Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:NXST) just released its quarterly report and things are looking bullish. It was a decent earnings report, with revenues and statutory earnings per share (EPS) both performing well. Revenues were 11% higher than the analysts had forecast, at US$1.4b, while EPS of US$5.09 beat analyst models by 16%. This is an important time for investors, as they can track a company's performance in its report, look at what experts are forecasting for next year, and see if there has been any change to expectations for the business. With this in mind, we've gathered the latest statutory forecasts to see what the analysts are expecting for next year.

Following the latest results, Nexstar Media Group's eight analysts are now forecasting revenues of US$7.91b in 2026. This would be a major 55% improvement in revenue compared to the last 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are predicted to shoot up 461% to US$27.20. In the lead-up to this report, the analysts had been modelling revenues of US$5.40b and earnings per share (EPS) of US$25.43 in 2026. The analysts seem more optimistic after the latest results, with a very substantial lift in revenue and a small lift in earnings per share estimates.

Althoughthe analysts have upgraded their earnings estimates, there was no change to the consensus price target of US$256, suggesting that the forecast performance does not have a long term impact on the company's valuation. Fixating on a single price target can be unwise though, since the consensus target is effectively the average of analyst price targets. As a result, some investors like to look at the range of estimates to see if there are any diverging opinions on the company's valuation. The most optimistic Nexstar Media Group analyst has a price target of US$290 per share, while the most pessimistic values it at US$205. There are definitely some different views on the stock, but the range of estimates is not wide enough as to imply that the situation is unforecastable, in our view.

One way to get more context on these forecasts is to look at how they compare to both past performance, and how other companies in the same industry are performing. The analysts are definitely expecting Nexstar Media Group's growth to accelerate, with the forecast 79% annualised growth to the end of 2026 ranking favourably alongside historical growth of 2.2% per annum over the past five years. Compare this with other companies in the same industry, which are forecast to grow their revenue 2.5% annually. It seems obvious that, while the growth outlook is brighter than the recent past, the analysts also expect Nexstar Media Group to grow faster than the wider industry.

The Bottom Line

The biggest takeaway for us is the consensus earnings per share upgrade, which suggests a clear improvement in sentiment around Nexstar Media Group's earnings potential next year. Happily, they also upgraded their revenue estimates, and are forecasting them to grow faster than the wider industry. The consensus price target held steady at US$256, with the latest estimates not enough to have an impact on their price targets.

Keeping that in mind, we still think that the longer term trajectory of the business is much more important for investors to consider. We have forecasts for Nexstar Media Group going out to 2028, and you can see them free on our platform here.

You should always think about risks though.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.