Election Cycle Powers Nexstar to Beat and Raise

Powered by the intense election fight, political ad sales drove Nexstar Media Group (NXST) to better than expected 3Q18 earnings.  Management raised guidance for the year based on the political ad spending.  Importantly, management also noted that after accounting for the displacement of core non-political advertising, traditional ad spending has modestly strengthened and is approaching […]

Apple Hits a Sour Spot, Long-Term Intact

Apple (AAPL) reported decent September quarter results with revenues and EPS slightly ahead of estimates.  iPhone shipments came in about 1% under street estimates but were offset by better than expected average selling prices.  Services, which had been surprising to the upside and driving an improved growth narrative for AAPL, saw revenue come in about […]

Comcast in Strong Position As It Looks for Blue Sky in Europe

Comcast (CMCSA) still has to convince us and a lot of investors of the wisdom of its acquisition of Sky Plc, Europe’s largest satellite TV provider.  Fortunately, the company’s domestic cable business and NBC Universal content operations are performing well giving the company some breathing room.  Management can point to a strong record on acquisitions […]

Disney Steady Ahead of Major 2019/20 Transition

Disney (DIS) reported a strong 4Q18 as it wrapped a good fiscal year financially and an eventful one strategically.  For the year, revenue grew 8%, the best rate of growth since 2015.Opeting income grew 6% but adjusting for losses at recently acquired BAM TECH and ongoing losses at Hulu, growth would have been several percentage […]

Growth Challenges Remain for Liberty Global

Liberty Global (LBTYK) reported another quarter of mixed results.  Headline numbers continue to track to guidance that assumes acceleration in growth in the second half of 2018.  There is evidence in the first half results that the acceleration will occur.  However, there is still quality of earnings issues and the company’s overall growth profile beyond […]

Nexstar Reaffirms Industry Leadership

Nexstar Media Group (NXST) reported another solid quarter, further cementing the company as the most consistent, highest quality local TV broadcaster.  A boom in political TV advertising and excellent expense control led to the company beating expectations for EBITDA, the key valuation metric for the industry.  Critical to NXST and the industry is converting EBITDA […]

Disney: Shift Towards DTC/OTT Comes Into Focus

Disney reported mixed 3Q18 results with theme parks and broadcast TV excelling and cable networks, the film studio, and consumer products lagging.  Revenue and EPS were a little under consensus estimates leading the stock to decline 1-2%.  The shares have been quite strong since March, reaching their highest level since May 2017.  This may have […]

MGM Reduces Outlook for 2018

MGM Resorts (MGM) reported decent results for 2Q18 albeit against expectations that were lowered just 90 days ago.  When management lowered guidance dramatically for the rest of 2018, investors were very disappointed, sending the shares down 10% over a two day period.  The only real good news here is that by almost any measure the […]

CBS: Strong Fundamentals Overshadowed by Embattled Management

CBS is performing well compared to other TV centric media companies.  Smart management decisions have the company building a successful presence in in OTT video with Showtime and CBS All Access.  A strong lineup of sports and marquee entertainment event programming like the Grammy’s is keeping advertising to low single digit declines even as prime […]

Activision Blizzard Reports Strong 2Q18 Results and Typically Conservative Guidance

Activision Blizzard (ATVI) beat estimates for 2Q18 sales and earnings, but provided mixed guidance commentary for the back half of the year. Guidance for the third quarter was well below expectations, partially due to increased marketing expenses ahead of a busy and highly competitive holiday season launch slate. Full year guidance was increased but remains […]