Core Insights - News Corporation (NWSA) reported first-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings of 22 cents per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 22.22%, and reflecting a 10% increase from the previous year's figure of 20 cents [1] - Revenues reached $2.14 billion, marking a 2% year-over-year increase and surpassing the consensus mark by 1.53%, driven by growth in the Digital Real Estate Services and Dow Jones segments [1] Financial Performance - Adjusted revenues increased by 2% year over year, while total segment EBITDA rose 5% to $340 million [2] - Net income from continuing operations was $150 million, slightly up from $149 million in the prior year, and free cash flow improved to $4 million from a negative $49 million [17] Segment Performance Digital Real Estate Services - Revenues in this segment grew 5% year over year to $479 million, with Move's revenues increasing by 9% to $152 million, the highest quarterly growth rate since Q2 fiscal 2022 [3][4] - REA Group revenues rose 3% year over year to $327 million, driven by residential yield increases and customer contract upgrades [5] Dow Jones - Revenues in the Dow Jones segment increased 6% year over year to $586 million, with digital revenues accounting for 84% of total revenues [6][8] - The professional information business saw a 10% revenue increase, with Risk & Compliance revenues growing 16% to $94 million [7] Book Publishing - The Book Publishing segment generated revenues of $534 million, down 2% year over year, with a significant decline in digital sales by 9% [11][12] News Media - Revenues in the News Media segment increased 1% year over year to $545 million, driven by higher circulation and subscription pricing [13] - Advertising revenues remained stable at $85 million, with digital advertising contributing 68% of total ad revenues [9] Strategic Developments - The company has accelerated its share buyback program, repurchasing shares at a rate of approximately $2.5 million per day, reflecting confidence in growth potential [18]

Core Viewpoint - News Corp's CEO Robert Thomson emphasized that artificial intelligence companies must compensate for the data and journalism they utilize, highlighting the importance of valuing creativity and content in the AI landscape [1][4][8] Financial Performance - News Corp reported a 2% increase in revenue for the quarter ending September 30, reaching $2.14 billion, surpassing analyst expectations [4] - Net income from continuing operations rose by 1% to $150 million [4] - The News Media segment, which includes notable publications, saw revenues increase by 1% to $545 million, driven by higher cover and subscription prices in the UK and Australia [5] - Segment EBITDA for News Corp increased by 5% to $340 million, while the News Media segment's EBITDA surged 67% to $30 million due to cost efficiencies [5] Business Segments - Revenue at Dow Jones, which encompasses The Wall Street Journal, grew by 6% to $586 million, supported by a 16% increase in its professional information unit and rising digital subscriptions [9] - Realtor.com's parent company, Move, reported a 9% revenue increase to $152 million, marking its strongest quarterly growth since early 2022 [10] Strategic Insights - Thomson noted a positive trend in the recognition of the value of creativity and content by both companies and courts, indicating a shift in the perception of intellectual property in the AI era [8][9] - News Corp's legal and licensing strategy with AI firms is progressing, with expectations of announcing further partnerships that could positively impact results [12][13]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2026 rose 2% year-over-year to $2.14 billion, while total segment EBITDA increased by 5% to $340 million [4][19] - Net income from continuing operations was $150 million, slightly up from $149 million last year, and adjusted EPS rose from $0.20 to $0.22 [4][20] - Total segment EBITDA was negatively impacted by a $13 million write-off related to a book distributor closure [19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Dow Jones segment revenue increased by 6% to $586 million, with digital revenues accounting for 84% of total segment revenue [21][22] - Digital real estate services reported revenues of $479 million, up 5% year-over-year, with segment EBITDA rising 13% to $158 million [25] - Book publishing segment revenue declined by 2% to $534 million, with EBITDA down 28% to $58 million due to a $13 million write-off [29] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Digital revenues have nearly doubled since fiscal 2018, now comprising 62% of total revenues [18] - Digital advertising accounted for 68% of total advertising revenues, a new record for the company [8][24] - The U.S. housing market is showing signs of recovery, with Realtor.com experiencing a 9% revenue boost year-on-year [9][26] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on maximizing shareholder value through accelerated share buybacks, with a current repurchase rate of approximately $2.5 million per day [5][17] - Strategic diversification across high-margin content licensing and digital revenues is emphasized, with a focus on risk and compliance services [18][22] - The company is pursuing partnerships in the AI space and addressing piracy issues through legal actions [6][7] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the recovery in the housing market and the potential for continued revenue growth in digital real estate and Dow Jones [9][30] - The book publishing segment is expected to benefit from improved trends in the coming months, with recent releases performing well [12][31] - Management remains confident in the company's growth potential and plans to continue share repurchases at an elevated rate [17][32] Other Important Information - The company has made strategic acquisitions, such as Eco-Movement, to enhance its data offerings in the professional information business [8][23] - The digital-only subscriptions for the Wall Street Journal surged by 11%, contributing to the overall growth in digital circulation revenues [8][24] Q&A Session Summary Question: Concerns about Realtor's revenue growth sustainability - Management highlighted the ongoing focus on growth areas such as seller, new homes, and rentals, indicating that the strategy is yielding positive results despite market challenges [34] Question: Share repurchase strategy and Wall Street Journal pricing - Management confirmed the accelerated buyback rate and indicated that there is potential for further increases, while also discussing the elasticity of subscription pricing for the Wall Street Journal [38][39] Question: Impact of Factiva dispute settlement on revenues - Management noted that while the settlement had a modest impact, overall performance in Dow Jones was strong, with significant growth in risk and compliance revenues [42][43] Question: Future simplification of the business structure - Management expressed openness to structural changes and emphasized the importance of maximizing shareholder returns through strategic decisions [49] Question: Growth potential in risk and compliance services - Management is optimistic about the growth trajectory in risk and compliance, citing regulatory pressures as a source of new business [52][53] Question: Trajectory of news media business - Management reported a slight revenue increase and significant improvements in EBITDA, driven by cost efficiencies and strong advertising performance at the New York Post [58][59]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2026 rose 2% year-over-year to $2.14 billion, while total segment EBITDA increased by 5% to $340 million [4][19] - Net income from continuing operations was $150 million, slightly up from $149 million last year, and adjusted EPS rose from $0.20 to $0.22 [4][20] - Total segment EBITDA was negatively impacted by a $13 million write-off related to a book distributor closure [19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Dow Jones segment revenue grew 6% year-over-year to $586 million, with digital revenues accounting for 84% of this segment [20][21] - Digital real estate services reported revenues of $479 million, up 5% year-over-year, with segment EBITDA increasing by 13% [24] - Book publishing segment revenue declined 2% to $534 million, with EBITDA down 28% due to a $13 million write-off [27] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Digital revenues have nearly doubled since fiscal 2018, now comprising 62% of total revenues [18] - Digital advertising accounted for 68% of total advertising revenues, a new record for the company [9][23] - The Australian residential market showed signs of recovery, with Realtor.com experiencing a 9% revenue boost year-over-year [10][25] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on maximizing shareholder value through accelerated share buybacks, with a current rate of approximately $2.5 million per day [17][19] - Strategic diversification across high-margin content licensing and digital revenues is emphasized, with a significant reduction in reliance on advertising revenue [18] - The acquisition of EcoMovement enhances Dow Jones's offerings in the professional information business [9][22] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the recovery in the housing market and the potential for continued revenue growth in digital real estate [10][29] - The book publishing segment is expected to benefit from improved trends in October, with a stronger front list anticipated [29] - Management remains confident in the growth trajectory of Dow Jones and digital real estate services despite macroeconomic uncertainties [18][28] Other Important Information - The company is actively pursuing partnerships in the AI space and has seen positive trends in content licensing [5][7] - The digital real estate segment is targeting growth in new homes, rentals, and premium offerings, which collectively represent 22% of revenues [10][24] Q&A Session Summary Question: Concerns about sustaining double-digit revenue growth in Realtor - Management highlighted the focus on growth areas such as seller, new homes, and rentals, indicating that the strategy is yielding positive results despite a challenging housing market [32] Question: Inquiry about the accelerated share repurchase program - Management confirmed the potential to increase buybacks further, emphasizing a robust cash position and the importance of shareholder value [35] Question: Impact of the Factiva dispute settlement on revenues - Management noted that while the settlement had a modest impact, overall performance in the Dow Jones segment was strong, particularly in Risk and Compliance [40][42] Question: Future simplification of the business structure - Management indicated openness to structural changes, citing the recent sale of Foxtel as an example of their commitment to maximizing shareholder returns [46] Question: Growth potential in Risk and Compliance services - Management expressed optimism about continued growth in Risk and Compliance, driven by stringent regulations and new business opportunities [50]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2026 rose 2% year-over-year to $2.14 billion, while total segment EBITDA increased by 5% to $340 million [4][19] - Net income from continuing operations was $150 million, slightly up from $149 million last year, and adjusted EPS rose from $0.20 to $0.22 [4][20] - Total segment EBITDA was negatively impacted by a $13 million write-off related to a book distributor closure [19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Dow Jones segment revenue increased by 6% to $586 million, with digital revenues accounting for 84% of this segment [20][21] - Digital real estate services reported revenues of $479 million, up 5% year-over-year, with segment EBITDA rising 13% to $158 million [25] - Book publishing segment revenue declined by 2% to $534 million, with EBITDA down 28% to $58 million, impacted by a $13 million write-off [28] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Digital revenues have almost doubled to 62% of total revenues since fiscal 2018, with Dow Jones and digital real estate accounting for 49% of revenue and 84% of EBITDA in fiscal 2025 [18] - Digital advertising revenues represented 68% of total advertising revenues for the quarter, a new record [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on maximizing shareholder value through accelerated share buybacks, with a current repurchase rate of approximately $2.5 million per day [17] - The strategy includes expanding partnerships in AI and digital content, while also addressing piracy issues in the industry [6][5] - The company aims to enhance its digital offerings and maintain a strong position in the professional information business [9][22] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the recovery in the housing market, driven by lower interest rates, which is expected to boost revenues in digital real estate [10][31] - The book publishing segment is anticipated to improve in the coming months, with recent trends showing a rebound in orders [16][31] - Management remains confident in the growth potential of Dow Jones and digital real estate, despite ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties [18][30] Other Important Information - The company has made strategic acquisitions, such as EcoMovement, to enhance its data offerings in the professional information sector [9][22] - The digital real estate segment is targeting growth in new homes, rentals, and premium offerings, which collectively accounted for 22% of revenues this quarter [10][26] Q&A Session Summary Question: Concerns about sustaining double-digit revenue growth at Realtor - Management highlighted the focus on growth areas such as sellers, new homes, and rentals, indicating a positive outlook for revenue growth despite current market conditions [33] Question: On the accelerated share repurchase program - Management confirmed the buyback rate has increased significantly and expressed willingness to further increase it if deemed optimal [35] Question: Impact of the Factiva dispute settlement on revenues - Management noted improved performance in Dow Jones, with a 16% increase in Risk and Compliance revenues, and mentioned new customer acquisitions [37] Question: Future simplification of the business structure - Management indicated openness to structural changes and emphasized the importance of maximizing shareholder returns [39] Question: Growth potential in Risk and Compliance - Management expressed optimism about continued growth in Risk and Compliance, driven by regulatory demands and new business opportunities [41] Question: Trajectory of the news media business - Management noted slight revenue growth and significant improvements in EBITDA, driven by cost efficiencies and strong advertising performance at the New York Post [42]

Core Insights - News Corporation (NWSA) is expected to report first-quarter fiscal 2026 results on November 6, with revenues projected at $2.11 billion, reflecting an 18.06% decline year-over-year. Earnings per share are estimated to be 18 cents, indicating a 14.29% decrease from the previous year [1][7]. Financial Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates a mixed earnings surprise history for News Corp, with one earnings beat, one miss, and one match in the last four quarters, resulting in an average surprise of 5.18% [2]. - The company's current Earnings ESP is 0.00%, and it holds a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell), suggesting low odds for an earnings beat this time [6]. Segment Analysis - The News Media segment is anticipated to be negatively impacted by ongoing advertising softness, with a 4% revenue decline year-over-year in the previous quarter due to weaker ad demand and lower audience engagement [3]. - Factiva's customer disputes are expected to continue affecting performance, potentially limiting B2B growth and slowing subscription renewals, which could hurt profitability [4]. Positive Developments - The success of Move's product enhancements and pricing strategies is likely to have positively influenced News Corp's performance, with previous quarters showing revenue improvement driven by premium listing products and partnerships [5].

Core Insights - News Corporation (NWSA) reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 earnings of 19 cents per share, matching the Zacks Consensus Estimate, with a 5% decrease from the previous year [1] - Revenues reached $2.11 billion, a 1% year-over-year increase, surpassing the consensus estimate by 0.26%, driven by growth in Digital Real Estate Services and Dow Jones segments [1][9] Financial Performance - Adjusted revenues were flat year over year, while total EBITDA increased by 6% to $329 million [3] - The company ended the fiscal fourth quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $2.4 billion, borrowings of $1.94 billion, and stockholder equity of $8.77 billion [21] Segment Performance Digital Real Estate Services - Revenues increased by 4% year over year to $466 million, with REA Group contributing significantly [4] - Move revenues rose by 3% to $148 million, driven by strong growth in sellers, new homes, and rentals [5] - Average monthly unique users of Realtor.com fell by 3% year over year to 72 million, with lead volume decreasing by 13% [5] Dow Jones - Revenues grew by 7% year over year to $604 million, supported by higher circulation and subscription revenues [7] - Digital revenues accounted for 83% of total revenues, up from 81% in the previous year [7] - Total average subscriptions to Dow Jones' consumer products increased by 7% to 6.3 million [12] Book Publishing - Revenues in the Book Publishing segment declined by 4% year over year to $494 million, attributed to softer consumer spending [14] - Digital sales decreased by 3%, with audiobook sales down by 7% [15] News Media - Revenues fell by 4% year over year to $545 million, impacted by lower advertising revenues [16] - Digital revenues represented 38% of the News Media segment's revenues, up from 37% in the prior year [18] Advertising Revenue - Advertising revenues increased by 2% year over year, with print advertising up by 3% and digital advertising up by 1% [11] - Digital advertising contributed 65% of total ad revenues, slightly down from 66% in the previous year [11]