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Lionsgate Studios Corp.: Q1 FY2027 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2027, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 48% year over year: Revenue was $776.6 million, up from $525.9 million in the prior-year quarter, an increase of 48 percent. Source
  • Operating income turned positive: Operating income was $25.6 million, against an operating loss of $10.6 million. Net loss from continuing operations attributable to shareholders was $28.8 million, or $0.10 a diluted share. Source
  • Motion Picture revenue more than doubled: Motion Picture revenue was $587.3 million, up from $267.3 million. Segment profit was $105.0 million, against $2.4 million, which the company described as a first-quarter record. Source
  • Television Production revenue and profit fell: Television Production revenue was $189.3 million, down from $288.5 million, and segment profit was $10.2 million, down from $26.0 million. The company attributed the decline to timing of episodic deliveries. Source
  • Filmed entertainment backlog up 21%: Filmed entertainment backlog, meaning contractual future revenue not yet recognized, rose 21% year over year to $1.5 billion. Source
  • Share-based compensation lifted G&A: General and administration expense was $124.9 million, against $70.2 million. Share-based compensation expense was $41.1 million, against $1.7 million, and is excluded from adjusted measures. Source
  • Operating cash flow turned positive: Net cash flows from operating activities in continuing operations were $54.1 million, against negative $109.1 million. Adjusted free cash flow was $128.9 million, against negative $111.9 million. Source
  • Leverage fell nearly two turns: Leverage improved by nearly two turns from the March quarter, to 4.3x trailing 12-month adjusted OIBDA. The company attributed the improvement to free cash flow. Source

“I’m pleased to report another quarter of strong financial results and growing momentum across our business,”

Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Television Production scripted deliveries Sourcefiscal 2027doubling relative to fiscal 2026Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: The scripted delivery expectation for fiscal 2027 carried over unchanged from the fourth quarter release.

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 48% year over year: Revenue was $776.6 million, up from $525.9 million in the prior-year quarter, an increase of 48 percent. Source
  • Operating income turned positive: Operating income was $25.6 million, against an operating loss of $10.6 million. Net loss from continuing operations attributable to shareholders was $28.8 million, or $0.10 a diluted share. Source
  • Adjusted net income was positive: Adjusted net income from continuing operations attributable to shareholders was $18.9 million, or $0.06 adjusted diluted per share, against an adjusted loss of $88.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted OIBDA turned positive: Adjusted OIBDA was $79.3 million, against negative $3.7 million a year earlier. The release reconciles it to operating income. Source

Segment results

  • Motion Picture revenue more than doubled: Motion Picture revenue was $587.3 million, up from $267.3 million. Segment profit was $105.0 million, against $2.4 million, which the company described as a first-quarter record. Source
  • Television Production revenue and profit fell: Television Production revenue was $189.3 million, down from $288.5 million, and segment profit was $10.2 million, down from $26.0 million. The company attributed the decline to timing of episodic deliveries. Source
  • Corporate overhead rose to $35.9 million: Corporate general and administrative expenses were $35.9 million, against $32.1 million. They are deducted from total segment profit of $115.2 million to reach adjusted OIBDA. Source

“we are positioned to deliver strong growth in fiscal 2027 and beyond.”

Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer

Titles, library and backlog

  • Michael drove Motion Picture results: The company cited the billion-dollar worldwide box office of Michael, which it called the highest-grossing biopic of all time, as a driver of results. Source
  • The Housemaid ancillary sales: The company cited the ancillary performance of The Housemaid as a further driver of Motion Picture results, alongside recent theatrical releases. Source
  • Library revenue reported at $987 million: Trailing 12-month library revenue was $987 million in this release. The prior release had described trailing library revenue as topping $1 billion for a third straight quarter.
  • Filmed entertainment backlog up 21%: Filmed entertainment backlog, meaning contractual future revenue not yet recognized, rose 21% year over year to $1.5 billion. Source

Costs and expenses

  • Direct operating expense increased: Direct operating expense was $497.0 million, up from $339.0 million. Distribution and marketing expense was $121.8 million, against $118.1 million. Source
  • Share-based compensation lifted G&A: General and administration expense was $124.9 million, against $70.2 million. Share-based compensation expense was $41.1 million, against $1.7 million, and is excluded from adjusted measures. Source
  • Interest expense declined: Interest expense was $56.9 million, against $68.7 million a year earlier. Source

Cash, debt and leverage

  • Operating cash flow turned positive: Net cash flows from operating activities in continuing operations were $54.1 million, against negative $109.1 million. Adjusted free cash flow was $128.9 million, against negative $111.9 million. Source
  • Leverage fell nearly two turns: Leverage improved by nearly two turns from the March quarter, to 4.3x trailing 12-month adjusted OIBDA. The company attributed the improvement to free cash flow. Source
  • Cash balance rose in quarter: Cash and cash equivalents were $425.8 million at June 30, 2026, up from $341.5 million at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Equity award taxes and option exercises: Tax withholding on equity awards used $15.9 million, while exercise of stock options provided $5.6 million in the quarter. Source

Strategy and franchise focus

  • Franchise strategy across branded properties: Management said it continues to execute a franchise strategy across a deep portfolio of branded intellectual properties. Source
  • Starz licensing no longer eliminated: Following the Starz Separation, licensing between the company and Starz is no longer eliminated in consolidation and is included in continuing results. Source
  • Library supports visibility and stability: Management said the film and television library generates increased visibility and stability, alongside the franchise strategy. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 August 2026

  • Scripted deliveries to double: The company continues to anticipate doubling scripted deliveries in fiscal 2027 relative to fiscal 2026. Source
  • Form 10-Q to be posted: The Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2026 will be posted on the company website, with the financial statements and footnotes. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Filmed entertainment backlog Source$1.5 billion, up 21% year-over-year
Trailing 12-month library revenue Source$987 million

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Production facilities were unutilized due to lower demand after the industry strikes, and their rent cost was not allocated to segments. Source
  • Operational: Workforce reduction actions and cost-reduction initiatives carried severance expense of $2.3 million in the quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management repeated the expectation of doubling scripted deliveries and did not state progress against it in this release. Source
  • Not stated: The fourth quarter release said the company entered fiscal 27 positioned for earnings power and value creation; this release does not state progress.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.