tiprankstipranks
Trending News
More News >
E. W. Scripps Company Class A (SSP)
NASDAQ:SSP
Advertisement

E. W. Scripps Company Class A (SSP) AI Stock Analysis

Compare
302 Followers

Top Page

SSP

E. W. Scripps Company Class A

(NASDAQ:SSP)

Select Model
Select Model
Select Model
Neutral 61 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:61Neutral
Price Target:
$2.50
▲(7.76% Upside)
E. W. Scripps Company Class A has a stable financial position with strong profitability and reduced leverage, which are significant strengths. However, challenges in revenue growth and technical indicators showing bearish momentum are notable risks. The company's undervaluation and strategic focus on debt reduction and network growth provide some positive outlook, but the lack of dividend yield and earnings challenges weigh on the overall score.
Positive Factors
Debt Management
The successful refinancing and debt reduction efforts improve the company's financial stability, enhancing long-term financial flexibility and reducing interest expenses.
Streaming Growth
Significant growth in connected TV revenue indicates strong demand for digital content, positioning the company well in the evolving media landscape and supporting future revenue streams.
Profitability Margins
Strong profitability margins suggest efficient cost management and pricing strategies, which support sustained financial health and competitive positioning.
Negative Factors
Revenue Decline
Declining local media revenue, exacerbated by the absence of political advertising, poses a challenge to overall revenue growth, impacting long-term financial performance.
Core Advertising Challenges
Uncertainty in the advertising market, especially in key sectors like automotive, could hinder revenue growth and affect the company's ability to capitalize on advertising opportunities.
Free Cash Flow Decline
A decline in free cash flow growth limits the company's ability to invest in growth opportunities and manage debt, potentially affecting long-term financial flexibility.

E. W. Scripps Company Class A (SSP) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

E. W. Scripps Company Class A Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionThe E. W. Scripps Company (SSP) is a leading media company based in the United States, primarily engaged in the production and distribution of news and entertainment content. The company operates a diverse portfolio of television stations, digital media platforms, and podcasting networks. Scripps is focused on delivering high-quality journalism and storytelling across various formats, including broadcast television, online streaming, and mobile applications, catering to a wide audience across multiple demographics.
How the Company Makes MoneyE. W. Scripps Company generates revenue through several key streams. Primarily, the company earns money from advertising sales on its television stations and digital platforms, where local and national businesses pay to promote their products and services. Additionally, Scripps benefits from affiliate fees from cable and satellite providers who carry its broadcast channels. The company also generates revenue through its digital media offerings, which include online advertising and subscription services for its streaming content. Significant partnerships with other media organizations, as well as investments in podcasting and content syndication, further contribute to its overall earnings.

E. W. Scripps Company Class A Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 07, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Nov 06, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call presented a mix of positive developments, such as successful refinancing and growth in streaming, alongside challenges like declines in local media revenue and core advertising. The highlights and achievements in financial strategy and network growth mitigate some of the negative aspects.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Successful Refinancing and Debt Management
E.W. Scripps successfully placed $750 million of new senior secured second-lien notes, using proceeds to pay off outstanding senior notes, prepay a portion of Term Loan B-2, and pay off a portion of revolving credit facilities. This allowed for improved financial condition and favorable credit market reception.
Scripps Networks Margin Improvement
Scripps Networks segment profit increased to $56 million, with a segment margin of 27%, up 9 points from Q2 2024. The division delivered a 30% margin for the first half of 2025.
Growth in Streaming and Connected TV
CTV revenue increased by 57% in the quarter. The ION network, in conjunction with WNBA and NWSL, significantly contributed to streaming revenue growth.
Sports Programming Boost
The NBA and NHL playoffs brought in over $7 million in revenue, demonstrating the value of Scripps Sports strategy in offsetting challenges in the core advertising marketplace.
Negative Updates
Decline in Local Media Revenue
Local Media division revenue declined 8% from the prior year quarter, impacted by the lack of political advertising revenue in this off-election year.
Core Advertising Challenges
The advertising environment remains uncertain with significant hesitancy among advertisers, particularly in the automotive category, which was the weakest in Q2.
Earnings Per Share Loss
Second quarter earnings per share were a loss of $0.59, impacted by financing transaction costs and a preferred stock dividend reduction.
Company Guidance
During the second quarter of 2025, E.W. Scripps Company reported a decline in Local Media revenue by 8% from the previous year due to a lack of political advertising in the off-election year. Despite this, core advertising revenue outperformed peers, aided by local sports rights deals and the NBA Finals, which contributed over $7 million. Scripps Networks revenue slightly decreased by 1.4% to $206 million, with connected TV revenue rising by 57%. The company managed to reduce Network division expenses by more than 12%, resulting in a segment profit of $56 million and a margin increase to 27%. For the third quarter, Local Media revenue is expected to decline in the mid- to high 20% range, with flat core revenue, while Networks revenue is anticipated to decrease slightly, with expenses down mid-single digits. The company has restructured its debt, issuing $750 million in new notes and plans further debt reduction, maintaining a focus on using cash flow for this purpose.

E. W. Scripps Company Class A Financial Statement Overview

Summary
E.W. Scripps Company Class A demonstrates a stable financial position with strong profitability margins and reduced leverage. However, challenges in revenue growth and declining ROE and free cash flow growth present potential risks. The company should focus on enhancing revenue streams and improving operational efficiency to sustain its financial health.
Income Statement
65
Positive
The company's income statement shows a mixed performance. The TTM data indicates a slight decline in revenue growth at -1.36%, which is a concern. However, the gross profit margin of 46.87% and a positive net profit margin of 4.25% suggest reasonable profitability. The EBIT and EBITDA margins are healthy at 14.98% and 21.28% respectively, although they have decreased compared to previous years. Overall, the company maintains profitability but faces challenges in revenue growth.
Balance Sheet
55
Neutral
The balance sheet reveals a significant improvement in the debt-to-equity ratio, which decreased to 0.12 in the TTM period from over 2 in previous years, indicating reduced leverage. However, the return on equity (ROE) has decreased to 8.06%, suggesting lower efficiency in generating profits from equity. The equity ratio remains stable, reflecting a balanced asset structure. While the reduction in debt is positive, the lower ROE is a concern.
Cash Flow
60
Neutral
The cash flow statement shows a decline in free cash flow growth by -9.50% in the TTM period, which is concerning. However, the operating cash flow to net income ratio is 0.57, indicating that the company generates sufficient cash from operations relative to its net income. The free cash flow to net income ratio is strong at 0.87, suggesting efficient cash generation. Despite the decline in free cash flow growth, the company maintains a solid cash flow position.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue2.44B2.51B2.29B2.45B2.28B1.86B
Gross Profit1.14B1.19B1.01B1.22B1.18B927.73M
EBITDA519.04M575.55M-598.89M598.90M581.86M425.59M
Net Income103.75M146.22M-947.78M195.90M122.71M269.33M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets5.09B5.20B5.41B6.43B6.66B4.86B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments31.66M23.85M35.32M18.03M66.22M576.02M
Total Debt156.26M2.69B3.05B3.03B3.28B2.98B
Total Liabilities3.80B3.88B4.25B4.30B4.69B3.70B
Stockholders Equity1.29B1.32B1.16B2.13B1.97B1.16B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow243.23M300.42M51.98M265.63M175.83M230.56M
Operating Cash Flow280.02M365.68M111.60M311.42M237.00M277.39M
Investing Cash Flow18.98M-26.54M-60.61M-66.39M-2.46B317.42M
Financing Cash Flow-293.99M-350.61M-33.71M-327.48M693.48M998.18M

E. W. Scripps Company Class A Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price2.32
Price Trends
50DMA
2.68
Negative
100DMA
2.89
Negative
200DMA
2.55
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.08
Negative
RSI
42.11
Neutral
STOCH
69.00
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For SSP, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 2.32 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 2.34, below the 50-day MA of 2.68, and below the 200-day MA of 2.55, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.08 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 42.11 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 69.00 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for SSP.

E. W. Scripps Company Class A Risk Analysis

E. W. Scripps Company Class A disclosed 18 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. E. W. Scripps Company Class A 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

E. W. Scripps Company Class A Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (60)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
$204.93M4.778.30%5.25%
$491.46M2.997.23%7.27%7.03%1727.49%
$48.67B4.58-11.27%4.14%2.83%-41.78%
$80.37M36.291.23%8.01%-1.72%-66.67%
$184.68M-75.89%9.85%-58.44%-130.21%
$15.03M>-0.01-274.30%-4.57%-103.56%
* Communication Services Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
SSP
E. W. Scripps Company Class A
2.32
-1.04
-30.95%
CMLS
Cumulus Media
0.15
-1.02
-87.18%
EVC
Entravision
2.03
-0.09
-4.25%
GTN
Gray Television
4.40
-0.90
-16.98%
SGA
Saga Communications
12.48
-0.49
-3.78%
MDIA
Mediaco Holding
1.11
-0.11
-9.02%

E. W. Scripps Company Class A Corporate Events

E.W. Scripps Earnings Call: Mixed Sentiment and Strategic Moves
Aug 12, 2025

The recent earnings call for E.W. Scripps Company presented a mixed sentiment, reflecting both positive strides and ongoing challenges. On the one hand, the company celebrated successful refinancing efforts, substantial growth in connected TV (CTV) revenue, and strategic sports agreements. On the other hand, these achievements were tempered by declines in local media revenue, financial losses, and weak automotive advertising. While the company’s strategic initiatives are promising, economic and market challenges remain significant.

E.W. Scripps Reports Q2 2025 Financial Results
Aug 9, 2025

The E.W. Scripps Company is a diversified media company operating in the broadcasting sector, known for its extensive portfolio of local TV stations and national networks such as ION and Court TV. In the second quarter of 2025, Scripps reported $540 million in revenue, with a loss of $51.7 million attributable to shareholders. Key highlights include a station swap with Gray Media, a renewed broadcast agreement with the WNBA, and refinancing of its 2027 bonds.

Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and Financing
E.W. Scripps Issues $750M Senior Secured Notes
Neutral
Aug 6, 2025

On August 6, 2025, The E.W. Scripps Company issued $750 million in new 9.875% senior secured second lien notes due 2030, guaranteed by its domestic subsidiaries and secured by a second priority lien on the company’s assets. This move was part of a broader financial strategy that included redeeming $426 million of its 5.875% Senior Notes due 2027 and pre-paying $205 million of its term loan B-2 facility, reflecting the company’s efforts to manage its debt obligations and optimize its capital structure.

The most recent analyst rating on (SSP) stock is a Buy with a $11.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on E. W. Scripps Company Class A stock, see the SSP Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and Financing
E.W. Scripps Prices $750M Senior Secured Notes
Neutral
Jul 30, 2025

On July 29, 2025, the E.W. Scripps Company announced the pricing of its $750 million senior secured second lien notes, an increase of $100 million from its previous offering size. The notes, maturing in 2030, are part of a private offering exempt from registration under the Securities Act, with the proceeds intended to redeem existing notes, pre-pay term loans, and repay credit facilities, potentially impacting the company’s financial strategy and debt management.

The most recent analyst rating on (SSP) stock is a Buy with a $11.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on E. W. Scripps Company Class A stock, see the SSP Stock Forecast page.

Financial DisclosuresPrivate Placements and Financing
E.W. Scripps Announces Preliminary Q2 2025 Financial Results
Neutral
Jul 28, 2025

The E.W. Scripps Company announced preliminary estimated unaudited financial results for the three months ended June 30, 2025, in connection with a $650 million notes offering. The results, which include a presentation of L8QA Consolidated EBITDA of $541.1 million, are subject to adjustments as the review of financial statements is not yet complete. Additionally, the company plans to redeem its 5.875% Senior Notes due 2027 on August 6, 2025, contingent on satisfactory financing conditions.

The most recent analyst rating on (SSP) stock is a Buy with a $11.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on E. W. Scripps Company Class A stock, see the SSP Stock Forecast page.

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.Date of analysis: Oct 23, 2025