Comcast Quarterly Results: August 2015

(press release) Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA, CMCSK) today reported results for the quarter ended June 30, 2015.

Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Comcast Corporation, said, "Our second quarter results, including 11.3% revenue growth and 8.0% operating cash flow growth, demonstrate the strength and momentum we are seeing across our businesses. In Cable, high-speed Internet and business services continued to perform extremely well, and, significantly, this was the best second quarter video customer results we've had in nine years. Our focus on accelerating the deployment of our transformative X1 platform, as well as efforts to improve customer service, are clearly making a difference, with lower churn across all product categories. NBCUniversal had an exceptional quarter, led by the record-breaking box office performances of Jurassic World and Furious 7 and continued strong momentum in our theme parks. In addition, NBC won the 2014-2015 broadcast season for adults 18-49. Our teams are executing incredibly well across our strong and diversified portfolio, and I am excited for what we can deliver in the rest of 2015 and beyond."

Consolidated Revenue for the second quarter of 2015 increased 11.3% to $18.7 billion. Consolidated Operating Cash Flow increased 8.0% to $6.3 billion. Excluding $79 million of Time Warner Cable and Charter transaction-related costs in the second quarter of 2015 and $44 million in the second quarter of 2014, consolidated operating cash flow increased 8.5% (See Table 5). Consolidated Operating Income increased 7.9% to $4.1 billion.

For the six months ended June 30, 2015, consolidated revenue increased 6.8% to $36.6 billion. Consolidated operating cash flow increased 7.8% to $12.2 billion. Excluding $178 million of transaction-related costs in the first six months of 2015 and $61 million in the first six months of 2014, consolidated operating cash flow increased 8.7% (See Table 5). Consolidated operating income increased 8.4% to $8.0 billion.

Earnings per Share (EPS) for the second quarter of 2015 was $0.84, a 10.5% increase from the $0.76 reported in the second quarter of 2014. Excluding a gain on the settlement of a contingent consideration liability with General Electric Company, a gain on the sale of an investment, a loss resulting from the early redemption of debt, transaction-related costs, and a loss on an investment in the second quarter of 2015, as well as a gain on the sale of an investment and transaction-related costs in the second quarter of 2014, EPS increased 12.0% to $0.84 (See Table 4).

EPS for the six months ended June 30, 2015 was $1.65, a 12.2% increase from the $1.47 reported in the prior year. Excluding a gain on the settlement of a contingent consideration liability with General Electric Company, gains on the sale of an investment and business, a loss resulting from the early redemption of debt, transaction-related costs, and a loss on an investment in the first six months of 2015, as well as gains on the sales of investments, a favorable resolution of a prior acquisition contingency and transaction-related costs in the first six months of 2014, EPS increased 14.0% to $1.63 (See Table 4).

Capital Expenditures increased 9.6% to $2.0 billion in the second quarter of 2015 compared to the second quarter of 2014. Cable Communications' capital expenditures increased 12.3% to $1.7 billion in the second quarter of 2015, primarily reflecting increased spending on customer premise equipment related to the deployment of the X1 platform and wireless gateways, our ongoing investment in network infrastructure to increase network capacity, and increased investment in support capital as we expand our cloud based initiatives. Cable capital expenditures represented 14.3% of Cable revenue in the second quarter of 2015 compared to 13.5% in last year's second quarter. NBCUniversal's capital expenditures decreased 8.5% to $272 million in the second quarter of 2015, primarily reflecting decreased investments in facilities, partially offset by increased spending at our Theme Parks.

For the six months ended June 30, 2015, capital expenditures increased 13.9% to $3.7 billion compared to the prior year. Cable Communications capital expenditures increased $483 million, or 18.3%, to $3.1 billion and represented 13.5% of Cable revenue compared to 12.1% in 2014. NBCUniversal's capital expenditures decreased $49 million, or 8.2%, to $540 million for the first six months of 2015.

Free Cash Flow increased 30.0% to $1.5 billion in the second quarter of 2015 compared to $1.2 billion in the second quarter of 2014, reflecting growth in consolidated operating cash flow and improvements in working capital, partially offset by higher capital expenditures and cash taxes. Free cash flow for the six months ended June 30, 2015 increased 17.7% to $4.7 billion compared to $4.0 billion in 2014.

NBCUniversal



Revenue for NBCUniversal increased 20.2% to $7.2 billion in the second quarter of 2015 compared to $6.0 billion in the second quarter of 2014. Operating Cash Flow increased 19.4% to $1.7 billion compared to $1.4 billion in the second quarter of 2014, driven by strong results at Filmed Entertainment and Theme Parks.

For the six months ended June 30, 2015, NBCUniversal revenue increased 7.3% to $13.8 billion compared to $12.9 billion in 2014. Excluding $376 million of revenue generated by the broadcast of the NFL's Super Bowl in the first quarter of 2015 and $1.1 billion of revenue generated by the Sochi Olympics in the first quarter of 2014, revenue increased 14.2% (See Table 5). Operating cash flow increased 16.8% to $3.2 billion compared to $2.7 billion in the first six months of 2014.

Cable Networks

For the second quarter of 2015, revenue from the Cable Networks segment decreased 1.0% to $2.5 billion, reflecting a 26.3% decrease in content licensing and other revenue due to the timing of content provided under our licensing agreements and a 3.0% decline in advertising revenue, partially offset by a 5.6% increase in distribution revenue. Operating cash flow decreased 4.6% to $872 million compared to $914 million in the second quarter of 2014, reflecting lower revenue and modest increases in other operating and administrative expenses.

For the six months ended June 30, 2015, revenue from the Cable Networks segment decreased 3.5% to $4.8 billion compared to $5.0 billion in 2014. Excluding $257 million of revenue generated by the Sochi Olympics in the first quarter of 2014, revenue increased 1.8% (See Table 5). Operating cash flow decreased 2.2% to $1.8 billion in the first six months of 2015.

Broadcast Television

For the second quarter of 2015, revenue from the Broadcast Television segment remained flat at $1.8 billion, reflecting a slight increase in advertising revenue and higher retransmission consent fees, which were offset by lower content licensing revenue. Operating cash flow decreased 3.7% to $231 million compared to the second quarter of 2014, primarily reflecting increases in other operating and administrative expenses, which were largely offset by a decrease in programming and production costs associated with the timing of the airing of certain shows in our primetime schedule.

For the six months ended June 30, 2015, revenue from the Broadcast Television segment decreased 8.5% to $4.1 billion compared to $4.4 billion in 2014. Excluding $376 million of revenue generated by the NFL's Super Bowl in the first quarter of 2015, as well as $846 million of revenue generated by the Sochi Olympics in the first quarter of 2014, revenue increased 2.6% (See Table 5). Operating cash flow increased 14.0% to $413 million compared to $362 million in the first six months of 2014.