E. W. Scripps Company Class A (SSP)
NASDAQ:SSP
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E. W. Scripps Company Class A
(NASDAQ:SSP)
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Rating:48Neutral
Price Target:
$5.00
▲(1.21% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:05/07/26
The score is weighed down primarily by weak and volatile financial performance (return to losses, margin compression, and a sharp free-cash-flow decline). Technicals provide a meaningful offset with the stock trading above major moving averages and positive momentum. Earnings-call commentary and the revolver maturity extension are constructive for the outlook and liquidity, but elevated leverage and near-term revenue pressure keep the overall score below average.
Positive Factors
Diversified Revenue Streams
Scripps earns revenue from local broadcast ads, retransmission fees, national/network ad sales and digital audio, giving multiple monetization channels. This structural mix helps smooth earnings versus reliance on a single product and supports cross-platform ad-sales leverage over a multi-year horizon.
Negative Factors
Revenue & Earnings Volatility
Multi-year swings between sizable profits and losses, amplified by election-cycle ad volatility, create uncertainty in underlying cash generation and make it harder to rely on consistent earnings. This instability reduces predictability for investment and prolongs the time to de-risk transformation outcomes.
Read all positive and negative factors
Positive Factors
Negative Factors
Diversified Revenue Streams
Scripps earns revenue from local broadcast ads, retransmission fees, national/network ad sales and digital audio, giving multiple monetization channels. This structural mix helps smooth earnings versus reliance on a single product and supports cross-platform ad-sales leverage over a multi-year horizon.
Read all positive factors
E. W. Scripps Company Class A (SSP) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)
Market Cap
$444.25M
Dividend YieldN/A
Average Volume (3M)1.37M
Price to Earnings (P/E)―
Beta (1Y)0.02
Revenue Growth-14.31%
EPS Growth-287.96%
CountryUS
Employees5,000
SectorCommunication Services
Sector Strength97
IndustryBroadcasting
Share Statistics
EPS (TTM)-1.87
Shares Outstanding79,476,540
10 Day Avg. Volume2,338,594
30 Day Avg. Volume1,371,311
Financial Highlights & Ratios
PEG Ratio0.01
Price to Book (P/B)0.28
Price to Sales (P/S)0.16
P/FCF Ratio53.84
Enterprise Value/Market Cap7.39
Enterprise Value/Revenue1.53
Enterprise Value/Gross Profit4.53
Enterprise Value/Ebitda14.96
Forecast
1Y Price Target
$10.00Price Target Upside102.43% Upside
Rating ConsensusModerate Buy
Number of Analyst Covering2
EPS Forecast (FY)0.39
Revenue Forecast (FY)$2.30B
E. W. Scripps Company Class A Business Overview & Revenue Model
Company Description
The E.W. Scripps Company, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a media enterprise through a portfolio of local and national media brands. The company operates through Local Media, Scripps Network, and Other segments. The Local Media segment...
How the Company Makes Money
Scripps primarily makes money by selling advertising and related services across its television and audio platforms. The largest revenue streams generally include: (1) Local broadcast advertising: selling ad inventory on its local TV stations duri...
E. W. Scripps Company Class A Earnings Call Summary
Earnings Call Date:Feb 25, 2026
(Q4-2025)
| % Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Aug 06, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call presented a broadly positive strategic and operational picture: management highlighted sustained outperformance, strong core advertising growth (Local Media core +12% in Q4), rapid connected-TV/streaming expansion (+~10% Q4, +30% full year), meaningful margin improvement (nearly 700 bps at Scripps Networks), and a detailed transformation plan targeting $125M–$150M of EBITDA improvement by 2028 with earlier-year impacts. Offsetting these positives are pronounced near-term headwinds tied to election-cycle revenue volatility (Local Media segment profit down ~75% vs. prior political quarter), a Q4 GAAP EPS loss driven by nonrecurring charges, elevated net leverage (4.8x) and modest cash on hand, and some guidance showing networks revenue down in Q1. On balance, the call emphasized durable growth drivers (sports, CTV/streaming, accretive M&A) and a credible plan to improve profitability and the balance sheet, with management projecting meaningful leverage improvement and accretion from recent transactions.Positive Updates
Consistent Outperformance
Fourth consecutive quarter of results that met or exceeded expectations across nearly every reporting line; management cites strong sales execution and disciplined expense management.
Negative Updates
Significant Local Media Profit Decline Due to Political Absence
Local Media segment profit fell to $50M in Q4 from $199M in the prior-year political quarter — a decline of approximately 75% (driven by the absence of political advertising revenue), highlighting material cyclicality and dependence on election cycles.
Read all updates
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive
Negative
Consistent Outperformance
Fourth consecutive quarter of results that met or exceeded expectations across nearly every reporting line; management cites strong sales execution and disciplined expense management.
Read all positive updates
Company Guidance
Management reiterated an aggressive financial plan and specific near‑term guidance: an enterprise EBITDA target of $125–$150 million by 2028 (with an in‑year 2026 benefit of $20–$30 million and an expected annualized run‑rate of $60–$75 million entering 2027). For Q1, Local Media revenue is expected to be up low‑ to mid‑single digits (core advertising up mid‑single digits), with Local Media expenses up low single digits (but down ex‑Lightning); Scripps Networks revenue is guided down high‑single digits with expenses down low single digits, and corporate shared services/corporate is expected at about $27 million. Full‑year 2026 below‑the‑line guidance includes cash interest of $180–$190 million, cash taxes $15–$20 million, CapEx $60–$70 million, depreciation & amortization $140–$150 million and a minimum $4.5 million pension contribution. Key Q4 anchors and balance‑sheet context: Local Media Q4 revenue was $360 million (down 30% y/y due to no political; core +12%), Local Media segment profit $50 million (vs. $199M prior‑cycle), Scripps Networks Q4 revenue $199 million (down <8%), CTV +~10% in Q4 and +30% for the year, Scripps Networks segment profit $64 million (32% margin), Other loss $8 million, Q4 EPS loss $0.51 (including $19.5M held‑for‑sale charge, $2.4M restructuring, $2.4M debt extinguishment adding ~$0.20 to the loss and a $0.18 EPS headwind from the preferred dividend). They closed the Court TV sale (immediately accretive), expect to reacquire 23 ION stations for about $54 million (also immediately accretive), have $28 million cash, $2.3 billion net debt, paid $55 million on the B2 term loan, and reported 4.8x net leverage at year‑end with an expectation of a meaningful leverage reduction by year‑end 2026.E. W. Scripps Company Class A Financial Statement Overview
Summary
Income Statement
35
Negative
Balance Sheet
42
Neutral
Cash Flow
38
Negative
| Breakdown | Dec 2025 | Dec 2024 | Dec 2023 | Dec 2022 | Dec 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Income Statement | |||||
| Total Revenue | 2.15B | 2.51B | 2.29B | 2.45B | 2.28B |
| Gross Profit | 725.24M | 1.19B | 1.01B | 1.22B | 1.18B |
| EBITDA | -49.37M | 575.55M | -598.89M | 598.03M | 514.17M |
| Net Income | -100.88M | 146.22M | -947.78M | 195.90M | 122.71M |
Balance Sheet | |||||
| Total Assets | 5.01B | 5.20B | 5.41B | 6.43B | 6.66B |
| Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments | 27.92M | 23.85M | 35.32M | 18.03M | 66.22M |
| Total Debt | 2.73B | 2.69B | 3.05B | 3.01B | 3.26B |
| Total Liabilities | 3.76B | 3.88B | 4.25B | 4.30B | 4.69B |
| Stockholders Equity | 1.25B | 1.32B | 1.16B | 2.13B | 1.97B |
Cash Flow | |||||
| Free Cash Flow | 6.52M | 300.42M | 51.98M | 265.63M | 175.83M |
| Operating Cash Flow | 53.10M | 365.68M | 111.60M | 311.42M | 237.00M |
| Investing Cash Flow | -12.13M | -26.54M | -60.61M | -66.39M | -2.46B |
| Financing Cash Flow | -36.90M | -350.61M | -33.71M | -327.48M | 693.48M |
E. W. Scripps Company Class A Technical Analysis
Positive
4.94
Price Trends
3.86
Positive
3.93
Positive
3.42
Positive
Market Momentum
0.25
Negative
72.90
Negative
84.66
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For SSP, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 4.94 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 3.96, above the 50-day MA of 3.86, and above the 200-day MA of 3.42, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.25 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 72.90 is Negative, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 84.66 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for SSP.
E. W. Scripps Company Class A Risk Analysis
E. W. Scripps Company Class A disclosed 19 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 1 New Risks
1.
We are subject to risks related to our use of Artificial Intelligence ("AI"), a new and emerging technology, which is in the early stages of commercial use. Q4, 2025
E. W. Scripps Company Class A Peers Comparison
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (60)
Name | Overall Rating | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | ROE | Dividend Yield | Revenue Growth | EPS Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
60 Neutral | $48.67B | 4.58 | -11.27% | 4.14% | 2.83% | -41.78% | |
58 Neutral | $618.56M | -11.74 | -3.00% | 6.45% | -15.07% | -141.51% | |
58 Neutral | $71.47M | -2.54 | -4.93% | 8.81% | -3.28% | -322.69% | |
56 Neutral | $831.31M | -3.85 | 27.00% | ― | 0.27% | 53.78% | |
54 Neutral | $351.59M | -3.82 | -25.09% | 6.56% | -20.67% | 25.35% | |
51 Neutral | $33.80M | -0.01 | -206.44% | ― | -14.30% | -2862.40% | |
48 Neutral | $444.25M | -3.11 | -7.89% | ― | -14.31% | -287.96% |
* Communication Services Sector Average
SSP
E. W. Scripps Company Class A
4.86
2.47
103.35%
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E. W. Scripps Company Class A Corporate Events
Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and Financing
E.W. Scripps Extends Revolving Credit Facility Maturities
Positive
May 6, 2026
On April 30, 2026, The E.W. Scripps Company amended its credit agreement to extend the maturity of a substantial portion of its revolving credit facility, previously set to expire on July 7, 2027. Under the revised terms, the company now maintains...
Financial DisclosuresM&A TransactionsRegulatory Filings and Compliance
Scripps Finalizes WRTV Station Sale to Circle City
Neutral
Apr 1, 2026
On March 31, 2026, The E. W. Scripps Company closed the sale of its WRTV television station to Circle City Broadcasting for $83 million in cash, a transaction the company views as immaterial at the operating level but which qualifies as a “s...
Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board ChangesFinancial DisclosuresM&A Transactions
Scripps Extends CEO Contract Amid Transformation and Expansion
Neutral
Feb 26, 2026
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 E...
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.