Bundling is beautiful for newspapers. Since April 1, 2009, new rules for counting circulation have turned some newspapers from losing to gaining, even in a market where the print community is getting thrashed. Instead of selling more copies every day, these publications are counting online visits, as long as they are from paying subscribers - for either protected portions of the website or digital replica editions.

The new auditing standards, which affect USA Today, a Gannet (GCI) property, and News Corp's (NWS) Wall Street Journal, among others, often allow newspapers that bundle print and digital editions to count the subscriber twice. According to a report by the Associated Press, the new rule is preventing circulation from looking as bad as it really may be.

Continue reading Looser auditing rules keeping some newspaper heads above water

Looser auditing rules keeping some newspaper heads above water originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We've put three quarters behind us in 2009, and the most recent one was merely another miserable step downward for the beleaguered newspaper industry. Total ad revenue plummeted in the third quarter to $6.4 billion for the print jockeys, a decline of 28%. This info from the Newspaper Association of America drives home the notion that conditions will only worsen for the newspaper industry. So, if you're hoping those shares of New York Times Company (NYT), Gannett (GCI) and Washington Post Company (WPO), holding your breath will leave you little more than dizzy.

Of the total advertising revenue generated in the third quarter of 2009, $5.8 million came from print, the lowest quarterly amount this year. The $623 million in online advertising sold by America's newspapers was also 2009's worst. Both are down substantially from the same quarter in 2008, when the newspapers posted print ad revenue of $8.2 million and online ad revenue of $750 million, according to NAA data. At this time last year, we lamented year-over-year declines approaching 20%. Now, we have the same feelings as ad revenue drops approach 30%.

Continue reading Newspaper ad revenue of 28%, 8 quarters of double-digit drops

Newspaper ad revenue of 28%, 8 quarters of double-digit drops originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO) published data for the third quarter earlier today. Can't say I was mightily impressed by the numbers. Sure, there was a profit increase, but the top line wasn't exciting, and the newspaper division, as you might have expected, experienced a sharp decline in sales.

Net revenues rose 2%. Earnings per share came in at $1.81. That was sharply higher than the $1.08 per share recorded in the comparable period. Yet, I think you have to be careful in terms of reading too much positive spin into the growth rate.

Continue reading The Washington Post Company increases income, but shares sell off

The Washington Post Company increases income, but shares sell off originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from last week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• AirTran Holdings Inc. (NYSE: AAI) reported its third consecutive quarterly profit and will increase capacity.
• Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) shares soared after it reported very strong Q3 numbers.
• Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) reported stellar Q4 results, driven by the popularity of Macs and iPhones.
• BlackRock Inc. (NYSE: BLK) Q3 earnings soared, due in part to a tax benefit, and assets managed grew.
• Broadcom Corp. (NASDAQ: BRCM) revenue surged sequentially but note the would be flat going forward.
• Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) beat Q3 earnings expectations and shares rose though revenue slumped.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Amazon, Apple, Caterpillar, Hershey, McDonald's, UPS ...

Earnings highlights: Amazon, Apple, Caterpillar, Hershey, McDonald's, UPS ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The folks in the news business are probably growing to hate Mondays. Gannett's (NYSE: GCI) profits are off by more than 50%, and the New York Times announced that it's chopping 100 jobs from the newsroom, along with an unspecified number elsewhere in the newspaper. Like Gannett, the New York Times cites declines in ad revenue as the reason for the decision. The company is hoping that employees will take voluntary buyouts where offered, but it is prepared to conduct a round of layoffs if necessary.

The newspaper, which is the flagship property of the New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT), cut 100 newsroom positions last year, mostly through voluntary buyouts, before a "relatively small" round of layoffs. This year's 100-job cut is approximately 8% of the newsroom, but the paper will still have the largest in the United States. Approximately 1,150 reporters and editors will remain. Already, 100 jobs have been slashed on the business side, leaving it now staffed at 1,850.

Continue reading New York Times to cut 100 newsroom positions

New York Times to cut 100 newsroom positions originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gannett (NYSE: GCI) lost more than half its third-quarter profits year-over-year, as the newspaper industry shows yet another sign of decline. A substantial drop in ad revenue was the primary reason for the plunge.

The newspaper giant was able to stay in the black because of aggressive cost cutting, a move that can work for only so long. For now, it's the most popular option available to the beleaguered industry, as evidenced by a New York Times (NYSE: NYT) announcement that it would slash another 100 positions from the newsroom, and more positions elsewhere.

Continue reading Gannett profit falls by more than half

Gannett profit falls by more than half originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

McNews is being squeezed by two market downturns. So, if you think most newspapers have it bad, realize that it could be much worse.

Gannett's (NYSE: GCI) major national paper, USA Today, is getting ready to report a 17% drop in circulation - the largest it has ever sustained. The popular daily is fighting a battle on two fronts. It has to deal with a media slump and a travel recession. It's hard to pick two tougher industries in this economic climate.

Continue reading USA Today sees circulation off 17%, blames travel

USA Today sees circulation off 17%, blames travel originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from last week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Accenture Ltd. (NYSE: ACN) lower Q4 earnings met analysts' expectations but the Q1 outlook was weak.
• Cal-Maine Foods Inc. (NASDAQ: CALM) posted a Q1 net loss and said it will skip its dividend this quarter.
• Cephalon Inc. (NASDAQ: CEPH) earnings prospects for 2010 resulted in an analyst's downgrade.
• Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: DRI) Q1 earnings beat by a penny but revenue fell short of estimates.
• Gannett Inc. (NYSE: GCI) shares rose after it forecast Q3 earnings above Wall Street estimates.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Nike, Walgreen, Jabil Circuit, Gannett, Darden ...

Earnings highlights: Nike, Walgreen, Jabil Circuit, Gannett, Darden ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In Internet Wealth Builder, he explains, "I have been involved in the newspaper industry for good portion of my career; so it has been with great dismay that I've watched the industry crumble over the last few years." For contrary investors, he looks to New York Times (NYSE: NYT) and Gannett (NYSE: GCI).

"The Internet in general has siphoned off millions of dollars of advertising that used to belong to the newspaper industry.

Continue reading Printing profits? A contrary look at newspapers

Printing profits? A contrary look at newspapers originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gannett (NYSE: GCI - option chain) shares rose Tuesday after the company forecast third-quarter EPS between 39 and 42 cents. Analysts had been expecting EPS of 28 cents in the coming period. Other newspaper stocks like the New York Times (NYSE: NYT) also traded significantly higher after Gannett's forecast. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on GCI.

GCI opened Tuesday at $11.85. So far the stock has hit a low of $11.27 and a high of $11.96. As of 11:10, GCI is trading at $11.65 up 1.67 (16.7%). The chart for GCI looks neutral and S&P gives GCI a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

Continue reading Gannett (GCI) issues optimistic Q3 forecast

Gannett (GCI) issues optimistic Q3 forecast originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gannett (NYSE: GCI), publisher of USA Today and other newspapers, as well as owner of many informational websites such as CareerBuilder.com, made some news of its own yesterday on Wall Street. After reporting second-quarter results, the stock had a great day. How great was Gannett's day? Shares closed higher by nearly 29%. Let me repeat that: 29%! And volume . . . it was way, way above the norm.

What in the world triggered this response by investors and/or traders? Gannett beat expectations. On an adjusted basis, the company made 46 cents per share. Earnings.com indicates that this performance is 10 cents better than analyst expected.

Continue reading Be careful about trading Gannett after its Q2 report

Be careful about trading Gannett after its Q2 report originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Drop in newspaper circulation continues: But not fast enough!

Drop in newspaper circulation continues: But not fast enough! originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Revenue at newspapers has dropped so rapidly that companies in the industry cannot cut costs, even reporters, fast enough. The trouble is that too few reporters means too little news.

Five newspapers are banding together to share news. It may be the future of keeping editorial costs down and may buy a little time for large chains like Gannett (NYSE: GCI). According toThe New York Times, "The consortium is made up of The Daily News of New York; The Star-Ledger, based in Newark; The Buffalo News; The Record, based in Hackensack, N.J.; and The Times Union of Albany." The Daily News and Star-Ledger are among the largest papers in the country.

Continue reading Newspapers make a last stand on reporting

Newspapers make a last stand on reporting originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 19 Feb 2009 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Major stocks hit 10-year lows, the new subprime & america's best leaders - Today in Money 11/20

Major stocks hit 10-year lows, the new subprime & america's best leaders - Today in Money 11/20 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gannett (NASDAQ: GCI) said it would cut almost 10% of its staff. This is hardly a surprise. Newspaper ad revenue has been running down over 15% this year and that trend is expected to continue. At some papers, classified ads -- mostly real estate, employment, and autos -- are off well above 30%. The internet has eroded readership. Most of these people will not ever return as newspaper subscribers. Gannett and all its peers trade at multi-year lows.

The advertising sales problem is beginning to spread to magazines. Between the internet and the recession, the magazine business is getting pinched and pinched hard. Ad pages at many business magazines and newsweeklies are down 15% to 20% this year. In some cases, the drop is closer to 30%. As a reaction, the largest magazine publisher in the U.S., Time, Inc., a unit of Time Warner (NYSE: TWX) will cut as many as 600 people. According to The New York Times, "No magazines are scheduled to close, but some are likely to be severely cut back."

Magazines will have to do something that newspapers have not be able to. They need to move their content to the internet in a way that will pull large numbers of readers so that advertising volumes are big enough to make up for the erosion of print dollars. Since there are a huge number of content sites on the web, there is plenty of competition.

The print magazine business is dying and dying faster than many analysts thought it would. Its only life boat is the internet. A life boat only holds so many people.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

The magazine business follows newspapers into troubled waters originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) reported strong Q3 results but warned of softness ahead.
• Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ: AMGN) beat earnings expectations and lifted its full-year forecast.
• AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) Q3 results were worse than expected despite the iPhone's popularity.
• Broadcom Corp. (NASDAQ: BRCM) beat expectations but lowered its revenue guidance.
• Dice Holdings Inc. (NYSE: DHX) reported solid Q3 results despite the financial crisis.
• E*Trade Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: ETFC) widened its Q3 net loss and revenues shrank.
• Gannett Inc. (NYSE: GCI) just missed earnings estimates as advertising revenues declined.
• Hasbro Inc. (NYSE: HAS) posted solid Q3 results that topped analysts' expectations.
• Mattel Inc. (NYSE: MAT) missed Q3 earnings expectations despite popularity American Girl.
• McDonald's Corp. (NYSE: MCD) easily beat Q3 earnings estimates and lifted its dividends.
• Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) posted strong Q3 numbers but warned of slowing subscriber growth.
• Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) Q3 profits tripled due to cost cutting and sales of pain pill Lyrica.
• Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan (NYSE: POT) topped earnings estimates, sending shares higher.
• Reynolds American Inc. (NYSE: RAI) posted Q3 results that topped analysts' expectations.
• Sony Corp. (NYSE: SNE) slashed its earnings forecast on weakness in flat panel TVs and digital cameras.
• Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) reported better-than-expected Q3 results.
• 3M Co. (NYSE: MMM) solid Q3 results topped Wall Street expectations and it offered full-year outlook.
• VMWare Inc. (NYSE: VMW) Q3 earnings surged on strong growth in services revenue.

For more earnings highlights from this week, see Apple, Boeing, Microsoft, Yahoo!, UPS, American Express and others.

Watch for upcoming quarterly reports from Verizon (NYSE: VZ), Estée Lauder (NYSE: EL) , US Steel (NYSE: X), Aetna (NYSE: AET), Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG), Qwest (NYSE:Q), Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA), Kellogg (NYSE: K), Kraft Foods (NYSE: KFT), MetLife (NYSE: MET), Moody's (NYSE: MCO), Office Depot (NYSE: ODP), Avon (NYSE: AVP), CBS (NYSE: CBS), CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS), Sun Microsystems (NASDAQ: JAVA), Eastman Kodak (NYSE: EK), Motorola (NYSE: MOT), Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM), Chevron (NYSE: CVX), Washington Post (NYSE: WPO).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

Earnings highlights: Amazon, McDonald's, Mattel, Pfizer, AT&T, Sony and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 25 Oct 2008 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We all know the Gannett (NYSE: GCI) company. It is a newspaper publisher that puts out the excellent USA Today, among others. As excellent as the USA Today might be, Gannett's stock is anything but. Gannett's Q3 earnings came in at $0.76 per share. The market was looking for a penny more. In addition, publishing ad revenue fell 18% while broadcast revenue posted an anemic gain of approximately 4%.

Gannett is positioned only for further financial pressure. The newspaper industry has had a tough time of it for years, trying to adjust to a digital age. Content on print just isn't seen in the same light as it was many years ago. Trying to get readers of newspapers to migrate to online counterparts can be very difficult. Once you're on the internet, there are a whole host of portals through which content can be filtered and accessed. Even if you were a devoted reader of USA Today before coming online, it is entirely possible that you'd ditch the brand for some other source of news, whether it be Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO) or Time Warner's (NYSE: TWX) AOL. Sure, you might still find content at those sites from Gannett, but it nevertheless is a whole new competitive ballgame. And let's face it, the new generation of web-savvy youth consider print antiquated and perhaps even useless, harsh as that is to say.

Competition for ads is only going to become more intense. I'd imagine that revenues will most likely continue to be challenged for Gannett as advertisers pull back in the face of the economic storm. The 52-week high on the stock is $42.50. The 52-week low is $8.49. Friday's closing price was $9.47. No, it isn't a buy. And what's that yield I see? Are you kidding me? Almost 17%! In this case, the high yield is telling you to run far, far away from the shares. If I wanted exposure to print, I'd much rather go with a company that has a portfolio which includes better assets, such as News Corp. (NYSE: NWS). Print will always be with us. I enjoy print. But its growth prospects are questionable until new models are realized.

Disclosure: I don't own any company mentioned; positions can change at any time.

Gannett: High yield, high risk originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 25 Oct 2008 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

News Corp (NYSE-NWS) closed at $9.36. NWS will host its 2008 annual meeting of shareholders today in New York City. The Murdoch family controls a 30% voting block of NWS. NWS November option implied volatility of 90 is above its 26-week average of 39 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Gannett (NYSE -GCI) closed at $10.67. GCI shares are trading at a 24-year low GCI is scheduled to report Q3 EPS on October 24. GCI November option implied volatility of 108 is above its 26-week average of 54 according to Track Data, suggesting larger risk.

New York Times (NYSE-NYT) closed at $12.53. NYT is expected to report Q3 EPS on October 23. NYT November option implied volatility of 82 is above its 26-week average of 50 according Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Option Update: News Corp volatility at 90; shares near 12-year low into shareholder meeting originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 17 Oct 2008 09:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Dividend stock traps, worst is yet to come for retailers, know your CD - Today in Money 10/14

Dividend stock traps, worst is yet to come for retailers, know your CD - Today in Money 10/14 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 14 Oct 2008 08:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Many of the large newspaper chain purchases over the last several years have involved tremendous borrowing and the banks are at the door with eviction notices. Even the big companies in the industry are having trouble. According to The Wall Street Journal, Gannett, Inc. (NYSE:GCI) the country's largest newspaper publisher, said Wednesday it had tapped its credit line as short-term financing markets stall.

Several other chains, particularly McClatchy (NYSE:MNI) and Gatehouse (NYSE:GHS) are having crippling debt problems.

A number of media sources reported yesterday that the The Star Tribune in Minneapolis has missed a payment on its debt.

Although it is hard to imagine, some of these companies may fail and fail soon. The costs of newsprint, trucks, gas, and personnel are so great that a number of newspapers may complete shut down. Customers may wake up one morning and find the front step empty. The poor newspaper boy has lost his job.

It is a hard time when there is nothing to put in the bird cage.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

Your newspaper won't be delivered today, or ever originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.