Not Bad, Sirius. Not Bad.
The winter holidays were particularly kind to Sirius XM.
Consider this: For the satellite radio company’s current quarter, RBC Capital Markets expected Sirius (SIRI) to add 49,000 new subscribers. At the time it was issued, that projection was described as “cautiously optimistic.” And it was…far too cautious. Because after market close Tuesday, Sirius said it added 257,028 net new subscribers in the fourth quarter–the most since the third quarter of 2008.
The company ended the year with 18,772,758 subscribers. Now that’s not the 20.6 million for which CEO Mel Karmazin had been hoping, but it’s impressive nonetheless and suggests that Sirius may indeed be turning the corner. Further evidence: The company also said it will report more than $100 million in free cash flow for the full year. This, after posting negative free cash flow of $552 million in 2008.
