Gannett(GCI) - 2025 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total operating revenues for Q1 were $571.6 million, a decrease of 10.1% year-over-year, or 7.7% on a same-store basis [30] - Adjusted EBITDA totaled$ 50.5 million, representing a margin of 8.8%, with a year-over-year decline in line with expectations [31] - The company reported a net loss of $7 million in Q1, an improvement of approximately$ 77 million compared to the previous year [33] - Free cash flow in Q1 totaled $10.2 million, growing 7.6%, with expectations for similar performance in Q2 [38] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total digital revenues in Q1 were$ 250.4 million, down 6.4% year-over-year, representing approximately 44% of total revenues [34] - Digital-only subscription revenues exceeded $43 million, reflecting minor same-store growth, impacted by elevated customer churn [34] - Adjusted EBITDA for the Digital Marketing Solutions (DMS) segment totaled$ 8.5 million, with core platform revenue at $108.2 million [37] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company had 195 million average monthly unique visitors, growing over 4% compared to the prior year [14] - The UK market experienced a slowdown in digital advertising trends, reflective of the local economy [36] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to leverage its industry-leading scale and diverse digital businesses to drive long-term growth [11] - A key focus is on enhancing monetization opportunities through investments in digital initiatives and expanding first-party data [13] - The recent DOJ ruling against Google is seen as a potential catalyst for a more equitable digital advertising marketplace, benefiting the company [12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving full-year 2025 business outlook despite a challenging first quarter [7] - The company anticipates a marked improvement in top-line trends, particularly in digital revenue, as it moves past unique first-quarter challenges [6] - Management noted that the fundamentals of the business are improving, with stronger retention and a more diversified revenue base [56] Other Important Information - The company reduced its debt by approximately$ 75 million in Q1, strengthening its capital structure [8] - A leadership transition occurred with the appointment of Tricia Gosser as Chief Financial Officer [9] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of DOJ case against Google - Management believes the DOJ's win sets the stage for a more favorable ad marketplace, leading to greater transparency and higher revenue shares for publishers [44] Question: Adjustments to affiliate revenue business - The company is working with affiliate partners to navigate changes and reenergize revenue growth through leveraging existing content [50] Question: Confidence in 2025 guidance - Management remains confident in the guidance, citing improvements in fundamentals and operational efficiencies [56] Question: Digital subscription revenue trends - On a same-store basis, there was some growth in digital subscriptions, but impacted by higher revenue reversals [73] Question: Tools to aggregate budgets onto the platform - The company is leveraging relationships with advertisers and building out first-party data solutions to drive up CPM [79] Question: Status of non-strategic asset sales - The company has largely worked through its real estate portfolio and does not feel pressured to sell assets that could negatively impact the business [83]