Time Warner raises profit forecast but fourth-quarter revenue misses

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[February 10, 2016]  (Reuters) - Time Warner Inc, the owner of cable channels CNN and HBO and movie studio Warner Bros, raised its 2016 adjusted profit forecast and set a $5 billion share buyback program.

The company, whose fourth-quarter profit beat expectations, also raised its dividend to 40.25 cents per share from 35 cents.

However, revenue slipped 6 percent and came in shy of estimates, hurt by a lack of hit movie releases from Warner Bros and a strong dollar.

The company's shares were down 3.5 percent in premarket trading on Wednesday.

Time Warner said it expected adjusted earnings of $5.30-$5.40 per share for 2016. Analysts on average were expecting $5.26, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

The company had cut its adjusted profit forecast in November to $5.25 per share from "close to $6", citing a strong dollar.

Total revenue fell to $7.08 billion in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31 from $7.53 billion.

Revenue at Warner Bros fell 13 percent to $3.3 billion. In the year-earlier quarter, the studio released hit movies such as "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies", "Interstellar" and "Annabelle".

The $5 billion share buyback was effective Jan. 1 and includes the amount remaining under a prior authorization, the company said.

Net income attributable to Time Warner shareholders rose to $857 million, or $1.06 per share, from $718 million, or 84 cents per share.

Excluding items, the company earned $1.06 per share.

Analysts on average had expected a profit of $1.01 per share and revenue of $7.53 billion.

(Reporting by Abhirup Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Don Sebastian)

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