E.W. Scripps (SSP) just reported FY 2025 fourth quarter results with revenue of US$560.3 million and basic EPS of US$0.51 loss, set against a year earlier fourth quarter that showed revenue of US$728.4 million and basic EPS of US$0.93. Over recent periods the company has seen quarterly revenue move from US$646.3 million and EPS of US$0.37 in 2024 Q3 to US$560.3 million and EPS of US$0.51 loss in 2025 Q4. Trailing 12 month revenue sits at about US$2.2 billion with basic EPS of US$1.87 loss. With the stock trading at US$4.68, these results focus attention on how quickly margins might stabilise from here.

See our full analysis for E.W. Scripps.

Next, it helps to set these earnings against the widely followed narratives around growth, profitability and risk to see which views the latest numbers support and which they call into question.

Losses Extend Across The Full Year

• On a trailing 12 month basis, Scripps reported about US$2.2b of revenue and a net loss of US$164.5 million, equal to basic EPS of US$1.87 loss, compared with a profit of US$86.9 million and basic EPS of US$1.01 in the prior trailing window.
• Bears warn that five year losses widening at about 31.6% per year and trailing revenue growth of roughly 1.8% per year signal pressure on the core business, and the latest full year loss of US$164.5 million heavily supports that cautious view.
  • Critics highlight that all four FY 2025 quarters were loss making, with quarterly net losses ranging from US$18.8 million to US$51.7 million, which lines up with concerns about profit stability.
  • The modest 1.8% trailing revenue growth compared with the 11.4% cited for the broader US market also fits the bearish narrative that Scripps is growing more slowly than many peers.

On these numbers, skeptics argue the recent loss trend backs their concern that the business has more work to do before it can support a stronger valuation, and they point to narrative work that lays out that cautious case in full 🐻 E.W. Scripps Bear Case.

Quarterly Losses Narrow As Revenue Holds Around US$525–560m

• Within FY 2025, revenue moved in a fairly tight band between US$524.4 million and US$560.3 million per quarter, while quarterly basic EPS losses ranged from US$0.22 to US$0.59, with Q4 basic EPS at US$0.51 loss and Q4 net income at a loss of US$44.9 million.
• Supporters of the bullish narrative point out that analysts are forecasting earnings growth of 69.6% per year and expect Scripps to become profitable within three years, and the relatively stable quarterly revenue base around the mid US$500 million level is one of the data points they see as a platform for that earnings improvement.
  • The shift from a trailing profit of US$86.9 million to a trailing loss of US$164.5 million is significant, so bulls are effectively arguing that forecast margin gains can turn this US$2.2b revenue base back to profit.
  • The gap between current loss making results and the expectation of future profitability is material, which makes the pace of any future EPS improvement a key focus for anyone leaning toward the bullish case.

Supporters who want to see how those growth expectations are framed against the recent loss making year can dig into the detailed optimistic case for Scripps in the wider narrative materials 🐂 E.W. Scripps Bull Case.

Low 0.2x P/S And DCF Value Far Above Market Price

• The stock trades at a P/S of 0.2x versus a reported US Media industry average of 1.1x and peer average of 0.4x, while a supplied DCF fair value of US$76.96 sits well above the current share price of US$4.68, implying the stock is cited as trading roughly 93.9% below that DCF fair value figure.
• Consensus narrative highlights this wide gap between the quoted DCF fair value and the share price, along with the 6.93 analyst price target compared with today’s US$4.68 level, and suggests that the low multiples could reflect both the current unprofitability and the expectation that margins might improve over time.
  • Supporters of this balanced view point to the combination of modest trailing revenue growth of 1.8% per year and ongoing losses as reasons the market might keep the P/S at 0.2x despite the higher DCF fair value figure.
  • At the same time, the valuation metrics that are materially below industry and peer P/S averages give investors a clear data point to weigh against the 69.6% forecast earnings growth and the expectation of a return to profit within three years.

Next Steps

To see how these results tie into long-term growth, risks, and valuation, check out the full range of community narratives for E.W. Scripps on Simply Wall St. Add the company to your watchlist or portfolio so you'll be alerted when the story evolves.

After all this, are you leaning bullish, cautious, or somewhere in between? Take a closer look at the data now and pressure test your own thesis with the 3 key rewards.

See What Else Is Out There

Scripps is working through a period of full year losses, modest trailing revenue growth of about 1.8% per year, and all four FY 2025 quarters in the red.

If that mix of weak profitability and slow growth leaves you wanting sturdier ideas, check out the 72 resilient stocks with low risk scores to quickly focus on companies with more resilient profiles.

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.