News (NWS) - 2026 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenues increased by 6% to $2.4 billion for the quarter, with total segment EBITDA expanding by 9% to $521 million, despite a one-time inventory-related charge at HarperCollins [4][20] - Net income from continuing operations was $242 million, a 21% decrease from the prior year, attributed to the absence of a favorable $87 million gain from the sale of PropertyGuru [4][21] - Adjusted EPS for the quarter was $0.40, compared to $0.33 in the prior quarter, with profitability margin rising from 21.4% to 22.1% [4][20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Dow Jones: Revenues rose by 8% to $648 million, with segment EBITDA increasing by 10% to $191 million, achieving a record profit margin of 29.5% [21][24] - Digital Real Estate Services: Segment revenues grew by 8% to $511 million, with segment EBITDA up 11% to $206 million [25][20] - Book Publishing: Revenues increased by 6% to $633 million, although segment EBITDA declined by 2% to $99 million due to a one-time write-off [29][20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the U.S. market, Realtor.com saw revenues grow by 10% to $143 million, driven by improved lead volume and premium products [11][26] - In Australia, REA's revenues grew by 7% to $368 million, benefiting from yield growth and improved listing volumes [12][25] - Digital advertising revenue at Dow Jones reached a record level of $87 million, rising 12% supported by demand from the financial services sector [8][24] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on transforming into a digital-first entity, increasing recurring revenues while reducing dependence on advertising [5][19] - There is a strong emphasis on operational efficiency and margin expansion, with a disciplined approach to capital expenditures [18][19] - The company is exploring AI partnerships to enhance its content offerings and is confident in its ability to monetize proprietary content in the evolving AI landscape [6][35] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism for the second half of the fiscal year, citing strong performance in core business segments and a robust balance sheet [4][16] - The evolving impact of AI is acknowledged, with management confident in the company's unique content and its ability to meet the needs of AI companies [35][39] - The company anticipates continued strong revenue growth in B2B segments, particularly at Dow Jones, and is focused on maximizing shareholder value through share buybacks [19][51] Other Important Information - The company repurchased $172 million in shares during the quarter, significantly higher than the previous year [20][51] - The launch of the California Post is highlighted as a strategic move to enhance the company's media presence [15][16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Market reaction to AI and its implications for News Corp - Management clarified that AI's retrospective nature does not pose a significant threat, as the company produces contemporary, proprietary content that AI companies need to pay for [33][34] Question: Investment in Dow Jones and CapEx related to AI - Management expressed confidence in Dow Jones and indicated that CapEx for Dow Jones would be modestly down this year, while overall free cash flow is expected to grow [38][41] Question: M&A strategy and areas of interest - Management stated that they are constantly looking for reasonable investments but will prioritize organic growth and share buybacks [49][50] Question: Simplifying the company structure - Management emphasized a focus on generating long-term value and highlighted the positive trajectory of Realtor.com amidst competition [54][56] Question: Subscription revenue growth and pricing strategy at Dow Jones - Management noted that there is potential for price elasticity in subscriptions and highlighted the success in securing enterprise customers [63][66]