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The Washington Post Company Reports Third Quarter Earnings
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Items included in the Company’s results for the third quarter of 2009:
-
$6.1 million in accelerated depreciation at TheWashington Post (after-tax impact of$3.8 million , or$0.40 per share); -
A
$25.4 million goodwill and other long-lived assets impairment charge related toKaplan Ventures (after-tax impact of$18.8 million , or$2.00 per share); and -
A decline in equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates associated with
$29.0 million in impairment charges at two of the Company’s affiliates (after-tax impact of$18.8 million , or$2.00 per share).
Items included in the Company’s results for the third quarter of 2008:
-
A
$59.7 million goodwill impairment charge at the Company’s community newspapers and The Herald (after-tax impact of$41.9 million , or$4.48 per share); -
$12.5 million in accelerated depreciation at TheWashington Post (after-tax impact of$7.9 million , or$0.84 per share); and -
$20.6 million in non-operating unrealized foreign currency losses arising from the strengthening of the U.S. dollar (after-tax impact of$13.0 million , or$1.39 per share).
Revenue for the third quarter of 2009 was
Operating income increased in the third quarter of 2009 to
For the first nine months of 2009, net income totaled
Items included in the Company’s results for the first nine months of 2009:
-
$63.4 million in early retirement program expense at TheWashington Post and Newsweek (after-tax impact of$39.3 million , or$4.18 per share); -
$33.0 million in restructuring charges related to Kaplan’sScore and Test Prep operations (after-tax impact of$20.5 million , or$2.18 per share); -
$33.8 million in accelerated depreciation at TheWashington Post (after-tax impact of$21.0 million , or$2.23 per share); -
A
$25.4 million goodwill and other long-lived assets impairment charge related toKaplan Ventures (after-tax impact of$18.8 million , or$2.00 per share); -
A decline in equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates associated with
$29.0 million in impairment charges at two of the Company’s affiliates (after-tax impact of$18.8 million , or$2.00 per share); and -
$18.4 million in non-operating unrealized foreign currency gains arising from the weakening of the U.S. dollar (after-tax impact of$11.4 million , or$1.21 per share).
Items included in the Company’s results for the first nine months of 2008:
-
Charges of
$112.0 million related to early retirement program expense at TheWashington Post newspaper, the corporate office and Newsweek (after-tax impact of$67.8 million , or$7.13 per share); -
A
$59.7 million goodwill impairment charge at the Company’s community newspapers and The Herald (after-tax impact of$41.9 million , or$4.48 per share); -
$13.7 million in accelerated depreciation at TheWashington Post (after-tax impact of$8.6 million , or$0.91 per share); -
Expenses and charges of
$3.9 million in connection with restructuring at certainTest Prep operations (after-tax impact of$2.4 million , or$0.26 per share); -
A decline in equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates associated with
$6.8 million in impairment charges at two of the Company’s affiliates (after-tax impact of$4.1 million , or$0.43 per share); and -
$13.4 million in non-operating unrealized foreign currency losses arising from the strengthening of the U.S. dollar (after-tax impact of$8.4 million , or$0.89 per share).
Revenue for the first nine months of 2009 was
The Company reported operating income of
The Company’s operating income for the third quarter and first nine
months of 2009 included
Division Results
Education
Education division revenue totaled
For the first nine months of 2009, education division revenue totaled
Kaplan completed a reorganization of its organizational and internal reporting structure during the third quarter of 2009. As a result, the Company has made changes to the composition of its reporting segments. A summary of Kaplan’s operating results reported under this new structure for the third quarter and the first nine months of 2009 compared to 2008 is as follows:
Third Quarter | YTD | |||||||||||||||||||||
(In thousands) |
|
% |
% | |||||||||||||||||||
2009 |
2008 |
Change |
2009 |
2008 |
Change |
|||||||||||||||||
Revenue |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Higher education | $ | 408,658 | $ | 302,026 | 35 | $ | 1,119,142 | $ | 837,064 | 34 | ||||||||||||
Test prep, excluding Score | 109,319 | 122,109 | (10 | ) | 333,848 | 366,287 | (9 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Score | 206 | 7,518 | (97 | ) | 8,557 | 23,982 | (64 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Kaplan international | 138,089 | 141,895 | (3 | ) | 382,066 | 407,402 | (6 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Kaplan ventures | 30,459 | 31,815 | (4 | ) | 90,897 | 93,108 | (2 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Kaplan corporate | 315 | 371 | (15 | ) | 967 | 1,058 | (9 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Intersegment elimination | (2,530 | ) | (2,995 | ) | – | (8,108 | ) | (6,442 | ) | – | ||||||||||||
$ | 684,516 | $ | 602,739 | 14 | $ | 1,927,369 | $ | 1,722,459 | 12 | |||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Higher education | $ | 88,737 | $ | 45,927 | 93 | $ | 199,934 | $ | 128,949 | 55 | ||||||||||||
Test prep, excluding Score | 5,028 | 16,363 | (69 | ) | 24,004 | 45,051 | (47 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Score | (371 | ) | (2,268 | ) | – | (36,539 | ) | (7,834 | ) | – | ||||||||||||
Kaplan international | 8,311 | 10,825 | (23 | ) | 27,304 |
34,519 |
(21 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Kaplan ventures | (7,611 | ) | (2,311 | ) | – | (12,997 | ) | (1,367 | ) | – | ||||||||||||
Kaplan corporate | (15,577 | ) |
(11,477 |
) | (36 | ) | (38,984 | ) | (33,546 | ) | (16 | ) | ||||||||||
Kaplan stock compensation | (1,697 | ) |
(2,515 |
) | 33 | (5,155 | ) | (9,798 | ) | 47 | ||||||||||||
Amortization of intangible assets | (5,617 | ) |
(3,151 |
) | (78 | ) | (17,247 | ) | (10,503 | ) | (64 | ) | ||||||||||
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets | (25,387 | ) | – | – | (25,387 | ) | – | – | ||||||||||||||
Intersegment elimination | 84 |
(267 |
) | – | 236 |
(193 |
) | – | ||||||||||||||
$ | 45,900 | $ | 51,126 | (10 | ) | $ | 115,169 | $ | 145,278 | (21 | ) | |||||||||||
Kaplan Higher Education (KHE) includes Kaplan’s domestic post-secondary
education businesses, made up of fixed-facility colleges as well as
online post-secondary and career programs. Higher education revenue grew
35% for the third quarter of 2009 and 34% for the first nine months of
2009 due mostly to strong enrollment growth. Operating income at KHE
improved 93% in the third quarter of 2009, reflecting this strong
enrollment growth. Operating income increased 55% for the first nine
months of 2009 due to this strong enrollment growth, offset by increased
marketing and advertising costs in the first quarter of 2009, including
a
Test prep includes Kaplan’s standardized test preparation and tutoring offerings, as well as the professional domestic training business, K12 and other businesses. Test prep revenue, excluding Score and revenue from acquired businesses, declined 11% in the third quarter and 9% in the first nine months of 2009 due to continued revenue declines in the real estate and financial education businesses, declines at the traditional test prep programs and softness in other programs. Test prep operating income, excluding Score, was also down in the third quarter and first nine months of 2009 due to declines at the traditional test prep programs and softness in other programs, offset by improved results at test prep’s professional domestic training businesses due to expense reductions.
At the end of
In 2007, Kaplan announced restructuring plans at its professional
domestic training businesses that involved product changes and
decentralization of certain operations, in addition to employee
terminations. These businesses are now part of Kaplan’s test prep
division. In the fourth quarter of 2008, Kaplan expanded this
restructuring to include additional operations. Total
restructuring-related expenses of
Corporate represents unallocated expenses of Kaplan, Inc.’s corporate office and other minor activities.
Cable Television
Cable television division revenue of
Cable division operating income declined 3% to
At
September 30, | September 30, | |||
Cable Television Division Subscribers |
2009 | 2008 | ||
Basic | 677,751 | 701,711 | ||
Digital | 221,564 | 224,231 | ||
High-speed data | 388,567 | 368,614 | ||
Telephony | 105,211 | 90,994 | ||
Total | 1,393,093 | 1,385,550 | ||
Newspaper publishing division revenue totaled
For the first nine months of 2009, Post daily and Sunday circulation
declined 3.6% and 3.7%, respectively, compared to the same periods of
the prior year. For the nine months ended
As previously announced, the Company offered a Voluntary Retirement
Incentive Program to certain employees of The
The Post closed its
The newspaper division reported an operating loss of
A summary of newspaper division operating results for the third quarter and the first nine months of 2009 compared to 2008 is as follows:
Third Quarter | Year-to-Date | |||||||||||||||||||||
(In thousands) | 2009 | 2008 |
% Change |
2009 | 2008 |
% Change |
||||||||||||||||
Operating revenues |
$156,281 | $196,217 | (20 | ) | $485,937 | $599,593 | (19 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Operating expenses, excluding special charges | (172,675 | ) | * |
(206,807 |
) |
* |
(17 | ) | (560,942 | ) | * | (624,716 | ) |
* |
(10 |
) |
||||||
(16,394 | ) | * |
(10,590 |
) |
* |
(55 | ) | (75,005 | ) | * | (25,123 | ) |
* |
– |
||||||||
Early retirement program expense | (1,124 | ) | – | – | (57,924 | ) | (79,800 | ) | – | |||||||||||||
Goodwill impairment charge | – | (59,690 | ) |
– |
– | (59,690 | ) |
– |
||||||||||||||
Accelerated depreciation | (6,104 | ) | (12,469 | ) |
– |
(33,792 | ) | (13,682 | ) |
– |
||||||||||||
Operating loss | $(23,622 | ) | $(82,749 | ) | 71 | $(166,721 | ) | $(178,295 | ) | 6 | ||||||||||||
*Non-GAAP measure | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenue for the television broadcasting division decreased 17% in the
third quarter of 2009 to
In the third quarter of 2008, the television broadcasting division
recorded
Operating income for the third quarter of 2009 declined 50% to
Revenue for the magazine publishing division totaled
As previously announced, Newsweek offered a Voluntary Retirement
Incentive Program to certain employees in
The division had an operating loss of
Other Businesses and Corporate Office
Other businesses and corporate office included the expenses of the
Company’s corporate office and the operating results of Avenue100 Media
Solutions (formerly CourseAdvisor). The 2008 results include
Equity in (Losses) Earnings of Affiliates
The Company’s equity in losses of affiliates for the third quarter of
2009 was
Results for the third quarter of 2009 include
The Company holds a 49% interest in
Other Non-Operating Income (Expense)
The Company recorded other non-operating income, net, of
The Company recorded other non-operating income, net, of
As noted above, a large part of the Company’s non-operating income (expense) is from unrealized foreign currency gains or losses arising from the translation of British pound and Australian dollar-denominated intercompany loans into U.S. dollars. The unrealized foreign currency gains in the first nine months of 2009 were the result of a weakening of the U.S. dollar against the British pound and the Australian dollar in the first nine months of 2009, versus the exchange rates in effect at the end of 2008. The unrealized foreign currency losses in the first nine months of 2008 were the result of a strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the British pound and the Australian dollar in the first nine months of 2008, versus the exchange rates in effect at the end of 2007.
Net Interest Expense
The Company incurred net interest expense of
Provision for Income Taxes
The effective tax rate for the third quarter and first nine months of
2009 was 37.2% and 36.7%, respectively. The low effective tax rates for
both of these periods are due primarily to favorable adjustments
recorded in the third quarter of 2009 for a reduction in state income
taxes and for prior year permanent federal tax deductions, offset by
The effective tax rate for the third quarter and first nine months of
2008 was 19.5% and 36.0%, respectively. The low effective tax rate for
both of these periods is due to a reduction in state income taxes and a
favorable
Earnings Per Share
The calculation of diluted earnings per share for the third quarter and
first nine months of 2009 was based on 9,401,010 and 9,399,501 weighted
average shares outstanding, respectively, compared to 9,358,096 and
9,458,193, respectively, for the third quarter and first nine months of
2008. In the first quarter of 2009, the Company repurchased 3,359 shares
of its Class B common stock at a cost of
Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains certain forward-looking statements that are based largely on the Company’s current expectations. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and achievements to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. For more information about these forward-looking statements and related risks, please refer to the section titled “Forward-Looking Statements” in Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.
THE WASHINGTON POST COMPANY | |||||||||||
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME |
|||||||||||
(Unaudited) | |||||||||||
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts) | |||||||||||
Third Quarter |
% Change |
||||||||||
2009 | 2008 | ||||||||||
Operating revenues | $ | 1,148,711 | $ | 1,128,658 | 2 | ||||||
Operating expenses | (985,230 | ) | (950,265 | ) | 4 | ||||||
Depreciation | (70,094 | ) | (73,524 | ) | (5 | ) | |||||
Amortization of intangible assets | (6,767 | ) | (4,912 | ) | 38 | ||||||
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets | (25,387 | ) | (59,690 | ) | (57 | ) | |||||
Operating income | 61,233 | 40,267 | 52 | ||||||||
Equity in losses of affiliates, net | (27,192 | ) | (609 | ) | -- | ||||||
Interest income | 555 | 1,173 | (53 | ) | |||||||
Interest expense | (7,533 | ) | (6,882 | ) | 9 | ||||||
Other income (expense), net | 103 | (21,083 | ) | -- | |||||||
Income before income taxes | 27,166 | 12,866 | -- | ||||||||
Provision for income taxes | (10,100 | ) | (2,500 | ) | -- | ||||||
Net income | 17,066 | 10,366 | 65 | ||||||||
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest | 214 | (37 | ) | -- | |||||||
Net income attributable to The Washington Post Company | 17,280 | 10,329 | 67 | ||||||||
Redeemable preferred stock dividends | (230 | ) | (236 | ) | (3 | ) | |||||
Net income available for common stock | $ | 17,050 | $ | 10,093 | 69 | ||||||
Basic earnings per share | $ | 1.81 | $ | 1.08 | 68 | ||||||
Diluted earnings per share | $ | 1.81 | $ | 1.08 | 68 | ||||||
Basic average shares outstanding | 9,340,067 | 9,334,057 | |||||||||
Diluted average shares outstanding | 9,401,010 | 9,358,096 | |||||||||
THE WASHINGTON POST COMPANY | |||||||||||
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME |
|||||||||||
(Unaudited) | |||||||||||
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts) | |||||||||||
Year-to-Date |
% Change |
||||||||||
2009 | 2008 | ||||||||||
Operating revenues | $ | 3,331,299 | $ | 3,298,015 | 1 | ||||||
Operating expenses | (3,005,847 | ) | (2,915,106 | ) | 3 | ||||||
Depreciation | (231,651 | ) | (195,463 | ) | 19 | ||||||
Amortization of intangible assets | (20,606 | ) | (15,804 | ) | 30 | ||||||
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets | (25,387 | ) | (59,690 | ) | (57 | ) | |||||
Operating income | 47,808 | 111,952 | (57 | ) | |||||||
Equity in losses of affiliates, net | (28,160 | ) | (9,505 | ) | -- | ||||||
Interest income | 1,838 | 4,555 | (60 | ) | |||||||
Interest expense | (23,114 | ) | (19,514 | ) | 18 | ||||||
Other income (expense), net | 15,779 | (14,052 | ) | -- | |||||||
Income before income taxes | 14,151 | 73,436 | (81 | ) | |||||||
Provision for income taxes | (5,200 | ) | (26,400 | ) | (80 | ) | |||||
Net income | 8,951 | 47,036 | (81 | ) | |||||||
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest | 2,108 | (141 | ) | -- | |||||||
Net income attributable to The Washington Post Company | 11,059 | 46,895 | (76 | ) | |||||||
Redeemable preferred stock dividends | (928 | ) | (946 | ) | (2 | ) | |||||
Net income available for common stock | $ | 10,131 | $ | 45,949 | (78 | ) | |||||
Basic earnings per share | $ | 1.08 | $ | 4.87 | (78 | ) | |||||
Diluted earnings per share | $ | 1.08 | $ | 4.86 | (78 | ) | |||||
Basic average shares outstanding | 9,339,646 | 9,432,642 | |||||||||
Diluted average shares outstanding | 9,399,501 | 9,458,193 | |||||||||
THE WASHINGTON POST COMPANY | ||||||||||||||||||||||
BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION |
||||||||||||||||||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Third Quarter |
% Change |
Year-to-Date |
% Change |
|||||||||||||||||||
2009 | 2008 | 2009 | 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||
Operating Revenues: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Education | $ | 684,516 | $ | 602,739 | 14 | $ | 1,927,369 | $ | 1,722,459 | 12 | ||||||||||||
Cable television | 189,647 | 181,840 | 4 | 559,839 | 535,011 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||
Newspaper publishing | 156,281 | 196,217 | (20 | ) | 485,937 | 599,593 | (19 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Television broadcasting | 64,599 | 78,003 | (17 | ) | 192,415 | 238,507 | (19 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Magazine publishing | 40,167 | 59,969 | (33 | ) | 131,776 | 176,043 | (25 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Other businesses and corporate office |
15,314 | 11,534 | 33 | 39,290 | 30,134 | 30 | ||||||||||||||||
Intersegment elimination | (1,813 | ) | (1,644 | ) | (10 | ) | (5,327 | ) | (3,732 | ) | (43 | ) | ||||||||||
$ | 1,148,711 | $ | 1,128,658 | 2 | $ | 3,331,299 | $ | 3,298,015 | 1 | |||||||||||||
Operating Expenses: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Education | $ | 638,616 | $ | 551,613 | 16 | $ | 1,812,200 | $ | 1,577,181 | 15 | ||||||||||||
Cable television | 149,318 | 140,215 | 6 | 437,691 | 418,996 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
Newspaper publishing | 179,903 | 278,966 | (36 | ) | 652,658 | 777,888 | (16 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Television broadcasting | 49,547 | 47,895 | 3 | 150,952 | 152,143 | (1 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Magazine publishing | 44,481 | 50,925 | (13 | ) | 161,462 | 203,045 | (20 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Other businesses and corporate office |
27,426 | 20,421 | 34 | 73,855 | 60,542 | 22 | ||||||||||||||||
Intersegment elimination | (1,813 | ) | (1,644 | ) | (10 | ) | (5,327 | ) | (3,732 | ) | (43 | ) | ||||||||||
$ | 1,087,478 | $ | 1,088,391 | 0 | $ | 3,283,491 | $ | 3,186,063 | 3 | |||||||||||||
Operating Income (Loss): | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Education | $ | 45,900 | $ | 51,126 | (10 | ) | $ | 115,169 | $ | 145,278 | (21 | ) | ||||||||||
Cable television | 40,329 | 41,625 | (3 | ) | 122,148 | 116,015 | 5 | |||||||||||||||
Newspaper publishing | (23,622 | ) | (82,749 | ) | 71 | (166,721 | ) | (178,295 | ) | 6 | ||||||||||||
Television broadcasting | 15,052 | 30,108 | (50 | ) | 41,463 | 86,364 | (52 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Magazine publishing | (4,314 | ) | 9,044 | -- | (29,686 | ) | (27,002 | ) | (10 | ) | ||||||||||||
Other businesses and corporate office |
(12,112 | ) | (8,887 | ) | (36 | ) | (34,565 | ) | (30,408 | ) | (14 | ) | ||||||||||
$ | 61,233 | $ | 40,267 | 52 | $ | 47,808 | $ | 111,952 | (57 | ) | ||||||||||||
Depreciation: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Education | $ | 19,017 | $ | 16,390 | 16 | $ | 61,099 | $ | 49,171 | 24 | ||||||||||||
Cable television | 30,800 | 30,524 | 1 | 92,998 | 92,091 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
Newspaper publishing | 15,352 | 23,596 | (35 | ) | 64,861 | 45,481 | 43 | |||||||||||||||
Television broadcasting | 3,528 | 2,361 | 49 | 9,458 | 6,831 | 38 | ||||||||||||||||
Magazine publishing | 1,197 | 504 | -- | 2,672 | 1,553 | 72 | ||||||||||||||||
Other businesses and corporate office |
200 | 149 | 34 | 563 | 336 | 68 | ||||||||||||||||
$ | 70,094 | $ | 73,524 | (5 | ) | $ | 231,651 | $ | 195,463 | 19 | ||||||||||||
Amortization of intangible assets and impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Education | $ | 31,004 | $ | 3,151 | -- | $ | 42,634 | $ | 10,503 | -- | ||||||||||||
Cable television | 79 | 81 | (2 | ) | 231 | 236 | (2 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Newspaper publishing | 274 | 59,840 | -- | 736 | 60,164 | (99 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Television broadcasting | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||||
Magazine publishing | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||||
Other businesses and corporate office |
797 | 1,530 | (48 | ) | 2,392 | 4,591 | (48 | ) | ||||||||||||||
$ | 32,154 | $ | 64,602 | (50 | ) | $ | 45,993 | $ | 75,494 | (39 | ) | |||||||||||
Pension (Expense) Credit: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Education | $ | (1,914 | ) | $ | (1,287 | ) | 49 | $ | (4,152 | ) | $ | (3,095 | ) | 34 | ||||||||
Cable television | (532 | ) | (398 | ) | 34 | (1,319 | ) | (1,116 | ) | 18 | ||||||||||||
Newspaper publishing | (5,168 | ) | (3,159 | ) | 64 | (71,784 | ) | (84,315 | ) | (15 | ) | |||||||||||
Television broadcasting | (63 | ) | 241 | -- | (357 | ) | 809 | -- | ||||||||||||||
Magazine publishing | 9,080 | 10,860 | (16 | ) | 18,938 | 4,140 | -- | |||||||||||||||
Other businesses and corporate office |
(220 | ) | (16 | ) | -- | (661 | ) | (1,875 | ) | 65 | ||||||||||||
$ | 1,183 | $ | 6,241 | (81 | ) | $ | (59,335 | ) | $ | (85,452 | ) | 31 | ||||||||||
Source: The
The Washington Post Company
Hal S. Jones, 202-334-6645