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SALM - Salem Communications


Packer16

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Happy SALM owner here too, but one thing I don't like is that the CFO indicated that they are probably going to reduce the debt with just 15M this year instead the max 30M that is callable. Why pay a dividend if you don't have enough free cash flow to use a valuable call option? :(

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Just looked at the Q1 results and listened to the conference call, and seems to me that things are going fine. Management expected to make ~$1 in FCF/share for 2012 and the deleveraging is also continueing nicely.

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  • 3 months later...

Mr. Riddle has been a Director for 15 years.  The stock is still cheap, but expenses are rising a little for delayed pay raises and such that has slowed the progress on the bottome line somewhat.

 

Cheers

JEast

Disclosure: Long SALM

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Results from the latest Quarter: http://investor.salem.cc/press-releases/salem-communications-announces-increase-in-third-q-nasdaq-salm-0951350

 

Looks mostly like business as usual to me. One thing that disappointed me is that apparently the company will be calling just 4M of debt the next quarter while they are allowed to call 12.5M, and at the same time they use cash flow to pay a dividend. Not an optimal use of capital imo since the debt is trading significantly above par.

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Another solid quarter recently reported. I have been pleased with the steady progress after the company was placed in a tough situation needing to refinance at the worst of the cycle (2009).  In all, the company is run as a family business but one that has treated shareholders fairly.  Plus they just announced their refinancing of the high debt incurred in 2009.  The refinancing was expected this year, but not this early.  Shouts out to Packer16 on the idea.

 

Still undervalued below $6 for you folks sitting on a bunch of cash.

 

Cheers

JEast

Disclosure: Been long for several years.

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I also liked the internet organic growth of 13% (now 17% of revenue) which has increased the overall growth to 6% from 3% without internet and will keep revenues growing in excess of the core radio business of 2 to 3%.  In addition about 25% of income comes from internet.  The margins for internet have been pretty good at 29%.  The refi should add $7 to $9 million to FCF which will approach $30 million.  They should also increase the dividend as a result.

 

Packer 

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That's a floating rate though, it's probably going to cost some money to hedge it and turn it in a fixed rate (they are required to do this according to the debt covenants).

 

But yes, I also liked the news :). Recently sold 50% of my position, but keeping the other half.

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Yes, the refi is nice, but also a little surprised on the floating rate and would have preferred a fixed rate.  I guess they could pay up to fix it though.  The company is now on solid ground with a good cash flow that may be more recognized in the market over the next 12 months.  If we get a pull back in the markets, may add more as we have not sold any of our position with the rocognition that BV will be $10 in 2014 on a $6 stock.

 

Cheers

JEast

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If you like these type of media cash flow companies, you may want to look at Lin TV.  It is selling at discount to others in the space due to its converting from a C-Corp to an LLC.

 

Packer

540M market cap, and 142M in FCF. What's the catch?

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Part of it is the sector and the firm is not liked.  TVL also purchased a station group recently which should increase 2-yr avg FCF to $134 million.  This implies a 25% FCF yield with some nice historic and future growth.  As a result of the aforementioned conversion there will be some forced selling to pay taxes when the conversion takes place. 

 

Packer

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What happens is some folks are going to have to pay taxes on gain from purchase to time of conversion.  So folks that bought at a price below the conversion price (in a taxable account) will have to pay taxes when the conversion takes place.  If they don't have cash, they will have to sell some stock to pay the taxes.  I don't know how big of an issue this is but it may cause some selling pressure.

 

Packer

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