Nexstar Reports Q4 Earnings with Mixed Results
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 26 2026
0mins
Source: seekingalpha
Nexstar Media Group Inc (NXST) saw its stock rise by 5.58% as it crossed above the 5-day SMA, despite the broader market decline with the Nasdaq-100 down 1.55% and the S&P 500 down 0.93%.
The company's Q4 earnings report revealed a disappointing EPS of -$5.63, significantly below the consensus estimate of $3.55, and a revenue decline of 13.4% year-over-year to $1.29 billion, primarily due to reduced political advertising revenue. However, distribution revenue grew slightly by 0.8% year-over-year, reaching $720 million, indicating some resilience in the business. The company also provided guidance for 2026 Adjusted EBITDA between $1.95 billion and $2.05 billion, reflecting a cautiously optimistic outlook.
Despite the mixed results, the stock's increase may reflect investor confidence in Nexstar's future growth potential, particularly following its recent acquisition of Tegna, which is expected to enhance profitability and market position.
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Analyst Views on NXST
Wall Street analysts forecast NXST stock price to rise
4 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 165.820
Low
204.00
Averages
232.25
High
250.00
Current: 165.820
Low
204.00
Averages
232.25
High
250.00
About NXST
Nexstar Media Group, Inc. is a diversified media company with television broadcasting, television network and digital media assets operating in the United States. The Company produces and distributes engaging local and national news, sports and entertainment content across its television and digital platforms. The Company’s reportable broadcast segment includes television stations and related local websites that Nexstar owns, operates, programs or provides sales and other services to in various markets across the United States, NewsNation, a national cable news network, two owned and operated multicast networks and other multicast network services, and WGN-AM, a Chicago radio station. The other operating segments, The CW and digital businesses, focused on the national marketplace. The Company’s portfolio of digital assets, including its local TV station websites, The Hill and NewsNationNow.com. Its national television properties include The CW, NewsNation, Antenna TV, and Rewind TV.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Monthly Engagement: The network generates over 90 million listens, views, and social engagements each month, making it the most listened-to native sports podcast network, showcasing its broad appeal and market penetration.
- Innovative Developments: Locked On continues to attract audiences through new initiatives like Postcasts, Squad Shows, and programming in partnership with Amazon Fire TV, demonstrating its innovative capabilities in digital media and commitment to future growth.
See More
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- Board Election: At the 2026 Annual Shareholders' Meeting, shareholders unanimously voted to elect all nominated board members, ensuring stability and continuity in corporate governance, which enhances investor confidence.
- Executive Compensation Approval: Shareholders affirmed the compensation packages for the Company's Named Executive Officers, reflecting recognition of executive performance and potentially influencing future recruitment and retention strategies.
- Auditor Selection: Shareholders ratified the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026, ensuring transparency and compliance in financial reporting, which helps bolster investor trust in the company's financial health.
- Long-Term Incentive Plan Approval: Shareholders approved the 2026 Long-Term Omnibus Incentive Plan, aimed at attracting and retaining talent through incentive mechanisms, thereby driving long-term growth and value creation for the company.
See More
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- Award Recognition: Nexstar Media Group's 20 television stations collectively earned 34 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, with KXAN-TV and KHON-TV recognized for 'Overall Excellence,' highlighting the company's leadership in local news.
- Multiple Wins: KXAN-TV secured awards in four categories, including Digital, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Innovation, and Podcast, showcasing its excellence in diverse and innovative reporting, which enhances brand image and audience loyalty.
- Industry Impact: CEO Perry Sook emphasized the critical role of strong local journalism amid competition from Big Tech and streaming giants, and this achievement is expected to bolster the company's competitiveness in the media landscape.
- Future Outlook: Nexstar plans to continue investing in news production and distribution to meet audience demand for high-quality content, which is anticipated to further drive growth in market share and brand influence.
See More
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- Significant Award Count: TEGNA Inc.'s stations received a total of 50 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, with KGW in Portland winning the Overall Excellence award, highlighting the company's leadership in local news reporting.
- Writing Excellence Recognized: KARE in Minneapolis earned nine awards, including Excellence in Writing, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to high-quality content creation and journalistic standards.
- Multiple Stations Honored: A total of 16 TEGNA stations were recognized, with KING in Seattle receiving seven awards and KUSA in Denver six, indicating the company's influence and quality of news across various markets.
- Industry Recognition: The Edward R. Murrow Awards, sponsored by the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA), honor outstanding achievements in broadcast and digital journalism, further enhancing TEGNA's reputation within the industry.
See More
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- Award Recognition: TEGNA Inc. stations received a total of 50 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, with KGW in Portland winning the Overall Excellence award, highlighting the company's leadership in local news reporting.
- Writing and Investigative Reporting: KARE in Minneapolis earned nine awards, including Excellence in Writing, while KUSA in Denver was recognized with six awards for Investigative Reporting, demonstrating TEGNA's ongoing commitment to high-quality news content creation.
- Multiplatform Coverage: TEGNA operates 64 local television stations across 51 U.S. markets and provides extensive news coverage through websites, mobile apps, and CTV applications, enhancing its influence in the digital news landscape.
- Industry Recognition: The Edward R. Murrow Awards, sponsored by the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA), honor outstanding achievements in broadcast and digital journalism, further elevating TEGNA's reputation within the industry.
See More
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- Employee Engagement Drive: The initiative, driven by nominations from Nexstar's 13,000 employees who submitted over 100 organizations, highlights the enthusiasm and involvement of staff in community service, further strengthening the company's ties with local communities.
- First Grant Recipients: The Opry Heritage Foundation and Spartanburg Humane Society are the first to receive $5,000 grants, with the former focused on transforming the lives of low-income children through music education and the latter dedicated to providing shelter and care for homeless animals, reflecting Nexstar's attention to diverse social needs.
- Enhanced Community Impact: Founder Perry Sook noted that expanding the '30 Days of Giving' initiative allows the company to support more organizations, thereby enhancing its impact in serving communities and advancing its strategic goals in corporate social responsibility.
See More
