E. W. Scripps Company Class A (SSP)

In Q2 2025, the stock struggled due to revenue misses and analyst downgrades. In Q3 2025, despite a revenue decline, the stock rallied due to positive trends in Connected TV revenue and broadcast station sales. In December 2025, Scripps rejected an unsolicited takeover bid from Sinclair, Inc. In January 2026, Gabelli-affiliated funds disclosed a significant shareholding, signaling potential board-level engagement. Also in January 2026, WXYZ, a Scripps station, won an award for its investigative journalism, and ION network launched a partnership with Varsity Spirit. The company also reduced debt by placing new senior secured second lien notes.

Demand seasonality for The E.W. Scripps Co. is primarily influenced by political advertising cycles, which see significant increases during election years. Core advertising revenue can fluctuate, but the company's sports strategy has helped drive national advertising revenue. The broader advertising market experiences seasonal variations due to consumer spending patterns and holidays, and broadcasting companies face secular headwinds from the shift to streaming services.

The E.W. Scripps Company, established in 1878 and based in Cincinnati, Ohio, is a diversified media enterprise operating in the broadcast television industry. The company is divided into two segments: Local Media, which includes over 60 broadcast television stations across more than 40 U.S. markets producing local content and providing advertising services, and Scripps Networks, which offers national television networks like Scripps News, Court TV, and entertainment brands such as ION and Bounce. Scripps also provides digital content and holds the nation's largest broadcast spectrum.

The E.W. Scripps Company operates more than 60 local television stations across over 40 markets in the United States. Its national networks reach households across the U.S. The company is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The E.W. Scripps Company's brand reputation has seen both positive and challenging events in the past year. Positive events include WXYZ winning an award for journalistic excellence, successful sports partnerships with Varsity Spirit, and participation in National News Literacy Week. Challenges include navigating a difficult advertising environment, facing revenue misses and losses, and dealing with activist investor scrutiny.

The E.W. Scripps Company's ownership is a mix of institutional, retail, and individual investors. Institutions hold a significant portion of shares, with major holders including Sinclair, Inc., BlackRock, Inc., and Vanguard Group Inc. Insiders hold approximately 5.75% of the stock, while public companies and individual investors collectively own between 24.98% and 61.45% of the shares.