Trump Endorses Nexstar's Acquisition of Tegna
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 07 2026
0mins
Should l Buy TGNA?
Source: CNBC
Tegna Inc. shares surged by 9.12% as the stock reached a 20-day high amid positive market sentiment following Trump's endorsement of Nexstar's $6.2 billion acquisition of the company.
The endorsement from Trump, who previously opposed the deal, indicates a significant shift in his stance, suggesting that the acquisition will enhance competition in the media sector. This acquisition will allow Nexstar to control over 200 TV stations, covering approximately 80% of U.S. households, thereby strengthening its competitive edge against major tech firms. However, the deal is contingent upon regulatory approval from the FCC to lift the ownership cap, which poses a potential hurdle.
The market reacted positively to the news, reflecting bullish sentiment towards the acquisition, which is part of a broader trend of media consolidation. This deal is expected to reshape the competitive landscape in the media industry, positioning Nexstar favorably against its competitors.
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Analyst Views on TGNA
Wall Street analysts forecast TGNA stock price to rise
2 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 20.880
Low
22.00
Averages
22.00
High
22.00
Current: 20.880
Low
22.00
Averages
22.00
High
22.00
About TGNA
Tegna Inc. serves local communities across the United States through journalism, content, and tools to help people navigate their daily lives. The Company is a producer of local news, producing more than 1,700 hours of news per week. Through its network affiliation and local sports rights agreements, it carries sports content, which includes professional and collegiate sports and the Olympics. It also owns multicast networks True Crime Network and Quest. Each television station has a digital presence across online, mobile, connected television, streaming and social platforms, reaching consumers on all devices and platforms they use to consume news content. It delivers results for advertisers across television, digital, connected TV (CTV) and streaming app platforms, including Premion, its streaming app and CTV advertising network. Premion and Gray Television, Inc. (Gray) are in a commercial arrangement under which Gray resells Premion services across all of Gray’s television markets.
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.
Trump Backs Nexstar's $3.54B Tegna Acquisition Amid Regulatory Changes
- Support and Opposition: President Trump initially backed Nexstar's $3.54 billion acquisition of Tegna but later opposed it in November, citing concerns over increased influence for left-leaning networks, highlighting the significant impact of political factors on media consolidation.
- FCC Chair's Position: FCC Chair Brendan Carr expressed support for the transaction and indicated that it would move forward, although he did not clarify whether it would receive backing from the full commission, which could affect the approval process for the deal.
- Regulatory Changes: The National Association of Broadcasters has urged the FCC to eliminate its 85-year-old nationwide television ownership regulation, arguing that it creates an uneven playing field, potentially paving the way for Nexstar and Tegna's merger and reflecting the industry's urgent need for regulatory reform.
- Market Reaction: Nexstar and Tegna shares have risen 56% and 15.6% respectively over the past year, indicating investor optimism regarding the merger prospects, although retail sentiment on Stocktwits remained neutral in the past 24 hours, suggesting a cautious outlook on future developments.
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- Technology Utilization: The company plans to leverage artificial intelligence to optimize news gathering processes, alleviating administrative burdens on journalists, thereby allowing them to focus more on reporting and improving news quality and responsiveness.
- Financial Outlook: Scripps expects its financial performance in 2026 to be bolstered by significant events such as midterm elections and the Winter Olympics, further solidifying its advertising revenue in the local broadcast market.
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- Support and Opposition: President Trump initially backed Nexstar's $3.54 billion acquisition of Tegna but later opposed it in November, citing concerns over increased influence for left-leaning networks, highlighting the significant impact of political factors on media consolidation.
- FCC Chair's Position: FCC Chair Brendan Carr expressed support for the transaction and indicated that it would move forward, although he did not clarify whether it would receive backing from the full commission, which could affect the approval process for the deal.
- Regulatory Changes: The National Association of Broadcasters has urged the FCC to eliminate its 85-year-old nationwide television ownership regulation, arguing that it creates an uneven playing field, potentially paving the way for Nexstar and Tegna's merger and reflecting the industry's urgent need for regulatory reform.
- Market Reaction: Nexstar and Tegna shares have risen 56% and 15.6% respectively over the past year, indicating investor optimism regarding the merger prospects, although retail sentiment on Stocktwits remained neutral in the past 24 hours, suggesting a cautious outlook on future developments.
See More
E.W. Scripps Launches Transformation Plan for Growth
- Transformation Goals: E.W. Scripps aims to achieve annual enterprise EBITDA growth of $125 million to $150 million by 2028 through technology-driven cost savings and revenue growth measures, intending to enhance overall operational efficiency.
- Technology Utilization: The company plans to leverage artificial intelligence to optimize news gathering processes, alleviating administrative burdens on journalists, thereby allowing them to focus more on reporting and improving news quality and responsiveness.
- Financial Outlook: Scripps expects its financial performance in 2026 to be bolstered by significant events such as midterm elections and the Winter Olympics, further solidifying its advertising revenue in the local broadcast market.
- Industry Challenges: In the face of challenges within the traditional broadcasting sector, Scripps rejected a merger proposal from Sinclair, emphasizing sustainable growth through smaller transactions and internal restructuring, demonstrating a commitment to innovation in a competitive market.
See More
US Stocks Rise on Monday as Tech Stocks Rebound
- Market Recovery: The S&P 500 Index rose by 0.47% on Monday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average hitting an all-time high, indicating a strong recovery in the market following rebounds in tech stocks and chipmakers, reflecting investor confidence in economic recovery.
- Precious Metals Surge: Mining stocks rallied as gold prices increased by 2% and silver surged over 6%, with Coeur Mining and Hecla Mining gaining more than 7% and 5% respectively, highlighting the positive impact of strong performance in the precious metals market on related stocks.
- Earnings Season Insights: More than half of S&P 500 companies have reported earnings, with 79% exceeding expectations, and Q4 earnings growth projected at 8.4%, which is likely to further boost market sentiment and enhance investor confidence.
- Economic Data Focus: The market will closely watch upcoming economic data releases, including the employment cost index and retail sales figures, which are expected to significantly influence future monetary policy and market trends.
See More
US Stocks Rebound as Tech Shares Recover
- Market Recovery: The S&P 500 Index rose by 0.46%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 0.09%, and the Nasdaq 100 climbed by 0.61%, indicating a rebound in the market driven by recovering tech and chipmaker stocks, reflecting investor confidence in economic growth.
- Mining Stocks Surge: Gold prices increased by over 1% and silver prices jumped more than 6%, boosting mining stocks with Coeur Mining up over 6% and Freeport McMoRan up more than 5%, suggesting rising investor demand for precious metals amid inflation concerns.
- Positive Earnings Outlook: Over 79% of S&P 500 companies that reported earnings exceeded expectations, with Q4 earnings growth projected at 8.4%, marking the tenth consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth, indicating sustained corporate profitability that could further drive stock market gains.
- Economic Data Focus: The market is closely watching upcoming employment and inflation data, with January nonfarm payrolls expected to rise by 69,000 and the unemployment rate to remain at 4.4%, as these figures will influence investor expectations regarding future monetary policy, potentially leading to market volatility.
See More
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- Dow Jones Decline: The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell slightly by 0.07% to 50,078.58, suggesting a relative weakness in traditional sectors, which may affect overall market sentiment.
- Sally Beauty Earnings Beat: Sally Beauty Holdings Inc (NYSE:SBH) reported an adjusted EPS of 48 cents for Q1, surpassing market expectations of 46 cents, with quarterly sales of $943.168 million exceeding the anticipated $940.150 million, demonstrating the company's resilience in a competitive market.
- Commodity Market Movements: On Monday, oil prices increased by 0.8% to $64.05, gold rose by 2.2% to $5,088.80, and silver surged by 7.9% to $82.94, reflecting heightened demand for safe-haven assets, which could influence future investment strategies.
See More
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- Tech Stock Retreat: Technology stocks are broadly down today, contributing to a 0.03% decline in the S&P 500, a 0.34% drop in the Dow Jones, and a 0.17% decrease in the Nasdaq 100, reflecting a cautious investor sentiment following last Friday's sharp gains.
- Bond Yield Pressure: Rising US bond yields, with the 10-year T-note yield up 2 basis points to 4.22%, are exacerbated by Chinese regulators instructing banks to reduce their US debt holdings, reviving concerns over the haven status of US assets and potentially impacting investor confidence.
- Earnings Season Insights: More than half of S&P 500 companies have reported earnings, with 79% exceeding expectations, and Q4 earnings growth is projected at 8.4%, marking the tenth consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth, indicating resilience in corporate earnings and potential market support.
- Economic Data Focus: The market is set to focus on upcoming economic data, including a projected 0.8% increase in the employment cost index on Tuesday and a 2.5% year-over-year rise in the consumer price index on Friday, which will provide guidance on future economic trends.
See More
