ViacomCBS Outlines Post-Merger Strategies

ViacomCBS (VIAC) reported more disappointing news with its 4Q19 earnings report and 2020 guidance.  The stock is now down about -40% since last summer when the company first lowered its outlook.  Investors had thought that management had given a conservative outlook back then but this appears to have not been the case.  Management credibility is […]

CBS Meets Reduced Expectations as Viacom Merger Looms

CBS reported 3Q19 earnings in line with reduced Wall Street expectations in its last quarter as standalone company.  The merger of Viacom and CBS to create ViacomCBS should close in the first half of December.  CBS shares represent the newco as Viacom shareholders will exchange their shares for CBS shares. CBS shares have declined sharply […]

CBS In Line as Viacom Merger Looms

We have held off for a few days writing up the 2Q19 earnings report from CBS.  It appears the company will finally announce its merger with Viacom and we wanted to wait and cover both events in one post.  The merger has been in the works in one form or another for several years.  Deal […]

Viacom’s Sequential Improvement in Advertising is Bullish

Viacom reported mixed 2Q09 results with adjusted EPS of 49 cents matching expectations on $3.3 billion in revenues, which were $200 million light of expectations. The revenue shortfall came from the Paramount movie studio and Rock Band which are less important aspects of the Viacom story. The company’s cable TV networks performed well in the […]

Viacom Reports Inline But Stock Already Reflects Bottoming Trends

Viacom reported 1Q09 results largely in line with analyst estimates. EPS of 29 cents beat the 26 cent consensus but revenues of $2.91 billion fell a little short of the $2.97 billion estimate. Advertising trends were weak, as expected, but this still stands out as a negative particularly as Viacom’s nets are far underperforming the […]

Viacom Earnings Preview: Is Advertising Stabilizing?

Viacom is expected to report 1Q09 EPS of 26 cents on revenue $2.97 billion. Both figures produce negative year –over-year growth as the company struggles with weak ratings at its TV networks, higher programming expenses to fix the ratings, and continued lagging performance for its film studio. Despite bleak fundamentals, the stock has rallied sharply […]

Viacom: Turn On Track But Lacked Upside in 4Q07

Viacom reported solid results that were at the high end of expectations but I would not call it an upside surprise. Guidance for 2008 was for low double digit EPS growth which would put EPS in line with the current consensus. I think the results and guidance are good enough to support the recently improved […]

Solid Results for Viacom

Viacom (VIA) reported slightly better than expected 1Q07 results. Trends did not differ greatly from analyst expectations but the risk was to the downside so I think the results will be greeted favorably by investors and VIA shares will buck the sell the news reactions seen following good results from Disney (DIS) and News Corp.. […]

Viacom: Better But Needs More Growth

Viacom (VIAB) reported a solid quarter, which I would characterize as slightly above expectations. Viacom’s good results follow better than expected results at Disney and News Corp, possibly a sign that fundamentals are improving for the diversified entertainment companies. At a minimum, I think that analyst estimates are now achievable as they have adjusted to […]

Viacom Earnings Preview: Forget Tom Cruise, Cable Networks Are Key

Viacom (VIAB) is expected to report weak 1Q06 results due to tough comparisons in 1Q05. Revenue growth is forecast at about 5% with EBITDA rising just 0-2%. Despite the weak start to the year, analysts expect revenue and EBITDA to grow by low double digits for all of 2006. 1Q EPS are expected at 39 […]