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TEGNA (TGNA)
NYSE:TGNA
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TEGNA (TGNA) AI Stock Analysis

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TGNA

TEGNA

(NYSE:TGNA)

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Neutral 65 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:65Neutral
Price Target:
$21.50
▲(7.66% Upside)
TEGNA's overall stock score reflects a mixed financial performance with challenges in revenue growth and profitability, offset by a strong balance sheet and attractive valuation. Technical indicators suggest potential consolidation, while the earnings call highlights both strategic progress and market challenges. The stock's low P/E ratio and reasonable dividend yield provide some support for its valuation.
Positive Factors
Strong Digital Growth
The sustained growth in digital products indicates successful adaptation to digital trends, enhancing TEGNA's market position and revenue diversification.
Operational Cost Efficiency
Effective cost-cutting measures enhance profitability and financial resilience, allowing TEGNA to navigate market challenges more effectively.
Positive Regulatory Developments
This regulatory change could provide TEGNA with more strategic options in the broadcasting landscape, potentially enhancing competitive positioning.
Negative Factors
Revenue Decline
The decline in revenue highlights challenges in maintaining top-line growth, which could impact long-term financial performance if not addressed.
Challenging Advertising Market
A challenging advertising market due to cyclical factors and macroeconomic headwinds could pressure revenue and profitability in the near to mid-term.
Adverse Impact from Premion Changes
The loss of a key reseller partner impacts AMS revenue, potentially affecting TEGNA's ability to capitalize on advertising opportunities.

TEGNA (TGNA) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

TEGNA Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionTEGNA Inc. operates as a media company in the United States. The company operates television stations that deliver television programming and digital content. It offers news content to consumers across various platforms, including online, mobile, and social platforms; owns and operates multicast networks under the names True Crime Network, Quest, and Twist that offer on-demand episodes of shows; and operates VAULT Studios, which provides true crime and investigative content in the form of podcasts and original television programs. The company also provides solutions for advertisers through TEGNA Marketing Solutions (TMS). TMS delivers results for advertisers across television and digital platforms, as well as over-the-top (OTT) platforms, including Premion OTT advertising network. As of February 28, 2022, it operated 64 television stations in 51 markets. The company was formerly known as Gannett Co., Inc. and changed its name to TEGNA Inc. in June 2015. TEGNA Inc. was founded in 1906 and is headquartered in Tysons, Virginia.
How the Company Makes MoneyTEGNA generates revenue primarily through advertising sales, which account for a significant portion of its earnings. Local and national advertisers purchase airtime on its television stations to reach specific demographics, contributing to the company's advertising revenue. Additionally, TEGNA earns money through retransmission consent fees, where cable and satellite providers pay to carry the company's broadcast signals. The company also generates revenue from its digital platforms, including its websites and mobile applications, which attract both advertising and subscription-based revenue. Partnerships with various content providers and technology companies further enhance TEGNA's revenue streams, enabling it to expand its reach and innovate in content delivery.

TEGNA Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 07, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Mar 02, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call presented a mix of achievements and challenges. While TEGNA showcased strong digital growth, cost efficiency, and favorable regulatory changes, these positives were counterbalanced by revenue declines, changes in reseller partnerships impacting AMS revenue, and flat distribution revenue. The expectations for Q3 also indicate significant challenges in the advertising market.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Operational Cost Efficiency
TEGNA achieved an 80% completion rate towards its target of $90 million to $100 million in annualized core non-programming savings by the end of 2025. They reported a 3% year-over-year decrease in non-GAAP expenses, driven by operational cost-cutting initiatives, primarily in compensation and outside services.
Strong Digital Growth
TEGNA reported strong double-digit growth year-over-year in its owned and operated digital products for the third consecutive quarter, highlighting the success of its digital strategy.
Positive Regulatory Developments
Significant progress is being made on the regulatory front, with the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals vacating the FCC's top 4 prohibition rule. This development is seen as a step forward for TEGNA's strategic options in the broadcasting landscape.
Successful Capital Allocation
TEGNA remains committed to returning 40% to 60% of adjusted free cash flow to shareholders over 2024-2025. They executed a $250 million partial redemption of outstanding senior notes, which contributes to lowering interest expense guidance for 2025.
Negative Updates
Revenue Decline
Total company revenue for Q2 decreased by 5% year-over-year to $675 million, primarily due to lower political advertising revenue and softer advertising and marketing services (AMS).
Adverse Impact from Premion Changes
The exit of Gray Media from its equity position as a reseller partner of Premion resulted in a 200 basis points negative impact on AMS revenue comparisons, affecting both Q2 and future quarters.
Flat Distribution Revenue
Distribution revenue remained flat year-over-year at $370 million, attributed to subscriber declines partially offset by contractual rate increases.
Challenging Advertising Market
TEGNA expects a significant 18% to 20% decline in total company revenue year-over-year for Q3, impacted by cyclical factors such as the absence of political and Summer Olympic advertising and continued macroeconomic headwinds.
Company Guidance
In the Q2 2025 Earnings Conference Call, TEGNA Inc. provided guidance for the third quarter and discussed their ongoing strategic initiatives. For Q3, TEGNA expects total company revenue to decline 18% to 20% year-over-year, primarily due to the absence of political and Summer Olympic advertising compared to the previous year. They also anticipate non-GAAP operating expenses to decline 2% to 3% year-over-year. TEGNA reaffirmed its adjusted free cash flow guidance of $900 million to $1.1 billion over the 2024-2025 period and lowered its full-year 2025 interest expense guidance to $160 million to $165 million after redeeming $250 million of senior notes. The company is focused on leveraging technology, automation, and AI to improve operations and cut costs, with a goal of achieving $90 million to $100 million in annualized core non-programming savings by the end of 2025.

TEGNA Financial Statement Overview

Summary
TEGNA's financial performance is mixed, with challenges in revenue growth and profitability as indicated by declining margins and negative revenue growth. However, the balance sheet shows improved leverage and a strong equity base, providing financial stability. Cash flow generation has weakened, but the company maintains a solid free cash flow to net income ratio.
Income Statement
65
Positive
TEGNA's income statement shows a decline in revenue growth with a negative rate of -5.15% in the TTM period, indicating potential challenges in maintaining top-line growth. The gross profit margin has decreased from 43.39% in 2024 to 39.45% in the TTM period, reflecting pressure on cost management. Net profit margin also declined to 12.00% from 19.34% in 2024, suggesting reduced profitability. However, the company maintains a reasonable EBIT margin of 21.15% and an EBITDA margin of 23.79%, indicating operational efficiency.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
TEGNA's balance sheet reflects a stable financial position with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83 in the TTM period, improved from 1.04 in 2024, indicating reduced leverage. The return on equity (ROE) is 11.27%, down from 19.96% in 2024, suggesting a decline in profitability relative to equity. The equity ratio stands at 45.77%, showing a solid equity base relative to total assets, which enhances financial stability.
Cash Flow
60
Neutral
The cash flow statement reveals a significant decline in free cash flow growth at -25.41% in the TTM period, indicating challenges in generating cash. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is 0.72, down from 1.47 in 2024, suggesting reduced cash conversion efficiency. However, the free cash flow to net income ratio remains strong at 0.91, indicating that the company still generates substantial free cash flow relative to net income.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue2.88B3.10B2.91B3.28B2.99B2.94B
Gross Profit1.13B1.35B1.19B1.59B1.39B1.43B
EBITDA708.82M1.06B892.69M1.13B927.18M1.00B
Net Income345.26M599.82M476.72M630.47M477.00M482.78M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets6.81B7.33B7.00B7.33B6.92B6.85B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments232.78M693.21M361.04M551.68M56.99M40.97M
Total Debt2.59B3.14B3.16B3.16B3.32B3.65B
Total Liabilities3.69B4.30B4.28B4.24B4.38B4.78B
Stockholders Equity3.12B3.00B2.70B3.07B2.52B2.06B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow429.42M632.53M532.55M760.82M438.54M759.64M
Operating Cash Flow468.38M684.97M587.25M812.15M501.61M805.14M
Investing Cash Flow-42.05M31.77M-27.99M-51.23M-69.26M-59.52M
Financing Cash Flow-729.81M-384.56M-749.90M-266.23M-416.33M-734.05M

TEGNA Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price19.97
Price Trends
50DMA
20.15
Negative
100DMA
19.40
Positive
200DMA
18.15
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.05
Negative
RSI
50.87
Neutral
STOCH
35.76
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For TGNA, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 19.97 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 19.87, below the 50-day MA of 20.15, and above the 200-day MA of 18.15, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.05 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 50.87 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 35.76 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for TGNA.

TEGNA Risk Analysis

TEGNA disclosed 30 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. TEGNA 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

TEGNA Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (60)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
65
Neutral
$3.22B9.4311.50%2.51%-2.73%-25.06%
64
Neutral
$506.85M11.203.36%6.96%-3.32%-69.63%
61
Neutral
$191.68M4.461.81%-3.27%86.01%
60
Neutral
$48.67B4.58-11.27%4.14%2.83%-41.78%
54
Neutral
$530.90M1.39%61.75%
48
Neutral
$1.08B8.8138.60%1.70%
37
Underperform
$953.68M
* Communication Services Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
TGNA
TEGNA
19.97
1.55
8.41%
SSP
E. W. Scripps Company Class A
4.12
2.05
99.03%
GTN
Gray Television
4.64
0.59
14.57%
IHRT
iHeartMedia
3.87
1.57
68.26%
FUBO
fuboTV
3.16
1.60
102.56%
NMAX
Newsmax Inc. Class B
7.39
-225.61
-96.83%

TEGNA Corporate Events

TEGNA Inc. Reports Q3 2025 Financial Results Amid Acquisition Plans
Nov 11, 2025

TEGNA Inc. is a media company operating in the broadcasting industry, known for its extensive network of television stations across the United States. The company provides local news and services, reaching over 100 million people monthly through various platforms.

Legal ProceedingsM&A Transactions
TEGNA Faces Legal Challenges Over Merger Disclosure
Negative
Nov 10, 2025

On August 18, 2025, TEGNA Inc. entered into a merger agreement with Nexstar Media Group, where TEGNA will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Nexstar. Following this announcement, TEGNA faced legal challenges from stockholders alleging misleading information in the merger proxy statements. To address these claims and avoid delays, TEGNA has decided to make supplemental disclosures, although it maintains that the claims are without merit.

The most recent analyst rating on (TGNA) stock is a Hold with a $21.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on TEGNA stock, see the TGNA Stock Forecast page.

M&A TransactionsRegulatory Filings and Compliance
TEGNA Merger with Nexstar Faces DOJ Review
Neutral
Oct 31, 2025

On August 18, 2025, TEGNA Inc. entered into a Merger Agreement with Nexstar Media Group, where TEGNA will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Nexstar. The merger is under review by the U.S. Department of Justice, which issued a Second Request for additional information on October 30, 2025, extending the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act. The merger is expected to be completed by the second half of 2026, pending regulatory approvals and satisfaction of closing conditions.

The most recent analyst rating on (TGNA) stock is a Hold with a $21.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on TEGNA stock, see the TGNA Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board Changes
TEGNA Alters By-laws, Adjusts Director Retirement Age
Neutral
Aug 29, 2025

On August 26, 2025, TEGNA Inc.’s Board of Directors approved amendments to the company’s By-laws, which are effective immediately. The changes eliminate the mandatory retirement age of seventy-three for both Non-Executive Directors and those who have served as CEO. Instead, directors reaching the age of seventy-five must offer to resign, with the Governance Committee advising the Board on whether to accept or reject the resignation. If rejected, directors must continue to offer their resignation annually.

The most recent analyst rating on (TGNA) stock is a Buy with a $23.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on TEGNA stock, see the TGNA Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyM&A Transactions
TEGNA Enters Merger Agreement with Nexstar Media
Positive
Aug 19, 2025

On August 18, 2025, TEGNA Inc. entered into a merger agreement with Nexstar Media Group, where Nexstar will acquire all outstanding shares of TEGNA for $22.00 per share in a transaction valued at $6.2 billion. This merger is expected to enhance Nexstar’s position as a leading local media company, increase its operational and geographic diversity, and drive increased profitability and returns for its shareholders. The transaction, approved by TEGNA’s board, aims to preserve local journalism and strengthen the company’s ability to compete with larger media and tech companies. The merger is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory and shareholder approvals, and is expected to close by the second half of 2026.

The most recent analyst rating on (TGNA) stock is a Buy with a $22.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on TEGNA stock, see the TGNA 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: Nov 13, 2025