The E. W. Scripps 2025 Q2 Earnings Net Loss Widens Significantly

The E. W. Scripps reported its fiscal 2025 Q2 earnings on Aug 8, 2025, delivering results that fell far below expectations. The company reported a net loss of $35.96 million, a dramatic 2,616.6% increase in losses compared to a net income of $1.43 million in the same period a year prior. Additionally, the company recorded a per-share loss of $0.59, marking a 293.3% increase in losses from $0.15 in 2024 Q2. Revenue declined by 6.1% to $530.93 million, and guidance for the remainder of the year reflects ongoing challenges across key segments.

Revenue
The E. W. Scripps generated $530.93 million in total revenue for Q2 2025, representing a 6.1% decline from $565.58 million in the prior-year quarter. The Local Media segment accounted for the largest portion of revenue, contributing $334.77 million. The Scripps Networks segment added $205.76 million, while the “Other” segment brought in $4.24 million. Adjustments for intersegment eliminations reduced the total operating revenue slightly to $540.08 million.

Earnings/Net Income
The company’s earnings performance deteriorated sharply in Q2 2025, as it reported a net loss of $35.96 million, compared to net income of $1.43 million in Q2 2024. On a per-share basis, the loss expanded to $0.59, up from $0.15 the prior year. This 2,616.6% increase in net loss indicates a severe downturn in profitability, signaling significant operational challenges.

Price Action
The E. W. Scripps stock continued to struggle in the post-earnings period. During the latest trading day, the stock price fell by 6.67%, and over the past week, it dropped by 13.10%. Month-to-date, the decline reached 36.52%, reflecting investor pessimism.

Post-Earnings Price Action Review
A strategy of buying The E. W. Scripps shares following the Q2 earnings report and holding for 30 days led to a substantial loss of -76.99%, significantly underperforming the benchmark return of 47.91%. This resulted in an excess return of -124.90% and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -39.08% over three years. The maximum drawdown of 0% indicates that while the initial loss was severe, the stock did not experience further declines after that point.

CEO Commentary
Adam P. Symson, CEO, acknowledged the company’s progress, including a station swap with Gray and new partnerships with the WNBA and NHL. He also highlighted a 1.5-turn reduction in debt leverage and successful refinancing efforts. While expressing optimism about leveraging deregulation to improve local coverage and profitability, Symson remained cautious due to economic uncertainty and advertiser hesitancy, particularly in the automotive sector. He expects a stronger Q4 as conditions stabilize.

Guidance
Looking ahead, The E. W. Scripps provided conservative guidance for Q3 2025. Local Media revenue is expected to decline in the mid- to high 20% range, with core advertising revenue remaining relatively flat. Local Media expenses are projected to fall in the low to mid-single-digit range. The Scripps Networks segment is anticipated to see a low single-digit revenue decline, with expenses decreasing in the mid-single-digit range. The “Other” segment is expected to remain near $22 million. For the full year, the company anticipates cash interest paid between $170–$175 million, capital expenditures of $45–$50 million, and cash taxes paid of $5–$10 million.

Additional News
In the weeks leading up to and following the earnings report, The E. W. Scripps saw limited M&A activity and no major C-level executive changes or buyback announcements. However, industry-wide trends, such as economic uncertainty and shifting advertiser priorities, continued to impact media companies. OpenAI’s recent release of GPT-5 and the broader AI development landscape also drew attention in the financial and tech sectors. Meanwhile, the company remained focused on improving its financial position through debt reduction and strategic partnerships.