The end of an earnings season can be a great time to discover new stocks and assess how companies are handling the current business environment. Let’s take a look at how Gray Television (NYSE: GTN) and the rest of the broadcasting stocks fared in Q4.
Broadcasting companies have been facing secular headwinds in the form of consumers abandoning traditional television and radio in favor of streaming services. As a result, many broadcasting companies have evolved by forming distribution agreements with major streaming platforms so they can get in on part of the action, but will these subscription revenues be as high quality and high margin as their legacy revenues? Only time will tell which of these broadcasters will survive the sea changes of technological advancement and fragmenting consumer attention.
The 8 broadcasting stocks we track reported a mixed Q4. As a group, revenues were in line with analysts’ consensus estimates while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 12.8% above.
While some broadcasting stocks have fared somewhat better than others, they have collectively declined. On average, share prices are down 1.5% since the latest earnings results.
Gray Television (NYSE: GTN)
Specializing in local media coverage, Gray Television (NYSE: GTN) is a broadcast company supplying digital media to various markets in the United States.
Gray Television reported revenues of $1.05 billion, up 20.9% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 0.7%. Overall, it was a satisfactory quarter for the company with a decent beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates but revenue guidance for next quarter meeting analysts’ expectations.
Gray Television scored the fastest revenue growth of the whole group. Unsurprisingly, the stock is up 2.3% since reporting and currently trades at $3.96.
Is now the time to buy Gray Television? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Best Q4: FOX (NASDAQ: FOXA)
Founded in 1915, Fox (NASDAQ: FOXA) is a diversified media company, operating prominent cable news, television broadcasting, and digital media platforms.
FOX reported revenues of $5.08 billion, up 19.9% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 5%. The business had a stunning quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.
FOX achieved the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The stock is down 5.1% since reporting. It currently trades at $49.27.
Is now the time to buy FOX? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Weakest Q4: Paramount (NASDAQ: PARA)
Owner of Spongebob Squarepants and formerly known as ViacomCBS, Paramount Global (NASDAQ: PARA) is a major media conglomerate offering television, film production, and digital content across various global platforms.
Paramount reported revenues of $7.98 billion, up 4.5% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 1.9%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA and EPS estimates.
The stock is flat since the results and currently trades at $11.26.
Read our full analysis of Paramount’s results here.
Nexstar Media (NASDAQ: NXST)
Founded in 1996, Nexstar (NASDAQ: NXST) is an American media company operating numerous local television stations and digital media outlets across the country.
Nexstar Media reported revenues of $1.49 billion, up 14.1% year on year. This number surpassed analysts’ expectations by 0.5%. Taking a step back, it was a slower quarter as it logged a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates and a miss of analysts’ Core Advertising revenue estimates.
The stock is up 5.9% since reporting and currently trades at $154.93.
Read our full, actionable report on Nexstar Media here, it’s free.
E.W. Scripps (NASDAQ: SSP)
Founded as a chain of daily newspapers, E.W. Scripps (NASDAQ: SSP) is a diversified media enterprise operating a range of local television stations, national networks, and digital media platforms.
E.W. Scripps reported revenues of $728.4 million, up 18.3% year on year. This result was in line with analysts’ expectations. Zooming out, it was a slower quarter as it recorded a miss of analysts’ EPS estimates and a miss of analysts’ Local Media revenue estimates.
The stock is up 71.3% since reporting and currently trades at $2.45.
Read our full, actionable report on E.W. Scripps here, it’s free.
Market Update
Thanks to the Fed’s series of rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has cooled significantly from its post-pandemic highs, drawing closer to the 2% goal. This disinflation has occurred without severely impacting economic growth, suggesting the success of a soft landing. The stock market thrived in 2024, spurred by recent rate cuts (0.5% in September and 0.25% in November), and a notable surge followed Donald Trump’s presidential election win in November, propelling indices to historic highs. Nonetheless, the outlook for 2025 remains clouded by potential trade policy changes and corporate tax discussions, which could impact business confidence and growth. The path forward holds both optimism and caution as new policies take shape.
Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 5 Quality Compounder Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.
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