4 weeks ago
TKO Group Holdings delivered mixed first-quarter earnings results Wednesday, gathering Wall Street analysts’ gross expectations but falling a spot short connected net per share.
Total gross astatine nan Ari Emanuel-led sports and unrecorded intermezo institution roseate 26% from nan year-ago play to scope $1.597 billion. Earnings per stock came successful astatine $1.12 connected a diluted basis, up from 69 cents successful nan 2025 frame. Analysts had put nan net barroom astatine $1.14.
Increased authorities fees successful nan quarter, chiefly owed to Paramount’s 7-year, $7.7 cardinal authorities woody taking effect successful January, lifted nan UFC division. The IMG unit, which includes nan On Location firm hospitality provider, saw gross sprout up 38% to $655.4 million, chiefly owed to income astatine past winter’s 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics.
At UFC, nan Paramount woody helped push gross up 12% from nan prior-year quarter, to $401.2 million. The upswing from authorities fees helped mostly offset a diminution successful unrecorded events and hospitality gross owed to less “Fight Night” dates than successful nan comparable 2025 quarter. Adjusted EBITDA besides climbed 12%.
Revenue successful nan WWE section accrued 22% to $475.7 million. acknowledgment mostly to higher media authorities fees from distribution agreements pinch Netflix and ESPN. Adjusted EBITDA ticked up 32% arsenic overmuch of nan higher interest gross flowed done to nan bottommost line.
“TKO is disconnected to a formidable commencement successful 2026,” said Emanuel, who is CEO and executive chair of nan company.
Along pinch reaffirming full-year financial guidance, nan institution besides announced plans for a $1 cardinal banal buyback, which Emanuel said “underscores our condemnation successful TKO and its semipermanent value.”
President and COO Mark Shapiro pointed to 2 upcoming events successful June, which is during nan existent quarter: nan UFC’s “Freedom 250” arena connected nan White House grounds, and nan World Cup. On Location, done a business pinch FIFA, is apt to do brisk business astatine nan World Cup, which features an expanded section and a Western fan-friendly mounting successful aggregate North American cities.
“TKO will return halfway shape this summer, crowning moments for assemblage growth, taste relevance, and our business trajectory,” Shapiro said successful nan net release.
