News Corp Lifts Q1 Revenue 6% to US$2.28 Billion as Net Income Jumps 43%

US$2.28 billion. That is News Corporation's first-quarter revenue for the period ended September 30, a 6% rise from US$2.14 billion a year earlier. Net income climbed faster still, up 43% to US$215 million, while total segment EBITDA rose 19% to US$403 million.

The media conglomerate, listed on the ASX as NWS, credited three divisions for the advance: Digital Real Estate Services, Dow Jones and Book Publishing. Earnings per share reached US$0.29, up from US$0.20 last year, with adjusted EPS at US$0.28.

What did the CEO say?

Chief Executive Robert Thomson framed the quarter as evidence of durable momentum, not a one-off. "These results herald our fourteenth consecutive quarter of year-over-year profitability growth," he said. "Our three engines of growth – Digital Real Estate Services, Dow Jones and Book Publishing – collectively delivered robust results despite volatile economic conditions."

Fourteen quarters. The streak now runs past three years, and it survived what Thomson called volatile economic conditions across the period.

How did each division perform?

Dow Jones expanded revenues 8%, supported by an 11% increase in Risk & Compliance revenues and an 8% rise in Energy division revenues. The financial media arm kept compounding its professional information businesses.

Digital Real Estate Services delivered a 13% revenue rise at REA Group and a 5% increase at Move, the operator of Realtor.com. The Australian and US property platforms both grew, though at different speeds.

Book Publishing added the largest absolute gain of any segment. Revenues increased US$48 million, or 9%, driven by higher physical and digital book sales, reflecting strength in general books and children's publishing.

News Media was the outlier. Division revenues fell US$5 million, or 1%, against the prior year. Lower other revenues and weaker print advertising did the damage. A US$17 million, or 3%, positive impact from foreign currency fluctuations only partly cushioned the decline.

What did the market make of it?

Investors showed no urgency. Following the announcement, the News Corporation share price was unchanged at US$46.43.

The flat reaction sits against a quarter in which growth came from the three divisions Thomson named as engines, while the legacy News Media unit continued its slow contraction. Print advertising pressure persisted, and currency moves helped rather than hurt this time.

In plain terms: News Corp grew revenue, profit and earnings per share across the quarter, extended its profitability streak to fourteen consecutive periods, and left its share price exactly where it started.