DreamWorks Animation Reports Third Quarter 2014 Financial Results

GLENDALE, Calif., Oct. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (Nasdaq: DWA) today announced financial results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2014. For the quarter, the Company reported total revenue of $180.9 million and net income attributable to the Company of $11.9 million, or $0.14 per diluted share. This compares to revenue of $154.5 million and net income attributable to the Company of $10.1 million, or $0.12 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2013.

"The third quarter of 2014 was strong for DreamWorks Animation, with both quarterly revenue and earnings per share up 17% in a year-over-year comparison," commented Jeffrey Katzenberg, Chief Executive Officer of DreamWorks Animation. "Driving the Company's third quarter results is the blockbuster performance of How to Train Your Dragon 2, which has reached over $615 million at the worldwide box office to become the highest-grossing animated film of the year."

The feature film segment contributed revenue of $142.4 million and segment gross profit of $64.3 million to the third quarter.

How to Train Your Dragon 2 contributed feature film revenue of $74.2 million to the third quarter, primarily from its continued performance at the worldwide box office.

Turbo, The Croods and Rise of the Guardians contributed feature film revenue of $12.7 million, $1.8 million and $3.5 million, respectively, to the third quarter and reached an estimated 5.3 million, 7.8 million and 5.8 million home entertainment units sold worldwide, respectively, through the end of the third quarter, net of actual and estimated future returns.

Library titles contributed feature film revenue of $50.2 million to the third quarter.

The Television segment contributed revenue of $14.3 million and segment gross profit of $2.3 million to the third quarter, primarily from Classic Media content, the Turbo F.A.S.T. series and DreamWorks Dragons: Riders of Berk on Cartoon Network.

The Consumer Products segment contributed revenue of $12.1 million and segment gross profit of $4.2 million to the third quarter.

The segment consisting of all other items contributed revenue of $12.1 million and segment gross profit of $1.2 million to the third quarter, primarily from AwesomenessTV. The Company reduced the estimated fair value of the contingent consideration related to its prior acquisition of AwesomenessTV resulting in a $4.9 million pretax gain in the third quarter.

Due to the Company's continued focus on diversification and growth in the variety of business lines in which it now operates, it is now presenting all selling and marketing expenses as a single line item on its statements of operations. Certain selling and marketing expenses previously captured in costs of revenue and selling, general and administrative expenses will now be recorded in the selling and marketing expense line item.

Costs of revenue for the third quarter equaled $103.7 million. Selling and marketing expenses totaled $8.8 million for the third quarter. General and administrative expenses totaled $55.0 million.

The Company's income tax expense for the third quarter was approximately $2.6 million. The Company's combined effective tax rate, its actual tax rate coupled with the effect of a tax sharing agreement with a former stockholder, was approximately 30% for the third quarter.

The Company's fourth quarter 2014 results are expected to be driven primarily by its feature film segment, including results from the theatrical release of Penguins of Madagascar and the home entertainment release of How to Train Your Dragon 2.

Items related to the earnings press release for the third quarter of 2014 will be discussed in more detail on the Company's earnings conference call later today.

Conference Call Information

DreamWorks Animation will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the results on Wednesday, October 29, 2014, at 4:30 p.m. (ET). Investors can access the call by dialing (800) 230-1085 in the U.S. and (612) 332-0107 internationally and identifying "DreamWorks Animation Earnings" to the operator. The call will also be available via live webcast at ir.dreamworksanimation.com. 

A replay of the conference call will be available shortly after the call ends on Wednesday, October 29, 2014. To access the replay, dial (800) 475-6701 in the U.S. and (320) 365-3844 internationally and enter 336661 as the conference ID number. Both the earnings release and archived webcast will be available on the Company's website at ir.dreamworksanimation.com.

About DreamWorks Animation

DreamWorks Animation creates high-quality entertainment, including CG animated feature films, television specials and series and live entertainment properties, meant for audiences around the world. The Company has world-class creative talent, a strong and experienced management team and advanced filmmaking technology and techniques. DreamWorks Animation has been named one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" by FORTUNE® Magazine for five consecutive years. In 2013, DreamWorks Animation ranked #12 on the list. All of DreamWorks Animation's feature films are produced in 3D. The Company has theatrically released a total of 29 animated feature films, including the franchise properties of Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon, Puss In Boots and The Croods.

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Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This document includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company's plans, prospects, strategies, proposals and our beliefs and expectations concerning performance of our current and future releases and anticipated talent, directors and storyline for our upcoming films and other projects, constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industry in which we operate and management's beliefs and assumptions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict.  Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein due to changes in economic, business, competitive, technological and/or regulatory factors, and other risks and uncertainties affecting the operation of the business of DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. These risks and uncertainties include: audience acceptance of our films, our dependence on the success of a limited number of releases each year, the increasing cost of producing and marketing feature films, piracy of motion pictures, the effect of rapid technological change or alternative forms of entertainment and our need to protect our proprietary technology and enhance or develop new technology. In addition, due to the uncertainties and risks involved in the development and production of animated feature projects, the release dates for the projects described in this document may be delayed. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and our most recent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. DreamWorks Animation is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In connection with our issuance of the 6.875% Senior Notes due 2020 (the "Notes") on August 14, 2013, we began to use Adjusted EBITDA to provide investors with a measure of our ability to make our interest payments on the Notes. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income before provision for income taxes, loss from equity method investees, increase/decrease in income tax benefit payable to former stockholder, other income, net, interest income, net, other non-cash operating income, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense, impairments and other charges and certain components of amortization of film and other inventory costs (refer to the reconciliation below). Although the indenture governing the Notes does not include covenants based on Adjusted EBITDA, we believe our investors and noteholders use Adjusted EBITDA as one indicator of our ability to comply with our debt covenants as it is similar to the consolidated cash flow measure described in the indenture (refer to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 14, 2013). Although consolidated cash flow is not a financial covenant under the indenture, it is a measure that is used to determine our ability to make certain restricted payments and incur additional indebtedness in accordance with the terms of the indenture.

Adjusted EBITDA is not prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We believe the use of this non-GAAP measure on a consolidated basis assists investors in comparing our ongoing operating performance between periods. Adjusted EBITDA provides a supplemental presentation of our operating performance and generally includes adjustments for unusual or non-operational activities. We may not calculate Adjusted EBITDA in a manner consistent with the methodologies used by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA (a) does not represent our operating income or cash flows from operating activities as defined by U.S. GAAP; (b) does not include all of the adjustments used to compute consolidated cash flow for purposes of the covenants applicable to the Notes; (c) is not necessarily indicative of cash available to fund our cash flow needs; and (d) should not be considered as an alternative to net income, operating income, cash provided by operating activities or our other financial information as determined under U.S. GAAP. Our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an implication that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or nonrecurring items. We believe that net income is the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure to Adjusted EBITDA. Accordingly, the following table presents a reconciliation of net income (or loss) to Adjusted EBITDA (in thousands):

SOURCE DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.