Skip to Content

No good news at The New York Times

Text SizeAAA

Filed under: Company News, Economy, Earnings

More

The New York Times Co. (NYT) just can't get its act together.

Quarter after quarter, the publisher of the best (though flawed) newspaper in the country posts dismal results. Like clockwork, management offers a plethora of excuses and today's quarterly results were no different. The company posted a net loss of $74.5 million, or 52 cents. A year earlier, the New York Times Co. broke even. Excluding one-time items, it would have lost 34 cents. Revenue plunged 18.6 percent to $609 million. Wall Street gave a thumbs down to the results, sending NYT's shares reeling.

It probably goes without saying that the publisher's New England papers continue to lose money. The company has threatened to shutter the Boston Globe unless it receives significant union concessions. A few years ago, local businessmen including former General Electric Co. (GE) CEO Jack Welch were reportedly interested in buying the Globe. Too bad the New York Times did not sell New England's largest newspaper when it could.

To be fair, the company's woes are not all of its own doing. Big city dailies, including the Times, are all bleeding advertising and circulation revenue. McClatchy Co. (MNI), another struggling publisher, faces delisting from the New York Stock Exchange.

During the first quarter, NYT revenue plunged 28.4 percent amid declines in both print and online advertising. Circulation revenue rose one percent because of higher home delivery and newsstand prices.

During the quarter, the publisher got some financial breathing room through the sale and lease back of its swanky new corporate headquarters, an investment from Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, extended he maturities of its corporate debt and suspended its dividend.

"At this time, and it is early in the quarter, we believe the rate of decline in ad revenues in the second quarter will be similar to that of the first. In time, however, we believe that the economy will grow and the advertising market will improve," Chief Executive Janet Robinson said in a statement. "While we are looking forward to that day, we are not waiting for it."

Unfortunately for the Times and other publishers, tomorrow is no longer a day a way.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Interest Rates

5/1 ARM4.06%APR: 3.75%
30 Yr.
Fixed Mort.
5.03%APR: 5.16%
$30K
HELOC
8.00%APR: 0.00%
30 Mo
New Car Loan
6.77%APR: 0.00%
1 Yr. CD1.57%APR: 1.58%
DailyFinance Writers
Melly Alazraki Melly Alazraki Financial writer and analyst
James Altucher James Altucher Financial columnist
Jeff Bercovici Jeff Bercovici Media columnist
Jonathan Berr Jonathan Berr Financial writer and media columnist
Mercedes Cardona Mercedes Cardona Retail reporter
Tim Catts Tim Catts Financial writer
Peter Cohan Peter Cohan Author, venture capitalist and financial writer
Carrie Coolidge Carrie Coolidge Financial writer
Lita Epstein Lita Epstein Financial writer
Sam Gustin Sam Gustin Technology Writer
Nikhil Hutheesing Nikhil Hutheesing Tech and investing editor
Joseph Lazzaro Joseph Lazzaro Markets and economics writer
Latif Lewis Michelle Leder Financial Columnist
Latif Lewis Latif Lewis Business news editor and management columnist
Anthony Massucci Anthony Massucci Senior writer and tech columnist
Doug McIntyre Doug McIntyre Business and investing news writer and editor
Michael Mercurio Michael Mercurio Managing Editor
Todd Pruzan Todd Pruzan Features editor
Michael Rainey Michael Rainey Editor and economics writer
Alex Salkever Alex Salkever Senior technology writer
David Schepp David Schepp Business News reporter
Matthew Scott Matthew Scott Investing reporter and editor
Dan Solin Daniel R. Solin Author, investment advisor and retirement expert
Amey Stone Amey Stone Executive editor
Bruce Watson Mark Svenvold Columnist, renewable energy
Russel Turk, M.D. Russell Turk, M.D. Healthcare policy columnist
Bruce Watson Bruce Watson Features Writer
my portfolios

Find out why more people track their portfolios on AOL Money & Finance than anywhere else.

Create a New Portfolio My Portfolios

Daily Finance Partners

More from the Weblogs Network