Reading International, Inc. (NASDAQ:RDI) is an internationally diversified company primarily focused on the development, ownership, and operation of entertainment and real estate assets in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. The company operates in two main business segments: cinema exhibition and real estate.
Business Overview
Reading International's cinema exhibition segment operates 61 cinemas with 491 screens across the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand. The company's real estate segment includes the development, ownership, and rental of retail, commercial, and live venue properties. This diversified business model has historically allowed Reading to leverage cash flows from its cinema operations to fund the capital-intensive real estate development activities.Financials
In the fiscal year 2023, Reading International reported annual revenue of $222,744,000 and a net loss of $30,673,000. The company's annual operating cash flow was -$10,604,000, and its annual free cash flow was -$15,077,000.For the first quarter of 2024, the company reported total revenue of $45,052,000, a 2% decrease compared to the same period in the prior year. This decline was primarily driven by lower U.S. food and beverage revenues, lower U.S. advertising and other revenues, and lower New Zealand admissions compounded with a lower average ticket price, as well as the weakening of the Australian and New Zealand currencies against the U.S. dollar.
The company's first quarter 2024 net loss attributable to Reading International, Inc. increased by $2.1 million to $13,228,000, compared to the same period in the prior year. This was primarily due to increased interest expense and a $1.1 million loss on the sale of the company's Culver City office building.
Segmental Performance
Cinema Exhibition Segment
In the first quarter of 2024, the company's global cinema revenue decreased by 2% to $41,271,000 compared to the same period in 2023, representing 71% of the first quarter 2019 level. This decline was largely due to the lingering effects of the 2023 Hollywood strikes, which disrupted the movie release schedule.Despite the challenges, the company's U.S. cinema division delivered several notable achievements in the first quarter of 2024. The Angelika in New York distinguished itself as North America's top-performing theater for several specialty films, with a 67% increase in box office grosses compared to the first quarter of 2023. Additionally, the U.S. circuit's gross box office revenues rose by 1.6% from the first quarter of 2023, outperforming the industry's 5.1% decline.
In Australia, the company's cinema division reported a 1% increase in revenue to $17,322,000 in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in the prior year. Notable milestones included the second-highest first quarter ATP of A$13.62 and the second-highest first quarter F&B SPP of A$7.66, which represented a 68% increase from the first quarter of 2019.
The company's New Zealand cinema division, however, experienced a more challenging quarter, with revenue decreasing by 11% to $2,641,000 in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in the prior year.
Real Estate Segment
Reading International's real estate segment generated revenue of $4,933,000 in the first quarter of 2024, a 3% decrease compared to the same period in 2023. This slight decline was primarily due to the loss of intercompany rent income from the sale of the company's Maitland property in the fourth quarter of 2023 and the Culver City headquarters building, which was sold in February 2024.The company's live theater circuit continued to achieve positive operational results in the first quarter of 2024, providing important cash flow during a challenging period for the real estate market, especially in New York City. The Orpheum Theater hosted several successful limited engagements, including performances by Eddie Izzard and the upcoming "The Big Gay Jamboree" production.
Liquidity
To address the liquidity pressures on its business, Reading International has been actively working with its lenders to amend certain debt facilities and has selected several real estate assets for potential monetization. In the first quarter of 2024, the company completed the sale of its Culver City office building for $10 million and used the proceeds to pay off an $8.4 million loan.Additionally, the company has made progress on reducing its institutional debt and extending multiple bank loans. In March 2024, the company amended its Bank of America facility, extending the maturity date to August 2025. In early April 2024, the company amended its NAB facility, extending the maturity date to July 2026 and obtaining a AUD 20 million bridge facility.
The company's Board of Directors has directed management to review the real estate portfolio for additional assets to monetize in order to further bolster liquidity and capital resources. The company has begun efforts to monetize its Cannon Park assets in Townsville, Queensland, and is also analyzing potential monetization strategies for certain real estate assets in New Zealand.
Outlook
While the company is bracing for a slowdown in the global box office in 2024 due to the lingering effects of the 2023 Hollywood strikes, it remains optimistic about the movie slate in 2025 and beyond. The diversity and quality of the upcoming film lineup, along with the passion of movie audiences, give the company reason to be optimistic about the future of the industry.In 2024, the company is focused on key initiatives to generate increased income, including the launch of a paid rewards program across its cinema divisions, increasing transaction sizes from food and beverage ordering via its websites and apps, and resuming growth capital expenditures in its facilities following the asset sales and debt reduction.