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Nexstar Media Group (NXST)
NASDAQ:NXST

Nexstar Media Group (NXST) AI Stock Analysis

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Nexstar Media Group

(NASDAQ:NXST)

Rating:80Outperform
Price Target:
$203.00
▲( 18.90% Upside)
Nexstar Media Group scores a solid 80, driven by strong profitability and cash flow, positive technical indicators, and attractive valuation. The company's strategic initiatives in sports programming and distribution are promising, but challenges remain with declining advertising revenue. Overall, the stock presents a balanced mix of growth potential and risks.
Positive Factors
Financial Performance
Nexstar deserves credit for exceeding consensus on every revenue metric, with significant improvement in digital revenue and a revenue beat in the non-political advertising segment.
Operational Efficiency
The company's ability to turn a revenue beat into a significant EBITDA beat demonstrates strong operational efficiency and management.
Revenue Diversification
The diversification of revenue away from ad spend helps provide some insulation from economic challenges.
Negative Factors
Advertising Revenue
Excluding political, ad revenues were 4% lower YOY, and non-political ads are expected to dip mid-single digits in the second quarter.
Forecast and Price Target
The forecast and price target have been tweaked down to be slightly below the street, with some timing factors included.
Market Performance
The share performance is flat year-over-year, right in the middle of the pack, with highly leveraged names generally doing better.

Nexstar Media Group (NXST) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Nexstar Media Group Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionNexstar Media Group, Inc. (NXST) is a leading diversified media company headquartered in the United States. It operates in the broadcast and digital media sectors, primarily focusing on television broadcasting. Nexstar owns, operates, or provides services to numerous television stations across the country, making it one of the largest local television station operators in the U.S. The company also provides digital media services and produces local and national news content, reaching millions of viewers daily.
How the Company Makes MoneyNexstar Media Group generates revenue through several key streams. The primary source is advertising revenue, garnered from selling commercial airtime on its television stations to local and national advertisers. The company also earns significant subscription fees from cable and satellite operators who pay to carry Nexstar's local television channels. Additionally, Nexstar capitalizes on its digital media services, which include online advertising and content distribution. Political advertising during election cycles also contributes significantly to its earnings. Moreover, the company benefits from retransmission consent agreements and lucrative partnerships with major networks and content providers, which further bolster its financial performance.

Nexstar Media Group Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Nexstar Media Group's financial performance is marked by high profitability and cash generation capacity, making it a strong player in the entertainment industry. The company is effectively utilizing its equity but carries a significant amount of debt, which could pose risks if not managed carefully. While the revenue shows a slight decline, the company maintains robust margins and cash flow ratios, reflecting operational efficiency.
Income Statement
80
Positive
Nexstar Media Group shows strong profitability with a gross profit margin of 58.5% and a net profit margin of 12.2% for TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months). The EBIT margin stands at 22.6%, and the EBITDA margin is robust at 39.5%. However, revenue has slightly decreased compared to the previous annual period, indicating a potential area of concern for growth sustainability.
Balance Sheet
72
Positive
The company's balance sheet reflects a moderate debt-to-equity ratio of 2.91, indicating a reliance on debt financing. Return on equity is relatively strong at 29.2%, showcasing efficient equity utilization. However, the equity ratio is on the lower side at 19.7%, suggesting higher leverage which could pose financial risk.
Cash Flow
85
Very Positive
Nexstar Media Group demonstrates healthy cash flow with a free cash flow growth rate of 6.3% compared to the previous annual period. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is at 2.00, signaling strong cash generation relative to earnings. Furthermore, the free cash flow to net income ratio is high at 1.79, indicating excellent cash flow management.
Breakdown
TTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
5.36B5.41B4.93B5.21B4.65B4.50B
Gross Profit
3.13B3.19B2.81B3.21B2.80B2.79B
EBIT
1.21B1.27B708.00M1.31B1.18B1.38B
EBITDA
2.12B2.21B1.79B2.22B1.96B2.00B
Net Income Common Stockholders
655.00M722.00M346.00M971.00M834.00M811.50M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
237.00M144.00M147.00M204.10M190.87M152.70M
Total Assets
11.95B11.47B12.08B12.68B13.26B13.40B
Total Debt
6.85B6.52B7.13B7.00B7.46B7.67B
Net Debt
6.62B6.38B6.98B6.80B7.27B7.52B
Total Liabilities
9.60B9.20B9.77B9.91B10.41B10.87B
Stockholders Equity
2.32B2.26B2.30B2.74B2.85B2.52B
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
1.18B1.10B850.00M1.25B1.06B1.04B
Operating Cash Flow
1.31B1.25B999.00M1.40B1.21B1.25B
Investing Cash Flow
-159.00M-102.00M-173.00M125.20M-232.10M-39.75M
Financing Cash Flow
-1.14B-1.15B-899.00M-1.51B-945.56M-1.29B

Nexstar Media Group Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price170.73
Price Trends
50DMA
162.30
Positive
100DMA
158.48
Positive
200DMA
160.35
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
5.02
Negative
RSI
61.08
Neutral
STOCH
76.48
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For NXST, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 170.73 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 160.55, above the 50-day MA of 162.30, and above the 200-day MA of 160.35, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 5.02 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 61.08 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 76.48 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for NXST.

Nexstar Media Group Risk Analysis

Nexstar Media Group disclosed 23 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Nexstar Media Group reported the most risks in the “Finance & Corporate” category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 1 New Risks
1.
We may face challenges in protecting our intellectual property (IP) and defending against infringement claims. Q4, 2024

Nexstar Media Group Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (60)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
81
Outperform
$24.38B14.0516.89%0.95%15.70%26.73%
80
Outperform
$5.30B8.6428.46%3.94%8.00%71.49%
74
Outperform
$16.88B33.195.88%0.70%-5.43%135.46%
67
Neutral
$1.02B7.4534.07%6.80%11.62%
60
Neutral
$14.06B6.51-3.76%3.69%2.48%-35.40%
53
Neutral
$8.45B-28.56%0.88%-4.50%-898.86%
* Communication Services Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
NXST
Nexstar Media Group
170.73
16.17
10.46%
NWSA
News Corp
27.94
2.18
8.46%
SBGI
Sinclair Broadcast
14.16
1.59
12.65%
FOXA
Fox
55.14
22.50
68.93%
PARAA
Paramount Global
22.57
0.81
3.72%

Nexstar Media Group Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:May 08, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: 10.68%|
Next Earnings Date:Aug 07, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
Nexstar's first quarter results show a company successfully navigating industry challenges with record distribution revenue and strong performance in their CW and NewsNation segments. However, these achievements are tempered by declines in net revenue and advertising revenue, particularly in nonpolitical advertising. The company's strategic focus on sports programming, deregulation, and M&A opportunities highlights a forward-looking growth strategy, yet financial pressures from decreased advertising revenue remain a concern.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record First Quarter Distribution Revenue
Nexstar achieved a record first quarter distribution revenue of $762 million, which increased by $1 million or 0.1% over the prior year quarter.
CW's Strongest Primetime Performance
The CW's primetime ratings in the first quarter of 2025 marked the strongest performance in eight quarters, surpassing other broadcast networks 74 times in key demos.
NewsNation Audience Growth
NewsNation continued to build momentum, growing its audience every month of the first quarter of 2025, and outperformed MSNBC and CNN in the key adult 25 to 54 demo.
Significant Sports Programming Success
CW Sports now includes over 400 hours of live sports programming annually, with NASCAR Xfinity series averaging over 1.2 million viewers, a 19% increase year-over-year.
Strong Financial Position
Nexstar's first quarter adjusted EBITDA was $381 million with a 30.9% margin and a reduction in net interest expense by $17 million compared to the prior year.
Negative Updates
Decline in Net Revenues
First quarter net revenues were $1.23 billion, a decline of 3.9% compared to the prior year, primarily due to a reduction in political advertising.
Decrease in Advertising Revenue
Advertising revenue of $460 million decreased by $52 million or 10.2% over the prior year, with significant pullbacks in the insurance and automotive categories.
Increased Losses at The CW
The CW's profitability in Q1 declined by mid-teens million due to additional sports programming and amortization that weren't present in the same quarter last year.
Company Guidance
During Nexstar Media Group's First Quarter 2025 Conference Call, guidance reflected a focus on deregulation and strategic consolidation to drive value. The company reported first quarter net revenue of $1.23 billion, a 3.9% decline due to reduced political advertising. However, record first quarter distribution revenue of $762 million, a 0.1% increase, highlighted growth in vMVPD subscribers and CW affiliations. The revenue mix included 63% from distribution and other sources, and 37% from nonpolitical advertising, with digital advertising contributing one-fifth of the latter. Nexstar also emphasized the CW's profitability efforts, citing the network's strongest primetime performance in eight quarters, partly due to successful sports programming. Looking ahead, the company plans to renew distribution agreements covering 60% of its subscriber base and continue share repurchases as part of its capital allocation strategy.

Nexstar Media Group Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
Dennis FitzSimons to Resign from Nexstar Board
Neutral
Mar 26, 2025

On March 21, 2025, Dennis FitzSimons announced his decision not to seek re-election as a director of Nexstar Media Group, Inc. He will complete his current term and resign from the Board and its Audit Committee at the 2025 annual stockholders meeting. His resignation is not due to any disagreement with Nexstar’s management or Board regarding the company’s operations, policies, or practices.

Glossary
OutperformA stock rated as "Outperform" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider this stock a good buying opportunity.
NeutralA stock rated as "Neutral" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly attractive nor unattractive for investment. Investors may consider holding onto the stock, as it is not expected to either significantly outperform or underperform the market.
UnderperformA stock rated as "Underperform" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock may deliver lower returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider selling the stock or avoiding it as an investment.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.