Sinclair (NASDAQ:SBGI) Issues Quarterly Earnings Results, Beats Expectations By $0.33 EPS

Sinclair (NASDAQ:SBGI) issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday. The company reported $0.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.27 by $0.33, FiscalAI reports. Sinclair had a net margin of 1.60% and a negative return on equity of 16.09%. The company had revenue of $893.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $874.21 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned ($0.02) earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 15.5% on a year-over-year basis.

Here are the key takeaways from Sinclair’s conference call:

• Sinclair expects record 2026 political revenue of approximately $455 million, up 37% from the 2022 midterm cycle and well above its prior outlook. Third-quarter revenue rose 16% to $893 million and Adjusted EBITDA more than doubled; the company raised full-year Adjusted EBITDA guidance by $85 million at the midpoint.
• Distribution revenue increased 1% as subscriber churn moderated, and Sinclair reduced debt by about $355 million year to date. STG net leverage fell to 5.1x from 6.0x a year earlier, with management prioritizing further debt reduction.
• Core advertising revenue declined 4% in the quarter amid political crowd-out and cautious, cost-pressured advertisers. Management also flagged 2027 headwinds, including no Olympics or World Cup and uncertainty around the MLB season.
• Tennis Channel’s core revenue grew 21%, supported by audience gains and D2C subscriber growth, while the company plans new apps and continued streaming investment. Tennis Adjusted EBITDA fell about $1 million as programming, production, and platform investment costs increased.
• Sinclair will not separate Ventures on a standalone basis, citing the value of strategic flexibility, but says a larger broadcast transaction that could include a spin-merge remains under consideration. Management also expects further station-optimization deals, while noting larger broadcast M&A may depend on resolution of the Nexstar–TEGNA situation.

Sinclair Stock Performance

Shares of SBGI stock traded down $0.12 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $13.98. 1,086,824 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 483,116. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $13.16 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $14.05. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.63 and a beta of 1.24. Sinclair has a 12-month low of $11.83 and a 12-month high of $17.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 13.28, a quick ratio of 1.94 and a current ratio of 1.94.

Sinclair Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 1st will be issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 1st. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.2%. Sinclair’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 133.33%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Sinclair

In related news, EVP David Gibber sold 29,246 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $13.74, for a total value of $401,840.04. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 184,244 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,531,512.56. This represents a 13.70% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 42.10% of the company’s stock.

Sinclair News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Sinclair this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q3 results beat expectations: Sinclair reported adjusted earnings of $0.60 per share versus the $0.27 consensus estimate, while revenue rose 15.5% year over year to $893 million, also topping forecasts. Sinclair Reports Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results
• Positive Sentiment: Higher outlook: Sinclair lifted its 2026 adjusted EBITDA forecast to $825 million–$835 million and expects about $455 million in political revenue, signaling stronger anticipated results. Sinclair forecasts political revenue and raises EBITDA outlook
• Positive Sentiment: Political advertising is driving growth: Q3 political ad revenue increased 55% compared with the 2022 midterm election period, helping Sinclair deliver better-than-expected results. Political Ad Revenue Breaks Record For Sinclair
• Positive Sentiment: Dividend maintained: The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share, payable December 15 to shareholders of record December 1. The annualized payout is $1.00 per share, representing an indicated yield of about 7.1%. Sinclair Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on SBGI shares. Weiss Ratings cut shares of Sinclair from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “sell (d+)” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 8th. Wall Street Zen lowered Sinclair from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, August 8th. Zacks Research upgraded Sinclair from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 8th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Sinclair from $14.00 to $15.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a report on Friday, August 21st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Sinclair currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $19.40.

Sinclair Company Profile

Sinclair, Inc is a diversified media company that owns and operates local television stations across the United States. Its broadcast portfolio includes ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and other network-affiliated stations, as well as independent stations. Sinclair’s local media operations produce news, weather, sports, and community-focused programming for viewers in markets throughout the country.

The company also develops and distributes national and regional content through cable networks, digital platforms, and streaming services.