TKO Group Holdings Conference Call Summary Company Overview - **Company**: TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) - **Date**: September 10, 2025 - **Key Speaker**: Marc Shapiro, President and COO Key Industry Insights Media Rights and Partnerships - TKO has successfully renegotiated media rights deals, significantly increasing revenue streams - UFC secured a seven-year deal worth **$1.1 billion**, double the previous ESPN deal [5][6] - WWE's new media rights include a **10-year deal** for WWE Raw with Netflix and a **five-year deal** for SmackDown [6] - Paramount+ is seen as a strong partner for WWE, leveraging CBS's sports history to grow audience and brand [12][11] Revenue Growth and Financial Performance - TKO is experiencing strong financial performance with **60%+ free cash flow conversion** and projected **35% to 40% EBITDA margins** [23][23] - The company anticipates **$400 million** in global partnerships, up from **$30 million** when UFC was acquired [26] - TKO is focused on capital returns, including a **dividend increase** and a share buyback program [56][59] Live Events and Ticketing - Demand for live events remains high, with TKO optimizing ticket pricing and capacity [31] - The company is seeing record ticket yields, particularly in UFC events, with plans to replicate this success in WWE [35][37] - Upcoming events, such as WrestlePalooza, are expected to enhance brand visibility and revenue [39] Boxing and Future Opportunities - TKO is launching Zuffa Boxing, aiming for **12 to 16 fights per year** and exploring media rights for these events [20][19] - The company plans to partner with Saudi Arabia for high-profile boxing events, minimizing financial risk [18] Additional Insights Strategic Focus - TKO emphasizes a humble approach despite current successes, focusing on execution and long-term growth strategies [7] - The company is not actively pursuing acquisitions but remains open to opportunistic deals [56] Operational Efficiency - TKO maintains a lean cost structure while ensuring competitive fighter pay, which is crucial for retaining talent [48][49] - The integration of UFC and WWE operations is ongoing, with expectations for increased synergies and efficiencies [22] Market Trends - There is a growing trend towards premium experiences in live events, with consumers seeking personalized and exclusive opportunities [32][33] - TKO is capitalizing on this trend through its On Location hospitality services, enhancing the overall event experience [33] Conclusion - TKO Group Holdings is positioned for continued growth through strategic media partnerships, robust financial performance, and a focus on enhancing live event experiences. The company is committed to returning capital to shareholders while exploring new opportunities in boxing and global partnerships.

Group 1 - Baird initiated coverage on TKO Group Holdings with an Outperform rating and a $225 price target, citing strong positioning in the evolving media landscape [1] - The analysts highlighted the company's recent media rights agreements for UFC and WWE, noting that the deals provided greater visibility into long-term performance while also strengthening brand value [1] - Additional upside drivers for TKO include potential growth from boxing, site fees, dynamic pricing, and new partnerships [1] Group 2 - Baird concluded that TKO was well-positioned to capitalize on these opportunities and maintained it would remain an attractive asset for investors [2]

The deal increases Netflix’s live sports portfolio after adding the NFL and WWE. The 2026 World Baseball Classic will mark the first time Netflix will stream a live event in Japan. (Photo: Eric Espada via Getty Images) https://t.co/iyxVuG9CRw https://t.co/welFLx7o6H ...

Acquisition Deals - ESPN and Disney both struck MEGA acquisition deals this week [1] - The deals involve NFL and WWE assets [1] Industry Expert - @joepompliano provides insights on the deals [1]

Group 1 - TKO Group Holdings reported a 10% increase in total revenue for Q2, reaching $1.3 billion, surpassing analysts' expectations of $1.27 billion [1] - Diluted earnings per share rose to $1.17, up from 72 cents in the same quarter last year, exceeding the analyst target of $1.09 [1] - WWE revenue increased by $99.4 million to $556.2 million, while UFC revenue grew by $21.5 million to $415.9 million [2] Group 2 - The WWE's Wrestlemania event in April set multiple records for global viewership, contributing significantly to revenue growth [2] - TKO announced a new rights deal with ESPN for 10 annual "premium live events," generating $1.6 billion, a substantial increase from the $900 million deal with NBCUniversal in 2020 [4] - TKO is increasing its 2025 revenue guidance to a range of $4.63 billion to $4.69 billion, with adjusted EBITDA projected between $1.54 billion and $1.56 billion [5]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net sales declined by 6% as reported and in constant currency to $1.02 billion [6][19] - Adjusted gross margin increased by 200 basis points to 51.2% [7][24] - Adjusted earnings per share remained the same as last year at $0.19 [7][26] - Total gross billings decreased by 4% in constant currency [20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Dolls category declined by 19% due to fewer new Barbie product launches and lower retailer promotional support [21] - Vehicles category increased by 10%, with Hot Wheels achieving a 9% growth [21] - Infant, toddler, and preschool category decreased by 25%, primarily due to a decline in Fisher Price [22] - Challenger categories increased by 16%, driven by strong results in action figures [22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Gross billings declined by 15% in North America, while international gross billings increased by 9% [23][24] - EMEA region grew by 8%, Latin America by 5%, and Asia Pacific by 16% [24] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Company is focused on creating innovative products and experiences to inspire and entertain [11] - Strategic collaboration with OpenAI to leverage new technologies for brand expansion [12] - Formation of Mattel Studios to enhance entertainment strategy, aiming to release 1-2 films per year starting in 2026 [12][13] - Continued emphasis on diversifying supply chain and optimizing product sourcing to mitigate tariff impacts [42][88] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted ongoing trade uncertainty impacting U.S. business but expressed confidence in brand appeal and operational excellence [6][7] - Consumer demand for toys remains strong, with expectations for continued growth in the toy industry [8][46] - Revised guidance for 2025 includes net sales growth of 1% to 3% in constant currency [31] Other Important Information - Company repurchased $50 million of shares in the quarter, targeting $600 million for the full year [26][30] - Cash balance increased to $870 million, with total debt remaining at $2.34 billion [27][28] - Cost savings program has realized $126 million since its launch in 2024, with a target of $200 million by 2026 [29][30] Q&A Session Summary Question: What were the major factors affecting guidance? - Management discussed the impact of lowered top-line guidance and tariff effects on the bottom line, alongside actions taken to mitigate these headwinds [34][36] Question: How are pricing strategies being adjusted in response to tariffs? - Management stated that pricing actions have been implemented in collaboration with retail partners, aiming to keep prices low for consumers [39][41] Question: What is the outlook for consumer demand in the second half of the year? - Management indicated strong consumer demand across all regions, with expectations for continued growth despite potential uncertainties [44][46] Question: How are inventory levels currently positioned? - Management confirmed that inventory levels are appropriate and aligned with retail needs, with no significant disruptions expected [75][76] Question: What is the expected impact of tariffs on gross margins? - Management estimated total tariff exposure for the year to be less than $100 million, with mitigating actions in place to offset impacts [71][72]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net sales grew 2% as reported and 4% in constant currency to $827 million [6][25] - Adjusted gross margin increased by 130 basis points to 49.6% [6][25] - Adjusted EBITDA grew 7% to $57 million [6][25] - Cash balance at quarter end was $1.24 billion, an increase of $113 million year-over-year [32] - Total debt remained approximately $2.34 billion [33] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Dolls gross billings increased 2%, driven by Disney Princess and Wicked, while Barbie and American Girl were comparable to the prior year [26][15] - Vehicles increased 6%, with Hot Wheels growing 7% [26][15] - Infant toddler and preschool overall declined 5%, primarily due to declines in baby gear and Power Wheels [26] - Challenger categories overall increased 14%, driven by growth in Action Figures and Games [28] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Gross billings increased 4% in North America, including double-digit growth in Canada [29] - EMEA increased 8% with growth across almost every market [29] - Asia Pacific increased 12%, driven by growth in Australia, India, and China [29] - Latin America declined 7%, reflecting the impact of retailers reducing inventory levels [29] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is diversifying its supply chain to reduce reliance on China, with plans to relocate production of 500 toy SKUs from China to other locations in 2025 [9][10] - Aiming to reduce U.S. imports from China to less than 15% of global production by 2026 and less than 10% by 2027 [13][12] - The company is committed to maintaining a strong balance sheet and executing a $600 million share repurchase program for 2025 [23] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in mitigating actions to offset potential tariff impacts, emphasizing a strong balance sheet and operational excellence [22][23] - The company is pausing full-year 2025 guidance due to uncertainty in consumer spending and the evolving tariff situation [21][22] - Management noted that the toy industry has historically proven resilient during uncertain times [22] Other Important Information - The company reported a strong first quarter with top-line growth and gross margin expansion [6][23] - The entertainment strategy is progressing, with several movies in production and partnerships with major entertainment companies [18][19] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you outline the roadmap to offset the impact of incremental tariffs? - Management indicated that Q1 was not impacted by tariffs and expects Q2 to be unaffected as well, with potential impacts starting in Q3 [42] - Current exposure to tariffs is estimated at $270 million, before considering mitigating actions [43][44] Question: What flexibility exists in the supply chain to transition out of China? - The company has established a flexible, modular supply chain over seven years, sourcing from multiple countries [50][52] Question: How confident is the company in passing along pricing to retailers? - Management emphasized long-standing relationships with retailers and a strategic approach to pricing, ensuring affordability [55][59] Question: What is the current state of inventory levels post-Easter? - The company reported that both owned and retail inventories are at appropriate levels, with some increases due to the later Easter holiday [78] Question: Have there been changes in retailer buying behavior? - No significant changes in buying behavior were noted, but some volatility is expected in gross billings due to direct import assessments [82][84]