DallasNews Corporation Announces Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results

July 26, 2022 at 4:30 PM EDT

DALLAS, July 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DallasNews Corporation (Nasdaq: DALN) today reported a second quarter 2022 net loss of $2.4 million, or $(0.45) per share, and an operating loss of $2.3 million. In the second quarter of 2021, the Company reported a net loss of $1.5 million, or $(0.28) per share, and an operating loss of $3.0 million.

For the second quarter of 2022, on a non-GAAP basis, DallasNews reported an operating loss adjusted for certain items (“adjusted operating loss”) of $1.0 million, a $0.5 million greater loss when compared to an adjusted operating loss of $0.6 million reported for the second quarter of 2021. The decrease is primarily due to a decline in total revenue of $1.1 million, partially offset by expense improvements of $0.5 million in distribution and $0.3 million in employee compensation and benefits.

Grant Moise, Chief Executive Officer, said, “The second quarter showed steady progress in our pursuit to become a sustainably profitable digital media company and DallasNews’ financial performance was in line with our internal expectations. We continue to invest in our growing digital business, while efficiently managing our more mature print business which continues to experience headwinds from significantly higher newsprint and fuel costs. Medium Giant had a strong quarter closing new business, while the subscription side of our business continued to grow year-over-year.”

Second Quarter Results

Total revenue was $37.6 million in the second quarter of 2022, a decrease of $1.1 million or 2.8 percent when compared to the second quarter of 2021.

Revenue from advertising and marketing services, including print and digital revenues, was $17.5 million in the second quarter of 2022, a decrease of $1.1 million or 6.2 percent when compared to the $18.6 million reported for the second quarter of 2021. The decline is primarily due to a $0.8 million decrease in print advertising revenue.

Circulation revenue was $16.3 million in the second quarter of 2022, an increase of $0.2 million when compared to the $16.1 million reported for the second quarter of 2021. Digital-only subscription revenue increased $1.0 million or 42.9 percent, partially offset by a print circulation decline of $0.8 million or 5.9 percent.

Printing, distribution and other revenue decreased $0.1 million, or 2.7 percent, to $3.9 million, primarily due to a slight reduction in commercial printing and distribution revenue.

Total consolidated operating expense in the second quarter of 2022, on a GAAP basis, was $39.9 million, an improvement of $1.8 million or 4.4 percent compared to the second quarter of 2021. The improvement is primarily due to decreases of $1.3 million in employee compensation and benefits expense and $0.5 million in distribution expense.

In the second quarter of 2022, on a non-GAAP basis, adjusted operating expense was $43.9 million, an improvement of $1.7 million or 3.7 percent when compared to $45.6 million of adjusted operating expense in the second quarter of 2021.

As of June 30, 2022, the Company had 671 employees, a decrease of 53 full-time equivalents, or 7.3 percent, when compared to the prior year period. Cash and cash equivalents were $26.6 million and the Company had no debt.

The Company expects to receive cash proceeds of $22.5 million on July 29, 2022, from the collection of the Charter DMN Holdings, LP note receivable, related to the sale of the Company’s former headquarters.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Reconciliations of operating loss to adjusted operating loss, total net operating revenue to adjusted operating revenue, and total operating costs and expense to adjusted operating expense are included in the exhibits to this release.

Financial Results Conference Call

DallasNews Corporation will conduct a conference call on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. CDT to discuss financial results. The conference call will be available via webcast by accessing the Company’s website at investor.dallasnewscorporation.com/events. An archive of the webcast will be available at dallasnewscorporation.com in the Investor Relations section.

To access the listen-only conference call, dial 1-844-291-5489 and enter the following access code when prompted: 9691263. A replay line will be available at 1-866-207-1041 from 12:00 p.m. CDT on July 27, 2022 until 11:59 p.m. CDT on August 2, 2022. The access code for the replay is 9944335.

About DallasNews Corporation

DallasNews Corporation is the Dallas-based holding company of The Dallas Morning News and Medium Giant. The Dallas Morning News is Texas' leading daily newspaper with a strong journalistic reputation, intense regional focus and close community ties. Medium Giant is a media and marketing agency of divergent thinkers who devise strategies that deepen connections, expand influence, and scale success for clients nationwide. For additional information, visit dallasnewscorporation.com or email invest@dallasnews.com

Statements in this communication concerning DallasNews Corporation’s business outlook or future economic performance, revenues, expenses, and other financial and non-financial items that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” as the term is defined under applicable federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those statements. Such risks, trends and uncertainties are, in most instances, beyond the Company’s control, and include changes in advertising demand and other economic conditions; consumers’ tastes; newsprint prices; program costs; labor relations; cybersecurity incidents; technological obsolescence; and the current and future impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other risks, there can be no guarantee that the board of directors will approve a quarterly dividend in future quarters; as well as other risks described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the Company’s other public disclosures and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements, which are as of the date of this filing, are not updated to reflect events or circumstances after the date of the statement.

Contact:
Katy Murray
214-977-8869

DallasNews Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations

    Three Months Ended June 30,   Six Months Ended June 30,
In thousands, except share and per share amounts (unaudited)   2022   2021   2022   2021
Net Operating Revenue:                        
Advertising and marketing services   $ 17,457     $ 18,601     $ 33,721     $ 35,370  
Circulation     16,250       16,093       32,346       32,115  
Printing, distribution and other     3,866       3,974       7,793       7,998  
Total net operating revenue     37,573       38,668       73,860       75,483  
Operating Costs and Expense:                        
Employee compensation and benefits     16,804       18,116       33,214       36,063  
Other production, distribution and operating costs     19,725       20,151       38,974       39,241  
Newsprint, ink and other supplies     2,504       2,378       4,898       4,719  
Depreciation     716       1,035       1,428       2,109  
Amortization                       64  
Gain on sale/disposal of assets, net                       (1 )
Asset impairments     102             102        
Total operating costs and expense     39,851       41,680       78,616       82,195  
Operating loss     (2,278 )     (3,012 )     (4,756 )     (6,712 )
Other income, net     28       1,613       46       2,867  
Loss Before Income Taxes     (2,250 )     (1,399 )     (4,710 )     (3,845 )
Income tax provision     165       83       349       402  
Net Loss   $ (2,415 )   $ (1,482 )   $ (5,059 )   $ (4,247 )
                         
Per Share Basis (1)                        
Net loss                        
Basic   $ (0.45 )   $ (0.28 )   $ (0.95 )   $ (0.79 )
Number of common shares used in the per share calculation:                        
Basic     5,352,490       5,352,490       5,352,490       5,352,490  
                                 

(1) The Company’s Series A and Series B common stock equally share in the distributed and undistributed earnings. There were no options or RSUs outstanding as of June 30, 2022 and 2021, that would result in dilution of shares or the calculation of EPS under the two-class method as prescribed under ASC 260 – Earnings Per Share.

DallasNews Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets

    June 30,   December 31,
In thousands (unaudited)   2022   2021
Assets                
Current assets:                
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 26,560     $ 32,439  
Accounts receivable, net     13,600       16,012  
Notes receivable     22,400       22,400  
Other current assets     6,103       5,677  
Total current assets     68,663       76,528  
Property, plant and equipment, net     8,091       8,822  
Operating lease right-of-use assets     15,655       17,648  
Deferred income taxes, net     210       257  
Other assets     2,200       2,197  
Total assets   $ 94,819     $ 105,452  
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity                
Current liabilities:                
Accounts payable   $ 5,873     $ 7,821  
Accrued compensation and other current liabilities     9,397       9,505  
Contract liabilities     10,683       10,592  
Total current liabilities     25,953       27,918  
Long-term pension liabilities     14,456       14,275  
Long-term operating lease liabilities     16,864       19,181  
Other liabilities     1,480       1,501  
Total liabilities     58,753       62,875  
Total shareholders' equity     36,066       42,577  
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity   $ 94,819     $ 105,452  
                 

DallasNews Corporation - Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Reconciliation of Operating Loss to Adjusted Operating Loss

    Three Months Ended June 30,   Six Months Ended June 30,
In thousands (unaudited)   2022   2021   2022   2021
Total net operating revenue   $ 37,573     $ 38,668     $ 73,860     $ 75,483  
Total operating costs and expense     39,851       41,680       78,616       82,195  
Operating Loss   $ (2,278 )   $ (3,012 )   $ (4,756 )   $ (6,712 )
                         
Total net operating revenue   $ 37,573     $ 38,668     $ 73,860     $ 75,483  
Addback:                        
Advertising contra revenue     5,189       6,234       11,110       12,312  
Circulation contra revenue     84       95       160       190  
Adjusted Operating Revenue   $ 42,846     $ 44,997     $ 85,130     $ 87,985  
                         
Total operating costs and expense   $ 39,851     $ 41,680     $ 78,616     $ 82,195  
Addback:                        
Advertising contra expense     5,189       6,234       11,110       12,312  
Circulation contra expense     84       95       160       190  
Less:                        
Depreciation     716       1,035       1,428       2,109  
Amortization                       64  
Severance expense     428       1,398       560       1,606  
Gain on sale/disposal of assets, net                       (1 )
Asset impairments     102             102        
Adjusted Operating Expense   $ 43,878     $ 45,576     $ 87,796     $ 90,919  
                         
Adjusted operating revenue   $ 42,846     $ 44,997     $ 85,130     $ 87,985  
Adjusted operating expense     43,878       45,576       87,796       90,919  
Adjusted Operating Loss   $ (1,032 )   $ (579 )   $ (2,666 )   $ (2,934 )
                                 

The Company calculates adjusted operating income (loss) by adjusting operating income (loss) to exclude depreciation, amortization, severance expense, (gain) loss on sale/disposal of assets, and asset impairments (“adjusted operating income (loss)”). The Company believes that inclusion of certain noncash expenses and other items in the results makes for more difficult comparisons between years and with peer group companies.

Advertising contra represents agency fees related to digital advertising and marketing services. Circulation contra represents revenue recorded for the grace period of expired home delivery subscriptions. These adjustments have no effect on adjusted operating income (loss).

Adjusted operating income (loss) is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Management uses adjusted operating income (loss) and similar measures in internal analyses as supplemental measures of the Company’s financial performance, and for performance comparisons versus its peer group of companies. Management uses this non-GAAP financial measure for the purposes of evaluating consolidated Company performance. The Company therefore believes that the non-GAAP measure presented provides useful information to investors by allowing them to view the Company’s business through the eyes of management and the Board of Directors, facilitating comparison of results across historical periods and providing a focus on the underlying ongoing operating performance of its business. Adjusted operating income (loss) should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income (loss), cash flows provided by (used for) operating activities or other comparable measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Additionally, this non-GAAP measure may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures of other companies.


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Source: DallasNews Corporation

Investor Relations
Katy Murray
President / Chief Financial Officer
DallasNews Corporation
214-977-8869

invest@dallasnews.com

DallasNews Corporation Headquarters
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 224866
Dallas, Texas 75222-4866
Street Address:
1954 Commerce Street
Dallas, Texas 75201
214-977-8222
214-977-8285 (fax)