Trump Endorses Nexstar's $6.2 Billion Tegna Acquisition
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1h ago
0mins
Should l Buy TGNA?
Source: CNBC
- Trump's Endorsement: Trump publicly supports Nexstar's $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna on social media, emphasizing that it will enhance competition and combat 'fake news,' indicating a significant shift in his stance on media consolidation.
- Deal Size and Coverage: Through this acquisition, Nexstar will add 64 TV stations, covering approximately 80% of U.S. households, thereby strengthening its position in the media market and enhancing its competitive edge against Big Tech.
- Regulatory Challenges: For the deal to proceed, Nexstar must have the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) lift the restriction on companies owning stations that reach more than 39% of households, which poses a potential hurdle for the transaction's completion.
- Industry Consolidation Trend: This acquisition is part of a broader trend of media consolidation, with Nexstar's CEO stating that broadcast news is essential for democracy, and the acquisition will position the company favorably in competition with large tech firms.
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Analyst Views on TGNA
Wall Street analysts forecast TGNA stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for TGNA is 22.00 USD with a low forecast of 22.00 USD and a high forecast of 22.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
2 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 19.010
Low
22.00
Averages
22.00
High
22.00
Current: 19.010
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's Endorsement: Trump publicly supports Nexstar's $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna on social media, emphasizing that it will enhance competition and combat 'fake news,' indicating a significant shift in his stance on media consolidation.
- Deal Size and Coverage: Through this acquisition, Nexstar will add 64 TV stations, covering approximately 80% of U.S. households, thereby strengthening its position in the media market and enhancing its competitive edge against Big Tech.
- Regulatory Challenges: For the deal to proceed, Nexstar must have the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) lift the restriction on companies owning stations that reach more than 39% of households, which poses a potential hurdle for the transaction's completion.
- Industry Consolidation Trend: This acquisition is part of a broader trend of media consolidation, with Nexstar's CEO stating that broadcast news is essential for democracy, and the acquisition will position the company favorably in competition with large tech firms.
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- Trump's Endorsement: Trump expressed his support for Nexstar's $6.2 billion acquisition of TEGNA on social media, asserting that the deal would enhance competition and help combat 'Fake News,' thereby improving the overall quality and transparency of the media industry.
- Deal Context Analysis: This acquisition aims to strengthen Nexstar's competitive position in the media market by integrating resources and enhancing content quality, particularly in the face of increasing market competition and regulatory uncertainties.
- Market Reaction Expectations: Trump's backing may alleviate market concerns regarding the deal, boosting investor confidence and potentially attracting more capital to Nexstar, which could drive its stock price higher.
- Industry Competitive Landscape Shift: Upon completion of the acquisition, Nexstar will be able to expand its influence nationwide, enhancing its status in mainstream media, which may trigger a wave of consolidation among other media companies, reshaping the industry landscape.
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- Award Recognition: TEGNA's WXIA (11Alive) received the 2026 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for its investigative report 'Help That Harms,' highlighting its excellence in broadcast journalism and its critical role in exposing child abuse allegations.
- Investigative Impact: The investigation uncovered a troubling pattern where parents bringing infants to the ER were often accused of abuse, leading to the passage of 'Ridge's Law' in Georgia, which legally empowers parents to seek a second medical opinion, enhancing the transparency of the child welfare system.
- Systemic Reforms: Findings from the report prompted the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services to improve its review processes for abuse cases, increasing oversight and consistency, thereby ensuring better protection for families and demonstrating the power of journalism in driving social change.
- Team Efforts: The dedicated work of the 11Alive team, through rigorous investigation and courageous reporting, sparked statewide dialogue and empowered families and physicians to challenge questionable abuse allegations, reflecting the journalists' commitment to serving their communities and holding institutions accountable.
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- Video Consumption Surge: TEGNA's new mobile app saw video plays increase by over tenfold during testing, with user sessions rising by 40%, indicating strong demand and engagement for real-time local news.
- 24/7 Newsroom Transformation: By transforming local stations into 24/7 story-first newsrooms, TEGNA enhances the speed and accuracy of news delivery, thereby increasing user trust and connection to their communities.
- Personalized User Experience: The new app features a personalized home feed that allows users to quickly access the most important local news and weather based on their interests and location, boosting user retention and satisfaction.
- Technology-Driven Content Creation: TEGNA reimagined the software powering local teams, leveraging cutting-edge technology to free up more time for original content creation, ensuring true 24/7 news coverage across all screens.
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- Dillard's Stock Performance: Between December 2020 and December 2025, Dillard's shares surged over 1200%, outperforming the S&P 500, Nvidia, and Bitcoin, showcasing its strong post-pandemic recovery and market competitiveness.
- Dividend Policy Advantage: With a 15-year track record of dividend growth averaging 12.9% annually over the past five years, combined with a forward yield of 4.8%, Dillard's is expected to continue delivering solid capital returns in the future.
- Nexstar's Profitability: As the largest owner of broadcast television stations in the U.S., Nexstar has successfully enhanced profitability through aggressive cost-cutting, currently boasting a forward dividend yield of 3.5% and a payout ratio of only 45%, providing ample cash flow for future acquisitions and debt repayment.
- Target's Turnaround Potential: Target's stock has rallied over the past year, with a forward yield of 4.1% and a payout ratio nearing 60%, while its 57 years of consecutive dividend growth, coupled with pressure from activist hedge funds, may further enhance management's turnaround efforts, positively impacting share price and dividend growth prospects.
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- Outstanding Stock Performance: Dillard's stock has surged over 1200% in the past five years, significantly outperforming the S&P 500, Nvidia, and Bitcoin, reflecting strong market performance and investor confidence.
- Sustained Dividend Growth: With a 15-year track record of dividend growth averaging 12.9% annually over the last five years, Dillard's is expected to maintain a forward yield of 4.8%, enhancing investor return expectations.
- Nexstar Acquisition Potential: Nexstar Broadcast Group has successfully improved profitability through aggressive cost-cutting, currently boasting a forward dividend yield of 3.5%, with potential earnings growth from the pending Tegna acquisition.
- Target Shareholder Activism: Target, a Dividend King with 57 years of consecutive dividend growth and a forward yield of 4.1%, may see accelerated transformation efforts due to pressure from activist hedge fund Toms Capital, potentially boosting share price and dividend growth.
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