TKO Group Holdings (NYSE:TKO) Q3 2025 Earnings Call November 05, 2025 05:00 PM ET Speaker2Good afternoon, and thank you for attending the TKO Q3 2025 earnings call. My name is Matt, and I'll be the moderator for today's call. All lines will be muted during the presentation portion of the call for an opportunity for questions and answers at the end. If you would like to ask a question, please press star one on your telephone keypad. I now have to pass the conference over to our host, Seth Zaslow, Head of Inv ...

Group 1 - Paramount Skydance Corp (NASDAQ: PSKY) experienced a surge of over 20% on August 13 after being labeled a "meme stock" by CNBC's Jim Cramer, with shares trading at $12.85 at the time of the comment [1] - By the time of publication, shares of Paramount Skydance were up 22.34%, trading at $13.42, after reaching a peak increase of 27% earlier in the session [1][2] - The stock rally followed the completion of a high-profile merger with Skydance Media, combining Paramount's content library and distribution network with Skydance's production capabilities, now trading under the ticker "PSKY" on Nasdaq [2] Group 2 - Paramount announced a seven-year, $7.7 billion media rights agreement with TKO Group Holdings, making it the exclusive distributor of UFC events in the U.S. starting in 2026, with all events streaming on Paramount+ [3] - The deal is expected to more than double the reported $550 million per year that ESPN currently pays for similar rights [3] - Leadership changes include David Ellison being appointed as Chairman and CEO, supported by a board of ten directors with expertise in media, technology, and finance [4] Group 3 - Seaport Global Securities initiated coverage of the stock with a Neutral rating, highlighting the transformative potential of the Skydance integration [4]

Paramount Skydance said it will become the exclusive distributor of TKO Group's UFC events in a seven-year deal worth $7.7 billion. https://t.co/iVkjqIKKlR ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company generated revenue of $1,308 million, an increase of 10% compared to the previous year [17] - Adjusted EBITDA was $526 million, reflecting a significant increase of 75%, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 40%, up from 25% in the prior year [17] - UFC segment revenue increased by 5% to $416 million, while adjusted EBITDA rose by 6% to $245 million, maintaining a 59% adjusted EBITDA margin [18] - WWE segment revenue increased by 22% to $556 million, with adjusted EBITDA growing by 31% to $330 million, resulting in a 59% adjusted EBITDA margin, up from 55% [21] - IMG segment revenue decreased by 4% to $37 million, but adjusted EBITDA improved significantly to $29 million from a negative $120 million, achieving a 9% adjusted EBITDA margin [25] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - UFC's live events and global partnerships contributed to robust double-digit growth, with significant partnerships established with Meta and Monster Energy [9] - WWE's live events saw a 29% increase in revenue to $186 million, driven by higher ticket sales and site fee revenue from major events [21] - IMG's production capabilities were highlighted, with significant events covered across multiple continents, although revenue declined due to the loss of FA Cup rights [25][26] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported strong performance in international markets, with WWE's premium live events consistently ranking in the top 10 in 37 countries [11] - UFC's site fee strategy is gaining traction, with new partnerships and events being hosted in emerging markets like Azerbaijan and Qatar [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on capitalizing on sustained demand for premium content and live events, raising its full-year guidance for revenue and adjusted EBITDA [6][29] - The recent ESPN media rights deal for WWE's premium live events is expected to secure a pivotal recurring revenue stream, enhancing the company's strategic positioning [6][35] - The integration of IMG On Location and PBR is progressing well, with anticipated savings and revenue growth from these segments [30] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to maintain strong performance, citing the successful execution of live events and partnerships [16][36] - The outlook for the remainder of 2025 remains positive, with expectations of continued growth driven by UFC and WWE [29] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining a balance between capital returns to shareholders and organic investments [28] Other Important Information - The company generated $375 million in free cash flow during the quarter, with a free cash flow conversion rate of 71% [27] - The company ended the quarter with $2.769 billion in debt and $535 million in cash and cash equivalents [27] Q&A Session Summary Question: Discussion on the WWE deal and its impact - Management emphasized the importance of not putting all assets with one partner, highlighting the value of having multiple distribution channels for content [41] - The ESPN deal is expected to enhance audience reach and provide a stable revenue stream with annual escalators [44][46] Question: Timing of the WWE and UFC deals - Management clarified that the timing of the deals was not indicative of challenges with UFC, and they are in the final stages of negotiations [61][63] Question: Incremental margins and profitability - Management discussed the strong performance in the first half of the year and the expected continuation of growth in high-margin areas [100][101] Question: Sponsorship opportunities - Management highlighted the significant potential for increasing sponsorship revenue, particularly with the shift to ESPN's direct-to-consumer model [91][92]