Claim 30% Off TipRanks
- Unlock hedge fund-level data and powerful investing tools for smarter, sharper decisions
- Discover top-performing stock ideas and upgrade to a portfolio of market leaders with Smart Investor Picks
E. W. Scripps Company Class A ( (SSP) ) has provided an update.
On Feb. 24, 2026, Scripps signed a new employment agreement with President and CEO Adam Symson running initially through Dec. 31, 2029, featuring higher guaranteed pay, a large one-time $10 million performance-based cash award tied to enterprise EBITDA growth, and robust severance protections paired with non-compete and confidentiality covenants. The structure tightly links Symson’s upside to ambitious EBITDA and share-price hurdles, reinforcing management’s commitment to a multi-year transformation plan and potentially aligning leadership incentives with shareholder interests.
Also on Feb. 24, 2026, Scripps exercised call options to re-acquire 23 ION-affiliated television stations previously divested to INYO Broadcast Holdings, with an estimated aggregate purchase price of about $54 million, subject to FCC approvals, potential waivers and the company’s right to walk away before closing. Management expects these stations, if acquired, to be immediately accretive to Networks segment profit and to enhance Scripps’ scale and positioning ahead of a robust 2026 political advertising cycle and its broader profit-improvement and deleveraging strategy.
In its Feb. 25, 2026, fourth-quarter 2025 earnings release, Scripps reported $560 million in revenue, down 23% year over year, and a $44.9 million loss attributable to shareholders, reflecting the absence of election-year political advertising and several non-cash and restructuring charges. Nonetheless, core local advertising grew 12%, networks segment profit improved, and the company highlighted a transformation program targeting $125 million to $150 million in annualized EBITDA growth by 2028 through cost cuts, automation and revenue initiatives, alongside asset sales and station swaps aimed at strengthening its portfolio and paying down debt.
The most recent analyst rating on (SSP) stock is a Buy with a $10.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on E. W. Scripps Company Class A stock, see the SSP Stock Forecast page.
Spark’s Take on SSP Stock
According to Spark, TipRanks’ AI Analyst, SSP is a Neutral.
The overall score reflects a mixed outlook. Strong technical indicators and strategic initiatives in sports and connected TV are positive, but financial performance concerns and valuation issues weigh on the score. The company’s ability to manage debt and leverage growth areas will be crucial for future performance.
To see Spark’s full report on SSP stock, click here.
More about E. W. Scripps Company Class A
The E.W. Scripps Company is a U.S. media group operating local television stations and the Scripps Networks portfolio, including the ION network. Its core businesses span local news, sports and entertainment programming, with growing exposure to connected TV and women’s sports, and it targets political advertising and sports rights to drive revenue and margin growth.
Average Trading Volume: 640,194
Technical Sentiment Signal: Hold
Current Market Cap: $308.1M
For a thorough assessment of SSP stock, go to TipRanks’ Stock Analysis page.