E.W. Scripps posts Q3 profit on political ad surge and cost cuts
+3 new sources since this summary was written
E.W. Scripps reported third‑quarter 2026 net income of $20.7 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, beating consensus estimates. Revenue rose 3.6% year‑over‑year to $544.9 million, driven by $82.6 million of political advertising. The company said it will use cash and election‑season proceeds to retire at least $150 million of debt in the quarter and is on track for $100 million of cost savings by year‑end.
Why it matters
The earnings beat and debt‑paydown plan improve the firm’s balance sheet, which may support higher credit ratings and lower financing costs. Analysts note the results rely heavily on one‑time political ad revenue, so future profitability could be less certain once the election cycle ends.
Key facts
- 1Q3 2026 revenue was $544.9 million, up 3.6% from $525.9 million a year earlier. tradingview.com
- 2Net income attributable to shareholders was $20.7 million, or $0.21 per diluted share. tradingview.com
- 3Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter totaled $121.5 million. tradingview.com
- 4Operating income increased to $67.3 million from $37.6 million in the prior year quarter. tradingview.com
- 5Cash and cash equivalents were $83.4 million at September 30, while total debt stood at $2.5 billion. tradingview.com
- 6The company plans to repay at least $150 million of debt during the quarter using cash on hand and political advertising proceeds. tradingview.com
Summary written by AlphAI AI Desk from 4 of 4 sources. Not investment advice. Figures are as stated by the linked sources.