TGNA

Communication Services

TEGNA Inc. · Broadcasting · $3B

UQS Score — Balanced Preset
34.0
Below Average

TEGNA Inc. scores 34.0/100 using the Balanced preset.

UQS vs Communication Services Sector
TGNA
34.0
Sector avg
35.8
Quality
Weak
Moat
Weak
Growth
Weak
Risk
Weak
Valuation
Attractive

What is TEGNA Inc.?

TEGNA Inc. is a US-based television broadcasting and digital media company operating dozens of local TV stations across major markets. Headquartered in Tysons, Virginia, it reaches audiences through broadcast, streaming, and digital platforms.

TEGNA owns and operates local television stations that deliver news, entertainment, and digital content across broadcast and online platforms. The company generates revenue primarily through advertising — both traditional TV spots and digital placements — as well as retransmission fees paid by cable and satellite providers. Its TEGNA Marketing Solutions division helps local and national advertisers reach audiences across TV, digital, and over-the-top streaming channels, including its Premion OTT network.

TEGNA traces its roots to 1906 and is headquartered in Tysons, Virginia.

  • Local television news broadcasting across 51 US markets
  • Premion OTT advertising network for streaming audiences
  • Multicast networks: True Crime Network, Quest, and Twist
  • VAULT Studios true crime podcasts and original programming
  • TEGNA Marketing Solutions digital and TV advertising services

Is TGNA a Good Stock to Buy?

UQS Score rates TGNA as Below Average overall.

The one area where TEGNA stands out relative to its pillar profile is Valuation, which is rated Attractive — suggesting the stock may be priced at a discount compared to its fundamental profile. This can appeal to investors who prioritize entry price over near-term growth prospects.

Quality, Moat, Growth, and Risk are all rated Weak, reflecting meaningful structural challenges in the traditional broadcasting business — including audience fragmentation, advertiser shifts, and limited competitive differentiation.

See the exact pillar breakdown and full 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 TGNA pay dividends?

Yes — TEGNA Inc. pays a dividend.

TEGNA pays a regular dividend, which may appeal to income-focused investors. Given the company's position in a mature, cash-generating broadcasting business, returning capital to shareholders through dividends is a common strategic choice. However, investors should weigh dividend sustainability against the Weak Risk and Growth pillar ratings before relying on income continuity.

When does TGNA report earnings?

TEGNA reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, typical for US-listed equities.

Broadcasting companies like TEGNA tend to see revenue fluctuate with political advertising cycles, retransmission fee negotiations, and broader shifts in TV viewership. Quarterly results can vary meaningfully depending on election-year spending and the pace of digital advertising adoption.

For the most recent quarter's results, visit TEGNA's investor relations page directly.

TGNA Price History

+16.9% over 5Y

Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.

Return Calculator

What if I invested in TEGNA Inc.?

$
Today it would be worth
$10,999
That's a +10.0% total return, or +1.9% annualized.

Based on TEGNA Inc.'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.

TGNA Long-term Outlook

TEGNA's fundamental outlook reflects the structural pressures facing legacy broadcast media. With Growth and Moat both rated Weak, the path to meaningful revenue expansion remains narrow without significant strategic pivots. The Attractive Valuation rating suggests the market has already priced in considerable headwinds, which could limit downside — but the Weak Risk rating signals that execution uncertainty remains elevated.

Growth drivers

  • Political advertising revenue during election cycles
  • Expansion of OTT and digital advertising through Premion
  • Retransmission fee negotiations with pay-TV distributors

Key risks

  • Accelerating cord-cutting reducing traditional TV audiences
  • Advertiser migration to digital-first platforms outside TEGNA's ecosystem
  • Debt load and financial flexibility constraints flagged by the Weak Risk rating

TGNA vs Peers

TEGNA competes across broadcasting, streaming, and advertising-supported media with companies of varying scale and business models.

FUBOTGNA scores lower
fuboTV Inc.

fuboTV operates as a live TV streaming service, competing with TEGNA for streaming advertising dollars rather than traditional broadcast audiences.

RAY.TOTGNA scores lower
Stingray Group Inc.

Stingray focuses on music broadcasting and digital media services, representing a different content niche within the broader media landscape.

CCZTGNA scores lower
Comcast Holdings Corp.

Comcast operates at a far larger scale with diversified assets spanning cable, broadband, and entertainment, giving it significantly more distribution leverage than TEGNA.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does TEGNA do?

TEGNA owns and operates local television stations across the United States, delivering news and entertainment content via broadcast, digital, and streaming platforms. It also runs multicast networks, a true crime content studio, and an advertising solutions business that serves local and national advertisers across TV and digital channels.

Does TGNA pay dividends?

Yes, TEGNA pays a regular dividend. The company's broadcasting operations generate cash flow that supports shareholder distributions. However, given the Weak Risk pillar rating, investors focused on dividend reliability should review the company's payout history and financial flexibility before making income-focused decisions.

When does TGNA report earnings?

TEGNA reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with US-listed public companies. Results can be influenced by political advertising cycles and retransmission fee timing. For the exact schedule and most recent results, check TEGNA's official investor relations page.

Is TGNA a good stock to buy?

UQS Score rates TGNA as Below Average overall. The Valuation pillar is rated Attractive, which may interest value-oriented investors, but Quality, Moat, Growth, and Risk are all rated Weak. The full pillar breakdown is available to UQS Pro members for a more complete picture.

Is TGNA overvalued?

Based on the UQS Valuation pillar, TGNA is rated Attractive — meaning the stock appears to be priced at a relative discount given its fundamental profile. Whether that discount is warranted depends on how one weighs the structural challenges reflected in the other pillar ratings.

How does TGNA compare to its competitors?

TEGNA operates traditional broadcast TV stations, which differentiates it from streaming-native competitors like fuboTV and large diversified media conglomerates like Comcast. Its local news focus and OTT advertising network through Premion represent its primary competitive tools in a shifting media landscape.

What is TGNA's market cap bracket?

TEGNA is classified as a mid-cap company. This places it in a range that typically offers more liquidity than small-cap peers but less financial scale than large-cap broadcasters and media conglomerates.

Who founded TEGNA?

TEGNA's corporate history stretches back to 1906. The company was formerly known as Gannett Co., Inc. and rebranded as TEGNA Inc. in June 2015 after separating its publishing and broadcasting businesses. Founding context is widely available through public historical records.

Is TGNA a long-term quality investment?

As a long-term quality indicator, the UQS Score rates TGNA as Below Average. The Weak ratings across Quality, Moat, and Growth suggest limited structural advantages for sustained long-term compounding. The Attractive Valuation may offer a margin of safety, but long-term investors should weigh that against the broader pillar profile.

What is the main competitive advantage of TEGNA?

TEGNA's primary competitive asset is its portfolio of local television stations in 51 markets, which gives it entrenched relationships with local advertisers and audiences. Its Premion OTT network extends that reach into streaming. However, the Weak Moat rating suggests these advantages are under meaningful competitive pressure.

What sector does TGNA belong to?

TEGNA operates within the Communication Services sector, alongside other broadcasting, media, and digital content companies. This sector is undergoing significant structural change as audiences shift from traditional TV to streaming and on-demand platforms.

Is TGNA a growth stock or value stock?

Based on the UQS pillar profile, TGNA leans toward the value category. The Growth pillar is rated Weak, indicating limited near-term expansion momentum, while the Valuation pillar is rated Attractive — a combination more consistent with a value-oriented profile than a high-growth one.

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Pro Analysis

TGNA — Score History

253035404550Apr 2Apr 12Apr 22May 2May 12May 22May 24v5
Score changes· 5 most recent
DateUQSQualityMoatGrowthRiskValueChange
May 14, 202634.135.319.012.735.184.6-0.1
May 7, 202634.235.319.012.735.185.5-0.1
Apr 20, 202634.335.319.012.735.185.9-8.9
Apr 13, 202643.235.350.012.735.193.8+7.7
Apr 2, 202635.535.319.012.735.193.8

TGNA — Pillar Breakdown

Quality

35.3/100 (25%)

TEGNA Inc. has average quality metrics, with room for improvement in margins or capital efficiency.

Capital Efficiency (ROIC)Weak

How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.

Return on EquityWeak

Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.

Operating ProfitabilityWeak

Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.

Net ProfitabilityWeak

Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.

Gross Profit / AssetsWeak

Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.

Cash GenerationStrong

Free cash flow relative to market value.

Growth

12.7/100 (20%)

TEGNA Inc. faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.

Recent Revenue TrendWeak

Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.

3Y Revenue CAGRWeak

Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.

EPS GrowthWeak

Year-over-year earnings per share growth.

Forward Revenue OutlookWeak

Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.

Forward EPS GrowthModerate

Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.

Risk

35.1/100 (15%)

TEGNA Inc. has some risk factors including moderate leverage or solvency concerns.

Financial LeverageWeak

Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.

Debt/EquityModerate

Total debt relative to shareholder equity.

Current RatioStrong

Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.

Interest CoverageWeak

Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.

Valuation

84.3/100 (15%)

TEGNA Inc. appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.

Earnings YieldStrong

Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.

Price to Free Cash FlowStrong

How many years of FCF the market cap represents.

PEG RatioStrong

P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.

EV/EBITDA vs SectorModerate

Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.

Moat

19/100 (25%)

TEGNA Inc. 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 TGNA.

Score Composition

Quality
35.3×25%8.8
Growth
12.7×20%2.5
Risk
35.1×15%5.3
Valuation
84.3×15%12.6
Moat
19.0×25%4.8
Total
34.0Below Average

Financial Data

More Stock Analysis

How is the TGNA UQS Score Calculated?

The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for TEGNA Inc. 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 TEGNA Inc.'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 TEGNA Inc. 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.