Saga Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq – SGA) (the “Company” or “Saga”) today reported that net revenue decreased 2.5% to $24.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 compared to $25.3 million for the same period last year. Station operating expense increased 5.9% for the quarter to $23.0 million compared to the same period last year. For the quarter, the operating loss was $2.4 million compared to operating income of $905 thousand for the same period last year and station operating income (a non-GAAP financial measure) decreased 40.9% to $2.8 million. The operating loss for the quarter included a $971 thousand other operating expense which was a non-cash write-off on the sale and abandonment of non-productive broadcast assets/licenses during the quarter. Capital expenditures were $1.1 million for the quarter compared to $1.4 million for the same period last year. We had a net loss of $1.6 million for the quarter compared to net income of $920 thousand for the first quarter last year. Diluted loss per share was $0.25 in the first quarter of 2024.
The Company paid a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share on March 8, 2024. The aggregate amount of the quarterly dividend was approximately $1.6 million. The Company also paid a variable dividend of $0.60 per share on April 5, 2024. The aggregate amount of the variable dividend was approximately $3.8 million. To date Saga has paid over $130 million in total dividends to shareholders since the first special dividend was paid in 2012. The Company intends to pay regular quarterly cash dividends in the future. Consistent with its strategic objective of both maintaining a strong balance sheet and with returning value to our shareholders, the Board of Directors will also continue to consider declaring special cash dividends, variable dividends and stock buybacks in the future.
The Company’s balance sheet reflects $28.8 million in cash and short-term investments as of March 31, 2024 and $23.7 million as of May 6, 2024. The Company expects to spend approximately $5.0 – $5.5 million for capital expenditures during 2024.
Saga’s 2024 First Quarter conference call will be held on Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. The dial-in number for the call is (973) 528-0008. Enter conference code 690103. A recording and transcript of the call will be posted to the Company’s website as soon as it is available after the call.
The Company requests that all parties that have a question that they would like to submit to the Company please email the inquiry by 10:00 a.m. on May 9, 2024 to SagaIR@sagacom.com. The Company will discuss, during the limited period of the conference call, those inquiries it deems of general relevance and interest. Only inquiries made in compliance with the foregoing directions will be discussed during the call.
Saga utilizes certain financial measures that are not calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) to assess its financial performance. The attached Selected Supplemental Financial Data tables disclose the Company’s reconciliation of non-GAAP measures: GAAP operating income to station operating income, and GAAP net income to trailing twelve-month consolidated EBITDA as well as other financial data. Such non-GAAP measures include same station financial information, station operating income, trailing 12-month consolidated EBITDA, and leverage ratio. These non-GAAP measures are generally recognized by the broadcasting industry as measures of performance and are used by Saga to assess its financial performance including, but not limited to, evaluating individual station and market-level performance, evaluating overall operations, as a primary measure for incentive-based compensation of executives and other members of management and as a measure of financial position. Saga’s management believes these non-GAAP measures are used by analysts who report on the industry and by investors to provide meaningful comparisons between broadcasting groups, as well as an indicator of their market value. These measures are not measures of liquidity or of performance in accordance with GAAP and should be viewed as a supplement to and not as a substitute for the results of operations presented on a GAAP basis including net operating revenue, operating income, and net income. Reconciliations for all the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measure are attached in the Selected Supplemental Financial Data tables.
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are based upon current expectations and involve certain risks and uncertainties. Words such as “will,” “may,” “believes,” “intends,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “guidance,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The material risks facing our business are described in the reports Saga periodically files with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including, in particular, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K. Readers should note that forward-looking statements may be impacted by several factors, including global, national, and local economic changes and changes in the radio broadcast industry in general as well as Saga’s actual performance. Actual results may vary materially from those described herein and Saga undertakes no obligation to update any information contained herein that constitutes a forward-looking statement.
Saga is a media company whose business is devoted to acquiring, developing and operating broadcast properties with a growing focus on opportunities complimentary to our core radio business including digital, e-commerce and non-traditional revenue initiatives. Saga owns or operates broadcast properties in 27 markets, including 79 FM, 31 AM radio stations and 78 metro signals. For additional information, contact us at (313) 886-7070 or visit our website at www.sagacom.com.
Contact:
Samuel D. Bush
(313) 886-7070
Saga Communications, Inc.
Selected Consolidated Financial Data
For the Three Months Ended
March 31, 2024 and 2023
(amounts in 000’s except per share data)
(Unaudited)Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 2023 Operating Results Net operating revenue $ 24,664 $ 25,304 Station operating expense 22,981 21,703 Corporate general and administrative 3,129 2,616 Other operating expense, net 971 80 Operating (loss) income (2,417 ) 905 Interest expense 43 43 Interest income (303 ) (289 ) Other income, net — (119 ) Income (loss) before income tax expense (2,157 ) 1,270 Income tax provision (benefit) Current (515 ) 280 Deferred (benefit) (65 ) 70 (580 ) 350 Net (loss) income $ (1,577 ) $ 920 Earnings (loss) per share: Basic $ (0.25 ) $ 0.15 Diluted $ (0.25 ) $ 0.15 Weighted average common shares 6,063 6,028 Weighted average common and common equivalent shares 6,063 6,028
March 31, 2024 2023 Balance Sheet Data Working capital $ 27,216 $ 38,334 Net fixed assets $ 51,230 $ 53,313 Net intangible assets and other assets $ 119,243 $ 119,435 Total assets $ 218,046 $ 228,539 Long-term debt $ — $ — Stockholders’ equity $ 164,372 $ 178,419
Saga Communications, Inc.
Selected Consolidated Financial Data
For the Three Months Ended
March 31, 2024 and 2023
(amounts in 000’s except per share data)
(Unaudited)Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 2023 (Unaudited) (In thousands) Statement of Cash Flows Cash flows from operating activities: Net (loss) income $ (1,577 ) $ 920 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 1,198 1,237 Deferred income tax expense (benefit) (65 ) 70 Amortization of deferred costs 9 9 Compensation expense related to restricted stock awards 453 245 Loss on sale of assets, net 971 80 Other (gain), net – (119 ) Barter (revenue) expense, net 13 (48 ) Deferred and other compensation (24 ) (245 ) Changes in assets and liabilities: Decrease in receivables and prepaid expenses 2,135 2,367 Increase in accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other liabilities 690 319 Total adjustments 5,380 3,915 Net cash provided by operating activities 3,803 4,835 Cash flows from investing activities: Purchase of short-term investments (4,297 ) (2,067 ) Redemption of short-term investments 6,432 2,067 Acquisition of property and equipment (Capital Expenditures) (1,050 ) (1,362 ) Proceeds from sale and disposal of assets 21 616 Other investing activities (246 ) 117 Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 860 (629 ) Cash flows from financing activities: Cash dividends paid (14,068 ) (13,754 ) Net cash used in financing activities (14,068 ) (13,754 ) Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (9,405 ) (9,548 ) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 29,582 36,802 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 20,177 $ 27,254
Saga Communications, Inc.
Selected Supplemental Financial Data
For the Three Months Ended
March 31, 2024 and 2023
(amounts in 000’s)
(Unaudited)Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 2023 Reconciliation of GAAP operating income to station operating income (a non-GAAP financial measure) Operating (loss) income $ (2,417 ) $ 905 Plus: Corporate general and administrative 3,129 2,616 Other operating expense, net 971 80 Station depreciation and amortization 1,152 1,197 Station operating income $ 2,835 $ 4,798 Other financial data Depreciation and amortization: Radio Stations $ 1,152 $ 1,197 Corporate $ 46 $ 40 Compensation expense related to restricted stock awards $ 453 (1) $ 245 (1) Other operating expense, net (2) $ 971 $ 80 Other income, net (2) $ – $ (119 ) Deferred income tax expense (benefit) (2) $ (65 ) $ 70 Acquisition of property and equipment (Capital Expenditures) $ 1,050 (1) $ 1,362 (1) (1) As presented in the Statement of Cash Flows in the Selected Consolidated Financial Data tables
(2) As presented in the Operating Results in the Selected Consolidated Financial Data tables
Saga Communications, Inc.
Selected Supplemental Financial Data
March 31, 2024
(amounts in 000’s)
(Unaudited)12 Months Ended
December 31,
2023
Less:
3 Months Ended
March 31,
2023
Plus:
3 Months Ended
March 31,
2024
Trailing
12 Months Ended
March 31,
2024
Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to trailing 12 Month Consolidated Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“EBITDA”) (a non-GAAP financial measure) (1) Net income (loss) $ 9,500 $ 920 $ (1,577 ) $ 7,003 Exclusions: Gain (loss) on sale of assets, net (120 ) (80 ) (971 ) (1,011 ) Other income, net 1,510 456 290 1,344 Total exclusions 1,390 376 (681 ) 333 Consolidated adjusted net income (1) 8,110 544 (896 ) 6,670 Plus: Interest expense 173 43 43 173 Income tax provision (benefit) 3,375 350 (580 ) 2,445 Depreciation & amortization expense 5,055 1,237 1,198 5,016 Non-cash compensation 1,116 245 453 1,324 Trailing twelve month consolidated EBITDA (1) $ 17,829 $ 2,419 $ 218 $ 15,628 (1) As defined in the Company’s credit facility.
This story first appeared on radioinsight.com