3/20/2013

Cumulus Media Meets on the Top Line, Misses Where it Counts

Cumulus Media (Nasdaq: CMLS  ) reported earnings on March 18. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Cumulus Media met expectations on revenues and missed expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue dropped slightly. Non-GAAP loss per share expanded. GAAP loss per share grew.

Gross margins dropped, operating margins increased, net margins shrank.

Revenue details
Cumulus Media chalked up revenue of $284.2 million. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected a top line of $288.0 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were the same as the prior-year quarter's.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

EPS details
EPS came in at -$0.49. The four earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.06 per share. Non-GAAP EPS were -$0.49 for Q4 versus -$0.03 per share for the prior-year quarter. GAAP EPS were -$0.51 for Q4 against -$0.17 per share for the prior-year quarter.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

Margin details
For the quarter, gross margin was 37.6%, 80 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 20.8%, 190 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -29.8%, much worse than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $233.6 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.02.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.07 billion. The average EPS estimate is $0.10.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 72 members out of 97 rating the stock outperform, and 25 members rating it underperform. Among 19 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 12 give Cumulus Media a green thumbs-up, and seven give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Cumulus Media is buy, with an average price target of $4.00.

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