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

• Market Cap: $263.13M
• Dividend Yield: N/A
• Average Volume (3M): 726.62K
• Price to Earnings (P/E): 3.4
• Beta (1Y): 0.33
• Revenue Growth: 6.28%
• EPS Growth: N/A
• Country: US
• Employees: 5,000
• Sector: Communication Services
• Sector Strength: 80
• Industry: Broadcasting
• EPS (TTM): -0.78
• Shares Outstanding: 75,777,756
• 10 Day Avg. Volume: 521,873
• 30 Day Avg. Volume: 726,621
• PEG Ratio: N/A
• Price to Book (P/B): 0.00
• Price to Sales (P/S): 0.00
• P/FCF Ratio: 0.00
• Enterprise Value/Market Cap: 12.83
• Enterprise Value/Revenue: 1.37
• Enterprise Value/Gross Profit: 3.00
• Enterprise Value/Ebitda: 6.21
• 1Y Price Target: $7.33
• Price Target Upside: 160.85% Upside
• Rating Consensus: Moderate Buy
• Number of Analyst Covering: 4

• Rating: 63 Neutral
• Price Target: $3.00 ▲(6.76% Upside)

The overall stock score of 63 reflects a mix of strengths and challenges. The company's solid financial performance and attractive valuation are offset by technical weaknesses and mixed earnings call sentiment. High leverage and declining local media revenue present risks, while strong connected TV growth and debt refinancing offer positive aspects.

Positive Factors

Financial Performance

E.W. Scripps managed to beat consensus across the board in 1Q and guided slightly ahead on EBITDA in 2Q.

Operational Efficiency

Management is very much on track, if not ahead of schedule, in terms of improving Networks operating margins, with broader company savings also on the table.

Negative Factors

Debt Maturity

There is still a relatively large maturity wall in 2027, although management is addressing it with lenders.

Revenue Risk

ION is expected to account for almost 40% of total revenue, presenting incremental national risk that others do not have.

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

Company Description

The E.W. Scripps Company, Class A (SSP), is a prominent American media conglomerate with a rich history in journalism and broadcasting. The company primarily operates in the television broadcasting and national media sectors, providing news, information, and entertainment content to audiences across the United States. Its core products include a portfolio of local and national television stations, as well as digital media properties that cater to a variety of interests and demographics.

How the Company Makes Money

The E.W. Scripps Company generates revenue through several key streams. The primary source of income is advertising revenue from its local and national television stations, which attract advertisers seeking to reach a broad audience. The company also earns money through retransmission fees paid by cable and satellite providers for carrying its channels. Additionally, Scripps has a growing digital media presence, which contributes to its earnings through online advertising and subscription services. Strategic partnerships and acquisitions further enhance its revenue potential by expanding its content offerings and audience reach.

E. W. Scripps Company Class A Financial Statement Overview

Summary

The company shows solid revenue growth and effective cash flow management, but profitability challenges persist with moderate margins. High leverage indicates financial risk, though improving return on equity is a positive sign.

Income Statement

The company exhibits a strong gross profit margin with TTM at 45.5% and a consistent EBIT margin around 16%. Revenue growth is volatile but trending positively with a recent 7.8% increase from 2023. However, the net profit margin is modest at 5.7% TTM, highlighting some profitability constraints.

Balance Sheet

The debt-to-equity ratio stands at approximately 2.05, indicating a significant reliance on debt. While the return on equity improved to 10.7% TTM, the equity ratio remains low at 25.8%, suggesting moderate financial leverage but potential risk due to high liabilities.

Cash Flow

Free cash flow growth is healthy at 12.7% TTM, and operating cash flow to net income ratio is robust at 2.25, indicating strong cash generation capabilities. However, the free cash flow to net income ratio of 1.9 suggests efficient cash utilization, yet further improvement is needed.

Breakdown	Dec 2024	Dec 2023	Dec 2022	Dec 2021	Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue	2.51B	2.29B	2.45B	2.28B	1.86B
Gross Profit	1.19B	1.01B	596.28M	582.20M	754.41M
EBITDA	575.55M	-598.89M	598.90M	581.86M	425.59M
Net Income	146.22M	-947.78M	195.90M	122.71M	153.56M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets	5.20B	5.41B	6.43B	6.66B	4.86B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments	23.85M	35.32M	18.03M	66.22M	576.02M
Total Debt	2.69B	3.05B	2.87B	3.15B	2.98B
Total Liabilities	3.88B	4.25B	4.30B	4.69B	3.70B
Stockholders Equity	1.32B	1.16B	2.13B	1.97B	1.16B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow	300.42M	51.98M	265.63M	175.83M	230.56M
Operating Cash Flow	365.68M	111.60M	311.42M	237.00M	277.39M
Investing Cash Flow	-26.54M	-60.61M	-66.39M	-2.46B	317.42M
Financing Cash Flow	-350.61M	-33.71M	-327.48M	693.48M	998.18M

E. W. Scripps Company Class A Technical Analysis

• Technical Analysis Sentiment: Negative
• Last Price: 2.81
• 50DMA: Negative
• 100DMA: Positive
• 200DMA: Positive
• MACD: Positive
• RSI: Neutral
• STOCH: 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 2.81 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 3.25, below the 50-day MA of 3.00, and above the 200-day MA of 2.43, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.05 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 39.61 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 32.26 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 Peers Comparison

Name	Overall Rating	Market Cap	P/E Ratio	ROE	Dividend Yield	Revenue Growth	EPS Growth
SGA	64 Neutral	$77.95M	35.48	1.26%	7.84%	-1.65%	-51.45%
GTN	63 Neutral	$504.38M	1.91	9.92%	7.73%	9.08%	―
SSP	63 Neutral	$263.13M	3.40	11.23%	―	6.28%	―
Sector *	61 Neutral	$41.49B	-3.35	-10.67%	4.00%	2.69%	-42.23%
EVC	54 Neutral	$207.43M	―	-75.89%	8.44%	-66.94%	-52.19%
CMLS	47 Neutral	$15.66M	―	-274.30%	―	-2.92%	-165.37%

E. W. Scripps Company Class A Corporate Events

E.W. Scripps Issues $750M Senior Secured Notes

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.

E.W. Scripps Prices $750M Senior Secured Notes

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.

E.W. Scripps Announces Preliminary Q2 2025 Financial Results

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.

E. W. Scripps and Gray Media Station Swap Deal

On July 7, 2025, The E.W. Scripps Company and Gray Media, Inc. entered into agreements to swap television stations across five markets, with Scripps acquiring stations in Colorado and Idaho, and Gray acquiring stations in Michigan and Louisiana. This strategic exchange, which involves no cash consideration, aims to enhance market scale and financial stability for both companies, allowing them to expand local news and sports programming. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025, pending regulatory approvals.

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.