SSP
Communication ServicesThe E.W. Scripps Company · Broadcasting · $400M
What is The E.W. Scripps Company?
The E.W. Scripps Company is a Cincinnati-based media enterprise operating local broadcast television stations and national television networks across the United States.
Scripps generates revenue through local broadcast TV stations — producing news, information, and entertainment — and national networks including ION, a crime and justice programming network, and Newsy, a national news outlet. The company distributes content over-the-air, via cable and satellite, connected TV, and digital platforms including smartphones and tablets.
The company traces its roots to 1878 and is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.
- Local broadcast television stations (61 markets)
- ION national broadcast network
- Newsy national news network
- Digital and connected TV distribution
Is SSP a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates SSP as Poor overall, reflecting weak readings across all five pillars.
No pillar stands out as a clear strength in the current UQS assessment. The company's broad distribution footprint across local and national media gives it audience reach, but that scale has not translated into quality or growth advantages relative to peers.
Risk and Valuation are both flagged — the Risk pillar is Weak while Valuation is rated Elevated, a combination that warrants careful attention from investors.
See the full pillar breakdown and underlying financial metrics by signing up for a UQS Pro account. Sign up free →
Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does SSP pay dividends?
No — The E.W. Scripps Company does not currently pay a dividend.
SSP does not currently pay a dividend. For a company carrying the debt load typical of broadcast media acquisitions, retaining cash rather than distributing it is a common approach — though it offers no income component for yield-focused investors.
When does SSP report earnings?
The E.W. Scripps Company reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with US-listed equities.
Broadcast media companies like Scripps face cyclical revenue tied to political advertising and retransmission fee negotiations. Performance can swing meaningfully between election and non-election years, making quarter-to-quarter comparisons less straightforward than in other sectors.
For the most recent quarter's results, visit The E.W. Scripps Company's investor relations page directly.
SSP Price History
-76.8% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in The E.W. Scripps Company?
Based on The E.W. Scripps Company's historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The E.W. Scripps Company do?
Scripps operates a network of 61 local broadcast television stations alongside national networks including ION and Newsy. The company distributes content through over-the-air broadcast, cable, satellite, connected TV, and digital platforms, serving both local audiences and national viewers.
Does SSP pay dividends?
SSP does not currently pay a dividend. The company retains cash rather than distributing it to shareholders, which is common among broadcast media companies managing significant debt from acquisitions.
When does SSP report earnings?
Scripps reports on a standard quarterly schedule. Because broadcast media revenue is heavily influenced by political advertising cycles, results can vary significantly by quarter and year. Check the company's investor relations page for the latest schedule.
Is SSP a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates SSP as Poor, with Weak readings across Quality, Moat, Growth, and Risk pillars, and an Elevated Valuation rating. That combination signals meaningful headwinds. The full pillar breakdown is available to Pro members.
Is SSP overvalued?
The UQS Valuation pillar for SSP is rated Elevated, suggesting the current market price is not well-supported by the company's underlying fundamentals relative to peers. This is a notable concern given the weak readings across other pillars.
What is SSP's market cap bracket?
SSP is classified as a small-cap stock. This places it in a segment of the market that can carry higher liquidity risk and greater sensitivity to sector-level headwinds compared to large- or mega-cap media companies.
Is SSP a long-term quality investment?
As a long-term quality indicator, UQS Score rates SSP as Poor. Weak Moat and Growth pillar scores suggest limited durable competitive advantages and constrained expansion prospects — factors that matter significantly over a multi-year holding horizon.
What sector does SSP belong to?
SSP operates in the Communication Services sector, alongside other broadcast, cable, and digital media companies. This sector faces structural pressures from cord-cutting and shifting advertising budgets toward digital platforms.
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Pro Analysis
SSP — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 14, 2026 | 29.3 | 14.4 | 16.0 | 8.3 | 69.0 | 64.4 | +2.3 |
| May 11, 2026 | 27.0 | 13.1 | 16.0 | 8.5 | 69.0 | 51.1 | +14.4 |
| May 10, 2026 | 12.6 | 5.6 | 16.0 | 8.5 | 36.9 | 0.0 | -0.1 |
| May 8, 2026 | 12.7 | 5.6 | 16.0 | 8.7 | 36.9 | 0.0 | +2.3 |
| May 7, 2026 | 10.4 | 10.6 | 16.0 | 8.7 | 10.8 | 2.3 | +0.2 |
| May 3, 2026 | 10.2 | 10.6 | 16.0 | 8.7 | 10.8 | 1.2 | -0.5 |
| Apr 26, 2026 | 10.7 | 10.6 | 16.0 | 8.7 | 10.8 | 4.5 | +0.3 |
| Apr 19, 2026 | 10.4 | 10.6 | 16.0 | 8.7 | 10.8 | 2.2 | -1.0 |
| Apr 18, 2026 | 11.4 | 10.6 | 16.0 | 8.7 | 10.8 | 8.9 | -1.0 |
| Apr 14, 2026 | 12.4 | 10.6 | 16.0 | 8.7 | 10.8 | 16.0 | -9.3 |
SSP — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 14.5/100 (25%)The E.W. Scripps Company currently shows below-average quality metrics, suggesting challenges with profitability.
How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 7.8/100 (20%)The E.W. Scripps Company faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Risk
— 10.2/100 (15%)The E.W. Scripps Company presents elevated risk with concerns around leverage or financial stability.
Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 32.6/100 (15%)The E.W. Scripps Company appears expensively valued relative to its fundamentals and growth prospects.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 16/100 (25%)The E.W. Scripps Company operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for SSP.
Score Composition
Financial Data
More Stock Analysis
How is the SSP UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for The E.W. Scripps Company is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses The E.W. Scripps Company's competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether The E.W. Scripps Company is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.