News Corp Beats Estimates On Digital Subscription Growth

News Corp, a major media conglomerate, surpassed Wall Street's expectations for its fiscal fourth-quarter revenue, ending June 30, 2025, reporting $2.11 billion against an estimated $2.10 billion, a 1% year-over-year increase. 

The growth was primarily driven by a surge in digital subscriptions, particularly within its Dow Jones unit, which includes publications like The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, MarketWatch, and Investor’s Business Daily. 

Dow Jones saw a 6.7% revenue increase to $604 million, fueled by a 7% rise in total average subscriptions to nearly 6.3 million, with digital-only subscriptions growing 9% to over 5.7 million. The Wall Street Journal alone reported a 7% subscription increase to over 4.5 million, with digital subscriptions up 9% to over 4.1 million. Digital revenues accounted for 83% of Dow Jones’ total revenue, up from 81% the previous year.

The company’s digital real estate services, led by REA Group (62% owned by News Corp), also contributed, with a 4% revenue rise driven by price increases. However, the news media segment, including News Corp Australia, News UK, and the New York Post, saw a 5% revenue decline due to lower advertising and subscription revenues. Book publishing, through HarperCollins, experienced a 4% revenue drop to $494 million. 

Adjusted earnings per share were 19 cents, slightly below the 20-cent estimate. 

News Corp’s focus on digital transformation, cost discipline, and strategic partnerships, like those with the London Stock Exchange Group and OpenAI, bolstered its performance. The company also authorized a $1 billion stock buyback program, signaling confidence in its financial strength.