rebound in animation is noted as a positive trend, but there is a desire for a more diverse mix of original titles and budget sizes to alleviate pressure on theaters [10]