Charles L. Barmonde, who serves as a director of The E.W. Scripps Company and holds a ten percent ownership stake, executed a Class A Common Share purchase on March 3, 2026. He acquired 40,000 shares at $3.9081 per share, for a total outlay of $156,324.
Since that acquisition the stock has traded higher, reaching $4.14 and representing a 177.7% gain over the last 12 months. An InvestingPro valuation cited in the company analysis places SSP's Fair Value at $4.76, with the shares trading at a low Price/Book ratio of 0.44 according to that assessment.
Following the March transaction, Barmonde's direct holdings stand at 0 shares of Class A Common Shares and 0 shares of Common Voting Shares. Indirectly, through a Revocable Living Trust, he holds 740,069 Class A Common Shares and 585,666 Common Voting Shares. The same trust also holds 90,673 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) that are scheduled to vest in 2026 and convert into Class A Common Shares.
On the operational front, Scripps reported fourth-quarter 2025 results that outperformed consensus. The company posted an earnings per share figure of -$0.1829, compared with an expected -$0.33, registering a 44.58% surprise to the upside. Revenue for the quarter came in at $560.26 million versus anticipated revenue of $552.82 million.
Separately, Scripps disclosed an agreement to acquire WTVQ, the ABC affiliate in Lexington, Kentucky, for $15.8 million. That transaction is subject to federal regulatory approvals and, if completed, would pair WTVQ with Scripps' existing NBC affiliate in Lexington, WLEX, creating a duopoly in that market.
The company also finalized the sale of WFTX, its Fox-affiliated station in Fort Myers, Florida, to Sun Broadcasting for $40 million. Scripps indicated plans to apply the proceeds from that sale to reduce debt.
Benchmark recently adjusted its outlook on Scripps, raising the price target from $8 to $10 while keeping a Buy rating. The firm highlighted the company’s emphasis on organic growth initiatives under CEO Adam Symson.
These developments - an insider purchase, better-than-expected quarter, an acquisition pending regulatory approval, and a completed station sale with planned debt reduction - collectively outline Scripps' current corporate activity and capital allocation steps. The InvestingPro fair value estimate and the updated analyst target reflect differing valuation perspectives as market participants reassess the stock amid these operational moves.