Education
About Us
Working with TipRanks
Follow Us
Salem Communications Corp. (SALM)
OTHER OTC:SALM
Top Page
Salem Communications
(OTC:SALM)
Select Model
Select Model
Rating:46Neutral
Price Target:
$0.39
▼(-2.00% Downside)
The score is primarily held down by weak financial performance (TTM losses and negative operating/free cash flow) and bearish technical conditions (below key moving averages with negative MACD). A low P/E provides partial support, but does not outweigh current profitability and cash-generation risks.
Salem Communications (SALM) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)
Market Cap
$10.26M
Dividend YieldN/A
Average Volume (3M)29.71K
Price to Earnings (P/E)6.3
Beta (1Y)-0.76
Revenue GrowthN/A
EPS GrowthN/A
CountryUS
Employees1,147
SectorCommunication Services
Sector Strength97
IndustryBroadcasting
Share Statistics
EPS (TTM)-0.07
Shares Outstanding26,309,519
10 Day Avg. Volume23,965
30 Day Avg. Volume29,712
Financial Highlights & Ratios
PEG Ratio>-0.01
Price to Book (P/B)0.09
Price to Sales (P/S)0.07
P/FCF Ratio-1.04
Enterprise Value/Market Cap6.46
Enterprise Value/Revenue0.31
Enterprise Value/Gross Profit-144.35
Enterprise Value/Ebitda-26.45
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
Salem Communications Business Overview & Revenue Model
Company DescriptionSalem Media Group, Inc. operates as a multimedia company in the United States. It operates through three segments: Broadcast, Digital Media, and Publishing. The company owns and operates 32 FM radio stations and 69 AM radio stations; offers programs on the Family Talk Christian-themed talk format station on SiriusXM Channel 131; provides programming to Christian and family-themed talk stations, music stations, and news talk stations; places advertising on Christian and talk formatted radio stations, and other commercial radio station formats; and operates Salem Podcast Network, a platform for conservative, political, news, and family-oriented podcasts. It also provides Christian, conservative, investing content, e-commerce, audio and video streaming, and other resources digitally through BibleStudyTools.com, Crosswalk.com, GodVine.com, iBelieve.com, GodTube.com, OnePlace.com, Christianity.com, GodUpdates.com, CrossCards.com, ChristianHeadlines.com, LightSource.com, AllCreated.com, ChristianRadio.com, CCMmagazine.com, SingingNews.com, and SouthernGospel.com; and Townhall.com, HotAir.com, Twitchy.com, RedState.com, BearingArms.com, ConservativeRadio.com, and pjmedia.com, as well as mobile applications. In addition, the company publishes digital newsletters that provide market analysis and non-individualized investment strategies; and operates SermonSearch.com, ChurchStaffing.com, WorshipHouseMedia.com, SermonSpice.com, WorshipHouseKids.com, Preaching.com, ChristianJobs.com, ShiftWorship.com, JourneyBoxMedia.com, Playblackmedia.com, and HyperPixelsMedia.com. Further, it offers publication of conservative, Christian, and history books; Xulon Press, a print-on-demand self-publishing service; and Mill City Press that publishes books, as well as provides digital marketing service. The company was formerly known as Salem Communications Corporation and changed its name to Salem Media Group, Inc. in February 2015. The company was founded in 1974 and is based in Irving, Texas.
How the Company Makes Money
Salem Communications Financial Statement Overview
Summary
Overall fundamentals are pressured by TTM losses (negative gross profit and EBITDA) and negative operating/free cash flow, indicating weak current profitability and cash generation. A notable offset is improved leverage (debt-to-equity ~0.30 in TTM), but sustained profitability is still needed to reduce risk.Income Statement
TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) performance shows deteriorating profitability: revenue is down (-3.3%) and the company is operating at a loss (negative gross profit, negative EBITDA, and a small net loss). While 2024 posted a positive net margin, the longer trend is volatile—profits swung from strong in 2021 to sizable losses in 2023 and back to weak results in TTM—suggesting earnings quality and repeatability remain key concerns.34
Negative
Balance Sheet
Leverage has improved meaningfully in TTM (debt-to-equity ~0.30 vs. ~0.80 in 2024 and higher in prior years), which reduces balance-sheet risk. Equity remains substantial relative to assets, but returns are currently negative in TTM due to losses, and the business has a history of elevated leverage (over 1.0 debt-to-equity in multiple prior years), so sustained profitability is still important to fully de-risk the capital structure.57
Neutral
Cash Flow
Cash generation is weak: TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) operating cash flow and free cash flow are both negative, following also-negative operating cash flow in 2023 and 2024. Although free cash flow losses narrowed versus 2024 (positive free cash flow growth), the company is not currently self-funding operations, increasing reliance on liquidity management and potential financing if the trend persists.26
Negative
| Breakdown | TTM | Dec 2024 | Dec 2023 | Dec 2022 | Dec 2021 | Dec 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Income Statement | ||||||
| Total Revenue | 216.78M | 237.56M | 258.65M | 266.97M | 258.25M | 236.24M |
| Gross Profit | -459.00K | 13.02M | 16.27M | 47.08M | 55.51M | 41.62M |
| EBITDA | -2.50M | 35.22M | -32.78M | 22.04M | 78.09M | 15.30M |
| Net Income | -1.33M | 16.18M | -43.31M | -3.24M | 41.51M | -54.06M |
Balance Sheet | ||||||
| Total Assets | 326.44M | 451.92M | 455.54M | 505.12M | 516.11M | 524.57M |
| Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments | 0.00 | 0.00 | 284.00K | 0.00 | 1.78M | 6.33M |
| Total Debt | 55.95M | 150.30M | 220.52M | 210.12M | 221.56M | 275.63M |
| Total Liabilities | 140.25M | 262.94M | 323.03M | 329.76M | 337.90M | 389.29M |
| Stockholders Equity | 186.19M | 188.99M | 132.51M | 175.36M | 178.21M | 135.28M |
Cash Flow | ||||||
| Free Cash Flow | -11.48M | -16.45M | -18.65M | -5.64M | 11.58M | 18.08M |
| Operating Cash Flow | -4.63M | -10.49M | -4.02M | 7.74M | 22.49M | 22.85M |
| Investing Cash Flow | 147.07M | 86.38M | -331.00K | -898.00K | 11.61M | -2.94M |
| Financing Cash Flow | -142.72M | -76.17M | 4.35M | -8.63M | -38.64M | -13.59M |
Salem Communications Peers Comparison
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (60)
Name | Overall Rating | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | ROE | Dividend Yield | Revenue Growth | EPS Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
62 Neutral | $73.67M | 231.11 | 0.18% | 8.81% | -0.77% | -93.46% | |
60 Neutral | $48.67B | 4.58 | -11.27% | 4.14% | 2.83% | -41.78% | |
55 Neutral | $44.09M | -0.39 | -90.36% | ― | -13.08% | -69.47% | |
53 Neutral | $277.48M | -2.35 | -81.68% | 6.56% | -45.95% | -75.87% | |
46 Neutral | $10.26M | 6.29 | 9.20% | ― | ― | ― | |
44 Neutral | $53.94M | -1.17 | -53.47% | ― | 83.96% | -73.70% | |
40 Underperform | $8.86M | -1.02 | -5.90% | ― | -7.78% | -369.53% |
* Communication Services Sector Average
SALM
Salem Communications
0.40
-0.34
-46.49%
BBGI
Beasley Broadcast Group
4.81
-3.03
-38.65%
EVC
Entravision
3.04
0.98
47.57%
UONE
Urban One
11.10
-2.45
-18.09%
SGA
Saga Communications
11.40
-0.32
-2.76%
MDIA
Mediaco Holding
0.66
-0.51
-43.25%
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.