(SSP) E. W. Scripps - Overview
Sector: Communication Services | Industry: Broadcasting | Exchange: NASDAQ (USA) | Market Cap: 313m USD | Total Return: 91.9% in 12m
Avg Turnover: 2.55M
Qual. Beats: 1
Rev. Trend: -39.5%
Qual. Beats: 0
Warnings
High Debt/EBITDA (12.6) with thin interest coverage (0.5)
Interest Coverage Ratio 0.5 is critical
Altman Z'' -0.05 < 1.0 - financial distress zone
Below Avwap Earnings
Tailwinds
No distinct edge detected
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: -99.2m TTM > 0 and > 6% of Revenue |
| FCF/TA: 0.00 > 0.02 and ΔFCF/TA -4.94 > 1.0 |
| NWC/Revenue: 11.34% < 20% (prev 6.41%; Δ 4.93% < -1%) |
| CFO/TA 0.01 > 3% & CFO 59.9m > Net Income -99.2m |
| Net Debt (2.70b) to EBITDA (214.0m): 12.61 < 3 |
| Current Ratio: 1.58 > 1.5 & < 3 |
| Outstanding Shares: last quarter (89.8m) vs 12m ago 3.28% < -2% |
| Gross Margin: 32.14% > 18% (prev 0.47%; Δ 3.17k% > 0.5%) |
| Asset Turnover: 42.72% > 50% (prev 48.33%; Δ -5.61% > 0%) |
| Interest Coverage Ratio: 0.51 > 6 (EBITDA TTM 214.0m / Interest Expense TTM 277.4m) |
| A: 0.05 (Total Current Assets 665.3m - Total Current Liabilities 422.3m) / Total Assets 4.92b |
| B: -0.12 (Retained Earnings -578.7m / Total Assets 4.92b) |
| C: 0.03 (EBIT TTM 142.3m / Avg Total Assets 5.02b) |
| D: -0.17 (Book Value of Equity -642.0m / Total Liabilities 3.67b) |
| Altman-Z'' = -0.05 = B |
| DSRI: 1.17 (Receivables 527.2m/520.6m, Revenue 2.14b/2.47b) |
| GMI: 1.46 (GM 32.14% / 47.05%) |
| AQI: 0.98 (AQ_t 0.77 / AQ_t-1 0.78) |
| SGI: 0.87 (Revenue 2.14b / 2.47b) |
| TATA: -0.03 (NI -99.2m - CFO 59.9m) / TA 4.92b) |
| Beneish M = -2.61 (Cap -4..+1) = A |
As of May 30, 2026, the stock is trading at USD 3.39 with a total of 412,613 shares traded.
Over the past week, the price has changed by -2.87%,
over one month by -23.99%,
over three months by -18.31% and
over the past year by +91.86%.
E. W. Scripps has received a consensus analysts rating of 3.40. Therefore, it is recommended to hold SSP.
- StrongBuy: 2
- Buy: 0
- Hold: 2
- Sell: 0
- StrongSell: 1
| Analysts Target Price | 6.4 | 89.7% |
P/E Forward = 3.6337
P/S = 0.1461
P/B = 0.3867
P/EG = 12.81
Revenue TTM = 2.14b USD
EBIT TTM = 142.3m USD
EBITDA TTM = 214.0m USD
Long Term Debt = 2.55b USD (from longTermDebt, last quarter)
Short Term Debt = 18.8m USD (from shortTermDebt, last quarter)
Debt = 2.79b USD (from shortLongTermDebtTotal, last quarter) + Leases 113.5m
Net Debt = 2.70b USD (calculated: Debt 2.79b - CCE 95.0m)
Enterprise Value = 3.01b USD (313.1m + Debt 2.79b - CCE 95.0m)
Interest Coverage Ratio = 0.51 (Ebit TTM 142.3m / Interest Expense TTM 277.4m)
EV/FCF = 197.7x (Enterprise Value 3.01b / FCF TTM 15.2m)
FCF Yield = 0.51% (FCF TTM 15.2m / Enterprise Value 3.01b)
FCF Margin = 0.71% (FCF TTM 15.2m / Revenue TTM 2.14b)
Net Margin = -4.63% (Net Income TTM -99.2m / Revenue TTM 2.14b)
Gross Margin = 32.14% ((Revenue TTM 2.14b - Cost of Revenue TTM 1.45b) / Revenue TTM)
Gross Margin QoQ = 33.03% (prev 13.76%)
Tobins Q-Ratio = 0.61 (Enterprise Value 3.01b / Total Assets 4.92b)
Interest Expense / Debt = 9.92% (Interest Expense 277.4m / Debt 2.79b)
Taxrate = 21.0% (US default 21%)
NOPAT = 112.4m (EBIT 142.3m * (1 - 21.00%))
Current Ratio = 1.58 (Total Current Assets 665.3m / Total Current Liabilities 422.3m)
Debt / Equity = 2.24 (Debt 2.79b / totalStockholderEquity, last quarter 1.25b)
Debt / EBITDA = 12.61 (Net Debt 2.70b / EBITDA 214.0m)
Debt / FCF = 177.2 (Net Debt 2.70b / FCF TTM 15.2m)
Total Stockholder Equity = 1.26b (last 4 quarters mean from totalStockholderEquity)
RoA = -1.98% (Net Income -99.2m / Total Assets 4.92b)
RoE = -5.39% (Net Income TTM -99.2m / Total Stockholder Equity 1.84b)
RoCE = 3.24% (EBIT 142.3m / Capital Employed (Equity 1.84b + L.T.Debt 2.55b))
RoIC = 2.49% (NOPAT 112.4m / Invested Capital 4.51b)
WACC = 7.70% (E(313.1m)/V(3.11b) * Re(6.41%) + D(2.79b)/V(3.11b) * Rd(9.92%) * (1-Tc(0.21)))
Discount Rate = 6.41% (= CAPM, Blume Beta Adj.)
Shares (quarterly) Correlation: 95.56 | Cagr: 2.68%
[DCF] Terminal Value 73.10% ; FCFF base≈116.6m ; Y1≈102.3m ; Y5≈82.6m
[DCF] Fair Price = N/A (negative equity: EV 1.33b - Net Debt 2.70b = -1.37b; debt exceeds intrinsic value)
EPS Correlation: N/A | EPS CAGR: N/A | SUE: 0.86 | # QB: 1
Revenue Correlation: -39.45 | Revenue CAGR: -2.13% | SUE: 0.00 | # QB: 0
EPS current Quarter (2026-06-30): EPS=-0.43 | Chg30d=N/A | Revisions=N/A | Analysts=1
EPS current Year (2026-12-31): EPS=0.01 | Chg30d=N/A | Revisions=N/A | GrowthEPS=+135.8% | GrowthRev=+3.6%
EPS next Year (2027-12-31): EPS=-0.83 | Chg30d=N/A | Revisions=N/A | GrowthEPS=-8400.0% | GrowthRev=-7.3%