Nielsen Reports 3rd Quarter 2021 Results

NEW YORK, Oct. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nielsen Holdings plc (NYSE: NLSN) announced its results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021. The Company also increased its 2021 guidance, raising its revenue and adjusted earnings per share ("EPS") ranges, and raising the low-end of its adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow guidance ranges.

David Kenny, Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are pleased with our strong third quarter results, building on our track record of execution and demonstrating continued progress on our strategic growth plan. In Audience Measurement, clients see the value in our enhanced and expanded products, and it is driving strong performance across national media and digital-first clients.  In Outcomes and Content, growth was driven, in part, by improving trends post-Covid, and we are continuing to build on our global leadership position. Our updated guidance today reflects our strong performance year to date and confidence in our ability to deliver on our objectives."

"The media ecosystem is undergoing significant change as viewing accelerates to streaming. We are making strong progress advancing the development of Nielsen One, our cross-media measurement solution, to provide the market with comparable metrics across streaming and TV. We are building on our strong foundation in linear and digital, we have a clear timeline leading up to the launch in the fourth quarter of 2022, and we are delivering on interim milestones as planned. We believe that Nielsen is the only company positioned to deliver effectively on the promise of representative, currency-grade cross-platform measurement that is essential to the industry."

Third Quarter 2021 Results

Unless indicated otherwise, the results referenced in this press release relate to Nielsen's continuing operations. Beginning in the first quarter of 2021, Global Connect results were reclassified to discontinued operations for all periods presented. Non-GAAP metrics have been adjusted to exclude certain interest costs, as if the sale of Global Connect and resulting de-levering occurred on January 1, 2020.

• Third quarter revenues increased 5.5% to $882 million on a reported basis, 5.1% on a constant currency basis, and 6.6% on an organic basis compared to the prior year period. 
• Audience Measurement revenues of $637 million increased 3.9% on a reported basis, 3.7% on a constant currency basis, and 4.4% on an organic basis compared to the prior year period. Overall growth was solid, with national and digital measurement products showing strength, and with growth in local products.  
• Outcomes & Content revenues of $245 million increased 9.9% on a reported basis, 8.9% on a constant currency basis, and 12.5% on an organic basis compared to the prior year period. This was driven in part by improving trends in short-cycle revenue, solid growth in Content, and recovery in the Sports business.
• Net income from continuing operations attributable to Nielsen shareholders increased 18.2% to $117 million, compared to $99 million in the third quarter of 2020. Net income from continuing operations per share on a diluted basis for the third quarter was $0.32, compared to $0.28 in the third quarter of 2020. The improvement in net income from continuing operations was driven by strong revenue performance, the ongoing benefit of permanent cost actions from the 2020 optimization plan, lower interest expense and lower depreciation and amortization expense in the third quarter of 2021. In addition, the third quarter of 2020 included an impairment of long-lived assets. 
• Reported EPS of $0.28 includes EPS of $0.33 from continuing operations and EPS of $(0.05) from discontinued operations.
• Adjusted EPS was $0.45 for the third quarter, compared to $0.42 per share in the prior year period, reflecting higher adjusted EBITDA and lower depreciation and amortization expense year over year.
• Adjusted EBITDA was $382 million, compared to $374 million in the third quarter of 2020, up 2.1% on a reported basis and 1.9% on a constant currency basis.
• As expected, adjusted EBITDA margin of 43.3% decreased 143 basis points on a reported basis, or a decrease of 139 basis points on a constant currency basis, compared to the prior year period, reflecting the return of the temporary costs savings realized in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and investments in growth initiatives, partially offset by the strong revenue performance in the quarter and benefits from the 2020 optimization plan.
• Reported results were impacted by stronger currencies versus the dollar during the third quarter, which had a 40 basis point positive impact on reported revenue growth and a 20 basis point positive impact on adjusted EBITDA growth.
• On a reported basis for the third quarter of 2021, as compared to the third quarter of 2020 (which included Global Connect for the full quarter):
• Cash flow from operations decreased to $271 million, compared to $417 million in the prior year period. The year over year comparison reflects the absence of Global Connect in the current period.
• Cash taxes were $20 million, compared to $35 million in the prior year period.
• Net capital expenditures were 32% lower, at $77 million, compared to $113 million in the prior year period largely due to timing and the absence of Global Connect in the current period. 
• Reported free cash flow decreased to $194 million, compared to $304 million in the prior year period, primarily due to working capital timing and lower adjusted EBITDA. 
• As it relates to continuing operations for the third quarter of 2021, as compared to the third quarter of 2020:
• Cash flow from operations decreased to $278 million, compared to $356 million in the prior year period. Cash flow performance was primarily driven by working capital timing and higher cash taxes, offset in part by higher adjusted EBITDA and lower interest payments.
• Cash taxes were $20 million, compared to $15 million in the prior year period.
• Net capital expenditures were $77 million, compared to $63 million in the prior year period.
• Free cash flow was $209 million compared to $275 million in the prior year period. Free cash flow has been adjusted to exclude certain interest costs and to exclude separation-related costs. The prior year period also includes an adjustment for cash costs to position Nielsen as a stand-alone company.
• Year-to-date, free cash flow on a continuing operations basis is $514 million, compared to $383 million during the same time period in 2020. Free cash flow has been adjusted to exclude certain interest costs and separation-related costs. The prior year period also includes an adjustment for cash costs to position Nielsen as a stand-alone company.

Financial Position

• At September 30, 2021, we had cash and cash equivalents of $542 million and gross debt of $5.878 billion, resulting in net debt (gross debt less cash and cash equivalents) of $5.336 billion and a net debt leverage ratio of 3.51x.

Dividend

On October 14, 2021, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.06 per share of Nielsen's common stock. The $22 million estimated dividend is payable on December 2, 2021 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 18, 2021.

2021 Full Year Guidance

The Company is updating full year 2021 guidance as follows:

• Total revenue growth on a constant currency basis: 3.0% to 3.25% (previously 2.5% to 3.0%)
• Organic revenue growth on a constant currency basis: 4.5% to 4.75% (previously 4.0% to 4.5%)
• Adjusted EBITDA margin: 42.3% to 42.6%
• Adjusted EBITDA: $1,480 - $1,490 million (previously $1,475 - $1,490 million)
• Adjusted earnings per share: $1.65 - $1.70 (previously 1.54 - $1.61)
• Free cash flow: $630 - $650 million (previously $620 - $650 million)

These estimates reflect Nielsen as if the sale of Global Connect occurred on January 1, 2020. The estimates exclude approximately $200 million of separation-related costs related to the sale.

2021 Guidance Non-GAAP Reconciliations 

These reconciliations include preliminary forecasts based on current expectations and include certain assumptions on the classification and timing of certain separation-related costs and the tax deductibility of such costs.  These estimates reflect Nielsen as if the sale of Global Connect occurred on January 1, 2020.

The below table presents 2021 growth rate guidance, based on 2020 revenue on a constant currency basis.

The below table presents a reconciliation from Net Income from continuing operations to Adjusted EBITDA for our 2021 guidance:

The below table presents a reconciliation from Net Income from Continuing Operations Attributable to Nielsen Shareholders to Adjusted Net Income used to calculate Adjusted Earnings per Share (diluted) for our 2021 guidance:

The below table presents a reconciliation from Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities to Free Cash Flow for our 2021 guidance. These metrics have been adjusted to exclude certain interest costs, as if the sale of Global Connect and resulting de-levering occurred on January 1, 2020. The estimates exclude $200 - $220 million of separation-related costs related to the sale.

Conference Call and Webcast
Nielsen will hold a conference call to discuss today's announcements at 8:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time (ET) on October 28, 2021. The audio and slides for the call can be accessed live by webcast at https://nielsen.com/investors.  Within the United States, listeners can also access the call by dialing 1+888 330-2022. Callers outside the U.S. can dial 1+646 960-0690. Please note that the conference ID is required to access this call; the conference ID is 3610696.

A replay of the event will be available on Nielsen's Investor Relations website, https://nielsen.com/investors, from 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, October 28, 2021 until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, November 4, 2021. The replay can be accessed from within the United States by dialing 1+800 770-2030. Other callers can access the replay at 1+647 362-9199. The replay pass code is 3610696.

Forward-looking Statements
This communication includes information that could constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include those relating to "2021 Full Year Guidance" as well as those that may be identified by words such as "will," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "should," "could" and similar expressions. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results and events could differ materially from what presently is expected. Factors leading thereto may include, without limitation, the risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy and financial markets, the uncertainties relating to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Nielsen's business, the final calculation of the gain on the sale with respect to our Global Connect business, which is currently pending finalization of income tax expense, the failure of our new business strategy in accomplishing our objectives, conditions in the markets Nielsen is engaged in, behavior of customers, suppliers and competitors, technological developments, as well as legal and regulatory rules affecting Nielsen's business and other specific risk factors that are outlined in our disclosure filings and materials, which you can find on https://www.nielsen.com/investors, such as our 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K reports that have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Please consult these documents for a more complete understanding of these risks and uncertainties. This list of factors is not intended to be exhaustive. Such forward-looking statements only speak as of the date of this communication, and we assume no obligation to update any written or oral forward-looking statement made by us or on our behalf as a result of new information, future events or other factors, except as required by law.

About Nielsen
Nielsen shapes the world's media and content as a global leader in audience measurement, data and analytics. Through our understanding of people and their behaviors across all channels and platforms, we empower our clients with independent and actionable intelligence so they can connect and engage with their audiences—now and into the future.

An S&P 500 company, Nielsen (NYSE: NLSN) operates around the world in more than 55 countries. Learn more at www.nielsen.com or www.nielsen.com/investors and connect with us on social media.

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements  

The following sets forth our unaudited financial statements for the periods indicated:

• Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
• Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
• Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

These financial statements are unaudited, but in our opinion contain necessary adjustments for a fair presentation in accordance with GAAP.  Given the sale of our Global Connect business in the first quarter of 2021, Global Connect amounts are presented in separate discontinued operations line items in the Statements of Operations and in the Balance Sheets. The Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows presents combined cash flows from continuing operations with cash flows from discontinued operations within each cash flow statement category.

The gain on the sale of our Global Connect business is pending finalization of income tax expense. Since this amount has been determined based on estimates, the final net gain on the sale transaction may differ materially from the amount presented herein. Any change from the amount currently presented would be reflected as a revision in a future quarterly period.

Certain Non-GAAP Measures

We use the non-GAAP financial measures discussed below to evaluate our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and indebtedness. We believe that the presentation of these non-GAAP measures provides useful information to investors regarding financial and business trends related to our results of operations, cash flows and indebtedness and that, when this non-GAAP financial information is viewed with our GAAP financial information, investors are provided with valuable supplemental information regarding our results of operations, thereby facilitating period-to-period comparisons of our business performance.  These non-GAAP measures are also consistent with how management evaluates the company's operating performance and liquidity. In addition, these non-GAAP measures address questions the Company routinely receives from analysts and investors, and in order to assure that all investors have access to similar data, we have determined that it is appropriate to make this data available to all investors. None of the non-GAAP measures presented should be considered as an alternative to net income or loss, operating income or loss, cash flows from operating activities, total indebtedness or any other measures of operating performance and financial condition, liquidity or indebtedness derived in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP measures have important limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for an analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Our use of these terms may vary from the use of similarly-titled measures by others in our industry due to the potential inconsistencies in the method of calculation and differences due to items subject to interpretation.

Constant Currency Presentation

We evaluate our results of operations on both an as reported and a constant currency basis. The constant currency presentation, which is a non-GAAP measure, excludes the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. We believe providing constant currency information provides valuable supplemental information regarding our results of operations, thereby facilitating period-to-period comparisons of our business performance and is consistent with how management evaluates the Company's performance. We calculate constant currency percentages by converting our prior-period local currency financial results using the current period exchange rates and comparing these adjusted amounts to our current period reported results. No adjustment has been made to foreign currency exchange transaction gains or losses in the calculation of constant currency net income.

Organic Constant Currency Presentation

We define organic constant currency revenue as constant currency revenue excluding the net effect of business acquisitions and divestitures over the past 12 months. Refer to the Constant Currency Presentation section above for the definition of constant currency. We believe that this measure is useful to investors and management in understanding our ongoing operations and in analysis of ongoing operating trends.

Adjusted EBITDA

We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income or loss from continuing operations of our consolidated statements of operations before interest income and expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, restructuring charges, impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets, share-based compensation expense and other non-operating items from our consolidated statements of operations, as well as certain other items that arise outside the ordinary course of our continuing operations specifically described below.

Restructuring charges: We exclude restructuring expenses, which primarily include employee severance, office consolidation and contract termination charges, from our Adjusted EBITDA to allow more accurate comparisons of the financial results to historical operations and forward-looking guidance. By excluding these expenses from our non-GAAP measures, management is better able to evaluate our ability to utilize our existing assets and estimate the long-term value these assets will generate for us. Furthermore, we believe that the adjustments of these items more closely correlate with the sustainability of our operating performance.

Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets: We exclude the impact of charges related to the impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets. We believe that the exclusion of these impairments, which are non-cash, allows for more meaningful comparisons of operating results to peer companies. We believe that this increases period-to-period comparability and is useful to evaluate the performance of the total company.

Share-based compensation expense: We exclude the impact of costs relating to share-based compensation. Due to the subjective assumptions and a variety of award types, we believe that the exclusion of share-based compensation expense, which is typically non-cash, allows for more meaningful comparisons of operating results to peer companies. Share-based compensation expense can vary significantly based on the timing, size and nature of awards granted.

Other non-operating expenses, net: We exclude foreign currency exchange transaction gains and losses primarily related to intercompany financing arrangements as well as other non-operating income and expense items, such as, gains and losses recorded on business combinations or dispositions, sales of investments, net income attributable to noncontrolling interests and early redemption payments made in connection with debt refinancing. We believe that the adjustments of these items more closely correlate with the sustainability of our operating performance.

Other items: To measure operating performance, we exclude certain expenses and gains that arise outside the ordinary course of our continuing operations. Such costs primarily include legal settlements and related fees, acquisition related expenses, business optimization costs and other transaction costs. We believe the exclusion of such amounts allows management and the users of the financial statements to better understand our financial results.

Adjusted EBITDA is not a presentation made in accordance with GAAP, and our use of the term Adjusted EBITDA may vary from the use of similarly-titled measures by others in our industry due to the potential inconsistencies in the method of calculation and differences due to items subject to interpretation. Adjusted EBITDA margin is Adjusted EBITDA for a particular period expressed as a percentage of revenues for that period.

We use Adjusted EBITDA to measure our performance from period to period to evaluate and fund incentive compensation programs and to compare our results to those of our competitors. In addition to Adjusted EBITDA being a significant measure of performance for management purposes, we also believe that this presentation provides useful information to investors regarding financial and business trends related to our results of operations and that when non-GAAP financial information is viewed with GAAP financial information, investors are provided with a more meaningful understanding of our ongoing operating performance.

Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net income or loss, operating income, cash flows from operating activities or any other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP as measures of operating performance or cash flows as measures of liquidity. Adjusted EBITDA has important limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP.  In addition, our definition of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies and may, therefore, have limitations as a comparative analytical tool.

Adjusted Earnings per Share

We define Adjusted Earnings per Share as net income attributable to Nielsen shareholders from continuing operations per share (diluted) from our consolidated statements of operations, excluding depreciation and amortization associated with acquired tangible and intangible assets, restructuring charges, impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets, share-based compensation expense, other non-operating items from our consolidated statements of operations, certain other items considered unusual or non-recurring in nature, adjusted for income taxes related to these items. Management believes that this non-GAAP measure is useful in providing period-to-period comparisons of the results of the Company's ongoing operating performance.

Free Cash Flow

We define free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities, less capital expenditures, net. We believe providing free cash flow information provides valuable supplemental liquidity information regarding the cash flow that may be available for discretionary use by us in areas such as the distributions of dividends, repurchase of common stock, voluntary repayment of debt obligations or to fund our strategic initiatives, including acquisitions, if any. However, free cash flow does not represent residual cash flows entirely available for discretionary purposes; for example, the repayment of principal amounts borrowed is not deducted from free cash flow. Key limitations of the free cash flow measure include the assumptions that we will be able to refinance our existing debt when it matures and meet other cash flow obligations from financing activities, such as principal payments on debt. Free cash flow is not a presentation made in accordance with GAAP. The following table presents a reconciliation from consolidated net cash provided by operating activities to free cash flow. Free cash flow is presented as if the Global Connect transaction and resulting de-levering occurred on January 1, 2020. Management believes that this non-GAAP measure is useful in providing period-to-period comparisons of the free cash flow results.

We believe that providing this information provides useful information on the free cash flow performance on a more comparable basis.

Net Debt and Net Debt Leverage Ratio

The net debt leverage ratio is defined as net debt (gross debt less cash and cash equivalents) as of the balance sheet date divided by Adjusted EBITDA for the 12 months then ended. Net debt and the net debt leverage ratio are commonly used metrics to evaluate and compare leverage between companies and are not presentations made in accordance with GAAP. The calculation of the net debt leverage ratio as of September 30, 2021 as if the Global Connect sale closed on January 1, 2020 is as follows:  

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SOURCE Nielsen Holdings plc