Performance Comparison and Factors Impacting TEGNA Shares
TEGNA (TGNA) shares have seen a 9% decline year to date (YTD), trailing behind the Consumer Discretionary Sector which appreciated by 2.4%. This underperformance is also evident when compared to peers like Netflix (NFLX), Fox (FOXA), and Nexstar Media Group (NXST), all of which have shown positive gains over the same period.
The decrease in TEGNA’s stock value can be attributed to various factors such as reduced subscription revenues, disruptions in service with distribution partners, and sluggish Advertising and Marketing Services (AMS) revenues. These challenges have hindered top-line growth and impacted operating income adversely.
However, the company anticipates a revival in the third quarter, driven by strong political ad spending and the upcoming Summer Olympics. Despite the hurdles in subscription and advertising revenue growth, TEGNA’s stringent cost control measures have been a positive aspect for investors.
Premion’s Contribution to TEGNA’s Growth
TEGNA’s integration of Octillion with Premion, its cutting-edge CTV/OTT advertising platform, has significantly broadened its capabilities. This move has allowed the company to expand its reach in running streaming CTV advertising campaigns. Although national Premion revenues faced challenges, strong political advertising revenues are expected to fuel Premion’s growth in the future.
Further bolstering its position, TEGNA recently forged strategic agreements with reputed entities like the Dallas Mavericks and NBC for the broadcast rights of major events, amplifying its broadcasting presence across millions of viewers. Despite facing subscriber declines, contractual rate increases have positively impacted the company’s top-line growth.
Analysts’ Earnings Estimate and Investment Recommendations
Analysts have expressed a downward trend in their earnings estimates for TEGNA for both the third quarter and full year of 2024 over the past month. While revenue estimates suggest a year-over-year growth, the consensus for earnings has slightly decreased.
Despite being undervalued according to its Value Score of A, the near-term challenges related to subscription and AMS revenues may keep TEGNA’s prospects subdued. With a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold), investors could consider waiting for a more opportune moment to enter the market.