rtside (US:PODC)2025-07-03 16:32Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2025 increased 20% to $14.1 million compared to $11.7 million in the same quarter a year ago [11] - Operating loss in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2025 was $1.8 million compared to an operating loss of $1.2 million in the same quarter a year ago, primarily driven by higher non-cash stock compensation expense [11][12] - Net loss in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2025 was $1.8 million or a loss of $0.06 per share compared to a net loss of $1 million or $0.05 per share in the quarter a year ago [12] - Adjusted EBITDA in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2025 was positive $900,000 compared to positive $300,000 in the same quarter a year ago [12] - For the fiscal year 2025, revenue increased 20% to $52.1 million compared to $43.3 million in fiscal year 2024 [12][13] - Operating loss for the fiscal year 2025 was $6.4 million compared to an operating loss of $5 million in fiscal year 2024 [13] - Net loss for the fiscal year 2025 was $6.4 million or $0.27 per share compared to a net loss of $14.7 million or $0.68 per share in fiscal year 2024 [14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - PodcastOne renewed several high-performing legacy shows and expanded partnerships, contributing to a 20% year-over-year revenue increase [11][8] - New original titles launched in the quarter included "Kate and Ty," "Break It Down," and "DetoxRetox with Tom Schwartz," each drawing strong early audiences [10] - The migration to Amazon's Art19 platform introduced a new core monetization channel alongside existing revenue streams [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Podcasting industry projected to see over $2.4 billion in advertising investment in 2025, with PodcastOne positioned to capitalize on this growth [6] - PodcastOne ranked as a top 10 US podcast publisher with a monthly unique US audience of 6 billion downloads and streams [7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - PodcastOne is focused on diversifying revenue streams and enhancing monetization through partnerships and new content [11][17] - The company is actively evaluating M&A prospects to acquire top content and networks, as well as enhance its platform with production and technology acquisitions [17] - The strategic initiative to enter the crypto space aims to create a new vertical and attract new advertisers [19][55] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the advertising environment, noting higher CPMs and increased advertiser interest [40] - The company is optimistic about future growth, expecting revenues for fiscal year 2026 to be between $55 million and $60 million [15] - Management highlighted the importance of maximizing opportunities with current inventory while acquiring new content producers [61] Other Important Information - PodcastOne completed a renovation of its Beverly Hills studio, enhancing production capabilities [10] - The company ended the fiscal fourth quarter with no debt and $1.1 million in cash and cash equivalents [12] Q&A Session Summary Question: Increase in stock-based compensation - Management confirmed that the increase in stock-based compensation is related to initiatives to offer talent a larger component of compensation [25][27] Question: Benefits from the Art19 deal - Management reported operational efficiencies and cost savings from the Art19 deal, with revenue generation exceeding expectations [30][32] Question: Cost of sales as a percentage of revenue - Management indicated that cost of sales improved and is expected to hold steady or improve further [34][35] Question: Advertising environment and advertiser appetite - Management noted a positive advertising environment with higher CPMs and more advertisers entering the space [40] Question: Talent acquisition environment - Management stated that there is still good talent available and the company is in a strong position to negotiate favorable terms [44][46] Question: Terms of the Amazon deal - Management explained the minimum guarantee structure based on impressions, with specific thresholds to meet for revenue increases [49][50] Question: Rationale for entering the crypto space - Management highlighted the passionate community in the crypto space and the potential for new advertisers and content opportunities [53][55] Question: Growth compared to the industry - Management expressed confidence in their growth strategy and emphasized the importance of maximizing current partnerships while acquiring new content [59][61]