TGNA Hits 20-Day Low Amid Trump Criticism
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Apr 11 2024
0mins
Should l Buy TGNA?
Shares of TGNA.N fell nearly 5% on Monday, hitting a 20-day low as market sentiment soured following President Trump's sharp criticism of a proposal to lift the local TV ownership cap. This technical breakdown signals increased bearish momentum, reflecting investor concerns over the future of Tegna's acquisition by Nexstar. Trump's remarks, labeling the cap lift a 'disaster' for conservatives, have raised significant doubts about the viability of the $3.54 billion deal, which is crucial for Nexstar to expand its reach to 80% of TV households. The uncertainty surrounding this transaction could hinder Nexstar's competitive position in the media landscape, further impacting Tegna's stock performance.
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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: 20.950
Low
22.00
Averages
22.00
High
22.00
Current: 20.950
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.
TEGNA Reports 2025 Financial Results with Revenue Decline
- Revenue Decline: TEGNA's total revenue for 2025 was $2.712 billion, a 13% decrease year-over-year primarily due to lower political advertising revenue, reflecting challenges in cyclical markets that impacted overall financial performance.
- Cost Control: GAAP operating expenses decreased by 2% to $2.269 billion, driven by core operational cost-cutting initiatives, demonstrating the company's efforts in managing costs despite revenue declines, aimed at enhancing profitability.
- Cash Flow Performance: The adjusted free cash flow for 2025 reached $316 million, aligning with the previously announced guidance range of $900 million to $1.1 billion, indicating robust cash flow management that enhances future investment flexibility.
- Acquisition Progress: TEGNA's acquisition by Nexstar Media Group, valued at $6.2 billion, is expected to close in the second half of 2026, showcasing the company's proactive strategic positioning despite facing regulatory approval challenges.
See More
TEGNA Reports Q4 Earnings Beat Expectations
- Earnings Beat: TEGNA's Q4 non-GAAP EPS of $0.50 exceeded expectations by $0.05, demonstrating the company's resilience in profitability despite market challenges.
- Revenue Decline: The company's Q4 revenue of $706.11 million fell 18.9% year-over-year but still beat estimates by $4.82 million, indicating effective cost management amid revenue pressures.
- Market Dynamics: With Trump's endorsement of the Nexstar-TEGNA deal, market sentiment towards TEGNA's future appears optimistic, potentially opening up more growth opportunities amidst regulatory uncertainties.
- Viewership Boost: The
See More
TEGNA Declares Quarterly Dividend of $0.125 per Share
- Quarterly Dividend Announcement: TEGNA has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.125 per share, consistent with previous distributions, indicating the company's stable cash flow and profitability, which is likely to attract income-seeking investors.
- Dividend Yield: The forward yield of 2.38% offers relative attractiveness in the current market environment, potentially increasing investor interest in the stock and supporting price stability.
- Shareholder Record Date: The dividend will be payable on April 1, with a record date of March 10 and an ex-dividend date also on March 10, ensuring shareholders receive timely returns and reinforcing their confidence in the company.
- Market Reaction Expectations: Amidst increasing regulatory uncertainty, TEGNA's dividend policy may be viewed as a signal of financial health, likely to have a positive impact on its stock price, especially following Trump's endorsement of the Nexstar deal.
See More
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.
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
TEGNA Reports 2025 Financial Results with Revenue Decline
- Revenue Decline: TEGNA's total revenue for 2025 was $2.712 billion, a 13% decrease year-over-year primarily due to lower political advertising revenue, reflecting challenges in cyclical markets that impacted overall financial performance.
- Cost Control: GAAP operating expenses decreased by 2% to $2.269 billion, driven by core operational cost-cutting initiatives, demonstrating the company's efforts in managing costs despite revenue declines, aimed at enhancing profitability.
- Cash Flow Performance: The adjusted free cash flow for 2025 reached $316 million, aligning with the previously announced guidance range of $900 million to $1.1 billion, indicating robust cash flow management that enhances future investment flexibility.
- Acquisition Progress: TEGNA's acquisition by Nexstar Media Group, valued at $6.2 billion, is expected to close in the second half of 2026, showcasing the company's proactive strategic positioning despite facing regulatory approval challenges.
See More
TEGNA Reports Q4 Earnings Beat Expectations
- Earnings Beat: TEGNA's Q4 non-GAAP EPS of $0.50 exceeded expectations by $0.05, demonstrating the company's resilience in profitability despite market challenges.
- Revenue Decline: The company's Q4 revenue of $706.11 million fell 18.9% year-over-year but still beat estimates by $4.82 million, indicating effective cost management amid revenue pressures.
- Market Dynamics: With Trump's endorsement of the Nexstar-TEGNA deal, market sentiment towards TEGNA's future appears optimistic, potentially opening up more growth opportunities amidst regulatory uncertainties.
- Viewership Boost: The
See More
TEGNA Declares Quarterly Dividend of $0.125 per Share
- Quarterly Dividend Announcement: TEGNA has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.125 per share, consistent with previous distributions, indicating the company's stable cash flow and profitability, which is likely to attract income-seeking investors.
- Dividend Yield: The forward yield of 2.38% offers relative attractiveness in the current market environment, potentially increasing investor interest in the stock and supporting price stability.
- Shareholder Record Date: The dividend will be payable on April 1, with a record date of March 10 and an ex-dividend date also on March 10, ensuring shareholders receive timely returns and reinforcing their confidence in the company.
- Market Reaction Expectations: Amidst increasing regulatory uncertainty, TEGNA's dividend policy may be viewed as a signal of financial health, likely to have a positive impact on its stock price, especially following Trump's endorsement of the Nexstar deal.
See More
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.
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
