Key Highlights

  • Versant's $0.375 quarterly dividend goes ex-dividend October 1, 2026 and is payable October 22 to shareholders of record.
  • Second-quarter revenue was $1.644 billion versus $1.708 billion, with GAAP net income attributable to Versant of $211 million versus $302 million.
  • Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, was $624 million versus $685 million, and six-month operating cash flow was $967 million.
  • The company completed a $100 million accelerated share repurchase and raised full-year 2026 revenue and adjusted EBITDA guidance.

Overview

Versant Media Group, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:VSNT) $0.375 quarterly dividend, declared August 6, 2026, yields 4.66%. The company returned $105 million through dividends and repurchased $200 million of stock in the first half, and completed a $100 million accelerated share repurchase. Second-quarter GAAP net income attributable to Versant was $211 million, and free cash flow guidance for 2026 is $1.0 billion to $1.2 billion.

Dividend Program and Shareholder Returns

Versant's board declared a third-quarter 2026 common dividend of $0.375 per share on August 6, 2026, payable October 22 to shareholders of record on October 1.

The second-quarter release records $200 million of year-to-date share repurchases and $105 million returned through dividends. The company completed a $100 million accelerated share repurchase and announced another planned $100 million accelerated share repurchase. No special dividend was declared in the second-quarter announcement.

About the Company

Versant Media Group is a media and entertainment company with television, news, sports and entertainment brands, separated from Comcast. It generates revenue from distribution agreements, advertising and other media activities. The business is exposed to pay-TV subscriber trends, contractual affiliate rates, advertising markets, programming costs and digital platform growth.

Financial Performance Behind the Payout

Versant reported second-quarter revenue of $1.644 billion, compared with $1.708 billion. GAAP net income attributable to Versant was $211 million, compared with $302 million. Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, was $624 million, compared with $685 million.

For six months, revenue was $3.331 billion, net income attributable to Versant was $497 million, adjusted EBITDA was $1.328 billion and operating cash flow was $967 million.

Management said the second-quarter adjusted EBITDA comparison was affected by lower revenue, while standalone adjusted EBITDA increased 3.0%, supported by lower programming and SG&A costs.

Guidance and Capital Returns Behind the Dividend

Versant raised full-year 2026 revenue guidance to $6.2 billion to $6.45 billion and adjusted EBITDA guidance to $1.9 billion to $2.05 billion, and maintained free cash flow guidance of $1.0 billion to $1.2 billion. These are management's outlook figures, not historical results.

The company's capital returns in the first half combined $105 million of dividends with $200 million of share repurchases, including the completed $100 million accelerated share repurchase.

GAAP net income attributable to Versant of $211 million and adjusted EBITDA of $624 million are reported separately.

Outlook

Versant guides 2026 revenue to $6.2 billion to $6.45 billion, adjusted EBITDA to $1.9 billion to $2.05 billion and free cash flow to $1.0 billion to $1.2 billion. Pay-TV subscriber trends and the second planned $100 million accelerated share repurchase are the other items the company reports.