CBS Tops Earnings Estimates as Political Spending Fuels Ad Sales

(Bloomberg) -- CBS Corp., moving on from a sexual-harassment scandal that toppled its longtime chief, reported better-than-expected earnings after political advertising helped fuel results.

• Profit climbed to $1.24 a share, excluding some items, beating the $1.22 average of analysts' estimates. Sales also came in just ahead of Wall Street projections.

Key Insights

• The results represent a key early win for interim Chief Executive Officer Joe Ianniello, who replaced Leslie Moonves following a sexual harassment scandal in September. He's looking to demonstrate that he can handle the role permanently.
• TV-show licensing and ad sales generated a 19 percent increase in revenue at CBS's entertainment unit. Moonves was considered a talented show picker, and investors are looking for signs that the network's programming remains in good hands.
• With midterm elections coming next week, much of the TV industry is benefiting from a surge in advertising. Needham & Co. analyst Laura Martin projected as much as $250 million in CBS sales this year from political ads.

Market Reaction

• CBS shares gained as much as 1.3 percent to $59.23 in late trading. They had been little changed this year through Thursday's close.

Get More

• CBS also is making headway in streaming, helping offset the decline of pay television. It launched a fifth video streaming service tied to its “Entertainment Tonight” brand this month.
• For more on the results, click here.
• Read the statement here.

To contact the reporter on this story: Christopher Palmeri in Los Angeles at cpalmeri1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Nick Turner at nturner7@bloomberg.net

©2018 Bloomberg L.P.