Paramount (NASDAQ:PARA) Reviews Gross sales Under Analyst Estimates In Q3 Earnings
Multinational media and leisure company Paramount (NASDAQ:PARA) missed Wall Avenue’s income expectations in Q3 CY2024, with gross sales falling 5.6% yr on yr to $6.73 billion. Its non-GAAP revenue of $0.49 per share was 102% above analysts’ consensus estimates.
Income: $6.73 billion vs analyst estimates of $6.97 billion (3.4% miss)
Working revenue: $337 million vs analyst estimates of $383 million (11.9% miss)
Adjusted EPS: $0.49 vs analyst estimates of $0.24 ($0.25 beat)
Paramount+ added 3.5 million new subscribers (#4 international streaming video service) (beat vs expectations of 1-2 million internet provides)
Progressing on non-content price reductions that may lead to $500 million in annual run charge financial savings
Gross Margin (GAAP): 35.5%, up from 34.4% in the identical quarter final yr
Working Margin: 5%, down from 8.7% in the identical quarter final yr
EBITDA Margin: 6.4%, down from 10% in the identical quarter final yr
Free Money Movement Margin: 3.2%, down from 5.3% in the identical quarter final yr
Market Capitalization: $8.12 billion
Proprietor of Spongebob Squarepants and previously generally known as ViacomCBS, Paramount World (NASDAQ:PARA) is a significant media conglomerate providing tv, movie manufacturing, and digital content material throughout varied international platforms.
Broadcasting firms have been dealing with secular headwinds within the type of shoppers abandoning conventional tv and radio in favor of streaming companies. Because of this, many broadcasting firms have developed by forming distribution agreements with main streaming platforms to allow them to get in on a part of the motion, however will these subscription revenues be as prime quality and excessive margin as their legacy revenues? Solely time will inform which of those broadcasters will survive the ocean modifications of technological development and fragmenting shopper consideration.
An organization’s long-term efficiency can point out its enterprise high quality. Any enterprise can put up a great quarter or two, however many enduring ones develop for years. Regrettably, Paramount’s gross sales grew at a weak 1% compounded annual development charge over the past 5 years. This exhibits it didn’t develop in any main manner, a tough start line for our evaluation.
We at StockStory place probably the most emphasis on long-term development, however inside shopper discretionary, a stretched historic view could miss an organization driving a profitable new product or rising pattern. Paramount’s historical past exhibits it grew prior to now however relinquished its positive aspects over the past two years, as its income fell by 1.9% yearly.
Paramount additionally breaks out the income for its three most essential segments: TV Media, Direct-to-Shopper, and Filmed Leisure, that are 63.9%, 27.6%, and eight.8% of income. During the last two years, Paramount’s Direct-to-Shopper income (streaming) averaged 28.5% year-on-year development whereas its TV Media (broadcasting) and Filmed Leisure (motion pictures) revenues averaged 7.3% and 9.5% declines.
This quarter, Paramount missed Wall Avenue’s estimates and reported a reasonably uninspiring 5.6% year-on-year income decline, producing $6.73 billion of income.
Trying forward, sell-side analysts anticipate income to develop 3.4% over the following 12 months, an enchancment versus the final two years. Though this projection signifies the market thinks its newer services will gas higher efficiency, it’s nonetheless under common for the sector.
Free money move is not a prominently featured metric in firm financials and earnings releases, however we predict it is telling as a result of it accounts for all working and capital bills, making it powerful to govern. Money is king.
Paramount broke even from a free money move perspective over the past two years, giving the corporate restricted alternatives to return capital to shareholders.
Paramount’s free money move clocked in at $214 million in Q3, equal to a 3.2% margin. The corporate’s money profitability regressed because it was 2.1 share factors decrease than in the identical quarter final yr, nevertheless it’s nonetheless above its two-year common. We wouldn’t put an excessive amount of weight on this quarter’s decline as a result of funding wants could be seasonal, inflicting short-term swings. Lengthy-term developments are extra essential.
Over the following yr, analysts predict Paramount’s money conversion will barely fall. Their consensus estimates indicate its free money move margin of three% for the final 12 months will lower to 1.9%.
Though income and EBIT missed, Paramount+ added 3.5 million subscribers. For media firms corresponding to Paramount which can be making an attempt to pivot from conventional cable TV to streaming, the market is paying additional consideration to the success of the streaming platforms. Paramount can be making progress on non-content price financial savings that may whole $500 million run charge, essential as a result of the market is now not rewarding streaming development at any price. The inventory traded up 2.6% to $11.85 instantly after reporting.
Is Paramount a gorgeous funding alternative on the present value? We predict that the newest quarter is only one piece of the longer-term enterprise high quality puzzle. High quality, when mixed with valuation, might help decide if the inventory is a purchase. We cover that in our actionable full research report which you can read here, it’s free.