As the Q4 earnings season wraps, let’s dig into this quarter’s best and worst performers in the broadcasting industry, including AMC Networks (NASDAQ: AMCX) and its peers.
Broadcasting companies have been facing secular headwinds in the form of consumers abandoning traditional television and radio in favor of streaming services. As a result, many broadcasting companies have evolved by forming distribution agreements with major streaming platforms so they can get in on part of the action, but will these subscription revenues be as high quality and high margin as their legacy revenues? Only time will tell which of these broadcasters will survive the sea changes of technological advancement and fragmenting consumer attention.
The 8 broadcasting stocks we track reported a mixed Q4. As a group, revenues were in line with analysts’ consensus estimates while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 12.8% above.
Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 8.7% since the latest earnings results.
AMC Networks (NASDAQ: AMCX)
Originally the joint-venture of four cable television companies, AMC Networks (NASDAQ: AMCX) is a broadcaster producing a diverse range of television shows and movies.
AMC Networks reported revenues of $599.3 million, down 11.7% year on year. This print fell short of analysts’ expectations by 2.3%. Overall, it was a slower quarter for the company with a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates and a miss of analysts’ Affiliate revenue estimates.
AMC Networks Chief Executive Officer Kristin Dolan said: "We are pleased and encouraged by our results in the fourth quarter and across all of 2024. We achieved our full-year guidance across all key financial metrics, including generating healthy free cash flow of $331 million. Our free cash flow performance to date has been strong and we are increasing our expectations to approximately $550 million of cumulative free cash flow over the '24/'25 two-year period. We forged and expanded innovative partnerships that are helping to drive our company forward amidst a period of change that is challenging all media companies. In addition, we continued to delight fans by delivering high-quality and distinctive shows and films across our own targeted offerings as well as an array of partner platforms, and to expand our targeting capabilities to differentiate our advertising business."
AMC Networks delivered the slowest revenue growth of the whole group. Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 39.1% since reporting and currently trades at $6.
Read our full report on AMC Networks here, it’s free.
Best Q4: FOX (NASDAQ: FOXA)
Founded in 1915, Fox (NASDAQ: FOXA) is a diversified media company, operating prominent cable news, television broadcasting, and digital media platforms.
FOX reported revenues of $5.08 billion, up 19.9% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 5%. The business had a stunning quarter with an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.
FOX scored the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. Although it had a fine quarter compared its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 4.5% since reporting. It currently trades at $49.57.
Is now the time to buy FOX? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Weakest Q4: Paramount (NASDAQ: PARA)
Owner of Spongebob Squarepants and formerly known as ViacomCBS, Paramount Global (NASDAQ: PARA) is a major media conglomerate offering television, film production, and digital content across various global platforms.
Paramount reported revenues of $7.98 billion, up 4.5% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 1.9%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA and EPS estimates.
Interestingly, the stock is up 4.5% since the results and currently trades at $11.74.
Read our full analysis of Paramount’s results here.
E.W. Scripps (NASDAQ: SSP)
Founded as a chain of daily newspapers, E.W. Scripps (NASDAQ: SSP) is a diversified media enterprise operating a range of local television stations, national networks, and digital media platforms.
E.W. Scripps reported revenues of $728.4 million, up 18.3% year on year. This result was in line with analysts’ expectations. More broadly, it was a slower quarter as it recorded a miss of analysts’ EPS estimates and a miss of analysts’ Local Media revenue estimates.
The stock is up 33% since reporting and currently trades at $1.90.
Read our full, actionable report on E.W. Scripps here, it’s free.
Nexstar Media (NASDAQ: NXST)
Founded in 1996, Nexstar (NASDAQ: NXST) is an American media company operating numerous local television stations and digital media outlets across the country.
Nexstar Media reported revenues of $1.49 billion, up 14.1% year on year. This number topped analysts’ expectations by 0.5%. Taking a step back, it was a slower quarter as it logged a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates and a miss of analysts’ Core Advertising revenue estimates.
The stock is up 3.8% since reporting and currently trades at $151.83.
Read our full, actionable report on Nexstar Media here, it’s free.
Market Update
Thanks to the Fed’s rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has been on a steady path downward, easing back toward that 2% sweet spot. Fortunately (miraculously to some), all this tightening didn’t send the economy tumbling into a recession, so here we are, cautiously celebrating a soft landing. The cherry on top? Recent rate cuts (half a point in September 2024, a quarter in November) have propped up markets, especially after Trump’s November win lit a fire under major indices and sent them to all-time highs. However, there’s still plenty to ponder — tariffs, corporate tax cuts, and what 2025 might hold for the economy.
Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our 9 Best Market-Beating Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.
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