10-QPeriod: Q3 FY2023

Fox Corp Quarterly Report for Q3 Ended Mar 31, 2023

Filed May 9, 2023For Securities:FOXAFOX

Summary

Fox Corporation (FOXA) reported solid revenue growth of 18% year-over-year for the third quarter ended March 31, 2023, reaching $4.1 billion. This surge was largely driven by a substantial increase in advertising revenue, which climbed 43%, significantly boosted by the broadcast of Super Bowl LVII and a higher volume of NFL games, alongside continued growth at its AVOD service, Tubi. Affiliate fee revenue also saw a modest 3% increase. Despite the revenue gains, the company experienced a net loss of $50 million for the quarter, a reversal from a $290 million net income in the prior year. This swing was primarily attributable to significant legal settlement costs at FOX News Media, which were partially offset by a higher gain from the sale of its investment in Flutter Entertainment plc and strong performance in Segment EBITDA. For the nine-month period, net income was $884 million, a 4% decrease year-over-year, also impacted by the aforementioned legal costs but supported by the Super Bowl and political advertising. From a segment perspective, the Television segment showed remarkable revenue growth of 36% for the quarter, driven by Super Bowl LVII and increased NFL coverage, while the Cable Network Programming segment experienced a slight 1% revenue decline. Management highlights strong liquidity with approximately $4.1 billion in cash and an undrawn $1.0 billion credit facility.

Financial Statements
Beta
Revenue$4.08B
SG&A Expenses$528.00M
Interest Expense$86.00M
Net Income-$54.00M
EPS (Basic)$-0.10
EPS (Diluted)$-0.10
Shares Outstanding (Basic)521.00M
Shares Outstanding (Diluted)521.00M

Key Highlights

  • 1Total revenues increased by 18% to $4.1 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to the prior year, driven by strong advertising and affiliate fee revenues.
  • 2Advertising revenue saw a significant 43% increase ($568 million), largely due to the broadcast of Super Bowl LVII ($550 million), higher NFL game volumes, and growth at Tubi.
  • 3The company reported a net loss of $50 million for the quarter, a substantial decrease from a net income of $290 million in the prior year, primarily due to higher legal settlement costs at FOX News Media.
  • 4The Television segment's revenue grew by 36% for the quarter, fueled by Super Bowl LVII and NFL advertising, while Cable Network Programming revenue saw a slight 1% decrease.
  • 5Adjusted EBITDA increased by 3% to $833 million for the quarter, indicating operational resilience despite the net loss.
  • 6Net cash provided by operating activities increased by 37% to $1.3 billion for the nine months ended March 31, 2023, compared to the prior year period, aided by higher Segment EBITDA and lower programming costs.
  • 7The company repurchased approximately $1.8 billion of common stock during the nine months ended March 31, 2023, under its expanded $7 billion stock repurchase program.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary driver of the 18% revenue increase to $4.1 billion was a substantial 43% surge in advertising revenue. This was significantly boosted by the broadcast of Super Bowl LVII, which generated approximately $550 million, coupled with higher volumes of National Football League (NFL) games and continued growth in the company's advertising-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) service, Tubi.

The company reported a net loss of $50 million for the quarter, a significant change from the $290 million net income in the prior year. This was primarily due to substantial legal settlement costs incurred at FOX News Media, which more than offset the operating improvements seen elsewhere and the higher gain recognized from the sale of its investment in Flutter Entertainment plc.

The Television segment demonstrated strong performance with a 36% revenue increase for the quarter, largely driven by major sporting events like the Super Bowl and NFL games. In contrast, the Cable Network Programming segment experienced a slight 1% revenue decrease, impacted by lower affiliate fee and advertising revenues, although this was partially offset by higher other revenues.

Fox Corp. maintains a strong liquidity position with approximately $4.1 billion in cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2023. Additionally, the company has an undrawn $1.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility, providing substantial financial flexibility.