Check Out NY Times' (NYT) Probability To Beat In Q1 Earnings

The New York Times Company (NYSE:NYT) is likely to register a decline in the bottom line when it reports first-quarter 2019 numbers. In the trailing four quarters, it has outperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by average of 16.1%. In the last reported quarter, this diversified media conglomerate delivered a positive earnings surprise of 14.3%.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter earnings is pegged at 12 cents, down from 17 cents reported in the year-ago period. We note that the Zacks Consensus Estimate has been stable over the last 30 days. The consensus estimate for revenues is $439.7 million, suggesting an improvement of 6% from the year-ago quarter. We note that total revenue of this NY-based company had increased 3.8% in the last reported quarter. Let’s delve deeper and analyze the factors likely to impact the results.

Factors Holding Key to NY Times’ Performance

The New York Times Company has been coping with soft print advertising revenue on account of increasing online readership. Management had previously highlighted that total advertising revenue is likely to decline in the low to mid-single digits during the first quarter of 2019. Moreover, with adjusted operating costs expected to increase around 10% during the first quarter, operating profit is likely to be hurt and in turn the bottom line.

The company has been realigning cost structure and streamlining operations to increase efficiencies. It is concentrating on online activities, as evident from its pay-and-read model. The company is not only gearing up to become an optimum destination for news and information but is also focusing on service journalism, with verticals like Cooking, Watching and Well.

The company notified that the number of paid digital subscribers reached 3,360,000 at the end of the fourth quarter of 2018 — rising 265,000 sequentially and 27.1% year over year. Subscription revenues grew 5%, excluding the impact of the additional week in 2017. Revenues from digital-only subscriptions products jumped 9.3%. Management now projects total subscription revenues in first-quarter 2019 to increase in the low to mid-single digits, while digital-only subscription revenues are likely to rise in the mid-teens.

What the Zacks Model Unveils?

Our proven model does not conclusively show that The New York Times Company is likely to beat estimates this quarter. A stock needs to have both — a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) and a positive Earnings ESP — for this to happen. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

The New York Times Company has a Zacks Rank #3 and an Earnings ESP of 0.00%, making surprise prediction difficult. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Stocks With Favorable Combination

Here are companies you may want to consider as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat:

Shopify Inc. (NYSE:SHOP) has an Earnings ESP of +7.14% and a Zacks Rank #2.

Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ:VIAB) has an Earnings ESP of +0.44% and a Zacks Rank of #3.

Charter Communications (NASDAQ:CHTR) has an Earnings ESP of +2.78% and a Zacks Rank of #3.

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