Lee Enterprises(US:LEE)2025-08-07 15:00Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The third quarter total operating revenue was $141 million, showing a year-over-year trend consistent with the second quarter results [14] - Digital revenue reached $305 million on a trailing twelve-month basis, with a goal of achieving $450 million by 2028 [10][19] - Cash costs decreased by 7% compared to the same quarter last year, with expectations of finishing the fiscal year with cash costs between $522 million and $532 million, representing a 3% to 5% decline over the prior year [16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Digital subscription revenue grew 16% year-over-year on a same-store basis, driven by a 28% increase in ARPU [8][15] - Amplify Digital agency revenue grew 10% on a same-store basis over the prior year, indicating a return to double-digit growth [11][15] - Total digital revenue in the third quarter was $78 million, representing a 4% increase on a same-store basis [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Local advertising revenue trends improved significantly, with a year-over-year trend favorable by seven points [7] - Digital revenue now constitutes 55% of overall revenue, highlighting the strength of the digital business [11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on a three-pillar digital growth strategy aimed at achieving $450 million in digital revenue by 2028 [9][10] - The launch of AI-powered products is expected to drive lead capture, customer engagement, and business automation, enhancing the product catalog [8][14] - The company aims to replace print revenue with growing and profitable digital revenue to achieve long-term sustainability [13] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in reaching long-term unit targets despite recent challenges, including the cyber event [9] - The company anticipates continued growth in digital subscriptions and new AI revenue streams to drive momentum [21] - Management emphasized the importance of enhancing operational rigor without compromising quality to strengthen long-term positioning [16] Other Important Information - The company executed approximately $40 million in annualized cost reductions aimed at lowering costs across non-core print operations [16] - The credit agreement with Berkshire Hathaway includes favorable terms, allowing the company to focus on executing its strategy [17] Q&A Session Summary Question: How is Lee addressing the shift in how readers consume news? - Management highlighted the competitive advantage of their asset portfolio and the focus on enhancing digital user experience and expanding local content to address changes in consumer behavior [24][25]