Benchmark Forecasts Strong Price Appreciation for E.W. Scripps (NASDAQ:SSP) Stock

E.W. Scripps (NASDAQ:SSP) had its price target increased by analysts at Benchmark from $8.00 to $10.00 in a research note issued to investors on Friday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a “buy” rating on the stock. Benchmark’s price objective points to a potential upside of 140.96% from the company’s previous close.

A number of other research analysts also recently weighed in on SSP. Weiss Ratings restated a “sell (d+)” rating on shares of E.W. Scripps in a report on Monday, December 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of E.W. Scripps from $3.00 to $3.90 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, E.W. Scripps currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $6.95.

E.W. Scripps Stock Up 12.5%

Shares of E.W. Scripps stock opened at $4.15 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $368.52 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -2.22 and a beta of 0.62. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $3.66 and a 200-day simple moving average of $3.34. E.W. Scripps has a 52-week low of $1.36 and a 52-week high of $4.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.13, a current ratio of 1.61 and a quick ratio of 1.61.

E.W. Scripps (NASDAQ:SSP) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 25th. The company reported ($0.06) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.46 by ($0.52). The business had revenue of $560.26 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $550.82 million. E.W. Scripps had a negative net margin of 4.69% and a negative return on equity of 0.26%. On average, equities research analysts expect that E.W. Scripps will post 1.07 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On E.W. Scripps

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. D Orazio & Associates Inc. bought a new position in shares of E.W. Scripps in the third quarter worth about $27,000. M&T Bank Corp acquired a new stake in E.W. Scripps in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $47,000. State of Alaska Department of Revenue acquired a new stake in E.W. Scripps in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $47,000. Franklin Resources Inc. bought a new position in E.W. Scripps in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, Pinnacle Associates Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of E.W. Scripps during the fourth quarter worth approximately $50,000. 67.81% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Trending Headlines about E.W. Scripps

Here are the key news stories impacting E.W. Scripps this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Benchmark raised its price target to $10 and set a “buy” rating, implying large upside vs. the current share level — a clear catalyst for bullish investor interest. Benchmark raises price target
• Positive Sentiment: Scripps extended the CEO’s employment agreement, signaling management continuity during the company’s transformation and expansion — a governance/strategy positive that can reassure investors. Scripps Extends CEO Contract
• Neutral Sentiment: Noble Financial published quarterly EPS estimates for fiscal 2026 (Q1 -$0.18, Q2 $0.16, Q3 $0.49, Q4 $0.46) and maintains a roughly $1.07 full‑year consensus — guidance that gives investors a roadmap for potential recovery but is not a firm upgrade. Noble Financial EPS Estimates
• Neutral Sentiment: Scripps reported Q4 revenue above consensus ($560.3M vs. ~$550.8M), which helps the narrative that top-line trends are improving even as profitability lags. Revenue beats expectations
• Negative Sentiment: The company missed on Q4 EPS (reported -$0.06 vs. $0.46 consensus), posting a negative net margin and weak return on equity — results that explain caution among value-focused investors and underline near-term profitability risks. Q4 2025 Financial Results

E.W. Scripps Company Profile

The E.W. Scripps Company is a diversified U.S. media organization headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Established in 1878 by Edward Willis Scripps, the company began as a newspaper publisher before expanding into broadcast television, cable networks and digital journalism. Today, Scripps combines a legacy of local news reporting with a growing portfolio of national cable channels and digital platforms.

Scripps operates more than 60 television stations across over 40 markets, delivering local news, weather, sports and entertainment programming to communities in both large and mid-sized U.S.