Nielsen Hldgs Plc Stock Price, News & Analysis

Nielsen Holdings plc (NYSE: NLSN) announced the expiration of a 45-day "go-shop" period regarding its acquisition by a private investment consortium led by Evergreen Coast Capital and Brookfield Business Partners. After contacting over 30 parties, no alternative acquisition proposals were received. The transaction is expected to provide shareholders with a cash purchase at a substantial premium. Nielsen plans to file its preliminary proxy statement for shareholder approval around May 19, 2022, with the transaction anticipated to close in the second half of 2022.

Nielsen (NYSE: NLSN) reports a 40% growth in podcast audiences over the past three years, alongside a significant rise in the number of podcast titles and episodes, increasing by nearly 200%. The Podcasting Today report highlights that 56% of North American marketers plan to boost podcast spending, with 15% intending to raise it by 50% within a year. Nielsen's ad effectiveness insights indicate a brand recall rate of 71% for podcast ads, showcasing their potential to enhance ROI for brands. This growth positions podcasting as a powerful tool for marketers.

Nielsen has been selected by lululemon as its preferred Marketing Mix Modeling (MMM) provider in the U.S. and Canada. This partnership will enable lululemon to understand the effectiveness of its marketing tactics, optimizing budgets to maximize ROI. Nielsen's MMM solution measures the impact of both online and offline marketing efforts, allowing brands to balance short-term sales goals with long-term growth. Nielsen, a leader in global marketing outcomes measurement, operates in over 55 countries and aims to provide actionable intelligence to improve marketing effectiveness.

Gracenote has signed a new agreement with Samsung Electronics to integrate its Audio On Demand solution into the Samsung Free app. This collaboration aims to enhance podcast personalization, enabling users to discover and engage with content that matches their preferences. Gracenote's dataset comprises over two million unique series and 80 million episodes, improving the podcast experience on Samsung devices. According to Nielsen, podcast consumption has surged by 40% since 2018 in the U.S., indicating a growing market opportunity for Samsung.

Nielsen Holdings plc (NYSE: NLSN) reported first-quarter 2022 revenues of $877 million, up 1.6% year-over-year. Measurement revenues reached $645 million, reflecting a 2.1% increase, driven by strong national and digital measurement products. Net income for the quarter was $101 million with diluted earnings per share of $0.28. Adjusted EBITDA declined 4.1% to $372 million with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 42.4%. The company reiterated its 2022 financial guidance and announced a quarterly dividend of $0.06 per share, payable on June 16, 2022. A proposed acquisition by a consortium of private investment funds is also in progress.

Nielsen (NYSE: NLSN) has signed a multi-year agreement with VIZIO (NYSE: VZIO) to utilize Inscape Smart TV data from around 20 million devices. This deal grants Nielsen exclusive access to viewing data from an expanded list of 400 local stations, enhancing its audience measurement services. By integrating this data, Nielsen aims to improve representation and understanding of viewing habits across various platforms. The agreement underscores Nielsen's commitment to innovation in media measurement and supports VIZIO's efforts to enhance consumer experience in the evolving TV marketplace.

The WindAcre Partnership announced an investor webcast to discuss their opposition to the proposed acquisition of Nielsen Holdings (NYSE: NLSN) at $28 per share by a private equity consortium. WindAcre, the largest shareholder with a 27.3% stake, claims that Nielsen's intrinsic value exceeds $40 per share and outlines a potential for the stock price to triple in three years. The webcast is scheduled for April 26, 2022, at 8:30 am ET. Snehal Amin, Managing Member of WindAcre, will present his valuation case during this event.

Nielsen's The Gauge revealed that streaming captured its largest share of total TV usage ever in March 2022, representing nearly 30% of total viewing time. While there was a slight 0.7% decrease in streaming time from February, most streaming platforms either maintained or slightly increased their viewing share. Overall television usage declined by 4.2%, with cable viewing rising by 1.6 share points, primarily due to a 14% increase in cable news driven by ongoing coverage of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Broadcast viewing suffered a 53% drop in sports viewing.

The Board of Directors of Nielsen Holdings plc (NYSE: NLSN) has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.06 per share, payable on June 16, 2022. Shareholders of record as of June 2, 2022 will be eligible to receive this dividend. Nielsen, a leader in audience measurement and analytics, operates in over 55 countries, providing data-driven insights to empower clients in connecting with their audiences. The company is part of the S&P 500, reinforcing its market presence and credibility.