Sirius XM’s third-quarter revenue was essentially flat year over year, but adjusted EBITDA was up 3%. Cost discipline lifted the margin by more than 1 percentage point to 32% for the third straight quarter. However, guidance implies weaker fourth-quarter sales and profitability.
SiriusXM’s new offerings and capabilities—including an app-only subscription, better compatibility with vehicles, and more ad-supported plans—should make its service more competitive with the subscription plans of streaming music providers.
Bears
SiriusXM’s standard subscription price is far higher than that of the streaming music services that are now its primary competitors, which will lead to a continuing decline of traditional subscribers.
Sirius XM operates almost exclusively in the US through its SiriusXM and Pandora audio services. SiriusXM is primarily a satellite radio service that offers nationwide coverage and mostly ad-free listening, with proprietary channels and exclusive content. It makes agreements with automakers to install its radios in vehicles and give trial services to vehicle buyers, which have traditionally fed its subscriber base. The company provides the service via a fleet of geostationary satellites it owns and operates and now offers a streaming SiriusXM option. Pandora, which accounts for a much smaller portion of revenue and profit, offers a subscription and ad-supported streaming music service that competes with industry giants such as Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music.