TKO Group Holdings reports Q3 earnings; $681.2 million in revenue

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (“TKO” or the “Company”) (NYSE: TKO) today announced financial results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2024.

Ariel Emanuel, Executive Chair and CEO of TKO, said: “TKO’s solid third quarter results reflect continued strength across UFC and WWE, particularly in live events and brand partnerships. In light of this continued momentum, we now expect to deliver at the upper end of our full-year 2024 guidance range for both revenue and Adjusted EBITDA.

“Additionally, two weeks ago we announced the authorization of a robust capital return program and an agreement to acquire industry-leading sports assets that will power our profile, give us greater scale, strengthen our position in the sports marketplace, and accelerate returns for shareholders. Just over a year since UFC and WWE came together to form TKO, our conviction in this business is as strong as ever.”

Third Quarter Consolidated Results

Revenue increased 52%, or $232.1 million, to $681.2 million. The increase reflected the increase of $274.7 million of revenue at WWE, to $326.3 million, partially offset by a decrease of $42.6 million at UFC, to $354.9 million.

Net Income was $57.7 million, an increase of $35.7 million from $22.0 million in the prior year period. The increase reflected the increase in revenue partially offset by an increase in operating expenses. The increase in operating expenses primarily reflected an increase in direct operating costs of $76.8 million, an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses of $46.4 million, and an increase in depreciation and amortization of $66.4 million.

Adjusted EBITDA¹ increased 29%, or $70.3 million, to $310.0 million, due to an increase of $153.3 million of Adjusted EBITDA at WWE, partially offset by a decrease of $42.7 million at UFC and an increase of $40.3 million in corporate expenses.

Cash flows generated by operating activities were $236.6 million, an increase of $169.6 million from $67.0 million, primarily due to higher net income and the timing of working capital.

Free Cash Flow² was $225.6 million, an increase of $162.0 million from $63.6 million, due to the increase in cash flows generated by operating activities partially offset by an increase in capital expenditures.

Cash and cash equivalents were $457.4 million as of September 30, 2024. Gross debt was $2.736 billion as of September 30, 2024.

Results by Operating Segment³

The schedule below reflects TKO’s performance by operating segment:

UFC

Third Quarter 2024

Revenue decreased 11%, or $42.6 million, to $354.9 million primarily driven by a $50.4 million decrease in media rights and content revenue partially offset by a $10.2 million increase in sponsorship revenue. The decrease in media rights and content revenue was primarily related to holding one less numbered event and two fewer Fight Night events in the current year period as compared to the prior year period. The increase in sponsorship revenue was primarily related to new sponsors and an increase in fees from renewals compared to the prior year period, including the first ever title partner sale made in connection with UFC 306. Live events revenue was essentially flat as an increase in ticket sales related to the mix of event venues and territories was offset by three fewer events as compared to the prior year period.

Adjusted EBITDA decreased 18%, or $42.7 million, to $195.6 million, primarily due to the decrease in revenue (as described above). Expenses were essentially flat as compared to the prior year period. Direct expenses decreased primarily due to lower marketing, athlete costs, and direct costs of revenue due to one less numbered event and two fewer Fight Night events as compared to the prior year period. These decreases were partially offset by higher production costs, primarily related to UFC 306, which was a marquee event held at Sphere in Las Vegas. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased primarily due to higher costs of personnel as compared to the prior year period.

Adjusted EBITDA margin decreased to 55% from 60%.

WWE

Third Quarter 2024

The table below includes WWE’s reported results for three months ended September 30, 2024 and, as a result of the timing of the business combination, the period in 2023 following the acquisition of WWE on September 12, 2023 through September 30, 2023. The following narrative discussion of WWE’s historical information for the three months ended September 2023 also presents WWE information on a “combined” basis for the full quarter by including the period from July 1, 2023 through September 11, 2023. This historical WWE combined presentation is for illustrative purposes and to facilitate an understanding of WWE’s historical operating results prior to the consummation of the business combination (See “Basis of Presentation” for further details.)

Revenue was $326.3 million for the period from July 1, 2024 through September 30, 2024.

WWE revenue was $51.6 million for the period from September 12, 2023 through September 30, 2023. Including WWE activity for the period from July 1, 2023 through September 11, 2023, WWE combined revenue was $287.3 million for the period from July 1, 2023 through September 30, 2023. The increase of 14%, or $39.0 million, was primarily driven by an increase in media rights and content, live events, and sponsorship revenue. The increase in media rights and content revenue was primarily related to the contractual escalation of media rights fees as well as the timing of WWE’s weekly flagship programming, which resulted in an additional event in the current year period. The increase in live events revenue was primarily related to an increase in ticket sales revenue. The increase in sponsorship revenue was primarily related to new sponsors and an increase in fees from renewals compared to the prior year period.

Adjusted EBITDA was $175.3 million for the period from July 1, 2024 through September 30, 2024.

WWE Adjusted EBITDA was $22.0 million for the period from September 12, 2023 through September 30, 2023. Including WWE activity for the period from July 1, 2023 through September 11, 2023, WWE combined Adjusted EBITDA was $102.0 million for the period from July 1, 2023 through September 30, 2023. The increase of 72%, or $73.3 million, was due to the increase in revenue (as described above) and a decrease in expenses. Expenses decreased primarily due to a decline in personnel costs and production costs, principally related to planned cost reduction initiatives implemented following the formation of TKO.

Adjusted EBITDA margin was 54% for the period from July 1, 2024 through September 30, 2024, an increase compared to WWE’s Adjusted EBITDA margin of 36% for the period from July 1, 2023 through September 30, 2023.

Corporate

Third Quarter 2024

Corporate Adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $60.9 million, as compared to a loss of $20.6 million in the prior year period.

Including WWE activity for the period from July 1, 2023 through September 11, 2023, Corporate combined Adjusted EBITDA³ was a loss of $42.1 million for the third quarter of 2023. The decrease of $18.8 million was primarily due to an increase in personnel costs, including TKO executive compensation, and other general and administrative expenses following the formation of TKO in September 2023. The decrease also reflected an increase in service fees paid to Endeavor under the Company’s Services Agreement, including the WWE portion of the fee that commenced in March 2024. These increases were partially offset by savings from the Company’s cost reduction program, which was implemented to realize synergy opportunities and integrate the combined operations of WWE and UFC following the formation of TKO.

Full Year 2024 Guidance

In February, the Company issued revenue and Adjusted EBITDA guidance of $2.575 billion – $2.650 billion and $1.150 billion – $1.170 billion, respectively, for the full year 2024. In May, the Company raised its revenue and Adjusted EBITDA guidance to $2.610 billion – $2.685 billion and $1.185 billion – $1.205 billion, respectively, for the full year 2024. In August, the Company again raised its revenue and Adjusted EBITDA guidance to $2.670 billion – $2.745 billion and $1.220 billion – $1.240 billion, respectively, for the full year 2024. Based on performance through the first nine months of the year and our anticipated performance for the remainder of the year, the Company now expects full year 2024 revenue and Adjusted EBITDA at the upper end of the range of $2.670 billion – $2.745 billion and $1.220 billion – $1.240 billion, respectively, for the full year 2024.

The Company reaffirms its target for Free Cash Flow Conversion of in excess of 40%.

The Company intends to provide additional detail related to its 2024 guidance on today’s earnings call.

Other Matters

Return of Capital Program

As previously disclosed, on October 24, 2024, the Company announced its board of directors has authorized a share repurchase program of up to $2.0 billion of its Class A common stock. The share repurchase program is expected to commence in the first half of 2025 and is expected to be completed within approximately three to four years. The Company also announced that its board of directors has authorized a quarterly cash dividend program pursuant to which holders of the Company’s Class A common stock will receive their pro rata share of $75.0 million expected quarterly distributions to be made by TKO Operating Company, LLC. The Company intends to begin making quarterly cash dividend payments on March 31, 2025.

Endeavor Asset Acquisition

As previously disclosed, on October 24, 2024, the Company announced that it has reached a definitive agreement with Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc. (“Endeavor”) to acquire Professional Bull Riders, On Location, and IMG in an all-equity transaction valued at $3.25 billion. Endeavor will receive approximately 26.14 million common units of TKO Operating Company, LLC and will subscribe for an equal number of shares of TKO Class B common stock in connection with the transaction, which is subject to certain customary purchase price adjustments to be settled at closing in equity and cash. Subsequent to the closing of the transaction, Endeavor is expected to own approximately 59% of TKO. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2025.

Credit Facility Refinancing

On November 6, 2024, the Company announced a refinancing of its Credit Facility seeking a new seven-year $2.75 billion term loan and new five-year $205 million revolver. We expect the refinanced Credit Facility to include similar covenants and terms as the existing Credit Facility. The refinancing is expected to close during the fourth quarter 2024.

Legal Matters

As previously disclosed, on September 26, 2024, the Company announced that it had reached an agreement to settle all claims asserted in the Le UFC antitrust lawsuit for an aggregate amount of $375.0 million. On October 22, 2024, the court issued a ruling granting the motion for preliminary approval of the settlement agreement. The settlement, which remains subject to final court approval, is payable in three equal installments. The Company made one payment of $125.0 million into escrow in October 2024 and expects to make the remaining payments of $250.0 million in 2025.

For the three months ended September 30, 2024, the Company’s consolidated pre-tax results included $44.6 million of costs related to certain litigation matters at UFC and WWE. A reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 can be found in the supplemental schedule on page 14 of this release.

TKO Transaction

As previously disclosed, on September 12, 2023, Endeavor Group Holdings Inc. (“Endeavor”) and World Wrestling Entertainment, LLC (“WWE”) closed the transaction to combine the Ultimate Fighting Championship (“UFC”) and WWE to form a new, publicly listed company, TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (“TKO”).

Notes

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company refers to certain financial measures that are not recognized under United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). This press release includes financial measures that are not calculated in accordance with GAAP, including Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow Conversion. Please see the definitions below and the reconciliation tables included in this release for additional information and a reconciliation of the Non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures.

The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income excluding income taxes, net interest expense, depreciation and amortization, equity-based compensation, merger and acquisition costs, certain legal costs, restructuring, severance and impairment charges, and certain other items when applicable. Adjusted EBITDA margin is defined as Adjusted EBITDA divided by revenue.

TKO management believes that Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin are useful to investors as these measures eliminate the significant level of non-cash depreciation and amortization expense that results from its capital investments and intangible assets, and improve comparability by eliminating the significant level of interest expense associated with TKO’s debt facilities, as well as income taxes which may not be comparable with other companies based on TKO’s tax and corporate structure. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin are used as the primary bases to evaluate TKO’s consolidated operating performance.

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin have limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider them in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of TKO’s results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are:

• they do not reflect every cash expenditure, future requirements for capital expenditures, or contractual commitments;
• Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the significant interest expense or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments on TKO’s debt;
• although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced or require improvements in the future, and Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin do not reflect any cash requirement for such replacements or improvements; and
• they are not adjusted for all non-cash income or expense items that are reflected in TKO’s statements of cash flows.

TKO management compensates for these limitations by using Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin along with other comparative tools, together with GAAP measurements, to assist in the evaluation of TKO’s operating performance.

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin should not be considered substitutes for the reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered in isolation or as alternatives to net income as indicators of TKO’s financial performance, as measures of discretionary cash available to it to invest in the growth of its business or as measures of cash that will be available to TKO to meet its obligations. Although TKO uses Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin as financial measures to assess the performance of its business, such use is limited because it does not include certain material costs necessary to operate TKO’s business. TKO’s presentation of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin should not be construed as indications that its future results will be unaffected by unusual or nonrecurring items. These non-GAAP financial measures, as determined and presented by TKO, may not be comparable to related or similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Set forth below are reconciliations of TKO’s most directly comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP to these non-GAAP financial measures on a consolidated basis.

The Company defines Free Cash Flow as net cash provided by operating activities less cash used for capital expenditures. TKO views net cash provided by operating activities as the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Free Cash Flow Conversion is defined as Free Cash Flow divided by Adjusted EBITDA. Although they are not recognized measures of liquidity under U.S. GAAP, Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow Conversion provide useful information regarding the amount of cash TKO’s continuing business generates after capital expenditures and is available for reinvesting in the business, debt service, share repurchases and payment of dividends. Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow Conversion have certain limitations in that they do not represent the total increase or decrease in the cash balance for the period, nor do they represent the residual cash flow for discretionary expenditures.

Reconciliations of the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow Conversion guidance to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures cannot be provided without unreasonable efforts and are not provided herein because of the inherent difficulty in forecasting and quantifying certain amounts that are necessary for such reconciliations and certain other items reflected in our reconciliation of historical Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow, the amounts of which could be material.

Basis of Presentation

As a result of the timing of the consummation of the business combination on September 12, 2023, TKO’s consolidated financial information presented herein includes UFC’s results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, includes WWE’s results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and includes results for both UFC and WWE as of December 31, 2023.

Information in this release includes results for the WWE segment and Corporate on a combined basis to include periods prior to the business combination. Information presented on a combined basis does not reflect any pro forma adjustments or other adjustments for costs related to integration activities, cost savings or synergies that have been or may be achieved if the business combination occurred on January 1, 2023.

Effective September 12, 2023, the Company operates its business under two reportable segments, UFC and WWE. The UFC segment consists entirely of the operations of the Company’s UFC business which was the sole reportable segment prior to the acquisition of WWE, while the WWE segment consists entirely of the operations of the WWE business acquired on September 12, 2023. In addition, it reports results for the “Corporate” group, which incurs expenses that are not allocated to the business segments. The Corporate group consists of general and administrative expenses that relate largely to corporate activities, including information technology, facilities, legal, human resources, finance, accounting, treasury, investor relations, corporate communications, community relations and compensation to TKO’s management and board of directors, which support both reportable segments. Corporate expenses also include service fees paid by the Company to Endeavor under the Services Agreement. All prior period amounts related to the segment change have been retrospectively reclassified to conform to the new presentation. The profitability measure employed by the Company in assessing operating performance, including that of its segments, is Adjusted EBITDA. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income, excluding income taxes, net interest expense, depreciation and amortization, equity-based compensation, merger and acquisition costs, certain legal costs, restructuring, severance and impairment charges, and certain other items when applicable. Adjusted EBITDA includes amortization expenses directly related to supporting the operations of the Company’s segments, including content production asset amortization.

Additional Information

As previously announced, TKO will host a conference call at 5:00 p.m. ET on November 6, 2024, to discuss its third quarter 2024 results. All interested parties are welcome to listen to a live webcast that will be hosted through the Company’s website at investor.tkogrp.com. Participants can access the conference call by dialing 1-833-470-1428 (conference ID: 243176). Please reserve a line 5-10 minutes prior to the start time of the conference call.

Any accompanying materials referenced during the call will be made available on November 6, 2024, at investor.tkogrp.com. A replay of the call will be available approximately two hours after the conference call concludes and can be accessed on the Company’s website.