Updated Aug 9, 2026
/Colorado socialist ousts 15-term Democrat by 13 points, alarming party veterans/Wells Fargo economist Tom Porcelli says Fed rate hikes cannot fix supply-driven inflation/New York Times Posts 16% Profit Gain as Digital Subscriptions Push Toward 15 Million/Hunter Biden says father's prostate cancer has spread beyond bones/Iran's parliament speaker dismisses U.S. diplomatic overtures as "theater," calls on Washington to fulfill commitments/Joby Aviation jumps 9% on raised guidance as Archer and EHang sit out the eVTOL rally/Colorado socialist ousts 15-term Democrat by 13 points, alarming party veterans/Wells Fargo economist Tom Porcelli says Fed rate hikes cannot fix supply-driven inflation/New York Times Posts 16% Profit Gain as Digital Subscriptions Push Toward 15 Million/Hunter Biden says father's prostate cancer has spread beyond bones/Iran's parliament speaker dismisses U.S. diplomatic overtures as "theater," calls on Washington to fulfill commitments/Joby Aviation jumps 9% on raised guidance as Archer and EHang sit out the eVTOL rally
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New York Times Posts 16% Profit Gain as Digital Subscriptions Push Toward 15 Million

NEW YORK, Aug. 9. The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT) added 280,000 net new digital subscribers in the second quarter, lifting its total base to 13.4 million, as adjusted operating profit rose 16% to approximately $155 million and adjusted diluted earnings per share climbed 19% year over year to $0.69.

By Priya Kurup2 min read
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Key takeaways

  • The New York Times Company added 280,000 net new digital subscribers in Q2, bringing its total subscriber base to 13.4 million.
  • Adjusted operating profit rose 16% to about $155 million, and adjusted diluted earnings per share climbed 19% year over year to $0.69.
  • Digital-only subscription revenue rose 16.4% to $408 million, while total subscription revenue increased 11.7% to about $538 million.
  • Total advertising revenue grew 11.3% to $149 million, led by digital advertising, which climbed 20.7% to $114 million.
  • The company remains on track toward its next subscriber target of 15 million.

NEW YORK, Aug. 9. The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT) added 280,000 net new digital subscribers in the second quarter, lifting its total base to 13.4 million, as adjusted operating profit rose 16% to approximately $155 million and adjusted diluted earnings per share climbed 19% year over year to $0.69.

Subscription revenue and subscriber economics

Digital-only subscription revenue rose 16.4% to $408 million, according to the company's earnings disclosures. Total subscription revenue increased 11.7% to approximately $538 million. Consolidated revenue grew 11% from the prior-year period.

Chief Financial Officer Will Bardeen attributed a 3.1% increase in digital-only average revenue per user to a bundle price increase applied in the first quarter for a cohort of tenured subscribers, along with pricing step-up performance as subscribers moved off promotional offers. Digital-only subscribers were up 13.3% year over year at quarter's end. Chief Executive Officer Meredith Kopit Levien said the company remains on track toward its next subscriber target of 15 million.

Advertising outperforms, costs follow

Total advertising revenue increased 11.3% to $149 million. Digital advertising climbed 20.7% to $114 million, exceeding the company's own prior expectations. Kopit Levien attributed the results to marketer demand and audience engagement, adding that campaigns renew because the ads perform.

Higher advertising revenue drove adjusted operating-cost growth of 10%, above prior guidance. Bardeen said the primary cause was incremental variable compensation tied to financial outperformance. The company also staffed a new middle-market advertising sales team during the quarter to serve a segment it had not previously reached. The Athletic recorded its largest audiences to date during World Cup promotional efforts, the company said.

Affiliate, licensing and other revenue increased about 7% to $75.5 million.

Product investment and capital returns

The company launched a Shows tab in its flagship app during the quarter, creating a destination for long-form programming. Kopit Levien said video has so far played a relatively minor role in advertising growth, as the company is still focused on expanding production and engagement before scaling monetization.

First-half free cash flow was approximately $266 million. The company returned about $160 million to shareholders during the period, including roughly $92 million in share repurchases and $68 million in dividends. Bardeen noted a tax-related benefit of approximately $60 million in 2026, most of which is not expected to recur after this fiscal year.

For the third quarter, the company expects digital-only subscription revenue to increase 12% to 15%, total subscription revenue to rise 9% to 11%, and adjusted operating costs to increase 8% to 9%.

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Frequently asked

How many digital subscribers does The New York Times have?

The company reached 13.4 million total subscribers after adding 280,000 net new digital subscribers in the second quarter, with digital-only subscribers up 13.3% year over year.

What is the New York Times' next subscriber goal?

CEO Meredith Kopit Levien said the company remains on track toward its next subscriber target of 15 million.

Why did adjusted operating costs rise?

Adjusted operating costs grew 10%, above prior guidance, primarily due to incremental variable compensation tied to financial outperformance.

What is the company's guidance for the third quarter?

The company expects digital-only subscription revenue to increase 12% to 15%, total subscription revenue to rise 9% to 11%, and adjusted operating costs to increase 8% to 9%.

How much did the company return to shareholders?

The company returned about $160 million to shareholders in the first half, including roughly $92 million in share repurchases and $68 million in dividends.