The Walt Disney Company Reports Second Quarter and Six Months Earnings for Fiscal 2016

BURBANK, Calif.–The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) today reported quarterly earnings of $2.1 billion for its second fiscal quarter ended April 2, 2016, an increase of $35 million over the prior-year quarter. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter increased 6% to $1.30 from $1.23 in the prior-year quarter. Excluding certain items affecting comparability⁽¹⁾, EPS for the quarter increased 11% to $1.36. EPS for the six months ended April 2, 2016 increased 22% to $3.04 from $2.50 in the prior-year period. Excluding certain items affecting comparability⁽¹⁾, EPS for the six months increased 20%.

“We’re very pleased with our overall results in Q2, which marks our 11th consecutive quarter of double-digit growth in adjusted EPS,” said Robert A. Iger, chairman and chief executive officer, The Walt Disney Company. “Our Studio’s unprecedented winning streak at the box office underscores the incredible appeal of our branded content, which we continue to leverage across the entire company to drive significant value. Looking forward, we are thrilled with the Studio’s slate and tremendously excited about the June 16th grand opening of the spectacular Shanghai Disney Resort.”

The following table summarizes the second quarter and six-month results for fiscal 2016 and 2015 (in millions, except per share amounts):

SEGMENT RESULTS

The following table summarizes the second quarter and six-month segment operating results for fiscal 2016 and 2015 (in millions):

Media Networks

Media Networks revenues for the quarter were relatively flat at $5.8
billion and segment operating income increased 9% to $2.3 billion.

The following table provides further detail of the Media Networks
results (in millions):

Cable Networks

Cable Networks revenues for the quarter decreased 2% to $4.0 billion and operating income increased 12% to $2.0 billion due to an increase at ESPN, partially offset by lower equity income from A&E.

The increase at ESPN was due to the benefit of lower programming costs and higher affiliate revenues, partially offset by a decrease in advertising revenue. Results for the quarter benefited from the timing of our fiscal quarter end relative to when College Football Playoff (CFP) bowl games were played, which resulted in a decrease in programming costs and advertising revenue. One CFP game was aired in the current quarter, whereas seven CFP games were aired in the second quarter of the prior year. Affiliate revenue growth was due to contractual rate increases, partially offset by a decline in subscribers. Lower advertising revenue was due to lower ratings and rates, which were negatively impacted by the timing of CFP bowl games, partially offset by higher units sold.

Lower equity income from A&E was due to a decrease in advertising revenue, higher programming costs and a negative impact from the conversion of the H2 channel to Viceland as Viceland is in a start-up phase.

Broadcasting

Broadcasting revenues for the quarter increased 3% to $1.8 billion and operating income decreased 8% to $278 million due to lower operating income from program sales and higher programming and marketing costs, partially offset by advertising and affiliate revenue growth. Lower operating income from program sales was due to a significant SVOD sale in the prior-year quarter and a higher cost mix of programs sold in the current quarter. The increase in programming costs was due to a higher average cost of new scripted programming and increased program cost write-offs. The increase in network advertising revenue was due to higher rates, partially offset by lower ratings. Affiliate revenue growth was primarily due to contractual rate increases.

Parks and Resorts

Parks and Resorts revenues for the quarter increased 4% to $3.9 billion and segment operating income increased 10% to $624 million. Operating income growth for the quarter was due to an increase at our domestic operations, partially offset by a decrease at our international operations. The current quarter reflected an offsetting impact from a shift in the timing of the New Year’s and Easter holidays relative to our fiscal periods. The current quarter was adversely impacted by the absence of several days of the New Year’s holiday, which occurred in the second quarter of the prior year. This impact was essentially offset by the benefit of the two-week Easter holiday, which occurred in the second quarter of the current year compared to the third quarter of the prior year.

Higher operating income at our domestic operations was due to guest spending growth, partially offset by higher costs. The increase in guest spending was due to higher average ticket prices at our theme parks and cruise line, increased food, beverage and merchandise spending and higher average hotel room rates. Cost increases were due to labor and other cost inflation and higher depreciation associated with new attractions. Attendance at our domestic theme parks was relatively flat, as an increase at Disneyland Resort was offset by a modest decrease at Walt Disney World Resort.

Lower operating income at our international operations was due to higher pre-opening expenses at Shanghai Disney Resort, increased operating costs at Disneyland Paris and lower volume at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, partially offset by higher guest spending at Disneyland Paris.

Studio Entertainment

Studio Entertainment revenues for the quarter increased 22% to $2.1 billion and segment operating income increased 27% to $542 million. Higher operating income was due to an increase in theatrical distribution results and growth in TV/SVOD distribution, partially offset by the impact of foreign currency translation due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against major currencies, decreased home entertainment results and higher film cost impairments.

The increase in theatrical distribution results was due to the strong performance of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Zootopia in the current quarter compared to the continuing performance in the prior-year quarter of Big Hero 6 and Into the Woods, both of which were released domestically in the first quarter of the prior year. Higher TV/SVOD distribution results were driven by international growth. The decrease in home entertainment results was primarily due to lower unit sales reflecting the performance of Big Hero 6, Frozen and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy in the prior-year quarter compared to The Good Dinosaur, Inside Out and Marvel’s Ant-Man in the current quarter. The decrease from lower unit sales was partially offset by the benefit from Star Wars Classic titles that are distributed by a third party.

Consumer Products & Interactive Media

Consumer Products & Interactive Media revenues for the quarter decreased 2% to $1.2 billion and segment operating income decreased 8% to $357 million. Lower operating income was primarily due to the impact of foreign currency translation due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against major currencies, lower operating margins and comparable store sales at our retail business and lower results for Infinity. These decreases were partially offset by higher licensing revenues.

Increased licensing revenues were driven by higher revenue from Star Wars merchandise, partially offset by an adverse impact from the timing of minimum guarantee shortfall recognition and a decrease in revenue from merchandise based on Frozen.

OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Corporate and Unallocated Shared Expenses

Corporate and unallocated shared expenses decreased $8 million to $162 million in the current quarter primarily due to the timing of allocations to operating segments.

Interest income/(expense), net

Interest income/(expense), net was as follows (in millions):

The increase in interest expense for the quarter was due to higher average debt balances, partially offset by higher capitalized interest driven by the continued development of the Shanghai Disney Resort.

The decrease in interest and investment income for the quarter was due to gains on sales of investments in the prior-year quarter.

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate was as follows:

The increase in the effective income tax rate for the quarter was due to a shift in the mix of earnings between domestic and foreign tax jurisdictions, including foreign losses for which we cannot recognize a tax benefit.

Noncontrolling Interests

The increase in net income attributable to noncontrolling interests for the quarter was primarily due to higher results at ESPN, partially offset by higher pre-opening expenses at Shanghai Disney Resort.

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests is determined on income after royalties and management fees, financing costs and income taxes.

Cash Flow

Cash provided by operations and free cash flow were as follows (in millions):

Cash provided by operations for the first six months of fiscal 2016 increased 21% or $1.0 billion to $5.8 billion compared to the first six months of fiscal 2015. The increase in cash provided by operations reflected higher segment operating results, partially offset by higher pension and postretirement medical contributions, an increase in receivables at Studio Entertainment driven by higher revenues in the current period due to Zootopia and Star Wars: The Force Awakens compared to Big Hero 6 and Cinderella in the prior-year period and higher television production spending.

Capital Expenditures and Depreciation Expense

Investments in parks, resorts and other property were as follows (in millions):

Capital expenditures increased from $1.9 billion to $2.6 billion primarily due to higher construction spending at Walt Disney World Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and Disneyland Resort.

Depreciation expense was as follows (in millions):

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This earnings release presents EPS excluding the impact of certain items affecting comparability, free cash flow and aggregate segment operating income, all of which are important financial measures for the Company, but are not financial measures defined by GAAP.

These measures should be reviewed in conjunction with the relevant GAAP financial measures and are not presented as alternative measures of EPS, cash flow or net income as determined in accordance with GAAP. EPS excluding certain items affecting comparability, free cash flow and aggregate segment operating income as we have calculated them may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

EPS excluding certain items affecting comparability – The Company uses EPS excluding certain items to evaluate the performance of the Company’s operations exclusive of certain items affecting comparability of results from period to period. The Company believes that information about EPS exclusive of these items is useful to investors, particularly where the impact of the excluded items is significant in relation to reported earnings, because the measure allows for comparability between periods of the operating performance of the Company’s business and allows investors to evaluate the impact of the excluded items separately from the impact of the operations of the business.

The following table reconciles reported EPS to EPS excluding certain items affecting comparability:

Free cash flow – The Company uses free cash flow (cash provided by operations less investments in parks, resorts and other property), among other measures, to evaluate the ability of its operations to generate cash that is available for purposes other than capital expenditures. Management believes that information about free cash flow provides investors with an important perspective on the cash available to service debt, make strategic acquisitions and investments and pay dividends or repurchase shares.

Aggregate segment operating income – The Company evaluates the performance of its operating segments based on segment operating income, and management uses aggregate segment operating income as a measure of the performance of operating businesses separate from non-operating factors. The Company believes that information about aggregate segment operating income assists investors by allowing them to evaluate changes in the operating results of the Company’s portfolio of businesses separate from non-operational factors that affect net income, thus providing separate insight into both operations and the other factors that affect reported results.

A reconciliation of segment operating income to net income is as follows (in millions):

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

In conjunction with this release, The Walt Disney Company will host a conference call today, May 10, 2016, at 5:00 PM EDT/2:00 PM PDT via a live Webcast. To access the Webcast go to www.disney.com/investors. The discussion will be available via replay through May 24, 2016 at 7:00 PM EDT/4:00 PM PDT.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Management believes certain statements in this earnings release may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are made on the basis of management’s views and assumptions regarding future events and business performance as of the time the statements are made. Management does not undertake any obligation to update these statements.

Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. Such differences may result from actions taken by the Company, including restructuring or strategic initiatives (including capital investments or asset acquisitions or dispositions), as well as from developments beyond the Company’s control, including:

• changes in domestic and global economic conditions, competitive conditions and consumer preferences;
• adverse weather conditions or natural disasters;
• health concerns;
• international, political, or military developments; and
• technological developments.

Such developments may affect travel and leisure businesses generally and may, among other things, affect:

• the performance of the Company’s theatrical and home entertainment releases;
• the advertising market for broadcast and cable television programming;
• expenses of providing medical and pension benefits;
• demand for our products; and
• performance of some or all company businesses either directly or through their impact on those who distribute our products.

Additional factors are set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 3, 2015 under Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” and subsequent reports.