VSNT

Interested in Versant Corporation? Here are five stocks we like better. Q2 revenue fell 4% to $1.64 billion, pressured by a 6% decline in linear distribution revenue, while adjusted EBITDA rose 3% to $624 million. Advertising trends improved substantially, platform revenue grew 9% excluding the SportsEngine divestiture, and cost reductions supported margins above 30%. Versant raised its full-year revenue outlook to $6.2–$6.45 billion and adjusted EBITDA forecast to $1.9–$2.05 billion, while maintaining free-cash-flow guidance of $1 billion–$1.2 billion. Management cautioned that higher sports-rights and programming costs may prevent EBITDA growth in the third and fourth quarters. The company is investing in growth through direct-to-consumer launches for MS NOW and CNBC, expanding Fandango’s entertainment and streaming offerings, and leveraging its Full Swing golf acquisition. Versant also plans another $100 million accelerated share repurchase program after returning $305 million to shareholders in 2026. Why the Comcast Spin-Off Won't Fix What's Actually Broken Versant (NASDAQ:VSNT) reported second-quarter revenue of $1.64 billion, down 4% from the prior-year period, while adjusted EBITDA rose 3% to $624 million as growth in advertising and digital platforms helped offset continued pressure in linear television distribution. Chief Executive Officer Mark Lazarus said the company’s portfolio of news, sports and entertainment brands reached more than 120 million monthly television viewers and posted aggregate double-digit audience increases across its networks. He also said the company recently completed multiyear distribution renewals with a large U.S. pay-TV partner and a Canadian partner. → Meta’s Earnings Drop Shows Wall Street Wants More Than Ad Growth “Our second quarter results reinforce the strength of our portfolio and the strategy that we're executing to win with premium live content, extend the reach of our iconic brands, and accelerate growth across our platforms,” Lazarus said. For the full year, Versant raised its revenue outlook to a range of $6.2 billion to $6.45 billion, from a prior range of $6.15 billion to $6.4 billion. It also increased its adjusted EBITDA forecast to $1.9 billion to $2.05 billion, compared with previous guidance of $1.85 billion to $2 billion. → 4 Oil and Gas ETF Plays as Prices Stay Sky-High The company maintained its free-cash-flow outlook of $1 billion to $1.2 billion, citing expected quarterly variability from working-capital timing. Second-quarter free cash flow was $350 million, and the company ended the period with about $1.5 billion in cash. Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer Anand Kini said the revised guidance reflected confidence in the broader portfolio rather than the recently completed Full Swing acquisition. He said the divestiture of SportsEngine and the addition of Full Swing were among several factors considered in the outlook. → Sandisk Just Delivered a Blowout Quarter—Here's Why the Stock Is Falling Versant said adjusted EBITDA margins remained above 30%. However, Kini said adjusted EBITDA in the third and fourth quarters is not expected to grow year over year as sports-rights and programming expenses rise. Linear distribution revenue was $954 million, down 6%, as subscriber declines were partly offset by contractual rate increases. Advertising revenue was $423 million, down 0.6%, a significant improvement from the 13% decline reported in the prior-year quarter. Platform revenue rose to $225 million. Excluding the SportsEngine divestiture, platform revenue increased 9%. Content licensing and other revenue was flat year over year at $43 million. Programming and production costs declined 9% to $522 million, while selling, general and administrative expense fell 8% to $369 million. Kini attributed the improvement in advertising trends to broad-based demand across the company’s news, sports and live-event programming, supported by stronger ratings. He said the acquisition of Free TV Networks contributed to advertising revenue, but that underlying organic performance was the main driver of the improvement. On the audience front, Lazarus said CNBC ranked among the top 10 cable networks during market hours for a fourth consecutive month and recorded its highest-rated quarter in more than five years. MS NOW reported a 14% increase in second-quarter viewership and its seventh consecutive month of television audience growth. The network generated nearly 3 billion combined YouTube and TikTok views year to date, according to the company. Golf Channel delivered its most-watched second quarter since 2020, while USA Network remained a top-five entertainment network among key demographics, Lazarus said. The company also highlighted WNBA games, WWE programming and upcoming coverage of NASCAR and the Premier League. Versant recently reached a five-year agreement for Bundesliga soccer rights. Beginning this season, the company plans to carry more than 300 live matches annually, including at least 30 premium matches on USA Network. Remaining matches will stream free on Fandango. The company is preparing direct-to-consumer offerings for MS NOW and CNBC. Lazarus said MS NOW’s product is expected to launch before the midterm elections and will offer more than a streaming version of the television network. CNBC is developing a digital platform that will combine journalism, access to business leaders and AI-powered investing tools. In response to analyst questions, Lazarus said the company intends to initially launch the services independently, while remaining open to bundling arrangements with multichannel video distributors and other industry partners. Versant also is expanding Fandango into a broader entertainment platform that combines movie ticketing, home entertainment and a free ad-supported streaming service. Lazarus said Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes attract 50 million monthly consumers and that the company sees opportunities to monetize users through ticket purchases, rentals and purchases of films and television programming, and free streaming. The company said Fandango’s advantages include its connected-TV distribution, first-party data, transactional businesses and sports programming such as Bundesliga matches. Separately, Versant acquired golf technology company Full Swing, which provides simulator, launch-monitor, virtual-green, software and performance-data products. Lazarus said the principal synergy opportunity is revenue growth, including marketing Full Swing products through Golf Channel, GolfNow and GolfPass, as well as using GolfNow’s sales force to reach golf courses and commercial customers. Versant repurchased $100 million of stock during the second quarter under a previously announced accelerated share repurchase program. Through Aug. 6, the company said it had returned $305 million to shareholders in 2026, including $200 million in share repurchases and $105 million in dividends. The company also announced plans to begin an additional $100 million accelerated share repurchase program during the third quarter. Kini said capital allocation will continue to balance investment in growth initiatives, shareholder returns and a healthy balance sheet. On acquisitions, Kini said the company would evaluate opportunities through a disciplined process and continue to use its stated leverage range of 1 times to 5 times as a “North Star,” with the expectation of returning to that range relatively quickly if it moved outside it. Versant Corporation is a provider of data management software. The Company designs, develops, markets and supports database management system products that companies use to solve data management and data integration issues. It also provides related product support, training and consulting services to assist users of the Company's products in developing and deploying software applications based on its products. The Company's Versant Object Database product is used primarily by enterprises, which have data management requirements, such as technology providers, telecommunications carriers, Government defense agencies, defense contractors, healthcare companies and companies in the financial services and transportation industries. This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected]. The article "Versant Q2 Earnings Call Highlights" was originally published by MarketBeat. View MarketBeat's top stocks for August 2026.

Versant Media Group raised its full-year revenue and profit outlook on Thursday, as growth in its digital platforms helped cushion a continued decline in pay TV revenue. For full-year 2026, Versant is guiding to total revenue between $6.2 billion and $6.45 billion, with adjusted EBITDA in the range of $1.9 billion to $2.05 billion. It maintained its free cash flow outlook of $1.0 billion to $1.2 billion. Versant posted second-quarter revenue of $1.64 billion, down 3.8% from $1.71 billion a year earlier. Net income attributable to Versant came in at $211 million, or $1.49 per diluted share, a 30% drop from $302 million, or $2.09 per share, in the year-ago quarter. Versant pointed to a combination of weaker revenue, costs from operating as a standalone public company, interest obligations stemming from the Comcast split, and a larger tax bill driven by the SportsEngine divestiture as factors weighing on the bottom line. Adjusted EBITDA declined 8.9% to $624 million. The results beat Wall Street expectations, according to CNBC. Analysts had expected earnings of $1.35 per share on revenue of $1.62 billion. Revenue from Versant's linear distribution segment, encompassing pay TV networks including CNBC, MS Now, USA Network and Golf Channel, dropped 6.3% to $954 million, as subscriber erosion more than countered modest contractual rate increases. Advertising revenue slipped 0.6% to $423 million. The platforms segment, home to Fandango and GolfNow, grew 0.8% to $225 million; stripping out the SportsEngine sale, the gain was 9.3%, with Fandango benefiting from stronger ticket and video-on-demand sales and GolfNow seeing increased booking activity. CEO Mark Lazarus said in a statement that Versant's brands reached more than 120 million viewers each month during the quarter, with PGA TOUR golf coverage delivering its most-watched second quarter since 2020. On a standalone adjusted EBITDA basis — a measure designed to put pre-spin and post-spin results on a comparable footing — the figure was 3% higher than a year ago, the company said. Versant credited the gain to savings on programming and other operating costs, which were enough to absorb the pressure from declining revenue. Versant finished its previously announced $100 million accelerated buyback program during the quarter and intends to launch a new $100 million class A share repurchase on Aug. 7, which it expects to wrap up before year-end. The company also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.375 per share for the third consecutive quarter, payable Oct. 22 to shareholders of record as of Oct. 1. The results mark Versant's third quarterly report as an independent, publicly traded company since its separation from Comcast's NBCUniversal earlier this year.

Revenue of $1.64 Billion Net Income Attributable to Versant of $211 Million Adjusted EBITDA of $624 Million1 Declared Third Quarterly Cash Dividend of $0.375 Per Share Completed $100 Million Accelerated Share Repurchase Transaction Announced an Additional Planned $100 Million ASR in the Third Quarter of 2026 NEW YORK, August 06, 2026--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Versant Media Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: VSNT) (the "Company") today reported operating and financial results for the second quarter of 2026. The Company's results reflect continued operating momentum, the strong performance of Versant's leading brands and long-term growth initiatives. "Versant's brands once again demonstrated strength, durability and scale, reaching more than 120 million viewers each month during the quarter while reinforcing our leadership across news, sports and entertainment," said Mark Lazarus, Chief Executive Officer. "That performance was reflected in the recent multi-year renewals with two large distribution partners, one in the U.S. and one in Canada. At the same time, we continued executing our strategy by investing in opportunities that will drive the next phase of our growth. Following the second quarter, we completed the Full Swing acquisition, added the Bundesliga to our premium sports portfolio, expanded Fandango into a broader consumer entertainment platform, and advanced our direct-to-consumer initiatives at CNBC and MS NOW. Together, we believe these initiatives build on the foundation of our portfolio, deepen consumer engagement, and position Versant for long-term growth." "I'm proud of our performance in the second quarter and the disciplined execution across the business," said Anand Kini, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. "Our results highlight the strength of our operating model, continued growth across Platforms and meaningful cash flow generation. We continue to invest in our strategic priorities with a balanced approach to capital allocation. In the second quarter, we repurchased $100 million of stock, and today we announced that we expect to enter into an additional $100 million accelerated share repurchase agreement and declared our third quarterly cash dividend of $0.375 per share, reflecting our confidence in the business and financial outlook." Business Highlights: In the second quarter of 2026, Versant continued to invest in its brands, deepen consumer engagement and extend its businesses beyond pay TV. Business News and Personal Finance: In the second quarter, CNBC reinforced its position as the leading global business news brand. The network ranked among the top 10 cable networks for the fourth consecutive month during market hours in June and remains the trusted destination for consequential market events. Coverage of the SpaceX IPO drove CNBC's highest-rated day in more than five years. CNBC also generated the most affluent and educated weekday daytime audience in television for the 27th consecutive quarter. The network featured exclusive interviews with leading business executives and policymakers, including Jeff Bezos, whose appearance generated more than 100 million video views across platforms. Political News and Opinion: MS NOW delivered its seventh consecutive month of year-over-year audience growth in June and finished the month as the second-highest-rated television network across all genres. In June, viewers watched an average of nine hours each week, the second-highest level of engagement across all television, while viewership increased 14% in the second quarter versus the prior year. The network also generated nearly 3 billion combined YouTube and TikTok views year to date and, in June, ranked as the No. 1 news organization on YouTube. Podcast engagement remained strong, with more than 11 million audio downloads during the month. In July, MS NOW celebrated its 30th anniversary, marking an important milestone for the network. Golf: PGA TOUR coverage delivered the most-watched second quarter since 2020. Throughout the quarter, the network delivered comprehensive coverage of the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and PGA TOUR signature events, reflecting strong demand for premium live golf and the strength of the Golf Channel brand. Sports and Genre Entertainment: USA remained a top-five cable entertainment network during the second quarter among key demographics, extending a leadership position that spans more than three decades. Live sports continued to attract large, highly engaged audiences, with the WNBA's inaugural season on USA delivering the three most-watched games across cable and streaming during the quarter, while League One Volleyball increased viewership over its inaugural season. The Company also announced a five-year agreement with the Bundesliga to broadcast more than 300 live matches annually, with at least 30 premium matches airing on USA Network and all other matches streaming for free on Fandango. In entertainment, Everything on the Menu delivered double-digit ratings growth in its second season. Versant also continued investing in new originals, including Anna Pigeon and The Golden Life, set to premiere this month and in the fall, respectively. Platforms: Fandango launched its new ad-supported streaming service, bringing together ticketing, home entertainment and free streaming under the Fandango brand, while healthy ticketing volume drove strong performance in the quarter. GolfNow delivered broad-based growth across rounds booked, global course relationships, payments volume and GolfPass subscribers. The Company is further expanding its golf ecosystem with the acquisition of Full Swing and continues to advance its direct-to-consumer offerings at CNBC and MS NOW. Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results Total Revenue of $1,644 million representing a decline of 3.8% compared to the same period in 2025. Excluding the impact of SportsEngine, revenue decreased 2.8%. Linear Distribution revenue declined 6.3% in the second quarter of 2026 as compared to the same period in 2025, primarily due to subscriber declines, which were partially offset by contractual rate increases. Advertising revenue declined 0.6% in the second quarter of 2026 as compared to the same period in 2025, reflecting improvements in recent trends including favorable ratings at the networks, as well as incremental revenue from a recent acquisition. Platforms revenue increased 0.8% in the second quarter of 2026 as compared to the same period in 2025, or 9.3% excluding the impact of SportsEngine, due to higher revenue at Fandango and GolfNow. The increased revenue at Fandango primarily related to movie ticket purchases and video-on-demand transactions, as well as sales from our new cinema operating platform. The revenue growth at GolfNow was primarily due to higher bookings, payments and subscription revenue. These increases in revenue were partially offset by the impact of our divestiture of SportsEngine during the second quarter of 2026. Content licensing and other revenue remained relatively flat in the second quarter of 2026 as compared to the same period in 2025. Net income attributable to Versant of $211 million decreased $91 million compared to the prior year quarter, primarily due to lower revenue, public company costs, interest expense following the separation from Comcast, and increased tax expense largely due to the divestiture of SportsEngine. Adjusted EBITDA2 of $624 million decreased 8.9% compared to the prior year quarter. Compared to Standalone Adjusted EBITDA in the prior year quarter, Adjusted EBITDA increased 3.0%. This increase reflects lower programming expenses and reduced selling, general and administrative costs, which offset revenue declines. Net cash provided by operating activities was $382 million and Free Cash Flow2 was $350 million in the second quarter of 2026. 2026 Financial Outlook The Company raised its full-year 2026 outlook for Total Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA and maintained its Free Cash Flow outlook: Total Revenue of $6.2 billion to $6.45 billion Adjusted EBITDA2 of $1.9 billion to $2.05 billion Free Cash Flow2 maintained at $1.0 billion to $1.2 billion Dividends and Share Repurchase Program On August 6, 2026, the Board of Directors declared the third quarterly cash dividend of $0.375 per share, payable on October 22, 2026, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on October 1, 2026. On May 15, 2026, the Company entered into an accelerated share repurchase agreement ("ASR Agreement") to repurchase $100 million of its Class A common stock under the Company's stock repurchase program. The Company completed the transaction during the second quarter and repurchased 2,374,942 shares of Class A common stock, with a remaining authorization of approximately $800 million as of June 30, 2026. The Company expects to enter into an ASR Agreement commencing August 7, 2026, to repurchase $100 million of its Class A common stock under the Company's stock repurchase program. The Company anticipates completing the transaction during the third quarter of 2026. Basis of Presentation The interim condensed consolidated and combined financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. For the prior year periods presented in the combined financial statements prior to our separation from Comcast on January 2, 2026 (the "Separation") included in this report, the Versant businesses operated as part of Comcast’s Media segment. As such, the prior year combined financial statements were derived from Comcast’s historical accounting records as if Versant operations had been conducted independently from Comcast, and reflect our assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses on a historical cost basis. The prior year historical financial statements were prepared using allocations and carve-out methodologies for the periods prior to the Separation, using assumptions that management believed to be reasonable. Accordingly, the combined financial statements herein for periods prior to the Separation from Comcast may not be indicative of our future performance, do not necessarily include the actual expenses that would have been incurred by us, and may not reflect our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows had we been a separate, standalone company during the historical periods presented. Numerical information in this report is presented on a rounded basis using actual amounts. Minor differences in totals and percentage calculations may exist due to rounding. Conference Call and Other Information The Company will host a conference call on August 6, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. ET. A live webcast of the call and related presentation materials will be available on the Company’s Investor Relations website at www.versantmedia.com/investors. Following the conference call, an audio replay will also be made available on the Investor Relations website. For additional information about Versant, including SEC filings, please visit the Investor Relations website at www.versantmedia.com/investors or www.versantmedia.com. Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes statements that may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as "may," "might," "would," "will," "should," "could," "expects," "plans," "intends," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," "opportunity," "strategy," "future," "goal," "outlook," "commit," or "continue," the negative of these terms and other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events and reflect our beliefs regarding such future events and do not represent historical facts or statements of current condition. In evaluating these statements, readers should consider various factors, including the risks and uncertainties we describe in the "Risk Factors" sections of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include changes in and/or risks associated with: the ability to deliver benefits of acquisitions and divestitures; the competitive environment; consumer behavior; distribution agreements; the advertising market; our brands and reputation; consumer acceptance of our content; growth of our digital platforms; use and protection of our intellectual property; cyber-attacks or incidents, information or security breaches or technology disruptions; weak economic conditions; personnel; labor disputes; laws and regulations; network rebrands; adverse decisions in litigation or governmental investigations; investments and acquisitions; our separation from Comcast Corporation; obligations associated with being a public company; our indebtedness; and other risks described from time to time in reports and other documents we file with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made, and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any such forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise. The amount and timing of any dividends and share repurchases are subject to business, economic and other relevant factors. About Versant Media Group, Inc. Versant Media Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: VSNT) is an industry-changing media and entertainment business and home to trusted brands that shape culture, inform audiences, and build lasting connections. It operates in four core markets: political news and opinion; business news and personal finance; golf; and sports and genre entertainment. These markets are served through a powerful portfolio of iconic and innovative brands, including MS NOW, CNBC, USA Network, Golf Channel, E!, SYFY and Oxygen, and complementary digital platforms Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow and GolfPass. Visit www.versantmedia.com for more information. TABLE 4 Supplemental Disclosures Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures We evaluate our operating performance based on several factors, including the following non-GAAP financial measures: Adjusted EBITDA Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure and is a key measure used to assess the operational strength and performance of our business as well as to assist in the evaluation of underlying trends in our business. This measure eliminates the significant level of noncash depreciation and amortization expense that results from property and equipment and intangible assets recognized in business combinations. It is also unaffected by our capital and tax structures, and by our investment activities, including the impacts of entities that we do not consolidate, as our management excludes these results when evaluating our operating performance. Our management and Board of Directors use this financial measure to evaluate our operating performance and to allocate resources. It is also a significant performance measure in our annual incentive compensation programs. Additionally, we believe that Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors because it is one of the bases for comparing our operating performance with that of other companies in our industries, although our measure of Adjusted EBITDA may not be directly comparable to similar measures used by other companies. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income attributable to Versant before net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, income tax expense, investment and other income (loss), net, interest expense, depreciation and amortization expense, and other operating gains and losses (such as impairment charges related to fixed and intangible assets and gains or losses on the sale of long-lived assets), if any. From time to time, we may exclude from Adjusted EBITDA the impact of certain other events, gains, losses or other charges that affect the period-to-period comparability of our operating performance. Reconciliations of Adjusted EBITDA to the nearest GAAP measures for historical periods are presented below. A reconciliation for full-year 2026 outlook cannot be provided without unreasonable efforts because of the inherent difficulty in forecasting certain amounts that are necessary for such reconciliations due to the uncertainty and potential variability of reconciling items, which are dependent on future events and often outside of management’s control and which could be significant. Forward-looking estimates are made in a manner consistent with the relevant definitions noted herein. Standalone Adjusted EBITDA Standalone Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure used in periods prior to the Separation to measure the operational strength and performance of our business as well as to assist in the evaluation of underlying trends in our business. Consistent with Adjusted EBITDA, this measure eliminates noncash depreciation and amortization expense and is unaffected by our capital and tax structures and by our investment activities, as our management excludes these results when evaluating our operating performance. Standalone Adjusted EBITDA also includes estimated incremental costs of operating as a standalone company following the Separation. We use Standalone Adjusted EBITDA and believe this measure is useful to investors because it provides an estimate of our operating performance giving effect to the Separation and related transactions and additional costs that we expect to incur as a standalone company for the periods presented, and is one of the bases for comparing our operating performance with that of other companies in our industries, although our measure of Standalone Adjusted EBITDA may not be directly comparable to similar measures used by other companies. We define Standalone Adjusted EBITDA as net income attributable to Versant before net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, income tax expense, investment and other income (loss), net, interest expense, depreciation and amortization expense, and other operating gains and losses (such as impairment charges related to fixed and intangible assets and gains or losses on the sale of long-lived assets), if any, and further adjusted to give effect to estimated incremental costs of commercial agreements with Comcast and estimated additional costs we expect to incur as a standalone company in certain of our corporate administrative, facilities and support functions. From time to time, we may exclude from Standalone Adjusted EBITDA the impact of certain events, gains, losses or other charges that affect the period-to-period comparability of our operating performance. Standalone Adjusted EBITDA is presented for informational purposes only and does not purport to represent what our results of operations actually would have been had we operated as a standalone company for the periods presented or to project our financial performance for any future period. Standalone Adjusted EBITDA is based on available information, estimates and assumptions, which we believe are reasonable, although actual future results will differ from the amounts presented. Reconciliations of Adjusted EBITDA to the nearest GAAP measures for historical periods are presented below. Free Cash Flow Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP financial measure that we believe provides a meaningful measure of liquidity and a useful basis for assessing our ability to repay debt, make strategic acquisitions and investments, and return capital to investors through stock repurchases and dividends. It is also a significant performance measure in our annual incentive compensation programs. Additionally, we believe Free Cash Flow is useful to investors as a basis for comparing our performance and coverage ratios with other companies in our industries, although our measure of Free Cash Flow may not be directly comparable to similar measures used by other companies. Free Cash Flow has certain limitations, including that it does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures since other non-discretionary payments, such as mandatory debt repayments, are not deducted from the measure. Free Cash Flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities, reduced by capital expenditures. From time to time, we may exclude from Free Cash Flow the impact of certain cash receipts or payments that affect comparability. Reconciliations of Free Cash Flow to the nearest GAAP measures for historical periods are presented below. A reconciliation for full-year 2026 outlook cannot be provided without unreasonable efforts because of the inherent difficulty in forecasting certain amounts that are necessary for such reconciliations due to the uncertainty and potential variability of reconciling items, which are dependent on future events and often outside of management’s control and which could be significant. Forward-looking estimates are made in a manner consistent with the relevant definitions noted herein. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260805922688/en/ Contacts Investor Contacts: Wylie [email protected] Natalie [email protected] Press Contacts: Keith [email protected] Hollie [email protected]

This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Release Date: August 06, 2026 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Versant Media Group Inc (NASDAQ:VSNT) raised its full-year revenue guidance to $6.2-$6.45 billion and adjusted EBITDA guidance to $1.9-$2.05 billion, reflecting strong first-half performance and confidence in the business. The company's TV portfolio reaches over 120 million viewers monthly, with double-digit audience growth across networks, and it completed multi-year renewals with two large pay TV distribution partners. CNBC delivered its highest-rated quarter in over five years, ranking among the top 10 cable networks during market hours for four consecutive months, and maintained its position as the most affluent and educated weekday daytime audience for 27 straight quarters. Ms. Now achieved its seventh consecutive month of audience growth, with a 14% increase in viewership year-over-year, nearly 3 billion combined YouTube and TikTok views year-to-date, and ranked as the number one news organization on YouTube in June. The company is expanding into high-growth areas, including the acquisition of Full Swing, a profitable sports technology company, and the launch of a new AVOD service under Fandango, which is expected to drive long-term value. Versant Media Group Inc (NASDAQ:VSNT) returned $305 million to shareholders year-to-date through dividends and share repurchases, and announced an additional $100 million accelerated share repurchase program, demonstrating a strong commitment to capital returns. Total revenue declined 4% year-over-year in Q2 2026, reflecting secular challenges in the pay TV market, with linear distribution revenue down 6% due to subscriber declines. Advertising revenue saw a slight decline of 0.6% year-over-year, though this was an improvement from the prior year's 13% decline, indicating ongoing softness in the ad market. The company expects second-half programming costs to increase meaningfully due to sports rights, including NASCAR, WNBA, and golf events, which will likely result in adjusted EBITDA not demonstrating growth in Q3 and Q4 versus the prior year. Free cash flow is expected to be lower in the second half of the year due to higher capital expenditures, including construction at the New York office facility, and natural quarterly fluctuations in working capital. The company faces ongoing headwinds in linear distribution, and while it mitigates them through deals, it remains 'not blind' to the industry-wide subscriber declines, which could pressure future revenue growth. Content licensing and other revenue was flat year-over-year in Q2, following a sharp uptick in Q1, highlighting the volatility and unpredictability of this revenue stream. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 4 Warning Sign with VSNT. Is VSNT fairly valued? Test your thesis with our free DCF calculator. Q: Can you discuss your affiliate renewals and what, if anything, was different about the negotiations compared to when you were under Comcast? Also, what data or perspective do you have on the latent demand for the Ms. Now and CNBC direct-to-consumer brands outside of the current pay-TV subscriber base? A: Mark Lazarus (CEO) stated that the affiliate negotiations were "business as usual" and very similar to past experiences, focusing on the value, strength, and ability of their brands to deliver audiences. He noted the outcomes were positive for both parties. Regarding D2C, he clarified these are not just streaming products but broader offerings serving highly engaged audiences with non-replicative content. He highlighted Ms. Now's nine hours of weekly engagement and CNBC's existing D2C businesses as evidence of strong marketplace demand. Anand Kinney (CFO & COO) added that Ms. Now's massive YouTube/TikTok presence, live events business, and publishing assets demonstrate significant appeal outside of pay-TV. Q: How much of the guidance increase was related to Full Swing contributions net of the Sports Engine disposition versus improvements in the underlying business? And what does the new ASR mean for your appetite for additional M&A? A: Anand Kinney (CFO & COO) clarified that the guidance update was not due to the Full Swing acquisition, as it was a partial period, but rather reflected confidence in the entire portfolio's momentum. On capital allocation, he reiterated that the strategy involves "ands"investing to grow, returning capital, and maintaining a healthy balance sheetdemonstrated by executing the Full Swing deal while simultaneously returning capital via dividends and buybacks. Q: Can you lay out your vision for the Fandango entertainment platform? What differentiates it from competitors like Pluto or Tubi, especially with Disney and Paramount launching similar AVOD services? A: Mark Lazarus (CEO) explained the strategy is to create a comprehensive entertainment platform where consumers can discover movies, buy tickets, rent/buy films, and watch free AVOD content under one brand. He cited the 50 million monthly visitors to Fandango/Rotten Tomatoes and the unique ability to transact across all three levels. Key differentiators include exclusive content like the Bundesliga deal, the ability to target content and advertising based on transactional data, a large connected TV install base, and independence from studios, allowing them to work with all of them. Q: Your linear distribution growth improved relative to last quarter. Is this seasonality, better pay-TV trends, or something specific to your deals? Also, can you discuss the better advertising trends and the contribution from the Free TV Networks acquisition? A: Mark Lazarus (CEO) stated they are not blind to industry headwinds but are able to strike deals that mitigate subscriber declines, with the rest of the mitigation coming from capital allocation and investments. Anand Kinney (CFO & COO) attributed the advertising strength to being broad-based, driven by their sports, news, and live-event programming which resonates well with marketers. He clarified that the improvement was driven by underlying organic growth, not the Free TV Networks acquisition, which is contributing but is not the primary driver. Q: Can you speak to the strategy behind using the Bundesliga, a major sports property, mostly for a free AVOD channel on Fandango? A: Mark Lazarus (CEO) explained it was a unique opportunity to use live sports to drive platform adoption, a strategy that has worked well with the Premier League. The deal provides 600-700 hours of live content, serving pay-TV customers with premium matches on USA while creating a new marketplace for Fandango's free AVOD service to attract new users and build circulation. Q: Given the fluidity in bundling and packaging, what is your strategy for the pending D2C launches? Would you partner to drive subscriptions, and how much do you want to lean into Peacock? Also, what are you doing regarding the NBC ad sales deal and when would you take it back in-house? A: Mark Lazarus (CEO) said they will launch the D2C offerings independently but are open to bundling through MVPD partners. As an independent company, they are not beholden to any specific distributor and are having active discussions across the industry. On the NBC ad sales deal, he noted the relationship is going very well, and while it is a two-year deal, a decision on whether to continue or bring it in-house is months, if not a year, away. Q: What is the biggest synergy opportunity you see with the Full Swing acquisition, and what are the practical benefits of being under the Versant roof? A: Mark Lazarus (CEO) highlighted that golf participation is growing, and Versant's ecosystem of Golf Channel, Golf Now, and Golf Pass can accelerate adoption. The synergies are primarily revenue-focused: they can market Full Swing's products to commercial and consumer users through their channels, and the massive Golf Now sales force can sell Full Swing's technology into golf courses daily. This is a revenue synergy, not a cost synergy. Q: Is there a limit on the size of M&A you are willing to entertain? What is your willingness to use the balance sheet or equity for a larger deal? A: Anand Kinney (CFO & COO) stated that their leverage ratio of 1.5x is their "North Star," and any deal would need to align with their discipline process and add value to shareholders. They would expect to return to that leverage level in relatively quick order. Mark Lazarus (CEO) added that they have proven they have capacity due to their management to date. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Sirius XM Holdings SIRI reported second-quarter 2026 earnings of 70 cents per share, up 22.8% from 57 cents a year ago. However, the figure missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 78 cents by 10.26%.The company reported total revenues of $2.16 billion, up 1.0% from $2.14 billion in the year-ago quarter and beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.14 billion by 0.91%. Higher subscription and continued advertising momentum, particularly in podcasting and programmatic advertising, drove the revenue increase, while self-pay churn improved to a record-low 1.4%. Subscriber revenues, representing 75.8% of total revenues, increased 0.6% year over year to $1.64 billion. The improvement reflected pricing actions and better subscriber trends. Sirius XM Holdings Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Sirius XM Holdings Inc. Quote Advertising revenues rose 5.1% to $454 million, supported by podcasting, programmatic advertising, technology fees and premium live sports. Equipment revenues declined 21.7% to $36 million, while other revenues increased 3.2% to $32 million. In the second quarter, the SiriusXM segment generated revenues of $1.62 billion, relatively unchanged year over year.Subscriber revenues rose 1% to $1.51 billion as average revenue per user increased 1% to $15.32, benefiting from February pricing actions.Self-pay subscribers increased by 22,000 during the quarter, an improvement of 90,000 from the year-ago period. Companion subscriptions contributed 123,000 incremental net additions, while continuous service and extended-duration automotive plans also supported performance.Sirius XM ended the quarter with approximately 33 million total subscribers, broadly stable year over year while improving sequentially. In the second quarter, Pandora and Off-Platform revenues increased 4% year over year to $543 million. Advertising revenues advanced 5% to $413 million, driven by strength in podcasting, programmatic demand and technology fees, partly offset by weaker streaming music advertising.Subscriber revenues were relatively flat at $130 million. Pandora Plus and Pandora Premium ended the quarter with approximately 5.6 million self-pay subscribers, while monthly active users totaled 39.8 million. Segment gross profit increased 6% to $163 million, and gross margin expanded one percentage point to 30%.Ad-supported listener hours were 2.35 billion, down 9% from 2.58 billion in the year-ago quarter. Advertising revenue per thousand listener hours increased 2% year over year to $87.67. In the second quarter, adjusted EBITDA increased 3.4% year over year to $691 million. The adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 80 basis points to 32%, aided by higher revenues and disciplined expense management, including lower programming, legal and personnel-related costs.Reported operating expenses declined 4.8% to $1.69 billion, primarily because impairment, restructuring and other costs fell to $6 million from $107 million. However, depreciation and amortization increased 36.4% to $165 million. Other expense was $48 million against other income of $15 million a year earlier, weighing on reported earnings. As of June 30, 2026, cash and cash equivalents were $174 million compared with $94 million as of Dec. 31, 2025.Long-term debt as of June 30, 2026, was $9.45 billion compared with $8.65 billion as of Dec. 31, 2025. Total debt declined to $9.46 billion from $9.72 billion over the same period.During the quarter, Sirius XM retired the remaining Delayed Draw Incremental Term Loan. The company also returned $97 million to its shareholders through $91 million in dividends and $6 million in share repurchases. It ended the quarter with a net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA ratio of 3.4 times.In the second quarter, cash flow from operations was $722 million compared with $546 million in the year-ago quarter.Free cash flow totaled $593 million in the second quarter, up 48% from $402 million in the prior-year period, driven by higher adjusted EBITDA, lower cash taxes and favorable timing of vendor payments and capital expenditures. Sirius XM raised its 2026 revenue guidance by $25 million to approximately $8.53 billion. The company also increased its adjusted EBITDA forecast by $25 million to approximately $2.63 billion.Free cash flow guidance lifted by the same amount ($25 million) to approximately $1.38 billion. The increases reflect management’s confidence in first-half execution, improving subscriber trends and continued cost discipline. Sirius XM remains on pace to generate $100 million in incremental gross cost savings during 2026. SIRI currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).Take-Two Interactive TTWO, Fox Corporation FOXA and Versant Media Group, Inc. VSNT are some better-ranked stocks worth considering within the broader Consumer Discretionary sector. Take-Two Interactive currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), while Fox Corp and Versant Media Group carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) each. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.Take-Two Interactive shares have gained 11.5% in the past six months. TTWO is set to report its first-quarter fiscal 2027 results on Aug. 7.Fox Corp shares have fallen 18.7% in the past six months. FOXA is set to report its fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results on Aug. 6.Versant Media Group shares have returned 10.5% in the past six months. VSNT is set to report its second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 6. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (SIRI) : Free Stock Analysis Report Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (TTWO) : Free Stock Analysis Report Fox Corporation (FOXA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Versant Media Group, Inc. (VSNT) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Versant Media Group, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:VSNT) stock was strong despite it releasing a soft earnings report last week. Our analysis suggests that investors may have noticed some promising signs beyond the statutory profit figures. Trump has pledged to "unleash" American oil and gas and these 15 US stocks have developments that are poised to benefit. As finance nerds would already know, the accrual ratio from cashflow is a key measure for assessing how well a company's free cash flow (FCF) matches its profit. To get the accrual ratio we first subtract FCF from profit for a period, and then divide that number by the average operating assets for the period. The ratio shows us how much a company's profit exceeds its FCF. That means a negative accrual ratio is a good thing, because it shows that the company is bringing in more free cash flow than its profit would suggest. While having an accrual ratio above zero is of little concern, we do think it's worth noting when a company has a relatively high accrual ratio. To quote a 2014 paper by Lewellen and Resutek, "firms with higher accruals tend to be less profitable in the future". Over the twelve months to March 2026, Versant Media Group recorded an accrual ratio of -0.11. That indicates that its free cash flow was a fair bit more than its statutory profit. Indeed, in the last twelve months it reported free cash flow of US$2.0b, well over the US$849.0m it reported in profit. Versant Media Group did see its free cash flow drop year on year, which is less than ideal, like a Simpson's episode without Groundskeeper Willie. That might leave you wondering what analysts are forecasting in terms of future profitability. Luckily, you can click here to see an interactive graph depicting future profitability, based on their estimates. Versant Media Group's accrual ratio is solid, and indicates strong free cash flow, as we discussed, above. Because of this, we think Versant Media Group's earnings potential is at least as good as it seems, and maybe even better! Unfortunately, though, its earnings per share actually fell back over the last year. At the end of the day, it's essential to consider more than just the factors above, if you want to understand the company properly. So while earnings quality is important, it's equally important to consider the risks facing Versant Media Group at this point in time. At Simply Wall St, we found 1 warning sign for Versant Media Group and we think they deserve your attention. This note has only looked at a single factor that sheds light on the nature of Versant Media Group's profit. But there are plenty of other ways to inform your opinion of a company. For example, many people consider a high return on equity as an indication of favorable business economics, while others like to 'follow the money' and search out stocks that insiders are buying. So you may wish to see this free collection of companies boasting high return on equity, or this list of stocks with high insider ownership. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Total Revenue: Approximately $1.69 billion, a 1% decrease from the prior year quarter. Linear Distribution Revenue: $1.01 billion, a decline of 7% year-over-year. Advertising Revenue: $368 million, down 5% year-over-year. Platforms Revenue: $192 million, up 9% year-over-year. Content Licensing and Other Revenue: $121 million, a significant increase from $57 million in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA: $704 million, increasing 5% versus the prior year. Programming and Production Costs: $519 million, down 5% year-over-year. Total Cost of Revenue: $638 million, down 3% compared to last year. SG&A Costs: $346 million, a decrease of 9% year-over-year. Free Cash Flow: $558 million for the quarter. Cash Balance: $1.2 billion at quarter end. Quarterly Cash Dividend: $0.375 per share. Share Repurchase: $100 million of Class A shares repurchased in the first quarter. Accelerated Share Repurchase Agreement: $100 million announced, expected to complete in the second quarter. Full Year Revenue Outlook: $6.15 billion to $6.4 billion. Full Year Adjusted EBITDA Outlook: $1.85 billion to $2.0 billion. Full Year Free Cash Flow Outlook: $1.0 billion to $1.2 billion. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 4 Warning Sign with VSNT. Is VSNT fairly valued? Test your thesis with our free DCF calculator. Release Date: May 14, 2026 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Versant Media Group Inc (NASDAQ:VSNT) reported strong engagement and viewership growth across its key networks, including CNBC and MS NOW, with significant increases in audience reach and digital platform views. The company achieved high single-digit growth in its Platforms segment, driven by GolfNow and Fandango, highlighting successful expansion beyond traditional Pay TV. Versant Media Group Inc (NASDAQ:VSNT) successfully launched new programming and initiatives, such as the Morning Call on CNBC and the MS NOW direct-to-consumer offering, enhancing content delivery and audience engagement. The company demonstrated robust profitability with an adjusted EBITDA increase of 5% year-over-year, maintaining healthy margins above 30%. Versant Media Group Inc (NASDAQ:VSNT) is actively managing capital allocation, including share repurchases and dividends, reflecting confidence in its business model and commitment to returning capital to shareholders. Total revenue for the quarter decreased by 1% year-over-year, primarily due to continued pressure on Pay TV, impacting Linear distribution and Advertising revenues. Linear distribution revenue declined by 7% year-over-year, driven by ongoing cord-cutting trends, despite contractual rate increases. Advertising revenue fell by 5% year-over-year, although this was an improvement from the previous year's decline, indicating ongoing challenges in monetizing content. The company faces variability in content licensing and other revenue streams, which can fluctuate significantly quarter-to-quarter, impacting financial predictability. Versant Media Group Inc (NASDAQ:VSNT) anticipates higher programming costs in the second half of the year, particularly in the fourth quarter, due to sports rights timing, which may affect future profitability. Q: Can you discuss the factors driving the better-than-expected advertising performance and the sustainability of this trend? Also, how are MSNBC and CNBC performing in the context of skinny bundles? A: Mark Lazarus, CEO: The strong advertising performance was driven by our portfolio of live content, particularly in news and sports, which remains resilient and attractive to advertisers. There was no significant halo effect from the Olympics. Regarding skinny bundles, MSNBC and CNBC are well-positioned in news-inclusive plans, and our diverse network portfolio is built to work with the evolving distribution marketplace. Q: Could you provide more details on the go-to-market and pricing strategies for MS NOW and Fandango's AVOD service? A: Mark Lazarus, CEO: MS NOW will be a subscriber-based service offering a broader range of content and community engagement. Fandango AVOD will be free with advertising, leveraging data from current Fandango users to serve relevant ads. Anand Kini, CFO: The investment in these initiatives is not substantial, as we leverage existing infrastructure. Most of the investment will be in marketing and consumer awareness. Q: What drove the decision for the accelerated share repurchase, and how will you approach the remaining buyback authorization? A: Anand Kini, CFO: The accelerated share repurchase reflects our confidence in the business and commitment to our capital allocation strategy, which includes maintaining a strong balance sheet, investing in growth, and returning capital to shareholders. We will continue to make capital allocation decisions based on market conditions and opportunities to add value. Q: Can you size the benefit from the "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" licensing deal, and what's the time frame for this agreement? A: Anand Kini, CFO: The Kardashians deal significantly contributed to content licensing revenue growth. It's a multiyear licensing agreement, and while content licensing revenue can vary, it remains a profitable and high-margin business for us. Q: How do you assess the success of your D2C strategy, particularly with MS NOW, and how does it relate to the Linear business? A: Mark Lazarus, CEO: Success will be measured by audience growth and revenue diversification across platforms. We aim to build a circular audience flow between platforms, which should help mitigate subscription declines in the Linear business. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Interested in Versant Corporation? Here are five stocks we like better. Versant’s first quarter revenue fell 1% to about $1.69 billion as pay-TV weakness pressured linear distribution and advertising, but the company offset some of that decline with growth in platforms and content licensing. Profitability remained strong, with adjusted EBITDA rising 5% to $704 million and free cash flow reaching $558 million. Management also highlighted a solid cash position, a quarterly dividend, and share repurchases as part of its capital-return strategy. Versant is leaning into growth areas such as direct-to-consumer products, platforms, and sports/news engagement, including planned launches for an MS NOW subscription service and a Fandango AVOD offering later this year. Versant (NASDAQ:VSNT) Media Group reported a modest revenue decline in its first quarter as an independent company, while management pointed to stronger profitability, growth in digital and platform businesses, and continued investment in direct-to-consumer offerings as key priorities for 2026. Chief Executive Officer Mark Lazarus said the company was “off to a strong start to the year,” citing growth across several parts of the portfolio and what he described as disciplined execution. Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer Anand Kini said first-quarter results reflected “robust profitability, healthy margins, significant free cash flow generation, and continued momentum in platforms revenue.” → Rocket Lab Just Hit a New All-Time High—Time to Buy or Let It Breathe? Total revenue for the quarter was approximately $1.69 billion, down 1% from the prior-year period on a standalone adjusted basis. Kini said the decline reflected “expected continued pressure on pay TV” affecting linear distribution and advertising revenue, partially offset by growth in platforms and content licensing. Linear distribution revenue was $1.01 billion, down 7% year over year, driven by cord-cutting trends and partially offset by contractual rate increases. Advertising revenue was $368 million, down 5% year over year, an improvement from a 12% decline in the same quarter last year. Platforms revenue rose 9% to $192 million, supported by GolfNow and Fandango. Content licensing and other revenue increased to $121 million from $57 million, helped by licensing select titles including Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Adjusted EBITDA rose 5% to $704 million, with margins remaining above 30%. Programming and production costs fell 5% to $519 million, while SG&A costs declined 9% to $346 million. Kini said the company expects a modest increase in SG&A going forward to support growth initiatives, including direct-to-consumer offerings. → MP Materials Is Quietly Building a Rare Earth Powerhouse Lazarus highlighted audience gains across several core brands. CNBC delivered its highest-rated quarter in four years, with double-digit year-over-year growth during a period of market volatility. The network also recorded its largest Davos audience in five years during coverage of the World Economic Forum, with viewership among key demographics up more than 50% for the week. MS NOW posted its most-watched quarter since 2024, with double-digit growth in total day and prime-time viewership among key demographics. Lazarus said the network reached an average of more than 30 million viewers weekly, while viewers watched an average of nine hours per week. He also said the MS NOW website and app delivered their strongest first quarter on record, and that MS NOW generated more YouTube views than the news divisions of the three broadcast networks combined. → Micron Investors Face a High-Stakes Moment After the Latest Rally Golf Channel continued to benefit from early-season engagement. Lazarus said the network drew its largest audience for The Players Championship in two decades and reached 13.5 million unique viewers during Masters week. GolfNow delivered growth in tee time bookings and payments, while GolfPass reached its highest subscriber level ever, helped by the company’s partnership with Rory McIlroy. In sports and entertainment, Lazarus said Versant delivered the largest Olympic audience in USA Network history with the Milano Cortina Olympics, which aired across USA Network and CNBC and reached approximately three-quarters of U.S. pay TV households. He also cited the company’s first season of League One Volleyball on USA Network and the recent start of its inaugural WNBA season. The company also continued to monetize its entertainment library through licensing deals. Kini said content licensing revenue can vary significantly from quarter to quarter because revenue is generally recognized when content is delivered. In response to an analyst question, he said the Keeping Up with the Kardashians deal was a multi-year licensing agreement and that content licensing is a “good margin business” for Versant. Platforms remain a top strategic priority. Lazarus said Fandango One, formerly INDY Cinema, has expanded Fandango’s offering for cinema operators. He also pointed to the acquisition of StockStory, an AI-driven investment intelligence platform, as part of CNBC’s direct-to-consumer development plans. Versant is preparing to launch an MS NOW direct-to-consumer subscription offering and a Fandango advertising-supported video-on-demand service later this year. Lazarus said the MS NOW service will feature content from the network’s reporters, contributors and anchors, along with a broader community-oriented offering. The Fandango AVOD service will be free with advertising and will use data from existing Fandango users to serve relevant ads. Kini said the investment required for those launches is “not substantial,” noting that Versant can use existing video infrastructure at Fandango and CNBC. He said much of the spending will be tied to marketing and consumer awareness. Versant generated $558 million in free cash flow during the quarter, aided by timing-related items that management expects to normalize as the year progresses. The company ended the quarter with $1.2 billion in cash. The board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.375 per share. Versant also repurchased $100 million of Class A shares during the first quarter and announced a $100 million accelerated share repurchase agreement expected to be completed in the second quarter. Kini said the buyback and dividend reflect the company’s capital allocation approach, which includes maintaining a strong balance sheet, investing in growth and returning capital to shareholders. The company reaffirmed its full-year outlook for revenue of $6.15 billion to $6.4 billion, adjusted EBITDA of $1.85 billion to $2.0 billion, and free cash flow of $1.0 billion to $1.2 billion. Kini said results may fluctuate by quarter due to content licensing, working capital timing and higher programming costs in the second half of the year, particularly in the fourth quarter. Versant also sold most of its SportsEngine business on May 1 after previously saying it would explore strategic alternatives. Kini said the transaction is not expected to materially change the company’s revenue or EBITDA trajectory. During the question-and-answer session, Lazarus said the advertising marketplace has been strong and that the company’s news, sports and live entertainment portfolio has remained resilient. He said the quarter’s advertising performance was not meaningfully helped by the Olympics, because NBC bought the advertising time from Versant for those broadcasts. On skinny bundles, Lazarus said Versant is “well-positioned” and included in appropriate sports and news bundles. He added that the company is seeing stability in entertainment and is exploring flexible distribution approaches, including Oxygen’s availability in free over-the-air multicast. Asked about future sports rights opportunities, Lazarus said rising NFL costs for competitors could lead those companies to make decisions on other content. He mentioned baseball, hockey, soccer and Premier League rights as examples of categories with future opportunities, while emphasizing that Versant would be selective and disciplined. Versant Corporation is a provider of data management software. The Company designs, develops, markets and supports database management system products that companies use to solve data management and data integration issues. It also provides related product support, training and consulting services to assist users of the Company's products in developing and deploying software applications based on its products. The Company's Versant Object Database product is used primarily by enterprises, which have data management requirements, such as technology providers, telecommunications carriers, Government defense agencies, defense contractors, healthcare companies and companies in the financial services and transportation industries. This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected]. The article "Versant Q1 Earnings Call Highlights" was originally published by MarketBeat. View MarketBeat's top stocks for May 2026.