Endeavor Group Holdings Inc

NYSE:EDR

Earnings Call Analysis

Endeavor Posts Growth Amidst Acquisitions

Endeavor achieved a significant year marked by acquiring WWE and launching TKO. They secured increased media rights, strengthened representation, and expanded licensing capabilities. Revenue rose 13% to $5.96 billion, with UFC driving the Owned Sports Property segment's earnings. However, they experienced a net loss of $29.3 million in Q4 but a net income of $557.5 million in 2023. They anticipate synergies from TKO and growth in live events. Strategic reviews may lead to new opportunities, but no guidance for 2024 has been provided yet due to this review.

Strategic Acquisitions and Integration Drive Record Results

The year 2023 marked a period of strategic acquisitions for the company, including the successful acquisition of WWE. This move combined with organic growth initiatives like the launch of TKO and expanded representation capabilities across sports, music, and content, has propelled the company's Owned Sports Properties segment to new heights. The acquisition alone added $383 million to revenue in just a few months. Additionally, UFC's record performance and WWE's highest-ever live events revenue contributed to a more than doubling of segment revenue. This momentum is anticipated to continue into the future, with new media rights arrangements, such as WWE's lucrative deal with Netflix for live programming, expected to augment revenue even further.

Diverse Event Portfolio Attracts Record Crowds

The company's peppy execution in live events is evident by PBR's ability to attract 1.25 million fans, the establishment of new national partnerships, and a doubled partnership business since 2020. IMG Academy got sold, freeing up resources and showing a sharp business focus. Key events in tennis and art fairs drew record attendance, underlining the company's prowess in creating marquee experiences that captivate audiences worldwide.

Expansions and Extensions Signal Growth in Experiences & Rights

Endeavor's involvement as a significant minority partner in Fanatics events hints at an ambitious plan to build an extensive network of sports fan festivals. The company's Events, Experiences & Rights segment, despite a slight dip in revenue due to the sale of IMG Academy and a deceleration in On Location's music touring, shows promise of reinvigoration, with extensions with the NCAA and significant art fair expansions shaping a positive outlook.

Representation and Marketing Prowess Reflects in Top-Tier Client Success

Despite some headwinds from industry strikes, the Representation segment painted an impressive picture, with WME's clients starring in the leading box office hits, covering a broad spectrum of media from film, television, to podcasting. IMG's consumer product licensing and 160over90 agency hold marquee positions in their respective industries, boasting relationships with Fortune 500 companies, illustrating the segment's deep roots in culture and marketing.

Sports Data and Technology Segment Capitalizes on Betting Trends

With a revenue surge of 80% year-over-year, the Sports Data and Technology segment is a clear powerhouse. Growth is attributed to OpenBet's full-year inclusion and IMG arena's expansion in betting data and streaming rights. The increasing legalization of sports betting, especially in emerging regulations like the Brazilian market, positions the segment to be a pivotal contributor to Endeavor's future growth.

Financials Indicate Solid Growth with Scope for Strategic Execution

Revenue for the fourth quarter soared by 26%, with total annual revenue climbing to $5.96 billion, a 13% increase. A net debt of $3.89 billion against a robust cash position shows prudence in capital management. While there's no guidance for 2024 due to strategic alternative reviews, the company expects to capitalize on synergies from recent integrations, continue driving revenue through live events, and explore the growing landscape of sports betting and sports right offerings.

Earnings Call Transcript 2023-Q4

[Operator]

Hello, and welcome to the Endeavor Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Results Conference Call. I'll now hand it over to James Marsh, SVP and Head of Investor Relations. Please go ahead.

[James Marsh, executive]

Good morning, and welcome to Endeavor's Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Earnings Call. A short while ago, we issued a press release, which you can view on our Investor Relations site, investor.endeavorco.com. A recording of this call will also be available via that site for at least 30 days. Today, you will hear from Endeavor's CEO, Ariel Emanuel; and CFO, Jason Lublin.

In light of our previously announced and ongoing review of strategic alternatives, we will not be taking questions following Ariel and Jason's prepared remarks. The purpose of this call is to provide you with the information regarding our fourth quarter and full year 2023 performance. I do want to remind everyone that the information discussed will include forward-looking statements and/or projections that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions as well as described in the Risk Factors section of our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our 10-Qs and 10-K.

If these risks or uncertainties ever materialize or any assumptions prove inaccurate, our results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and projections. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date that they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them publicly and let new information or future events, except as legally required. Our commentary today will also include non-GAAP financial measures, which we believe provide an additional tool for investors to use in evaluating ongoing operating results and trends.

This measure should not be considered in isolation from or as a substitute for financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. Reconciliations between GAAP and non-GAAP metrics for our reported results can be found in our press release issued today as well as in the non-GAAP financial information posted on our IR website. With that, I'll turn it over to our CEO, Ariel Emanuel.

[Ariel Emanuel, executive]

Thanks, James, and good morning, everyone. 2023 marked a transformational year for Endeavor in ways that further cemented our leading positions in sports and entertainment and demonstrated the value we are creating for shareholders. We closed our acquisition of WWE launched TKO and immediately began leveraging the Endeavor flywheel to create synergies and unlock growth across areas, including media rights and partnerships. We strengthened and expanded our representation capabilities through strategic tuck-in acquisitions in sports, country music, literary and nonscripted content.

We inked landmark sports rights deals at IMG and achieved new attendance milestones across our owned events portfolio. We sold IMG Academy at an enterprise value of $1.25 billion. We implemented Endeavor's share repurchase program and quarterly cash dividend payments. And we began a review of strategic alternatives to ensure we are maximizing value for our shareholders.

With regard to our review of strategic alternatives for the company, we are still engaged in the process and we'll provide an update when there is more information to share.

Now turning to some highlights from the fourth quarter and full year. Starting with our owned Sports Properties segment, which includes TKO, just 5 months in, TKO is off to a strong start. The fourth quarter marked the company's first full quarter and closed out a standout year. UFC delivered record financial performance in 2023 and WWE had its highest revenue year ever for live events.

Since closing the transaction, both businesses have broken viewership and attendance records at live events announced new international events with significant site fees, inked sizable partnership agreements and secured media rights fee increases domestically and internationally. Meanwhile, TKO has also made meaningful progress on integration including merging UFC and WWE's global partnerships teams to create a unified sports marketing powerhouse focused on creating new revenue opportunities.

We're encouraged by TKO's continued momentum into 2024 most recently demonstrated by WWE's deal with Netflix to bring Raws live programming into the leading global streamer 52 weeks a year, beginning in 2025. Following earlier rights renewals for SmackDown and NXT this new deal for Raw is yet another proof point for the compelling rationale of bringing WWE together with UFC under one roof and harnessing the power of the Endeavor flywheel.

Together, these deals delivered an increase of more than 1.4x in AAV. Exceeding expectations on guidance and demonstrating TKO's ability to capitalize on the evolving media landscape as well as the quality and value of its premium content.

The segment also includes PBR, where events in 2023 drew 1.25 million fans. PBR sold out nearly 40 events and set more than 50 revenue records throughout the year. Beyond live events, PBR's brand partnerships have significant momentum going into this year. We finished 2023 with 9 new national partnerships, headlined by Anheuser-Busch.

Overall, the PBR partnership business has nearly doubled since 2020 and following a second successful Teams League season in 2023, which generated a 28% increase in TV viewership and average more than 1 million viewers on CBS. PBR announced its expansion to 10 teams for the upcoming 2024 season, including a first-ever team in Brooklyn. In our Events, Experiences & Rights segment, during the fourth quarter, IMG's Media team and WME Sports jointly negotiated landmark partnerships for the National Women's Soccer League with CBS Sports, ESPN, Prime Video and Scripps Sports. And to start this year, the team negotiated an NCAA renewal with ESPN that covers 40 NCAA championships, including the women's basketball tournament.

Like the NWSL deal, this agreement showcases the value of our industry-leading teams when it comes to representing and negotiating sports media rights. Our marquee events across sports and the greater culture in the quarter and throughout 2023, expanded in key areas. ART has become an increasingly meaningful vertical for IMG's events business. We are kicking off our 2024 ART Fair season tomorrow with Frieze Los Angeles.

And later in the year, we will be expanding our presence in New York and Chicago following acquisitions of the Armory Show and Expo Chicago, two of the longest-running contemporary and modern art fairs in the U.S. In London, attendance grew at our Hyde Park Winter Wonderland Holiday Festival. We sold more than 3 million tickets across 45 days, making it one of the most successful assets in our global events portfolio. At our own tennis tournaments, the Miami open and Madrid open, we achieved record attendance in 2023. The Miami Open welcomed a record 386,000 fans and set record partnership sales.

Similarly, the Madrid Open expanded to 12 days and marked its biggest year ever with record attendance of 325,000. In 2023, we became a significant minority partner in Fanatics new company, Fanatics events, with a plan to build the largest network of sports fan festivals in the world. The festivals will bring communities together to celebrate all aspects of Fandom, including sports, fashion, music and entertainment. We look forward to our first event in Q3. We've also benefited from continued strength in consumer spending on premium experiences.

In 2023, On Location hosted Notre Dame and Navy fans in Ireland and sold out the Aer Lingus classic college football game. We've since extended our agreement with the stadium for another 3 years. Similarly, on location signed a 5-year extension in 2023 with the NCAA for the Men's and Women's Final Four. Pivoting to our representation segment. WME delivered solid financial performance last year despite the industry headwinds from the WGA and SAG after strikes and executed a series of strategic tuck-in acquisitions that strengthened and extended our representation capabilities in the attractive literary, country music and sports markets.

In film and TV, WME clients were involved in 6 of the top 10 grossing films at the domestic box office. Including Christopher Nolan's critically acclaimed Oppenheimer, which landed in the top 3. WME was responsible for arranging the essential casting and creative elements for nearly 300 scripted series on broadcast, cable and streaming channels. including Emmy Award winners, The Bear and Succession.

In music, WME clients headlined major festivals throughout 2023, including 25 artists at Coachella and 59 at Lollapalooza. Our leading presence in country music and in Nashville was also on full display at the 2023 CMAs, where WME clients took home trophies in 8 of the 12 categories. In sports, WME continues to gain momentum with player signings across all the major sports as well as coaching and broadcasting. During the year, our teams negotiated over $1.1 billion in NFL contracts with more than $700 million guaranteed including the highest paying offensive and defensive player contracts in NFL history.

And as women's sports continue to grow, WME is stride for stride representing more highest paid female athletes of 2023 than any other agency. Additionally, WME represented the most lottery picks in the NBA draft, more than any other agency. During the year, WME also executed more than 4,000 brand partnerships deals signed more than 75 new clients in the podcasting space and closed more than 100 audio deals with major podcast networks. WME also closed deals for more than 300 new books with 48 books debuting on the New York Times bestseller list.

In addition to the agency, our representation segment includes the consumer product licensing business of IMG, which ranked #1 for the fifth year in a row in licensed Global's top global licensing agents 2023 report and 160over90, our cultural marketing agency, whose major clients include multiple Fortune 500 brands, including Amazon, Marriott, USAA and Visa. 160over90's relationship with Anheuser-Busch also led to UFC's new multiyear marketing partnership that features Bud Light as the official beer partner of the UFC in the U.S.

Turning next to our Sports Data and Technology segment. During the fourth quarter, OpenBet and IMG arena secured notable wins, including significant partnerships with renowned betting and gaming operators and global data and streaming rights deals. I'll share two examples. First, OpenBet commenced the long-term partnership with Finland's government-owned betting operator, Veikkaus, that will see OpenBet's technology power their sportsbook platform expanding the operator's online and retail betting operations. Finland stands out as a key growth opportunity in the European sports betting landscape.

This launch in Finland follows major geographic wins for OpenBet in 2023 across Greece, Germany, Czech Republic and Canada with Australia and Brazil in focus for 2024. And in data and rights, IMG Arena extended and augmented our partnerships with Roland-Garros and Wimbledon and doubled our data portfolio in soccer to over 23,000 annual events. Throughout the year, IMG Arena also saw significant growth in their streaming portfolio, which now sits at 50,000 events annually.

All told, Endeavor's businesses showed both strength and resilience in 2023. With an already strong start to 2024 for WME, including more award wins than any other agency at the Emmy's and Grammys. And on location hosting more than 15,000 guests at this month's Super Bowl in Las Vegas, I am encouraged and optimistic about Endeavor's year ahead.

With that, I'll turn things over to Jason.

[Jason Lublin, executive]

Thanks, Ari, and good morning, everyone. I'll start by walking you through our financial results for the fourth quarter and full year. All comparisons will be to the fourth quarter and full year of 2022. For the quarter ended December 31, 2023, we generated $1.58 billion in consolidated revenue up $322.3 million or 26%.

Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter was $292.8 million, up $53.2 million or 22%. For the full year, revenue was $5.96 billion, up $692 million year-over-year or 13%. And adjusted EBITDA was $1.216 billion, up $52 million year-over-year or 5%. Net loss for the fourth quarter was $29.3 million compared to a net loss of $225.7 million a year ago. For the year, net income was $557.5 million, compared to a net income of $321.7 million a year ago. Now I'll walk you through each of our segments.

Our Owned Sports Property segment generated revenue of $642.8 million in the fourth quarter, up $341.3 million or 113%. While the segment's adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $224.7 million, up $82.3 million or 58%. On the year, the segment generated $1.82 billion in revenue up $483.5 million or 36% and adjusted EBITDA of $827 million, up $178.9 million or 28%. Segment revenue growth in the year was primarily driven by the acquisition of WWE, which contributed $383 million in the period from September 12 to December 31, 2023. As well as growth at UFC including higher media rights and content fees from contractual increases, increased live event revenue due to 5 more events with live audiences, one additional pay-per-view events and growth in partnerships from new categories and contractual increases.

Now turning to events, experiences and rights. The segment recorded revenue of $414.5 million in the quarter, down $35 million or 8% and adjusted EBITDA of $13.7 million, down $17 million or 55%. On the year, segment revenue was $2.2 billion, down $18.9 million and adjusted EBITDA was $228.1 million, down $66.7 million or 23%. The decrease in segment revenue in the year was primarily due to the sale of the IMG Academy and a decrease in on locations music touring business. These impacts were partially offset by growth from new and existing events across our portfolio, the timing of biennial and quadrennial events, which occurred in 2023 and increases in sports production. Segment adjusted EBITDA for the year was adversely affected by the sale of IMG Academy as well as certain factors at on location, which we anticipated, including increased IoT investment and a challenging comparison driven by location and match up for the 2023 Super Bowl in Arizona versus 2022 in Los Angeles.

Moving on to our Representation segment. Revenue in the quarter was $427.4 million, up $18.9 million or 5%. Segment adjusted EBITDA in the quarter was $103.4 million, down $20.5 million or 17%. For the full year, representation segment revenue was $1.54 billion up $32.3 million or 2%, and adjusted EBITDA was $391.1 million, down $79 million or 17%. While segment revenue growth in the year was adversely impacted by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, it was more than offset by growth from our other businesses in our representation segment. On the year, segment adjusted EBITDA was adversely affected by the dual strikes and the revenue mix in our representation segment. In addition, the agency incurred higher cost as we increase agent head count particularly in strategic growth verticals, including sports and music.

Now turning to our Sports Data and Technology segment. Revenue in the quarter was $113.6 million, up $5.2 million or 5%. Segment adjusted EBITDA in the quarter was $20.5 million, down $1.1 million or 5%. For the full year, segment revenue was $469.8 million, up $209.3 million or 80%, and adjusted EBITDA was $62.7 million, up $15 million or 31%. Segment revenue growth in the year was attributed to the inclusion of OpenBet for the full year as well as growth in betting data and streaming at IMG arena across a widening portfolio. Segment adjusted EBITDA in the year benefited from the inclusion of OpenBet, partially offset by higher rights costs at IMG arena.

Moving on to our capital structure. We ended the year with $5.03 billion in debt and $1.17 billion in cash, resulting in $3.89 billion in net debt. At year-end, our net leverage was approximately 3.2x. As we are in the midst of a strategic alternatives review, we will not be initiating annual guidance estimates for 2024. That said, I want to provide an update for 2024 and share our areas of focus for the year. Within OSP, we anticipate continued progress integrating TKO as we leverage our flywheel to create synergies and further unlock value. We expect growth to be driven by continued strength in live events, growth from partnerships and renewals of licensing agreements for UFC content in certain international markets.

TKO was also focused on driving enhancements to ticketing yields across live events and securing site fees in key markets. At PBR, we've expanded our Teams series heading into its third season with Teams in Brooklyn and Oklahoma City, which sold for $22.5 million each. Related to our events experience and right segment, we remain focused on executing on our investment in on location of the IOC initiative. We also believe the favorable location of matchup from the recent Super Bowl in Las Vegas will benefit results for on location. We expect continued growth from our own events such as Barrett-Jackson, the Miami Open, Madrid Ppen as well as from our frieze events and Hyde Park Winter Wonderland.

At IMG's media business, we're focused on deepening client relationships within our right portfolio and expanding sports production globally as the world's leading integrated solution for sports right holders and federations. Within our representation segment, we expect growth in our agency business, driven by the continued post-strike recovery of the TV and film industry as well as in our sports and music divisions. We also expect continued growth at 160over90 as brands seek unique ways to be culturally relevant.

As one example, with the Summer Olympic games ahead, momentum is beginning to pick up across brand partnerships and experiential activations in the U.S. and EMEA. For sports data and technology, we are focused on optimizing our products and services and driving operating efficiencies as the market for betting data and streaming rights remains competitive. Our offerings in this space are diversified and well positioned to capitalize on global growth trends, especially around regulation and regulating markets.

This is evidenced by OpenBet's expansion into responsible gaming solutions through its acquisition of Neccton. In the U.S., 37 states in D.C. now have legal and operational sports betting. And according to the American Gaming Association, nationwide sports betting revenue grew by 44% year-over-year in 2023. Looking across the U.S. and internationally, we're confident we have the right asset combination to provide value-added solutions to our customers.

As one example, Brazil's regulatory environment is rapidly advancing, and we are well positioned as this market opens. Overall, we remain focused on executing our strategy and maintaining momentum through the year.

With that, this concludes our fourth quarter and full year 2023 earnings call. Thank you.