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IDW Media Holdings (IDWM)
OTHER OTC:IDWM
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IDW Media Holdings
(OTC:IDWM)
Select Model
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Rating:51Neutral
Price Target:
$34.00
▼(-4.23% Downside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:03/16/26
The score is driven mainly by mixed financial performance: a strong balance sheet and improving margins are offset by weak and inconsistent cash generation. Technical signals are neutral-to-bearish due to a negative MACD and price sitting below key longer-term moving averages. Valuation is reasonable (P/E ~16), and the latest earnings call adds modest support via an asset-light strategy and internal-IP plans, tempered by modest near-term growth expectations and execution risk.
Positive Factors
Low leverage / strong balance sheet
Very low leverage gives durable financial flexibility: the near-absent debt burden reduces bankruptcy risk, supports selective strategic investments, and preserves capacity to fund IP initiatives or weather revenue volatility without material interest burdens over the next 2–6 months.
Improving margins and revenue rebound
A substantial TTM revenue rebound and higher gross margins indicate improving unit economics and tighter cost control. Near-breakeven net margins show the business is moving toward consistent profitability, supporting sustainable margin recovery if trends continue.
Asset-light media approach & owned-IP push
An asset-light adaptation model limits capital intensity and downside from production financing, while creating 100%‑owned IP over time builds franchise value and recurring rights revenue potential—a structural strategy to increase long-term margins and upstream monetization.
Negative Factors
Weak and volatile cash generation
Negative and volatile operating and free cash flow constrain internal funding for growth and IP development, increasing reliance on external financing or equity dilution. Persistent cash burn threatens the durability of margin gains unless cash conversion stabilizes.
Revenue volatility and historical declines
A history of declining and volatile revenue undermines predictability of earnings and ROI on content investments. Combined with management's expectation of only modest near-term growth, this reduces visibility into sustainable top-line recovery and puts pressure on long-term returns.
Nascent IP program; long lead times & execution risk
The internally owned-IP initiative is strategic but early-stage and slow to monetize; long development cycles and uncertain hit rates mean benefits may lag materially. Execution risk and delayed paybacks could limit near-term value creation and strain resources if hits don't materialize.
IDW Media Holdings (IDWM) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)
Market Cap
$958.81M
Dividend YieldN/A
Average Volume (3M)205.00
Price to Earnings (P/E)16.0
Beta (1Y)0.60
Revenue Growth-11.77%
EPS Growth-86.06%
CountryUS
Employees48
SectorCommunication Services
Sector Strength97
IndustryPublishing
Share Statistics
EPS (TTM)0.51
Shares Outstanding28,091,536
10 Day Avg. Volume285
30 Day Avg. Volume205
Financial Highlights & Ratios
PEG Ratio>-0.01
Price to Book (P/B)0.44
Price to Sales (P/S)0.38
P/FCF Ratio-9.87
Enterprise Value/Market Cap1.02
Enterprise Value/Revenue41.02
Enterprise Value/Gross Profit95.74
Enterprise Value/Ebitda3.50K
Forecast
1Y Price TargetN/A
Price Target UpsideN/A
Rating ConsensusN/A
Number of Analyst Covering0
EPS Forecast (FY)N/A
Revenue Forecast (FY)N/A
IDW Media Holdings Business Overview & Revenue Model
Company DescriptionIDW Media Holdings, Inc., a diversified media company, engages in the publishing and television entertainment businesses worldwide. It operates through IDW Publishing and IDW Entertainment segments. The IDW Publishing segment publishes comic books, graphic novels, and digital content through its imprints IDW, Top Shelf Productions, and Artist's Editions. The IDW Entertainment segment develops, produces, and distributes content in various formats, including film and television. The company was formerly known as CTM Media Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to IDW Media Holdings, Inc. in July 2015. IDW Media Holdings, Inc. was incorporated in 2009 and is headquartered in Newark, New Jersey.
How the Company Makes Moneynull
IDW Media Holdings Earnings Call Summary
Earnings Call Date:Jan 28, 2026
(Q4-2025)
| Next Earnings Date:Jun 11, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call conveyed cautious optimism. Management emphasized stabilization, improved profitability, an asset-light approach to media adaptations, and a strategic shift toward company-owned IP to build long-term franchise value. However, revenue has declined historically, near-term top-line growth is expected to be modest, the new internal-IP strategy is nascent with uncertain returns, and the company will not finance current productions—limiting upside in the short term. The balance of positive strategic initiatives and improved profitability versus near-term revenue constraints and execution risk leads to a cautiously positive outlook.Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Increased Content Activity Entering 2026
Management confirmed more activity in early 2026 versus prior periods, with multiple projects advancing from development toward production (investor noted ~half a dozen TV/film projects).
Asset-Light Strategy for TV and Film
IDW will act as non-writing executive producer on adaptations—providing creative value without taking on production financing risk (maintains an asset-light model).
New Company-Owned Imprints and IP Initiative
Company is launching new imprints focused on internally generated, company-owned IP (IDW will own 100% of these new properties) to create long-term franchise value; initial releases expected to begin in fiscal 2026.
Improved Profitability and Cost Discipline
Management highlighted a historical trend of decreasing revenue but improving profitability and more effective spending; no specific percentage changes were disclosed.
Focused, Quality-Driven Growth Strategy
Shift from 'spray and pray' to selective, franchise-minded storytelling (crime, heroes, horror) intended to create sustainable shareholder value rather than pursuing high-volume content.
Deliberate Stance on AI to Protect Creative Relationships
Leadership signaled restraint on commercial/creative use of AI to preserve creator-fan relationships and creative integrity—positioned as protecting brand and creator value.
Negative Updates
Historical Revenue Declines
Management acknowledged a decrease in revenue over recent years; the call did not provide quantitative percentage declines.
Modest Near-Term Growth Expectations
CEO cautioned that meaningful top-line or bottom-line growth is not expected near-term; management described anticipated growth as modest and partially contingent on 'hits' that cannot be planned.
No Financial Participation in Current Productions
IDW is not financing TV/film productions at this time due to limited resources and risk appetite—management reserves the right to invest later but currently will not assume production financing risk.
New IP Is Nascent with Uncertain Returns and Long Lead Times
The company-owned IP and new imprints are early-stage, require time to build audiences, and have no track record; management noted publishing is a slow cycle and returns are uncertain.
Limited Adoption of AI Could Constrain Efficiency Gains
Leadership indicated minimal use of AI across the company for creative purposes and sees potential creative risks—this conservative stance may limit near-term productivity or cost-saving opportunities from AI.
Company Guidance
On the Jan. 28, 2026 conference call (FiscalYear 2025, FiscalPeriod 4), management reiterated asset‑light guidance: IDW will continue acting as a non‑writing executive producer on several (Jeff estimated roughly six) TV/film projects rather than putting production financing on the balance sheet, while reserving the right to invest selectively in the future; it also said new internally generated imprints will begin rolling out in fiscal 2026 to create company‑owned IP (IDW to retain 100% ownership), with publishing cycles expected to be slow and any revenue impact coming later. Management expects modest top‑line and bottom‑line growth (noting a recent pattern of decreasing revenue but increasing profitability and more effective spending), indicated non‑GAAP results would be discussed, highlighted the team’s “combined hundreds of years” of experience, and stated there is no immediate plan to commercially deploy AI.IDW Media Holdings Financial Statement Overview
Summary
Mixed fundamentals: Income Statement is improving with TTM revenue rebound (+274.6%), better gross margin (~42.8%), and net margin near breakeven (-0.3%), but profitability is still not consistently positive. Balance Sheet is a strength with very low leverage (TTM debt-to-equity ~0.01). Cash Flow is the key weakness with negative TTM operating cash flow and free cash flow (about -$0.44M and -$0.47M) and high volatility.Income Statement
TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) revenue rebounded strongly (+274.6% growth) and gross margin improved to ~42.8% (vs ~40.1% in 2023), showing healthier unit economics. Losses have narrowed materially: TTM net margin is near breakeven (-0.3%) versus much deeper losses in 2021–2023. The key weakness is that profitability is still not consistently positive—TTM operating margin remains slightly negative and prior annual periods show recurring operating losses and revenue volatility.42
Neutral
Balance Sheet
Leverage is very low and improving: TTM debt-to-equity is ~0.01 with only ~$0.3M of total debt supported by a sizable equity base (~$20.1M). This provides balance-sheet flexibility and lowers financial risk. The main concern is weak profitability dragging returns on equity (still negative in TTM and across prior annual reports), which can pressure equity value over time if losses persist.78
Positive
Cash Flow
Cash generation is the weakest area. TTM operating cash flow and free cash flow are both negative (about -$0.44M and -$0.47M), and free cash flow growth is sharply down, indicating recent cash burn despite improved earnings. Results have been volatile year-to-year (positive in 2021 and 2024 but negative in 2022–2023 and TTM), suggesting uneven conversion of earnings into cash and limited consistency in funding operations internally.34
Negative
| Breakdown | TTM | Oct 2025 | Oct 2024 | Oct 2023 | Oct 2022 | Oct 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Income Statement | ||||||
| Total Revenue | 23.79M | 23.16M | 26.47M | 26.71M | 36.09M | 32.42M |
| Gross Profit | 10.19M | 9.75M | 10.90M | 10.72M | 19.25M | 10.40M |
| EBITDA | 279.00K | -1.12M | -836.00K | -3.67M | 0.00 | -5.51M |
| Net Income | -62.00K | -1.41M | -1.40M | -4.93M | -748.00K | -7.51M |
Balance Sheet | ||||||
| Total Assets | 22.29M | 22.81M | 24.64M | 22.75M | 27.94M | 31.40M |
| Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments | 7.56M | 6.54M | 7.43M | 3.60M | 10.01M | 17.53M |
| Total Debt | 291.00K | 486.00K | 659.00K | 910.00K | 1.19M | 368.00K |
| Total Liabilities | 2.19M | 3.05M | 4.37M | 4.94M | 5.90M | 8.76M |
| Stockholders Equity | 20.09M | 19.76M | 20.27M | 17.81M | 22.05M | 22.64M |
Cash Flow | ||||||
| Free Cash Flow | -468.00K | -883.00K | 833.00K | -6.42M | -7.52M | 9.80M |
| Operating Cash Flow | -441.00K | -868.00K | 923.00K | -6.00M | -6.62M | 10.64M |
| Investing Cash Flow | -27.00K | -15.00K | -90.00K | -418.00K | -900.00K | -1.73M |
| Financing Cash Flow | -5.00K | -5.00K | 3.00M | 0.00 | 0.00 | -3.57M |
IDW Media Holdings Technical Analysis
Neutral
35.50
Price Trends
34.84
Negative
35.97
Negative
40.18
Negative
Market Momentum
-0.30
Negative
51.99
Neutral
56.54
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For IDWM, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 35.5 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 33.66, above the 50-day MA of 34.84, and below the 200-day MA of 40.18, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.30 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 51.99 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 56.54 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for IDWM.
IDW Media Holdings Risk Analysis
IDW Media Holdings disclosed 40 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. IDW Media Holdings reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks
IDW Media Holdings Peers Comparison
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (60)
Name | Overall Rating | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | ROE | Dividend Yield | Revenue Growth | EPS Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
70 Outperform | $1.88B | 13.74 | 20.75% | 4.48% | -5.33% | ― | |
65 Neutral | $862.98M | 3.37 | -0.37% | 2.78% | 2.53% | -23.86% | |
60 Neutral | $48.67B | 4.58 | -11.27% | 4.14% | 2.83% | -41.78% | |
59 Neutral | $202.38M | -1.01 | 61.72% | ― | -8.02% | -44.34% | |
51 Neutral | $958.81M | 15.99 | -9.22% | ― | -11.77% | -86.06% |
* Communication Services Sector Average
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Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Disclaimer
This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.