Entravision Communications Corporation (NYSE: EVC), a leading global media and marketing technology company, today announced financial results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2021.
First Quarter 2021 Highlights
- Net revenue up 132% over the same prior-year period
- Net income attributable to common stockholders of $5.4 million, compared to a loss of $35.6 million in the prior year
- Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA up 47% over the same prior-year period
- Operating cash flow up 95% over the same prior-year period
- Free cash flow up 149% over the same prior-year period
- Quarterly cash dividend of $0.025 per share
“We are very pleased with our results for the first quarter 2021, with core television and audio performing well, along with our digital segment that continues to see solid growth,” said Walter F. Ulloa, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We are particularly pleased with the progress of our recent acquisition of Cisneros Interactive through which we significantly expanded Entravision’s digital offerings to customers, including representing some of the strongest global audience and ad tech platforms. As we grew our top line, we also remained cost conscious and continue to operate a much more efficient business than even prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, we are optimistic for gradual, but continued progress throughout the balance of the year as macroeconomic conditions progress.”
Quarterly Cash Dividend
The Company announced today that its Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend to shareholders of $0.025 per share on the Company’s Class A, Class B and Class U common stock, in an aggregate amount of approximately $2.1 million. The quarterly dividend will be payable on June 30, 2021 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 16, 2021, and the common stock will trade ex-dividend on June 15, 2021. The Company currently anticipates that future cash dividends will be paid on a quarterly basis; however, any decision to pay future cash dividends will be subject to approval by the Board.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures as defined by SEC Regulation G. The GAAP financial measure most directly comparable to each of these non-GAAP financial measures, and a table reconciling each of these non-GAAP financial measures to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is included beginning on page 9.
Net revenue in the first quarter of 2021 totaled $148.9 million, up 132% from $64.2 million in the prior-year period. Of the overall increase, approximately $88.2 million was attributable to our digital segment and was primarily due to our acquisition of a majority interest in Cisneros Interactive during the fourth quarter of 2020, partially offset by a decrease in advertising revenue as a result of declines in pre-acquisition digital revenue and the continuing economic crisis resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The overall increase in net revenue was partially offset by a decrease of approximately $3.1 million attributable to our television segment due to a decrease in political revenue, partially offset by increases in revenue from spectrum usage rights and local and national advertising revenue. Additionally, the overall increase in net revenue was partially offset by a decrease of approximately $0.4 million attributable to our radio segment.
Cost of revenue in the first quarter of 2021 totaled $84.8 million compared to $7.3 million in the prior-year period. The increase was primarily due to increased costs of revenue associated with the increase in net revenue due to our acquisition of a majority interest in Cisneros Interactive during the fourth quarter of 2020.
Operating expenses in the first quarter of 2021 totaled $40.4 million, up slightly from $40.3 million in the prior-year period. The increase was primarily due to our acquisition of a majority interest in Cisneros Interactive during the fourth quarter of 2020, partially offset by decreases in salary expense associated with furloughs and layoffs that occurred in 2020.
Corporate expenses in the first quarter of 2021 totaled $7.2 million, up 5% from $6.8 million in the prior-year period. The increase was primarily due to an increase in salaries and audit fees.
Balance Sheet & Related Metrics
Cash and marketable securities as of March 31, 2021 totaled approximately $166 million. Total debt was $214.5 million. Net of $75 million of cash and marketable securities, total leverage as defined in the Company’s credit agreement was 2.1 times at the end of the first quarter 2021. Net of total accessible cash and marketable securities, total leverage was 1.0 times.
Notice of Conference Call
Entravision Communications Corporation will hold a conference call to discuss its first quarter 2021 results on Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 5 p.m. Eastern Time. To access the conference call, please dial (877) 317-6789 (U.S.) or (412) 317-6789 (Int’l) ten minutes prior to the start time. The call will also be available via live webcast on the investor relations portion of the Company’s website located at www.entravision.com.
Check Out The New Martech Cube Podcast. For more such updates follow us on Google News Martech News