Key Highlights

  • Full-year 2026 political Advertising guidance was raised to about USD 275 million from USD 225 million to USD 250 million.
  • Third-quarter political Revenue came in at nearly USD 81 million.
  • About 850 Job reductions were completed in 2026, nearly 20% of the workforce at the start of the year.
  • Annual run-rate savings of about USD 100 million are targeted by the end of 2026.
  • Cash was USD 83 million at the end of the third quarter, with at least USD 150 million of Debt paydown planned for the fourth quarter.

What Moved Scripps Before the Open (up USD 0.2101, 7.81%)

E.W. Scripps (NASDAQ:SSP) was up USD 0.2101, or 7.81%, to USD 2.90 in pre-market trading on November 4, 2026, after closing at about USD 2.69 on Tuesday, November 3. No new company announcement dated November 3 or November 4 was identified, so the jump appears to reflect positioning before Earnings and the timing of U.S. midterm election day.

The company said it will release third-quarter 2026 results after the market close on Thursday, November 5, 2026, with a management call following on November 6. Local broadcasters such as Scripps collect heavy political advertising in election years, which makes the coming report and the fourth-quarter outlook a focus.

The October 28 Update in Detail

In a press release dated October 28, 2026, Scripps raised its full-year Local Media political advertising guidance to about USD 275 million, roughly 40% above the 2022 midterm figure. The prior guide, given in August, was USD 225 million to USD 250 million. Third-quarter political revenue was nearly USD 81 million.

The release also said the company completed 431 further workforce reductions on October 27, 2026, bringing the 2026 total to about 850. Management expects annual run-rate savings of about USD 100 million by year-end, with the effect most visible from fourth-quarter results. A broader transformation plan targets USD 125 million to USD 150 million of enterprise EBITDA growth by 2028.

Business Background and Expectations

Scripps is a U.S. media company that owns local television stations and runs national networks and news businesses. Its second-quarter 2026 revenue was USD 490.4 million with a loss of USD 0.34 per share. Consensus estimates compiled from market data sources point to third-quarter revenue of about USD 545 million and a loss of USD 0.08 per share, compared with USD 525.9 million and a loss of USD 0.40 a year earlier. Those are third-party estimates, not company guidance.

Revenue growth of about 3.7% implied by that consensus is calculated from the two revenue figures. Political advertising is lumpy and falls away in odd-numbered years, so investors are likely to focus on the core advertising trend and retransmission revenue alongside the political windfall.

Balance Sheet, Risks and What to Watch

Scripps ended the third quarter with USD 83 million in cash. The company said it plans a debt paydown of at least USD 150 million in the fourth quarter, funded by cash on hand and political receipts. Leverage has been a long running concern for the sector, so progress on that paydown matters.

Trading below USD 5 is a Penny Stock zone, where Volatility is high, Liquidity can be thin and shareholders may face dilution if Capital is raised. A pre-market gain on no fresh news can fade at the open.

On November 5, watch the reported political revenue, the Margin effect of the cost cuts, fourth-quarter commentary and any update on debt reduction. The result against the consensus loss of USD 0.08 per share will frame trading on November 6.