SSP Stock Analysis: E. W. Scripps | NASDAQ
Broadcasting | NASDAQ, USA | Market Cap: 186m USD | 12M Return: 29.8% | US8110544025 | Charts, Fundamentals & Technical Analysis
Avg Turnover: 1.73M
Qual. Beats: 0
Rev. Trend: -52.9%
Qual. Beats: -1
Warnings
Tailwinds
Seasonality
The E.W. Scripps Company (SSP) is a diversified media enterprise operating through two primary segments: Local Media and Scripps Networks. The Local Media division manages a portfolio of broadcast television stations and digital platforms, generating revenue through core and political advertising as well as content distribution. The Scripps Networks segment focuses on national news and entertainment brands, including ION and Court TV, distributed via over-the-air, cable, and connected TV platforms.
Operating within the broadcasting sector, the company relies heavily on the cyclical nature of political advertising cycles and the growing trend of cord-cutting, which has increased the importance of over-the-air (OTA) digital subchannels. Its business model integrates content production with multi-platform distribution to capture audiences across traditional and digital mediums. You can further analyze the companys valuation and debt profile on ValueRay.
- Political advertising revenue fluctuations drive significant volatility in biennial earnings cycles
- Retransmission consent fee negotiations impact long-term margins and cash flow stability
- National network segment profitability hinges on connected TV and over-the-air growth
- High debt leverage increases sensitivity to interest rate changes and refinancing risks
- Linear television cord-cutting accelerates declines in core advertising and audience reach
| Net Income: -1.23b TTM > 0 and > 6% of Revenue |
| FCF/TA: 0.01 > 0.02 and ΔFCF/TA -3.82 > 1.0 |
| NWC/Revenue: 7.14% < 20% (prev 5.40%; Δ 1.74% < -1%) |
| CFO/TA 0.02 > 3% & CFO 84.1m > Net Income -1.23b |
| Net Debt/EBITDA: error (EBITDA <= 0) |
| Current Ratio: 1.34 > 1.5 & < 3 |
| Outstanding Shares: last quarter (92.1m) vs 12m ago 4.74% < -2% |
| Gross Margin: 31.46% > 18% (prev 46.87%; Δ -15.40% > 0.5%) |
| Asset Turnover: 47.94% > 50% (prev 47.94%; Δ -0.00% > 0%) |
| Interest Coverage Ratio: -3.73 > 6 (EBIT TTM -1.02b / Interest Expense TTM 272.8m) |
| A: 0.04 (Total Current Assets 593.5m - Total Current Liabilities 444.0m) / Total Assets 3.65b |
| B: -0.47 (Retained Earnings -1.73b / Total Assets 3.65b) |
| C: -0.23 (EBIT TTM -1.02b / Avg Total Assets 4.37b) |
| D: 0.03 (Book Value of Equity 100.7m / Total Liabilities 3.55b) |
| Altman-Z'' = -2.81 = D |
| DSRI: 1.11 (Receivables 526.4m/553.9m, Revenue 2.09b/2.44b) |
| GMI: 1.49 (GM 46.87% / 31.46%) |
| AQI: 1.05 (AQ_t 0.81 / AQ_t-1 0.78) |
| SGI: 0.86 (Revenue 2.09b / 2.44b) |
| TATA: -0.36 (NI -1.23b - CFO 84.1m) / TA 3.65b) |
| Beneish M = -2.61 (Cap -4..+1) = A |
As of October 29, 2026, the stock is trading at USD 2.41 with a total of 1,964,067 shares traded. Over the past week, the price has changed by -0.41%, over one month by -10.41%, over three months by -21.75% and over the past year by +29.77%.
Current recommended Stop Loss: 2.10 (which is 12.9% or 1.6 ATR below the current price).
E. W. Scripps has received a consensus analysts rating of 3.00. Therefore, it is recommended to hold SSP.
- StrongBuy: 1
- Buy: 0
- Hold: 2
- Sell: 0
- StrongSell: 1
| Analysts Target Price | 4.9 | 104.6% |
P/E Forward = 13.7174
P/S = 0.089
P/B = 2.393
P/EG = 12.81
Revenue TTM = 2.09b USD
EBIT TTM = -1.02b USD
EBITDA TTM = -872.2m USD
Long Term Debt = 2.49b USD (from longTermDebt, last quarter)
Short Term Debt = 19.5m USD (from shortTermDebt, last quarter)
Debt = 2.70b USD (from shortLongTermDebtTotal, last quarter) + Leases 110.0m
Net Debt = 2.69b USD (calculated: Debt 2.70b - CCE 13.0m)
Enterprise Value = 2.87b USD (186.3m + Debt 2.70b - CCE 13.0m)
Interest Coverage Ratio = -3.73 (Ebit TTM -1.02b / Interest Expense TTM 272.8m)
EV/FCF = 82.06x (Enterprise Value 2.87b / FCF TTM 35.0m)
FCF Yield = 1.22% (FCF TTM 35.0m / Enterprise Value 2.87b)
FCF Margin = 1.67% (FCF TTM 35.0m / Revenue TTM 2.09b)
Net Margin = -58.81% (Net Income TTM -1.23b / Revenue TTM 2.09b)
Gross Margin = 31.46% ((Revenue TTM 2.09b - Cost of Revenue TTM 1.43b) / Revenue TTM)
Gross Margin QoQ = 40.03% (prev 33.03%)
Tobins Q-Ratio = 0.79 (Enterprise Value 2.87b / Total Assets 3.65b)
Interest Expense / Debt = 10.10% (Interest Expense 272.8m / Debt 2.70b)
Taxrate = 21.0% (US federal default 21%)
NOPAT = -804.1m (EBIT -1.02b * (1 - 21.00%)) [loss with tax shield]
Current Ratio = 1.34 (Total Current Assets 593.5m / Total Current Liabilities 444.0m)
Debt / Equity = 26.83 (Debt 2.70b / totalStockholderEquity, last quarter 100.7m)
Debt / EBITDA = -3.08 (negative EBITDA) (Net Debt 2.69b / EBITDA -872.2m)
Debt / FCF = 76.75 (Net Debt 2.69b / FCF TTM 35.0m)
Total Stockholder Equity = 963.2m (last 4 quarters mean from totalStockholderEquity)
RoA = -28.19% (Net Income -1.23b / Total Assets 3.65b)
RoE = -127.8% (Net Income TTM -1.23b / Total Stockholder Equity 963.2m)
RoCE = -29.44% (EBIT -1.02b / Capital Employed (Equity 963.2m + L.T.Debt 2.49b))
RoIC = -25.06% (negative operating profit) (NOPAT -804.1m / Invested Capital 3.21b)
WACC = 7.93% (E(186.3m)/V(2.89b) * Re(7.23%) + D(2.70b)/V(2.89b) * Rd(10.10%) * (1-Tc(0.21)))
Discount Rate = 7.23% (= CAPM, Blume Beta Adj.)
Shares (quarterly) Correlation: 95.58 | Cagr: 3.68%
[DCF] Terminal Value 73.10% ; FCFF base≈118.3m ; Y1≈103.8m ; Y5≈83.8m
[DCF] Fair Price = N/A (negative equity: EV 1.35b - Net Debt 2.69b = -1.34b; debt exceeds intrinsic value)
EPS Correlation: N/A | EPS CAGR: N/A | SUE: -0.14 | # QB: 0
Revenue Correlation: -52.95 | Revenue CAGR: -3.34% | SUE: -2.19 | # QB: -1
EPS current Quarter (2026-09-30): EPS=-0.02 | Chg30d=N/A | Revisions=+0% | Analysts=1
EPS current Year (2026-12-31): EPS=-12.38 | Chg30d=N/A | Revisions=+0% | GrowthEPS=+138.8% | GrowthRev=+1.4%
EPS next Year (2027-12-31): EPS=-1.00 | Chg30d=-20.48% | Revisions=+0% | GrowthEPS=+91.9% | GrowthRev=-9.5%