WWE releases 2022 second quarter financial report

By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)

WWE issued the following 2022 second quarter earnings report on on Tuesday, July 16, 2022 via Corporate.WWE.com.

Raises Full Year 2022 Outlook

Second Quarter 2022 Highlights

• Revenue was $328.2 million, an increase of 24%; Operating Income was $69.3 million, an increase of 50%; and Adjusted OIBDA¹ was $91.5 million, an increase of 34%
• Returned capital to shareholders totaling $19.1 million, including share repurchases and dividends paid
• Each WWE premium live event (WrestleMania, WrestleMania Backlash and Hell in a Cell) was the most viewed event in its history with year-over-year increases of 60%, 49% and 45%, respectively, in domestic unique viewership on Peacock
• WWE, in connection with Fox’s Blockchain Creative Labs, launched its inaugural NFT sale on Moonsault, the Company’s official NFT marketplace. The limited-edition collection, which was tied to the Hell in a Cell event, sold out within 24 hours
• WWE announced its second “Next In Line” class of 15 college athletes, further enhancing the Company’s talent development program
• In July, WWE launched a new, enhanced digital platform for e-commerce and licensed merchandise in connection with its long-term partnership with Fanatics

2022 Business Outlook²

• In February, the Company issued Adjusted OIBDA guidance of $360 – $375 million for the full year 2022. Based on outperformance through the first six months of the year as well as management’s current expectations for the second half of the year, the Company is raising its guidance and now expects full year 2022 Adjusted OIBDA within a range of $370 – $385 million

STAMFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–

WWE (NYSE: WWE) today announced financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2022.

“We generated strong financial results in the quarter, highlighted by record revenue and Adjusted OIBDA for a second quarter,” said Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan, WWE co-Chief Executive Officers. “We continued to effectively execute our strategy, including staging a record-setting WrestleMania in early April. WrestleMania, as well as our other premium live events (“PLEs”) including WrestleMania Backlash, Hell in a Cell, Money in the Bank and SummerSlam all delivered record viewership for their respective events. These PLEs, along with strong ratings for our flagship programs, Raw and SmackDown, continued to expand the reach of our brands and enhance the value of our content. We’re excited about the recently announced management structure, including the appointment of Paul Levesque as head of WWE creative and talent, as we look to continue to increase the monetization of our IP across various platforms through our media rights agreements, both domestically and abroad, as well as our inaugural NFT drops on Moonsault, WWE’s official NFT marketplace, and the recent launch of our new, enhanced e-commerce digital platform in connection with our partnership with Fanatics.”

Frank Riddick, WWE Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, added “In the quarter, we exceeded the high end of our guidance. Adjusted OIBDA increased 34% reflecting 24% revenue growth. Our strong financial performance was primarily driven by our return to a full live event schedule and our consumer products business. These items more than offset an increase in production, content-related, and other expenses. For 2022, we are raising our full year Adjusted OIBDA guidance to a range of $370 to $385 million.”

Second-Quarter Consolidated Results

Revenue increased 24% to $328.2 million, primarily due to an increase in ticket sales at our live events and, to a lesser extent, higher sales of the Company’s licensed products, including video games and trading cards. An increase in media rights fees related to the Company’s flagship programs and premium live events also contributed to the increase in revenue.

Operating Income increased 50%, or $23.0 million, to $69.3 million, driven by the increase in revenue partially offset by an increase in operating expenses. The increase in operating expenses was primarily driven by higher event-related costs associated with the resumption of live event touring as well as increased production costs associated with the creation of the Company’s premium live events, including our annual WrestleMania events. The Company’s operating income margin increased to 21% from 17%.

Adjusted OIBDA (which excludes stock compensation) increased 34%, or $23.4 million, to $91.5 million. The Company’s adjusted OIBDA margin increased to 28% from 26%.

Net Income was $49.0 million, or $0.58 per diluted share, an increase from $29.2 million, or $0.34 per diluted share in the second quarter of 2021, primarily reflecting higher operating performance.

Cash flows generated by operating activities were $56.9 million, an increase from $19.5 million, primarily due to higher net income.

Free Cash Flow³ was $9.5 million, a decrease from $13.3 million, primarily due to an increase in capital expenditures,partially offset by the change in operating cash flow. For the three months ended June 30, 2022, the Company incurred $40.8 million of capital expenditures related to its new headquarter facility. Excluding the capital expenditures related to the new headquarter facility, Free Cash Flow for the three months ended June 30, 2022 was $50.3 million.

Return of Capital to Shareholders

The Company returned $19.1 million to shareholders in the second quarter of 2022, consisting of $10.0 million in share repurchases and $9.1 million in dividends paid. Approximately 170,000 shares were repurchased at an average price of $58.70 per share during the second quarter. As of June 30, 2022, the Company had $210.9 million available under its existing $500 million stock repurchase authorization.

Results by Operating Segment

The schedules below reflect WWE’s performance by operating segment (in millions):¹

Media

Second-Quarter 2022

Revenue increased 4%, or $9.2 million, to $243.1 million, primarily due an increase in both domestic and international media rights fees related to the Company’s flagship programs and premium live events. These increases were partially offset by the timing of delivery of third-party original programming.

Operating income decreased 3%, or $2.4 million, to $78.4 million, as the increase in revenue (as described above) was more than offset by an increase in operating expenses. The increase in operating expenses was primarily driven by higher stock-based compensation as the prior year quarter included lower management incentive compensation arising from the Company’s business restructuring. Production costs were relatively flat year-over-year as higher production costs associated with the creation of the Company’s premium live events were offset by lower television production costs associated with the creation of the Company’s weekly, in-ring content.

Adjusted OIBDA increased 5%, or $4.5 million, to $90.7 million.

Live Events

Second-Quarter 2022

Revenue was $41.0 million, an increase of $31.8 million, driven by the resumption of ticket sales as the Company returned to staging ticketed live events, as well as an increase in ticket sales from the Company’s marquee annual event, WrestleMania. There were 59 total ticketed live events in the current quarter, consisting of 55 events in North America and four events in international markets. Average attendance at the Company’s North America events was approximately 6,800. The increase in ticket sales revenue for WrestleMania was primarily driven by a return to full capacity attendance.

Operating income was $13.2 million, an increase of $12.3 million, as the increase in ticket sales (as described above) was partially offset by an increase in event-related expenses.

Adjusted OIBDA increased $12.7 million to $13.8 million.

Consumer Products

Second-Quarter 2022

Revenue increased 96%, or $21.6 million, to $44.1 million, primarily due to higher sales of the Company’s licensed products, including video games driven by our franchise game WWE 2K22, as well as trading cards and other collectibles. Higher sales of venue merchandise was driven by the return to ticketed live events, while an increase in eCommerce merchandise sales was primarily due to sales of the Company’s existing merchandise inventory to the new operator of WWE’s official eCommerce platform.

Operating income increased 101%, or $8.0 million, to $15.9 million, reflecting the increase in revenue (as described above) partially offset by an increase in variable costs associated with the sales activity.

Adjusted OIBDA increased 96%, or $8.1 million, to $16.5 million.

2022 Business Outlook²

In February, the Company issued Adjusted OIBDA guidance of $360 – $375 million for the full year 2022. Based on outperformance through the first six months of the year as well as management’s current expectations for the second half of the year, the Company is raising its guidance and now expects full year 2022 Adjusted OIBDA within a range of $370 – $385 million. This range of anticipated performance reflects the continued ramp-up of live events, including large-scale international events, and increased monetization of content, partially offset by increased production, content-related, and other expenses.

Third Quarter 2022 Business Outlook²

The Company estimates third quarter 2022 Adjusted OIBDA of $70 – $80 million. The estimate reflects strong revenue growth primarily driven by the contractual escalation of domestic media rights fees for the Company’s flagship programs and premium live events as well as the increased monetization of content and an increase in international ticket sales related to the staging of a large-scale event. The Company also anticipates that third quarter results will reflect an increase in operating expenses, including certain costs to support the creation of content.

Special Committee Investigation

As previously announced, a Special Committee of independent members of the Board of Directors was formed to investigate alleged misconduct by Vincent K. McMahon, the Company’s former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, who resigned from all positions held with the Company on July 22, 2022 but remains a stockholder with a controlling interest, and another executive, who is also no longer with the Company. The Special Committee investigation is substantially complete. Based on certain findings during the investigation, the Company has revised its previously issued financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2020, and 2021, as well as the first quarter of 2022. For the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2022, the Company’s consolidated pre-tax results include the impact of $1.7 million associated with certain costs related to the investigation. Please see the Company’s SEC filings, including, but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K/A and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q/A and Form 10-Q for further details regarding this matter.

Notes

Non-GAAP Measures

The Company defines Adjusted OIBDA as operating income excluding depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense, certain impairment charges and other non-recurring material items that otherwise would impact the comparability of results between periods. Adjusted OIBDA includes amortization and depreciation expenses directly related to supporting the operations of our segments, including content production asset amortization, depreciation and amortization of costs related to content delivery and technology assets utilized for the WWE Network, as well as amortization of right-of-use assets related to finance leases of equipment used to produce and broadcast our live events. The Company believes the presentation of Adjusted OIBDA is relevant and useful for investors because it allows them to view the Company’s segment performance in the same manner as the primary method used by management to evaluate segment performance and to make decisions regarding the allocation of resources. Additionally, the Company believes that Adjusted OIBDA is a primary measure used by media investors, analysts and peers for comparative purposes.

Adjusted OIBDA is a non-GAAP financial measure and may be different from similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. WWE views operating income as the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Adjusted OIBDA (and other non-GAAP measures such as Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS which are defined as the GAAP measures excluding certain nonrecurring, material items that impact the comparability between periods) should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, operating income, net income, EPS or other GAAP measures, such as operating cash flow, as an indicator of operating performance or liquidity.

The Company defines Free Cash Flow as net cash provided by operating activities less cash used for capital expenditures. WWE views net cash provided by operating activities as the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Although it is not a recognized measure of liquidity under U.S. GAAP, Free Cash Flow provides useful information regarding the amount of cash WWE’s continuing business generates after capital expenditures and is available for reinvesting in the business, debt service, share repurchases and payment of dividends.

Additional Information

As previously announced WWE will host a conference call at 8:30 a.m. ET on August 16, 2022, to discuss its second quarter 2022 results. All interested parties are welcome to listen to a live webcast that will be hosted through the Company’s website at corporate.wwe.com/investors. Participants can access the conference call by dialing 1-855-200-4993 (toll free) or 1-323-794-2092 from outside the U.S. (conference ID for both lines: 6930081). Please reserve a line 5-10 minutes prior to the start time of the conference call.

The earnings presentation referenced during the call will be made available on August 16, 2022, at corporate.wwe.com/investors. A replay of the call will be available approximately two hours after the conference call concludes and can be accessed on the Company’s website.

Additional business metrics are made available to investors on the corporate website – corporate.wwe.com/investors.

About WWE

WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The Company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly entertainment on its television programming, premium live events, digital media, and publishing platforms. WWE’s TV-PG programming can be seen in more than 1 billion homes worldwide in 30 languages through world-class distribution partners including NBCUniversal, FOX, BT Sport, Sony India and Rogers. The award-winning WWE Network includes all premium live events, scheduled programming and a massive video-on-demand library and is currently available in more than 180 countries. In the United States, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock, is the exclusive home to WWE Network.

Additional information on WWE can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.

Trademarks: All WWE programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, trademarks, logos and copyrights are the exclusive property of WWE and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.

Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains, and oral statements made from time to time by our representatives may contain, forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward looking statements include statements regarding, our outlook for future financial results, the impact of recent management changes, the scope, duration and findings of the investigation being conducted by the special committee of independent members of our Board of Directors; our plans to remediate identified material weaknesses in our disclosure control and procedures and our internal control over financial reporting, and regulatory, investigative or enforcement inquiries, subpoenas or demands arising from, related to, or in connection with these matters. In addition, the words “may,” “will,” “could,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “continue,” “project,” “intend,” “estimate,” “believe,” “expect,” “outlook,” “target,” “goal,” “guidance” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such words. These statements relate to future possible events, as well as our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and are not historical facts and accordingly involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results or the performance by us to be materially different from future results or performance expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to uncertainties relating to, without limitation, the departure of Vince McMahon from the Company and the appointment of Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan as co-Chief Executive Officers; the scope, duration and findings of the ongoing investigation by the special committee of independent members of our Board of Directors; regulatory, investigative or enforcement inquiries, subpoenas or demands arising from, related to, or in connection with these matters; our ability to remediate material weaknesses in our disclosure controls and procedures and our internal control over financial reporting; and reputational harm to the Company’s relationships with its stockholders, customers, talent and partners, which may have adverse financial and operational impacts, among other factors. The following additional factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements: the COVID-19 outbreak, which may continue to affect negatively world economies as well as our industry, business and results of operations; entering, maintaining and renewing major distribution and licensing agreements; a rapidly evolving and highly competitive media landscape; WWE Network; computer systems, content delivery and online operations of our Company and our business partners; privacy norms and regulations; our need to continue to develop creative and entertaining programs and events; our need to retain and continue to recruit key performers; the possibility of a decline in the popularity of our brand of sports entertainment; the resignation of Vincent K. McMahon; possible adverse changes in the regulatory atmosphere and related private sector initiatives; the highly competitive, rapidly changing and increasingly fragmented nature of the markets in which we operate and/or our inability to compete effectively, especially against competitors with greater financial resources or marketplace presence; uncertainties associated with international markets including possible disruptions and reputational risks; our difficulty or inability to promote and conduct our live events and/or other businesses if we do not comply with applicable regulations; our dependence on our intellectual property rights, our need to protect those rights, and the risks of our infringement of others’ intellectual property rights; the complexity of our rights agreements across distribution mechanisms and geographical areas; potential substantial liability in the event of accidents or injuries occurring during our physically demanding events; large public events as well as travel to and from such events; our expansion into new or complementary businesses, strategic investments and/or acquisitions; our accounts receivable; the construction and move to our new leased corporate and media production headquarters; litigation and other actions, investigations or proceedings; a change in the tax laws of key jurisdictions; our feature film business; a possible decline in general economic conditions and disruption in financial markets including any resulting from COVID-19; our indebtedness including our convertible notes; our potential failure to meet market expectations for our financial performance; through his beneficial ownership of a substantial majority of our Class B common stock, our controlling stockholder, Vincent K. McMahon could exercise ultimate control over our affairs, and his interests may conflict with the holders of our Class A common stock; our share repurchase program; a substantial number of shares are eligible for sale by the McMahons and the sale, or the perception of possible sales, of those shares could lower our stock price; and the volatility of our Class A common stock. In addition, our dividend and share repurchases are dependent on a number of factors, including, among other things, our liquidity and historical and projected cash flow, strategic plan (including alternative uses of capital), our financial results and condition, contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of dividends (including under our revolving credit facility), general economic and competitive conditions and such other factors as our Board of Directors may consider relevant. Forward-looking statements made by the Company speak only as of the date made and are subject to change without any obligation on the part of the Company to update or revise them. Undue reliance should not be placed on these statements. For more information about risks and uncertainties associated with the Company’s business, please refer to the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Risk Factors” sections of the Company’s SEC filings, including, but not limited to, our annual report on Form 10-K/A and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q/A and Form 10-Q.

Powell’s POV: Members of WWE management, including Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan, are expected to host a conference call regarding this report this morning at 7:30CT/8:30ET. Check back for my live notes on the call.