Arabic version: فيرسانت ترفع توقعاتها لعام 2026 بعد تجاوز نتائج الربع الثاني للتوقعات
According to Cnbc, Versant Media Group raised its full-year 2026 revenue and adjusted EBITDA guidance after reporting second-quarter results that beat Wall Street expectations. The recently spun-out Comcast portfolio said momentum in digital brands including Fandango and GolfNow, along with strength in its business model, supported the improved outlook.
Versant now expects 2026 total revenue of $6.2 billion to $6.45 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $1.9 billion to $2.05 billion. For the quarter ended June 30, the company reported earnings per share of $1.49, above the $1.35 expected by analysts surveyed by LSEG. Revenue was $1.64 billion, compared with expectations of $1.62 billion.
Overall revenue declined 3.8% from a year earlier to $1.64 billion. Net income attributable to Versant fell 30% to $211 million, or $1.49 per share, from $302 million, or $2.09 per share, a year earlier. The company cited lower revenue, public-company costs, interest expense related to its separation from Comcast and increased tax expense largely tied to the SportsEngine divestiture. Adjusted EBITDA decreased 8.9% to $624 million, though stand-alone adjusted EBITDA rose 3% year over year.
Linear TV revenue, including USA Network, Syfy, Oxygen and E!, declined 6.3% to $954 million because of subscriber losses. Advertising revenue slipped 0.6% to $423 million, an improvement from the prior-year rate of decline as ratings rose across Versant’s news- and sports-focused networks. Platforms revenue increased 0.8% to $225 million; excluding SportsEngine, it rose 9.3%, helped by Fandango transactions and stronger GolfNow bookings, payments and subscription revenue.
The company declared a quarterly cash dividend of 37.5 cents per share, its third consecutive quarterly dividend. It is payable Oct. 22 to shareholders of record at the close of business Oct. 1. Versant also completed a $100 million accelerated share repurchase, buying nearly 2.4 million Class A shares, and said it plans a similar $100 million agreement on Aug. 7. Shares rose more than 6% at Thursday’s close.
