daln-20230309x8k
false000141389800014138982023-03-092023-03-09

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549  

FORM 8-K 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 9, 2023

 

DallasNews CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Commission file number: 1-33741

 

Texas

 

38-3765318

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

P. O. Box 224866, Dallas, Texas 75222-4866

 

(214977-8869

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Trading Symbol

Name of each exchange on which registered

Series A Common Stock, $0.01 par value

DALN

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  


Item 2.02.  Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On March 9, 2023, DallasNews Corporation (the “Company”) announced its consolidated financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2022. A copy of the announcement press release is furnished with this report as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 8.01.  Other Events.

On March 9, 2023, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a second quarter 2023 dividend of $0.16 per share. The dividend will be payable on June 2, 2023, to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 12, 2023. A copy of the announcement press release is furnished with this report as Exhibit 99.2.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit Number

Description

99.1

Press Release issued by DallasNews Corporation on March 9, 2023

99.2

Press Release issued by DallasNews Corporation on March 9, 2023

104

 

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

 



SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: March 9, 2023

 

 

DALLASNEWS CORPORATION

 

 

By:

 

/s/ Katy Murray

 

 

 

Katy Murray

 

 

 

President and Chief Financial Officer

EX 991-Q4 2022 Earnings Release

Exhibit 99.1

Picture 1



DallasNews Corporation Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2022 Financial Results





DALLAS –  DallasNews Corporation (Nasdaq: DALN) today reported a  fourth quarter 2022 net loss of $2.1 million, or $(0.40) per share, and an operating loss of $1.9 million.  In the fourth quarter of 2021,  the Company reported net income  of  $2.1 million, or $0.40 per share, and an operating loss of $0.7 million. The fourth quarter 2021 net income includes a non-cash pension benefit of $1.0 million and cash proceeds of $1.3 million related to the sale of inactive IP addresses.

For the fourth quarter of 2022, on a non-GAAP basis, DallasNews reported an operating loss adjusted for certain items (adjusted operating income (loss))  of $1.0 million, a decrease of $1.3 million when compared to adjusted operating income of $0.3 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2021. The decrease is primarily due to a total revenue decline of $1.5 million.

For the full year 2022, the Company reported a net loss of $9.8 million, or $(1.83) per share, and an operating loss of $9.0 million. For the full year 2021, the Company reported a net loss of $0.5 million, or $(0.09) per share, and an operating loss of $10.0 million. The 2021 net loss includes a non-cash pension benefit of $4.2 million, a non-cash tax benefit of $2.6 million related to the release of an uncertain tax reserve and cash proceeds of $1.3 million related to the sale of inactive IP addresses.

For the full year 2022, on a non-GAAP basis, the Company reported an adjusted operating loss of $5.3 million, a $1.5 million greater loss when compared to an adjusted operating loss of $3.8 million reported for the full year 2021. The incremental loss is primarily due to a total revenue decline of $3.7 million and a newsprint expense increase of $1.2 million, partially offset by expense savings of $2.7 million in distribution and $1.0 million in employee compensation and benefits.


 

DallasNews Corporation Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2022 Financial Results

March 9, 2023

Page 2

 

Grant Moise, Chief Executive Officer, said,  In 2022, our performance met the Return to Growth Plan that we presented to our Board in September of 2021. This plan is built with the intention of creating a sustainably profitable digital media and marketing services company, and our annual results in 2022 were consistent with it. Simultaneously, we remain committed to returning capital to shareholders during this transition which was evident in the payment of our special dividend and regular dividends last year. The current phase of the RTG Plan will be the most challenging and our team is focused on the key business drivers that will determine our success.”



Fourth Quarter Results



Total revenue was $39.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2022,  a decrease of $1.5 million or 3.6 percent when compared to the fourth quarter of 2021.

Revenue from advertising and marketing services, including print and digital revenues, was $18.4 million in the  fourth quarter of 2022,  a decrease of $1.4 million or 7.0 percent when compared to the $19.8 million reported for the fourth quarter of 2021. The decline is primarily due to a $1.0 million or 8.1 percent reduction in print advertising revenue.

Circulation revenue was $16.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2022,  a decrease of less than $0.1 million when compared to the fourth quarter of 2021.  Digital-only subscription revenue increased $0.6 million or 23.2 percent, offset by a print circulation decline of $0.7 million or 5.1 percent.

Printing, distribution and other revenue was $4.1 million, a slight decrease when compared to the fourth quarter of 2021.


 

DallasNews Corporation Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2022 Financial Results

March 9, 2023

Page 3

 

Total consolidated operating expense in the fourth quarter of 2022, on a GAAP basis, was $41.0 million, an improvement of $0.2 million or 0.5 percent when compared to the fourth quarter of 2021. The improvement is primarily due to expense savings of $1.1 million in distribution and $0.6 million in outside services, partially offset by an increase of $1.6 million in employee compensation and benefits expense.

On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted operating expense was $40.1 million, an improvement of $0.2 million or 0.4 percent when compared to the fourth quarter of 2021.



Full Year Results



Total revenue was $150.7 million for the full year 2022, a decrease of $3.7 million or 2.4 percent when compared to the full year 2021.

Revenue from advertising and marketing services, including print and digital revenues, was $69.7 million in 2022, a decrease of $3.6 million or 4.9 percent when compared to the $73.3 million reported for the full year 2021.  Print advertising revenue declined $2.7 million or 5.6 percent and digital advertising and marketing services revenue declined $0.9 million or 3.6 percent.

Circulation revenue was $65.2 million for the full year 2022,  an increase of $0.2 million or 0.4 percent when compared to the full year 2021.  Digital-only subscription revenue increased $3.5 million or 36.9 percent, partially offset by a print circulation decline of $3.3 million or 6.0 percent.

Printing, distribution and other revenue decreased $0.4 million, or 2.3 percent, to $15.8 million, primarily due to reductions in revenue from mailed advertisements for business customers and distribution revenue from commercial printing.


 

DallasNews Corporation Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2022 Financial Results

March 9, 2023

Page 4

 

Total consolidated operating expense for the full year 2022, on a GAAP basis, was $159.6 million, an improvement of $4.7 million or 2.9 percent compared to the full year 2021.  The improvement is primarily due to expense savings of $2.7 million in distribution,  $2.0 million in employee compensation and benefits,  and $1.3 million in depreciation,  partially offset by an increase of $1.2 million in newsprint expense.

On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted operating expense was $155.9 million, an improvement of $2.3 million or 1.4 percent when compared to $158.2 million of adjusted operating expense in the full year 2021.

As of December 31,  2022,  the Company had 663 employees, an increase of 7 full-time equivalents, or 1.1 percent, when compared to the prior year period. Cash and cash equivalents were $27.8 million and the Company had no debt.


 

DallasNews Corporation Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2022 Financial Results

March 9, 2023

Page 5

 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures





Reconciliations of operating loss to adjusted operating income (loss) and total operating costs and expense to adjusted operating expense are included in the exhibits to this release.

 


 

DallasNews Corporation Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2022 Financial Results

March 9, 2023

Page 6

 

 

Financial Results Conference Call





DallasNews Corporation will conduct a conference call on Friday,  March 10, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. CST to discuss financial results. The conference call will be available via webcast by accessing the Company’s website at investor.dallasnewscorporation.com/events.  An archive of the webcast will be available at dallasnewscorporation.com in the Investor Relations section.

To access the listen-only conference call, dial 1-877-336-4441 and enter the following access code when prompted: 5166062.  A replay line will be available at 1-866-207-1041 from 12:00 p.m. CST on March 10, 2023 until 11:59 p.m. CDT on March 16, 2023.  The access code for the replay is 1651323.


 

DallasNews Corporation Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2022 Financial Results

March 9, 2023

Page 7

 

 

About DallasNews Corporation





DallasNews Corporation is the Dallas-based holding company of The Dallas Morning News and Medium Giant. The Dallas Morning News is Texas leading daily newspaper with a strong journalistic reputation, intense regional focus and close community ties. Medium Giant is a media and marketing agency of divergent thinkers who devise strategies that deepen connections, expand influence, and scale success for clients nationwide. For additional information, visit dallasnewscorporation.com or email invest@dallasnews.com





Statements in this communication concerning DallasNews Corporation’s (the “Company”) business outlook or future economic performance, revenues, expenses, cash balance and other financial and non-financial items that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” as the term is defined under applicable federal securities laws. Words such as “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “can,” “could,”  “estimate,” “forecast,” “intend,” “expect,” “may,” “project,” “plan,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and their opposites and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those statements. Such risks, trends and uncertainties are, in most instances, beyond the Company’s control, and include changes in advertising demand and other economic conditions; consumers’ tastes; newsprint and distribution prices; program costs; the success of the Company’s digital strategy; labor relations; cybersecurity incidents; technological obsolescence; and the current and future impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other risks, there can be no guarantee that the board of directors will approve a quarterly dividend in future quarters or that our financial projections are accurate, as well as other risks described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the Company’s other public disclosures and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements, which are as of the date of this filing, are not updated to reflect events or circumstances after the date of the statement.



 


 

 

DallasNews Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Three Months Ended December 31,

 

Years Ended December 31,

In thousands, except share and per share amounts (unaudited)

 

2022

 

2021

 

2022

 

2021

Net Operating Revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advertising and marketing services

 

$

18,421 

 

$

19,800 

 

$

69,667 

 

$

73,271 

Circulation

 

 

16,615 

 

 

16,671 

 

 

65,191 

 

 

64,943 

Printing, distribution and other

 

 

4,067 

 

 

4,109 

 

 

15,793 

 

 

16,160 

Total net operating revenue

 

 

39,103 

 

 

40,580 

 

 

150,651 

 

 

154,374 

Operating Costs and Expense:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employee compensation and benefits

 

 

17,454 

 

 

15,884 

 

 

67,096 

 

 

69,078 

Other production, distribution and operating costs

 

 

19,973 

 

 

21,759 

 

 

78,638 

 

 

81,041 

Newsprint, ink and other supplies

 

 

2,976 

 

 

2,720 

 

 

11,035 

 

 

9,878 

Depreciation

 

 

582 

 

 

875 

 

 

2,709 

 

 

4,002 

Amortization

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

64 

Loss on sale/disposal of assets, net

 

 

58 

 

 

 —

 

 

58 

 

 

29 

Asset impairments

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

102 

 

 

232 

Total operating costs and expense

 

 

41,043 

 

 

41,238 

 

 

159,638 

 

 

164,324 

Operating loss

 

 

(1,940)

 

 

(658)

 

 

(8,987)

 

 

(9,950)

Other income (loss), net

 

 

(193)

 

 

2,638 

 

 

(241)

 

 

7,332 

Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes

 

 

(2,133)

 

 

1,980 

 

 

(9,228)

 

 

(2,618)

Income tax provision (benefit)

 

 

 

 

(169)

 

 

558 

 

 

(2,151)

Net Income (Loss)

 

$

(2,141)

 

$

2,149 

 

$

(9,786)

 

$

(467)



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Per Share Basis (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

(0.40)

 

$

0.40 

 

$

(1.83)

 

$

(0.09)

Number of common shares used in the per share calculation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

5,352,490 

 

 

5,352,490 

 

 

5,352,490 

 

 

5,352,490 





(1)

The Company’s Series A and Series B common stock equally share in the distributed and undistributed earnings. There were no options or RSUs outstanding as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, that would result in dilution of shares or the calculation of EPS under the two-class method as prescribed under ASC 260 – Earnings Per Share.

 


 

 

DallasNews Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets





 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

December 31,

 

December 31,

In thousands (unaudited)

 

2022

 

2021

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

27,825 

 

$

32,439 

Accounts receivable, net

 

 

14,023 

 

 

16,012 

Notes receivable

 

 

 —

 

 

22,400 

Other current assets

 

 

6,077 

 

 

5,677 

Total current assets

 

 

47,925 

 

 

76,528 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

 

7,438 

 

 

8,822 

Operating lease right-of-use assets

 

 

14,811 

 

 

17,648 

Deferred income taxes, net

 

 

282 

 

 

257 

Other assets

 

 

1,809 

 

 

2,197 

Total assets

 

$

72,265 

 

$

105,452 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

5,041 

 

$

7,821 

Accrued compensation and other current liabilities

 

 

8,214 

 

 

9,505 

Contract liabilities

 

 

9,504 

 

 

10,592 

Total current liabilities

 

 

22,759 

 

 

27,918 

Long-term pension liabilities

 

 

19,455 

 

 

14,275 

Long-term operating lease liabilities

 

 

16,546 

 

 

19,181 

Other liabilities

 

 

1,142 

 

 

1,501 

Total liabilities

 

 

59,902 

 

 

62,875 

Total shareholders' equity

 

 

12,363 

 

 

42,577 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

72,265 

 

$

105,452 

 


 

 

DallasNews Corporation - Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Reconciliation of Operating Loss to Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)







 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Three Months Ended December 31,

 

Years Ended December 31,

In thousands (unaudited)

 

2022

 

2021

 

2022

 

2021

Total net operating revenue

 

$

39,103 

 

$

40,580 

 

$

150,651 

 

$

154,374 

Total operating costs and expense

 

 

41,043 

 

 

41,238 

 

 

159,638 

 

 

164,324 

Operating Loss

 

$

(1,940)

 

$

(658)

 

$

(8,987)

 

$

(9,950)



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total operating costs and expense

 

$

41,043 

 

$

41,238 

 

$

159,638 

 

$

164,324 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation

 

 

582 

 

 

875 

 

 

2,709 

 

 

4,002 

Amortization

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

64 

Severance expense

 

 

304 

 

 

95 

 

 

845 

 

 

1,816 

Loss on sale/disposal of assets, net

 

 

58 

 

 

 —

 

 

58 

 

 

29 

Asset impairments

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

102 

 

 

232 

Adjusted Operating Expense

 

$

40,099 

 

$

40,268 

 

$

155,924 

 

$

158,181 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total net operating revenue

 

$

39,103 

 

$

40,580 

 

$

150,651 

 

$

154,374 

Adjusted operating expense

 

 

40,099 

 

 

40,268 

 

 

155,924 

 

 

158,181 

Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)

 

$

(996)

 

$

312 

 

$

(5,273)

 

$

(3,807)



The Company calculates adjusted operating income (loss) by adjusting operating income (loss) to exclude depreciation, amortization, severance expense, (gain) loss on sale/disposal of assets, and asset impairments (“adjusted operating income (loss)”). The Company believes that inclusion of certain noncash expenses and other items in the results makes for more difficult comparisons between years and with peer group companies.

Adjusted operating income (loss) is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Management uses adjusted operating income (loss) and similar measures in internal analyses as supplemental measures of the Company’s financial performance, and for performance comparisons versus its peer group of companies. Management uses this non-GAAP financial measure for the purposes of evaluating consolidated Company performance. The Company therefore believes that the non-GAAP measure presented provides useful information to investors by allowing them to view the Company’s business through the eyes of management and the Board of Directors, facilitating comparison of results across historical periods and providing a focus on the underlying ongoing operating performance of its business. Adjusted operating income (loss) should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income (loss), cash flows provided by (used for) operating activities or other comparable measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Additionally, this non-GAAP measure may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures of other companies.

 


EX-992-Dividend Declared Q2 2023

 

Exhibit 99.2

Picture 1

 



DallasNews Corporation Announces Second Quarter 2023  Dividend



DALLAS - DallasNews Corporation (Nasdaq: DALN) announced today that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.16 per share on March 9, 2023. The dividend will be payable on June 2, 2023, to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 12, 2023.



About DallasNews Corporation



DallasNews Corporation is the Dallas-based holding company of The Dallas Morning News and Medium Giant. The Dallas Morning News is Texas leading daily newspaper with a strong journalistic reputation, intense regional focus and close community ties. Medium Giant is a media and marketing agency of divergent thinkers who devise strategies that deepen connections, expand influence, and scale success for clients nationwide. For additional information, visit dallasnewscorporation.com or email invest@dallasnews.com



Statements in this communication concerning DallasNews Corporation’s (the “Company”) business outlook or future economic performance, revenues, expenses, cash balance and other financial and non-financial items that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” as the term is defined under applicable federal securities laws. Words such as “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “can,” “could,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “intend,” “expect,” “may,” “project,” “plan,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and their opposites and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those statements. Such risks, trends and uncertainties are, in most instances, beyond the Company’s control, and include changes in advertising demand and other economic conditions; consumers’ tastes; newsprint and distribution prices; program costs; the success of the Company’s digital strategy; labor relations; cybersecurity incidents; technological obsolescence; and the current and future impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other risks, there can be no guarantee that the board of directors will approve a quarterly dividend in future quarters or that our financial projections are accurate, as well as other risks described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the Company’s other public disclosures and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements, which are as of the date of this filing, are not updated to reflect events or circumstances after the date of the statement.