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SSP

The E.W. Scripps Company

SSP

The E.W. Scripps Company • NASDAQ
$4.25 ▼ -3.96% (-0.17)
Market Cap $376.71 M
52w High $4.91
52w Low $1.36
Dividend Yield 0%
P/E -9.87
Volume 446.58K
Outstanding Shares 88.74M

Income Statement

Period Revenue Operating Expense Net Income Net Profit Margin Earnings Per Share EBITDA
Q3-2025 $525.854M ▼ $176.918M ▲ $-32.959M ▲ -6.268% ▲ $-0.55 ▲ $102.424M ▲
Q2-2025 $540.08M ▲ $149.787M ▼ $-35.962M ▼ -6.659% ▼ $-0.59 ▼ $70.739M ▲
Q1-2025 $524.393M ▼ $179.765M ▼ $-3.455M ▼ -0.659% ▼ $-0.22 ▼ $65.753M ▼
Q4-2024 $728.379M ▲ $189.114M ▼ $95.387M ▲ 13.096% ▲ $0.93 ▲ $221.307M ▲
Q3-2024 $646.3M $207.034M $47.776M 7.392% $0.37 $161.24M

Balance Statement

Period Cash & Short-term Total Assets Total Liabilities Total Equity
Q3-2025 $54.665M ▲ $5.09B ▲ $3.829B ▲ $1.26B ▼
Q2-2025 $31.66M ▲ $5.088B ▼ $3.798B ▲ $1.29B ▼
Q1-2025 $23.959M ▲ $5.116B ▼ $3.796B ▼ $1.32B ▲
Q4-2024 $23.852M ▼ $5.199B ▼ $3.881B ▼ $1.318B ▲
Q3-2024 $34.642M $5.254B $4.035B $1.219B

Cash Flow Statement

Period Net Income Cash From Operations Cash From Investing Cash From Financing Net Change Free Cash Flow
Q3-2025 $-32.959M ▲ $21.827M ▲ $-15.001M ▼ $16.179M ▲ $23.005M ▲ $6.383M ▲
Q2-2025 $-35.962M ▼ $-10.549M ▼ $26.423M ▲ $-8.173M ▼ $7.701M ▲ $-22.739M ▼
Q1-2025 $-3.455M ▼ $-3.309M ▼ $-9.89M ▼ $13.306M ▲ $107K ▲ $-8.364M ▼
Q4-2024 $95.387M ▲ $153.291M ▲ $15.14M ▲ $-179.221M ▼ $-10.79M ▼ $146.893M ▲
Q3-2024 $47.776M $140.592M $-12.698M $-119.903M $7.991M $127.439M

Revenue by Products

Product Q4-2024Q1-2025Q2-2025Q3-2025
Core Advertising Revenue
Core Advertising Revenue
 $680.00M ▲$320.00M ▼$330.00M ▲$320.00M ▼
Distribution Revenue
Distribution Revenue
 $390.00M ▲$190.00M ▼$200.00M ▲$190.00M ▼
Other Revenue
Other Revenue
 $20.00M ▲$10.00M ▼$10.00M ▲$10.00M ▲
Political Advertising Revenue
Political Advertising Revenue
 $220.00M ▲$0 ▼$0 ▲$10.00M ▲

Five-Year Company Overview

Income Statement

Income Statement Scripps’ revenue has generally trended upward over the past five years, though with the normal bumps you’d expect in a politically sensitive, advertising‑driven business. Profitability has been uneven: the company was solidly profitable in most years but took a sizable hit recently, then returned to the black in the most recent year. Operating and EBITDA margins recovered along with earnings, suggesting that much of the prior year’s damage was tied to one‑off or cyclical factors rather than a broken business model. Overall, the income statement points to a business that can earn reasonable profits but is exposed to swings in advertising, political spending, and industry disruption.

Balance Sheet

Balance Sheet The balance sheet shows a company that is clearly leveraged but slowly working its way to a safer place. Debt is high compared with shareholders’ equity, yet total borrowings have been edging down over time rather than up. Equity was building for several years before being knocked back by the recent large loss, then began to recover in the latest period. Cash on hand is quite thin compared with the company’s size, which means Scripps leans more on its ongoing cash generation and credit access than on a large cash cushion. In short, the balance sheet is serviceable but leaves limited room for major negative surprises.

Cash Flow

Cash Flow Despite earnings volatility, Scripps has consistently produced positive cash flow from its operations over the entire period. Even in the year with the big loss, the business still generated cash, which helps explain how it could continue to reduce debt. Free cash flow has been positive and fairly steady, supported by disciplined, relatively modest capital spending. This pattern suggests the underlying operations are cash‑generative and that accounting earnings may sometimes look worse than the cash reality, though the company still needs that cash to manage its leverage and invest for the future.

Competitive Edge

Competitive Edge Scripps holds a strong position in U.S. broadcasting, anchored by a large footprint of local TV stations plus a stable of national networks that target specific audiences. Its local news presence is difficult for new entrants to replicate, and its focus on niche brands—such as networks aimed at specific demographics or content genres—helps diversify away from any single viewer segment. Control of a large block of broadcast spectrum is a quieter but important asset that could prove more valuable over time. That said, the company operates in a fiercely competitive, structurally changing landscape, facing pressure from cable, streaming platforms, and digital ad players, so its advantages must constantly be defended and refreshed.

Innovation and R&D

Innovation and R&D The company is actively leaning into technology to reshape its future. It has put formal leadership behind artificial intelligence to cut costs, speed up workflows, and better match ads to viewers. Its early push into the NextGen TV standard gives it a platform for higher‑quality broadcasts and potential new services like datacasting, which could open up non‑traditional revenue streams. Scripps is also investing in advanced advertising tools, connected TV, and free ad‑supported streaming channels to follow audiences as they move off traditional pay TV. On the content side, bets on areas like women’s sports and targeted news and entertainment are designed to differentiate its networks and attract ad dollars. None of these initiatives are guaranteed, but they show a clear intent to innovate rather than simply defend the legacy business.

Summary

Scripps is a mature media company in the middle of a significant transition. Financially, it has a record of growing revenue and generating cash, but with pronounced swings in profit and a balance sheet that still carries meaningful leverage and limited cash reserves. Strategically, it benefits from strong local TV franchises, a diverse portfolio of national niche networks, and valuable spectrum holdings, yet it must navigate ongoing cord‑cutting, digital competition, and a choppy advertising environment. Its push into AI, NextGen TV, connected TV, and targeted content—such as women’s sports—shows a forward‑looking posture that could strengthen its position if execution is strong. Overall, the story is one of a cash‑generative but cyclical broadcaster working to reinvent itself technologically while managing financial risk and industry disruption.

NEWS

November 26, 2025 · 9:02 AM UTC

Scripps adopts limited-duration shareholder rights plan

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November 17, 2025 · 7:40 AM UTC

Scripps responds to Sinclair share purchase

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November 6, 2025 · 10:00 AM UTC

Scripps Sports lands rights to 2026 Major League Volleyball (MLV) championship for ION

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October 28, 2025 · 10:30 AM UTC

Scripps agrees to sell WRTV in Indianapolis to Circle City Broadcasting for $83 million

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October 9, 2025 · 10:09 AM UTC

ION set to air Athlos NYC live on Oct. 10, Brooks Running Shoes to be presenting sponsor

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