E.W. Scripps' third quarter results prompted a significant positive reaction from the market, as management highlighted the success of its Scripps Sports strategy and expansion into connected TV (CTV) advertising. CEO Adam Symson credited the company’s focus on women’s sports partnerships and streaming distribution as major contributors to the quarter’s performance, stating, “We are seeing real measurable progress at Scripps.” Despite a challenging advertising environment and the absence of political ad revenue compared to last year, Scripps delivered solid core growth by capitalizing on new sports rights and controlling expenses.
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E.W. Scripps (SSP) Q3 CY2025 Highlights:
- Revenue: $525.9 million vs analyst estimates of $523.9 million (18.6% year-on-year decline, in line)
- EPS (GAAP): -$0.55 vs analyst expectations of -$0.32 (72.1% miss)
- Adjusted EBITDA: $80.43 million vs analyst estimates of $68.75 million (15.3% margin, 17% beat)
- Operating Margin: 7.2%, down from 18.8% in the same quarter last year
- Market Capitalization: $272.6 million
While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention.
Our Top 5 Analyst Questions From E.W. Scripps’s Q3 Earnings Call
- Daniel Kurnos (Benchmark Company) asked about the potential for further asset sales and portfolio optimization. CEO Adam Symson reiterated ongoing opportunities for accretive transactions and a commitment to maximizing shareholder value.
- Steven Cahall (Wells Fargo) questioned whether Scripps could maintain margin improvement amidst advertising softness. Symson expressed confidence in ongoing margin expansion through continued sports growth, CTV leadership, and operational efficiencies.
- Avi Steiner (JPMorgan) probed the impact of the YouTube TV–Disney dispute on local affiliates and upcoming distribution renewals. Symson and CFO Jason Combs noted minimal current revenue impact but highlighted upcoming affiliate and retransmission contract negotiations.
- Gengxuan Qiu (Barclays) inquired about early political advertising indicators for 2026 and the process behind recent station sales. Symson emphasized a robust political ad environment ahead and described a mix of proactive and inbound approaches to asset transactions.
- Craig Huber (Huber Research Partners) asked about the advertising environment and the application of AI for cost benefits. Management described local core ad momentum and stated more details on AI-driven transformation will be shared next year.
Catalysts in Upcoming Quarters
Going forward, the StockStory team will monitor (1) execution of new sports rights deals and their impact on core ad revenue, (2) the scale-up of CTV and streaming partnerships as a driver of digital revenue, and (3) further progress in portfolio optimization and debt reduction. The pace of AI adoption and the company’s ability to navigate advertising market uncertainties will also be important to track.
E.W. Scripps currently trades at $3.06, up from $2.02 just before the earnings. Is there an opportunity in the stock?See for yourself in our full research report (it’s free for active Edge members).
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