National CineMedia(NCMI) - 2025 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - NCM's total revenue for Q1 2025 was $34.9 million, a 7% decline from $37.4 million in the same period last year, primarily due to a 5% year-over-year reduction in attendance and advertiser uncertainty related to tariffs [26][12][13] - Adjusted OIBDA was negative $9 million, in line with guidance, compared to negative $5.7 million in the prior year [30][13] - Total unlevered free cash flow for the quarter was $5.5 million, impacted by prior year client advance payments [30] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - National advertising revenue decreased to $27.4 million from $29.5 million in Q1 2024, driven by lower attendance [27] - Local and regional advertising revenue totaled $4.9 million, down from $5.3 million in the prior year, primarily due to lower attendance and economic uncertainty [28] - The scatter market accounted for 42% of first quarter national onscreen revenue, up from 29% in the prior year, reflecting a shift towards real-time advertising solutions [12][27] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The box office generated approximately $1.4 billion in Q1 2025, an 11.6% decline compared to the same period last year, attributed to a weaker film slate and underperformance of high-profile titles [6][7] - Year-to-date network attendance through April was up 6% compared to the same period last year, driven by strong performances from new releases [7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - NCM is focused on enhancing its platform through investments in technology and talent, aiming to capitalize on opportunities in the premium video ad space [5][6] - The company has extended its contract with AMC Theatres for five years, aligning payment structures with performance metrics to enhance revenue generation [16][34] - NCM is prioritizing the development of programmatic and self-serve advertising solutions to meet evolving market demands [20][21] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about attendance recovery supported by a strong film slate in the second quarter and beyond, despite headwinds from tariff-related uncertainties [23][36] - The company anticipates second quarter revenue between $56 million and $61 million, reflecting ongoing impacts of tariff uncertainty [36] - Management remains confident in the resilience of the theatrical exhibition industry, supported by a compelling film slate and renewed commitments from industry leaders [24][36] Other Important Information - NCM repurchased 2.3 million shares at an average price of $6.6, totaling approximately $14 million, as part of its share repurchase program [34][35] - A quarterly dividend of $0.03 per share was announced, amounting to $2.9 million, to be paid on May 29, 2025 [35] Q&A Session Summary Question: Has the strength of pacing seen in Q4 weakened? - Management noted that while the pipeline remains active, there are headwinds in certain categories, and pacing has softened slightly compared to Q4 [44] Question: Will there be more flexibility in upfront commitments due to the current environment? - Management indicated that while upfront negotiations will allow for more flexibility, current cancellation policies are expected to remain unchanged [48] Question: How is the ability to deliver ads quickly impacting monetization? - Management stated that quick ad delivery is beneficial for capitalizing on films that outperform expectations, enhancing inventory utilization [52] Question: Is there a difference in spending between brand-driven and performance ad purchases? - Management observed that brand-driven advertisers are pausing spending, while performance-based companies continue to invest due to quantifiable outcomes [54] Question: What is the incremental revenue opportunity from the new AMC inventory? - Management expressed excitement about the enhanced relationship with AMC, indicating that the new inventory will provide significant revenue opportunities [60] Question: How is NCMX helping to compete with digital video platforms? - Management highlighted that NCMX's new tools allow for better targeting and attribution, making NCM more competitive in the advertising space [66]