[10-Q] NEXSTAR MEDIA GROUP, INC. Quarterly Earnings Report
Nexstar Media Group (NXST) filed its Q3 2025 10-Q, showing lower year-over-year results alongside a pending acquisition of TEGNA. Net revenue was $1,198 million versus $1,366 million a year ago. Income from operations was $175 million versus $335 million. Net income attributable to Nexstar was $70 million, with diluted EPS of $2.14 versus $5.27.
For the nine months, net revenue was $3,660 million versus $3,920 million, and diluted EPS was $8.57 versus $13.96. Cash and cash equivalents were $236 million, total debt outstanding was $6,359 million, and total stockholders’ equity was $2,267 million. Net cash provided by operating activities was $701 million.
Strategic update: On August 18, 2025, Nexstar agreed to acquire TEGNA for $22 per share in cash, with an estimated total purchase price of $5.8 billion, including refinancing of certain TEGNA debt, and up to $5.725 billion of committed financing. Closing is subject to stockholder and regulatory approvals and customary conditions. Nexstar refinanced its credit facilities on June 27, 2025, establishing new revolving lines and term loans bearing interest at SOFR plus stated spreads.
- None.
- None.
Insights
Q3 revenue and EPS declined; merger and refinancing reshape outlook.
Nexstar reported Q3 net revenue of
The company amended its debt on
On
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended
OR
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to .
Commission File Number:
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
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(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that it was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
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Emerging growth company |
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No
As of November 6, 2025, the registrant had
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PART I |
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FINANCIAL INFORMATION |
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ITEM 1. |
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Financial Statements (Unaudited) |
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Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024 |
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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three and Nine Months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 |
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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests for the Three and Nine Months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 |
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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 |
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Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements |
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Note 1: Organization and Business Operations |
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Note 2: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
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Note 3: Acquisition |
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Note 4: Intangible Assets and Goodwill |
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Note 5: Investments |
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Note 6: Accrued Expenses |
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Note 7: Debt |
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Note 8: Leases |
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Note 9: Retirement and Postretirement Plans |
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Note 10: Commitments and Contingencies |
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Note 11: Equity |
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Note 12: Income Taxes |
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Note 13: Income Per Share |
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Note 14: Fair Value Measurements |
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Note 15: Segment Data |
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Note 16: Subsequent Events |
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ITEM 2. |
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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
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ITEM 3. |
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Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |
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ITEM 4. |
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Controls and Procedures |
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36 |
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PART II |
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OTHER INFORMATION |
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ITEM 1. |
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Legal Proceedings |
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ITEM 1A. |
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Risk Factors |
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ITEM 2. |
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Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds |
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ITEM 3. |
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Defaults Upon Senior Securities |
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ITEM 4. |
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Mine Safety Disclosures |
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39 |
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ITEM 5. |
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Other Information |
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39 |
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ITEM 6. |
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Exhibits |
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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. Financial Statements
NEXSTAR MEDIA GROUP, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in millions, except for share and per share information, unaudited)
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September 30, |
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December 31, |
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2025 |
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2024 |
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ASSETS |
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Current assets: |
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Cash and cash equivalents |
$ |
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$ |
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Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses of $ |
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Broadcast rights |
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Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
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Total current assets |
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Property and equipment, net |
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Goodwill |
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FCC licenses |
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Network affiliation agreements, net |
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Other intangible assets, net |
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Investments |
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Other noncurrent assets, net |
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Total assets(1) |
$ |
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$ |
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LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS AND STOCKHOLDERSʼ EQUITY |
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Current liabilities: |
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Current portion of debt |
$ |
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$ |
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Accounts payable |
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Broadcast rights payable |
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Accrued expenses |
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Operating lease liabilities |
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Other current liabilities |
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Total current liabilities |
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Debt |
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Deferred tax liabilities |
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Other noncurrent liabilities |
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Total liabilities(1) |
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Commitments and contingencies (Note 10) |
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Redeemable noncontrolling interests (Note 2) |
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Stockholdersʼ equity: |
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Preferred stock - $ |
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Common stock - $ |
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Additional paid-in capital |
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Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
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Retained earnings |
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Treasury stock - at cost; |
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Total Nexstar Media Group, Inc. stockholdersʼ equity |
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Noncontrolling interests |
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Total stockholdersʼ equity |
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Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and stockholdersʼ equity |
$ |
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$ |
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The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
3
NEXSTAR MEDIA GROUP, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in millions, except for share and per share information, unaudited)
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Three Months Ended |
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Nine Months Ended |
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September 30, |
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September 30, |
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2025 |
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2024 |
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2025 |
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2024 |
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Net revenue |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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Operating expenses: |
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Direct operating, excluding depreciation and amortization |
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Selling, general and administrative, excluding depreciation and amortization |
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Depreciation and amortization |
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Other |
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Total operating expenses |
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Income from operations |
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Income from equity method investments, net |
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Interest expense, net |
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Pension and other postretirement plans credit, net |
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Gain on disposal of an investment |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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Other income (expenses), net |
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Income before income taxes |
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Income tax expense |
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Net income |
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Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests |
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Net income attributable to Nexstar Media Group, Inc. |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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Net income per share available to common stockholders: |
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Basic |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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Diluted |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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Weighted average number of common shares outstanding: |
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Basic (in thousands) |
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Diluted (in thousands) |
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The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
4
NEXSTAR MEDIA GROUP, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2025 and 2024
(in millions, except for share and per share information, unaudited)
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Accumulated |
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Redeemable |
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Additional |
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Other |
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Total |
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Noncontrolling |
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Common Stock |
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Paid-In |
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Retained |
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Comprehensive |
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Treasury Stock |
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Noncontrolling |
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Stockholdersʼ |
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Interests |
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Shares |
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Amount |
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Capital |
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Earnings |
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Income (Loss) |
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Shares |
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Amount |
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interests |
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Equity |
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Balances as of June 30, 2025 |
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$ |
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$ |
- |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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Stock-based compensation expense |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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Vesting of restricted stock units and exercise of stock options |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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( |
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- |
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Dividends declared on common stock ($ |
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- |
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- |
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( |
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Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interests |
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Other |
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Net income (loss) |
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- |
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Balances as of September 30, 2025 |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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Balances as of June 30, 2024 |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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Purchase of treasury stock |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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( |
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- |
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Stock-based compensation expense |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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Vesting of restricted stock units and exercise of stock options |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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( |
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Dividends declared on common stock ($ |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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( |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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( |
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Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interests |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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( |
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( |
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Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interests |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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( |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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( |
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Net income (loss) |
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( |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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Balances as of September 30, 2024 |
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$ |
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$ |
- |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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( |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
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The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
5
NEXSTAR MEDIA GROUP, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2025 and 2024
(in millions, except for share and per share information, unaudited)
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Accumulated |
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||||||||||
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Redeemable |
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Additional |
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Other |
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Total |
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Noncontrolling |
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Common Stock |
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Paid-In |
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Retained |
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Comprehensive |
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Treasury Stock |
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Noncontrolling |
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Stockholdersʼ |
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Interests |
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Shares |
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Amount |
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Capital |
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Earnings |
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Income (Loss) |
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Shares |
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Amount |
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interests |
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Equity |
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||||||||||
Balances as of December 31, 2024 |
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$ |
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$ |
- |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
( |
) |
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( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
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$ |
( |
) |
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$ |
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|||||
Purchase of treasury stock |
|
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- |
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- |
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|
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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( |
) |
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( |
) |
|
|
- |
|
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|
( |
) |
Stock-based compensation expense |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
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|
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- |
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|
- |
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||
Vesting of restricted stock units and exercise of stock options |
|
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- |
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|
|
- |
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|
|
- |
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( |
) |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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||
Dividends declared on common stock ($ |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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|
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- |
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|
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( |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
( |
) |
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interests |
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
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( |
) |
|
|
- |
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- |
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- |
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|
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- |
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( |
) |
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Other |
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( |
) |
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- |
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|
|
- |
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|
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|
|
- |
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- |
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|
- |
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|
- |
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|
- |
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||
Net income (loss) |
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( |
) |
|
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- |
|
|
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- |
|
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|
- |
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|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
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|
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( |
) |
|
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||
Balances as of September 30, 2025 |
|
$ |
|
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|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
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|||||
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||||||||||
Balances as of December 31, 2023 |
|
$ |
- |
|
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|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||||||
Purchase of treasury stock |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
( |
) |
Stock-based compensation expense |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
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|
- |
|
|
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|
||
Vesting of restricted stock units and exercise of stock options |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
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( |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
( |
) |
||
Dividends declared on common stock ($ |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
( |
) |
Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interests |
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
Contribution from noncontrolling interests |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interests |
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
Net income (loss) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
||
Balances as of September 30, 2024 |
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
||||||
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
6
NEXSTAR MEDIA GROUP, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in millions, unaudited)
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|
|||||
|
|
2025 |
|
|
2024 |
|
||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Net income |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: |
|
|
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|
||
Depreciation and amortization |
|
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|
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Stock-based compensation expense |
|
|
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|
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|
||
Amortization of debt financing costs, debt discounts and premium |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Gain on disposal of an investment |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
( |
) |
Deferred income taxes |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Payments for broadcast rights |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Income from equity method investments, net |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Distribution from equity method investments – return on capital |
|
|
|
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|
||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions: |
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|
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|
||
Accounts receivable |
|
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|
||
Prepaid and other current assets |
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
Other noncurrent assets |
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
Accounts payable |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
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|
||
Income tax payable |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
Other noncurrent liabilities |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Other |
|
|
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|
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|
||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
|
|
|
|
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|
||
Cash flows from investing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Purchases of property and equipment |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Proceeds from disposal of an investment |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
Other investing activities, net |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in investing activities |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Proceeds from debt issuance, net of debt discounts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Repayments of long-term debt |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Purchase of treasury stock |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Common stock dividends paid |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Payments for capitalized software obligations |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Contribution from redeemable noncontrolling interests |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
Cash paid for shares withheld for taxes |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
( |
) |
Other financing activities, net |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in financing activities |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Supplemental information: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Interest paid |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Income taxes paid, net of refunds |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Non-cash investing and financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Purchases of property and equipment in accounts payable and accruals |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Capitalized software in other current and noncurrent liabilities |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease obligations |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
7
NEXSTAR MEDIA GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1: Organization and Business Operations
As used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, “Nexstar” refers to Nexstar Media Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated wholly owned and majority-owned subsidiaries; the “Company” refers to Nexstar and the variable interest entities (“VIEs”) required to be consolidated in its financial statements under authoritative guidance related to the consolidation of VIEs; and all references to “we,” “our,” “ours,” and “us” refer to Nexstar.
Nexstar is a leading diversified media company with television broadcasting, television network and digital media assets operating in the United States. As of September 30, 2025, we owned, operated, programmed or provided sales and other services to
Merger Agreement with TEGNA
On
The Merger has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies and is projected to close by the second half of 2026, subject to (i) the approval of the Merger by the stockholders of TEGNA, (ii) FCC consent, (iii) receipt of other regulatory approvals including expiration of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended and (iv) satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. The Merger does not require approval of Nexstar stockholders and is not subject to any financing condition.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Nexstar will acquire TEGNA’s outstanding equity for $
The Merger Agreement contains certain termination rights for both parties. Either party may terminate the Merger Agreement if the Merger is not consummated at or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on August 18, 2026, which may be
8
extended to November 18, 2026 at the election of either TEGNA or Nexstar if all conditions other than certain regulatory conditions have been satisfied or waived. If the Merger Agreement is terminated in connection with TEGNA entering into a definitive agreement with respect to a superior proposal, as well as under certain other circumstances, TEGNA will be required to pay Nexstar a termination fee of $
Transaction costs relating to this proposed merger, including legal and professional fees, of $
Note 2: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Principles of Consolidation
The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Nexstar, subsidiaries consolidated through voting interests and VIEs for which we are the primary beneficiary (see “Variable Interest Entities” section below). All intercompany account balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Nexstar management evaluates each arrangement that may include variable interests and determines the need to consolidate an entity where it determines Nexstar is the primary beneficiary of a VIE in accordance with related authoritative literature and interpretive guidance.
Interim Financial Statements
The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of September 30, 2025 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 are unaudited. However, in the opinion of management, such financial statements include all adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for the fair statement of the financial information included herein in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The preparation of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period. Results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year. Estimates are used for, but are not limited to, valuation of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations, distribution revenue recognized, income taxes, the recoverability of goodwill, FCC licenses, long-lived assets (property and equipment and amortizable intangible assets), investments, broadcast rights, the useful lives of long-lived assets, pension and postretirement obligations, fair value of stock-based compensation, accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interests and allowance for credit losses. As of September 30, 2025, the Company is not aware of any specific event or circumstance that would require an update to its estimates or judgments or revision of the carrying value of its assets or liabilities. However, these estimates and judgments may change as new events occur and additional information is obtained, which may result in changes being recognized in the Company’s consolidated financial statements in future periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates and any such differences may have a material impact on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes included in Nexstar’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. The balance sheet as of December 31, 2024 has been derived from the audited financial statements as of that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements.
9
Variable Interest Entities
Nexstar may determine that an entity is a VIE as a result of local service agreements entered into with that entity. The term local service agreement generally refers to a contract whereby the owner-operator of a television station contracts with a third party (typically another television station owner-operator) to provide it with administrative, sales and other services required for the operation of its station. Nevertheless, the owner-operator of each station retains control of and responsibility for the operation of its station, including ultimate responsibility over all programming broadcast on its station. A local service agreement can be (i) a time brokerage agreement (“TBA”) or a local marketing agreement (“LMA”) which allows Nexstar to program most of a station’s broadcast time, sell the station’s advertising time and retain the advertising revenue generated in exchange for monthly payments, frequently based on the station’s monthly operating expenses, (ii) a shared services agreement (“SSA”) which allows Nexstar to provide services to a station including news production, technical maintenance and security, in exchange for Nexstar’s right to receive certain payments as described in the SSA, or (iii) a joint sales agreement (“JSA”) which permits Nexstar to sell certain of a station’s advertising time and retain a percentage of the related revenue, as described in the JSA.
Consolidated VIEs
Nexstar consolidates entities in which it is deemed under U.S. GAAP to have controlling financial interests for financial reporting purposes as a result of (i) local service agreements Nexstar has with the stations owned by these entities, (ii) Nexstar’s (excluding The CW) guarantee of the obligations incurred under Mission Broadcasting, Inc.’s (“Mission”) senior secured credit facility (see Note 7), (iii) Nexstar having power over significant activities affecting these VIEs’ economic performance, including budgeting for advertising revenue, certain advertising sales and, in some cases, hiring and firing of sales force personnel and (iv) purchase options granted by each consolidated VIE which permit Nexstar to acquire the assets and assume the liabilities of these VIEs’ stations, subject to FCC consent.
The following table summarizes the various local service agreements Nexstar had in effect as of September 30, 2025 with its consolidated VIEs:
Owner |
|
Service Agreements |
|
Full Power Stations |
Mission |
|
TBA |
|
WFXP, KHMT and KFQX |
|
|
SSA & JSA |
|
KJTL, KLRT, KASN, KOLR, KCIT, KAMC, KRBC, KSAN, WUTR, WAWV, WYOU, KODE, WTVO, KTVE, WTVW, WVNY, WXXA, WLAJ, KMSS, KPEJ, KLJB, KASY, KWBQ and KRWB |
|
|
LMA |
|
WNAC and WPIX |
White Knight Broadcasting (“White Knight”) |
|
SSA & JSA |
|
WVLA and KFXK |
Vaughan Media, LLC (“Vaughan”) |
|
SSA & JSA |
|
WBDT, WYTV and KTKA |
|
|
LMA |
|
KNVA |
Nexstar’s ability to receive cash from the consolidated VIEs is governed by the local service agreements. Under these agreements, Nexstar has received substantially all of the consolidated VIEs’ available cash, after satisfaction of operating costs and debt obligations. Nexstar anticipates it will continue to receive substantially all of the consolidated VIEs’ available cash, after satisfaction of operating costs and debt obligations. In compliance with FCC regulations for all the parties, each VIE maintains complete responsibility for and control over programming, finances, personnel and operations of its stations.
The carrying amounts and classification of the assets and liabilities, excluding intercompany amounts, of the VIEs which have been included in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets were as follows (in millions):
10
|
|
September 30, 2025 |
|
|
December 31, 2024 |
|
||
Current assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Accounts receivable, net |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Total current assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Property and equipment, net |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Goodwill |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
FCC licenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Network affiliation agreements, net |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Other noncurrent assets, net |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Total assets |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Current portion of debt |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Other current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Total current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Debt |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Deferred tax liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Other noncurrent liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Total liabilities |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
The following are assets of consolidated VIEs, excluding intercompany amounts, that are not available to settle the obligations of Nexstar and the liabilities of consolidated VIEs, excluding intercompany amounts, for which their creditors do not have recourse to the general credit of Nexstar (in millions):
|
|
September 30, 2025 |
|
|
December 31, 2024 |
|
||
Current assets |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Property and equipment, net |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Goodwill |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
FCC licenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Network affiliation agreements, net |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Other noncurrent assets, net |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Total assets |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Current liabilities |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Noncurrent liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Total liabilities |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Non-Consolidated VIEs
Nexstar has an outsourcing agreement with Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation (“Cunningham”) which continues through December 31, 2025. Under the outsourcing agreement, Nexstar provides certain engineering, production, sales and administrative services for WYZZ, the FOX affiliate in the Peoria, Illinois market, through WMBD, the Nexstar television station in that market. During the term of the outsourcing agreement, Nexstar retains the broadcasting revenue and related expenses of WYZZ and is obligated to pay a monthly fee to Cunningham based on the combined operating cash flow of WMBD and WYZZ, as defined in the agreement.
11
Nexstar has a multi-year TBA with KAZT, L.L.C., the owner of television station KAZT-TV, an affiliate of The CW in Phoenix, Arizona. Nexstar was also granted an option to purchase the station from KAZT, L.L.C., subject to FCC consent.
Nexstar has determined that it has variable interests in WYZZ and KAZT-TV. Nexstar has also evaluated its arrangements with Cunningham and KAZT, L.L.C. and has determined that it is not the primary beneficiary of the variable interests because it does not have the ultimate power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the stations’ economic performance. Therefore, Nexstar has not consolidated WYZZ and KAZT-TV under authoritative guidance related to the consolidation of VIEs. There were no significant transactions arising from Nexstar’s outsourcing agreement with Cunningham and TBA with KAZT, L.L.C. Neither Cunningham nor KAZT, L.L.C. guarantees Nexstar’s debt.
Basis of Presentation
Certain prior year financial statement amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on net income or stockholders’ equity as previously reported.
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
During the third quarter of 2025, Nexstar increased its ownership interest in The CW from
Redeemable noncontrolling interests are presented as mezzanine equity (outside of liability and stockholders’ equity) in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as they are redeemable by the holders through their put rights and the redemption is outside Nexstar’s control. We accrete the changes in the redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interests over the period from issuance to the earliest redemption date using the effective interest method. The accretion is recognized as an adjustment to retained earnings, or in the absence of retained earnings, additional paid-in capital. The balance of redeemable noncontrolling interests is measured at the greater of accreted redemption value at the end of each reporting period or the initial carrying value adjusted for the noncontrolling interests’ contributions and share in income and losses. The inclusion of accretion in the calculation of earnings per share is disclosed in Note 13.
Income Per Share
Net income attributable to Nexstar Media Group, Inc. less accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interests is equal to net income available to Nexstar’s common stockholders. Basic income per share is computed by dividing the net income available to Nexstar’s common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted income per share is computed using the weighted-average number of common shares and potentially dilutive common shares outstanding during the period. Potentially dilutive common shares are calculated using the treasury stock method. They consist of common shares that could be issued from the vesting of outstanding restricted stock units and, in the prior year, the exercise of outstanding stock options. See Note 13 for additional information.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
New Accounting Standards Adopted
In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2023-07, “Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures” (“ASU 2023-07”), which expands the annual and interim disclosure requirements for reportable segments by adding disclosures of significant expenses for reportable segments as well as certain other disclosures. The standard update did not change the existing disclosure requirements, such as segment revenue and profit (loss) among others, and how an entity identifies its operating segments and reportable segments. The Company adopted the annual disclosure requirements under ASU 2023-07 on October 1, 2024, and applied the amendments retrospectively to all prior periods presented in its
12
consolidated financial statements. The Company also adopted the interim requirements under ASU 2023-07 on January 1, 2025 and applied the amendments retrospectively to all prior periods presented in its condensed consolidated financial statements (see Note 15 for our updated segment information).
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures” (“ASU 2023-09”). ASU 2023-09 applies to all entities that are subject to Topic 740, Income Taxes and is intended to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures. The new guidance requires consistent categorization and greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation, as well as further disaggregation of income taxes paid. This change is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024 and may be applied prospectively or retrospectively. ASU 2023-09 is expected to impact our income tax disclosures beginning with the consolidated financial statements included in the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2025, but will have no impact on our results of operations, cash flows, or financial condition.
New Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU No. 2024-03, “Income Statement–Reporting Comprehensive Income–Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses” (“ASU 2024-03”). Additionally, in January 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-01 to clarify the effective date of ASU 2024-03. ASU 2024-03 requires a public entity to disclose additional information about specific expense categories in the notes to financial statements on an annual and interim basis. The amendments in ASU 2024-03 are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2027. Early adoption is permitted on either a prospective or retrospective basis. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impacts of ASU 2024-03 on its Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures.
Note 3: Acquisition
On
Note 4: Intangible Assets and Goodwill
The Company’s goodwill by segment, indefinite-lived intangible assets and definite-lived intangible assets consisted of the following ($ in millions):
|
|
Reportable Broadcast Segment |
|
|
Other Segments |
|
|
Total |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Goodwill |
|
Gross |
|
|
Impairment |
|
|
Net |
|
|
Gross |
|
|
Impairment |
|
|
Net |
|
|
Gross |
|
|
Impairment |
|
|
Net |
|
|||||||||
Balances as of December 31, 2024 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
||||||
Current year acquisition (Note 3) |
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
||||
Balances as of September 30, 2025 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
||||||
|
|
FCC Licenses |
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated |
|
|
|
|
|||
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets |
|
Gross |
|
|
Impairment |
|
|
Net |
|
|||
Balances as of December 31, 2024 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
||
Current year acquisition (Note 3) |
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
||
Balances as of September 30, 2025 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
||
|
|
Network Affiliation Agreements |
|
|
Other Definite-Lived Intangible Assets |
|
|
Total |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
Amortization |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amortization |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amortization |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Definite-Lived Intangible Assets |
|
Gross |
|
|
and Impairment |
|
|
Net |
|
|
Gross |
|
|
and Impairment |
|
|
Net |
|
|
Gross |
|
|
and Impairment |
|
|
Net |
|
|||||||||
Balances as of December 31, 2024 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
||||||
Balances as of September 30, 2025 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
||||||
13
The following table presents the Company’s estimate of amortization expense for the remainder of 2025, each of the five succeeding years ended December 31 and thereafter for definite-lived intangible assets as of September 30, 2025 (in millions):
Remainder of 2025 |
|
$ |
|
|
2026 |
|
|
|
|
2027 |
|
|
|
|
2028 |
|
|
|
|
2029 |
|
|
|
|
2030 |
|
|
|
|
Thereafter |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
Indefinite-lived intangible assets are not subject to amortization but are tested for impairment annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that such assets might be impaired. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, the Company did not identify events that would trigger impairment assessments.
Note 5: Investments
Investments in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets consisted of the following (in millions):
|
|
September 30, 2025 |
|
|
December 31, 2024 |
|
||
Equity method investments |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Other equity investments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Total investments |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Equity Method Investments — Investment in TV Food Network
Nexstar’s equity method investments primarily include its
TV Food Network operates two 24-hour television networks, Food Network and Cooking Channel, offering quality television, video, internet and mobile entertainment and information focusing on food and entertaining.
The partnership agreement governing TV Food Network provides that the partnership shall, unless certain actions are taken by the partners, dissolve and commence winding up and liquidating TV Food Network upon the first to occur of certain enumerated liquidating events, one of which is a specified date of December 31, 2025. Nexstar intends to renew its partnership agreement with WBD for TV Food Network before expiration. In the event of a liquidation, Nexstar would be entitled to its proportionate share of distributions to partners, which the partnership agreement provides would occur as promptly as is consistent with obtaining fair market value for the assets of TV Food Network. The partnership agreement also provides that the partnership may be continued or reconstituted in certain circumstances.
As of September 30, 2025, Nexstar’s investment in TV Food Network had a book value of $
As of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, Nexstar had a remaining share in amortizable basis difference of $
14
Nexstar had the following transactions related to its investment in TV Food Network during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively (in millions):
|
|
Three Months Ended September 30, |
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|
||||||||||
|
|
2025 |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2025 |
|
|
2024 |
|
||||
Cash distributions received |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||||
Recognized share in TV Food Networkʼs net income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Recorded amortization of basis difference (expense) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Summarized financial information for TV Food Network is as follows (in millions):
|
|
Three Months Ended September 30, |
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|
||||||||||
|
|
2025 |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2025 |
|
|
2024 |
|
||||
Net revenue |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||||
Costs and expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Income from operations |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Net income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Net income attributable to Nexstar Media Group, Inc. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Note 6: Accrued Expenses
Accrued expenses consisted of the following (in millions):
|
|
September 30, 2025 |
|
|
December 31, 2024 |
|
||
Compensation and related taxes |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Interest payable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Network affiliation fees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Total |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
15
Note 7: Debt
Long-term debt consisted of the following ($ in millions):
|
|
September 30, 2025 |
|
|
December 31, 2024 |
|
||
Nexstar |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Revolving loans, due June 2030 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
Term Loan A, due June 2030 |
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
Term Loan A, due June 2027 |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
Term Loan B, due June 2032 |
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
Term Loan B, due September 2026 |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Mission |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Revolving loans, due June 2030 |
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
Revolving loans, due June 2027 |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
Term Loan B, due June 2028 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Total outstanding principal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Less: unamortized financing costs and discount – Nexstar Term Loan A, due June 2030 |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Less: unamortized financing costs and discount – Nexstar Term Loan A, due June 2027 |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
( |
) |
Less: unamortized financing costs and discount – Nexstar Term Loan B, due June 2032 |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Less: unamortized financing costs and discount – Nexstar Term Loan B, due September 2026 |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
( |
) |
Add: unamortized premium, net of financing costs – Nexstar 5.625% Notes, due July 2027 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Less: unamortized financing costs and discount – Nexstar 4.75% Notes, due November 2028 |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Less: unamortized financing costs and discount – Mission Term Loan B, due June 2028 |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Total outstanding debt |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Less: current portion |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Long-term debt, net of current portion |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Nexstar’s outstanding term loans and revolving loans are governed by Nexstar’s credit agreement (as amended, the “Nexstar credit agreement”), and Mission’s outstanding term loans and revolving loans are governed by Mission’s credit agreement (as amended, the “Mission credit agreement”). Each of the amended credit agreements is also herein referred to as a “senior secured credit facility” (collectively, the “senior secured credit facilities”). Nexstar’s senior unsecured notes are governed by the indentures.
2025 Activities
During the nine months ended September 30, 2025, the Company repaid scheduled principal maturities of $
On June 27, 2025, Nexstar and Mission, an independently owned VIE consolidated by Nexstar, amended their respective senior secured credit facilities. The amendments provided for the following:
The proceeds from the above new senior secured credit facilities, together with cash on hand, were used to repay the following outstanding loans on June 27, 2025:
16
Each of the Nexstar revolving credit facility, due June 2030, the Mission revolving credit facility, due June 2030, and the Nexstar Term Loan A, due June 2030, bear interest at the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) for the applicable interest period plus
In connection with the debt refinancing, the Company deferred $
In connection with the debt refinancing, third-party debt issuance costs of $
Unused Commitments and Borrowing Availability
Nexstar and Mission had $
Collateralization and Guarantees of Debt
The Company’s credit facilities described above are collateralized by a security interest in substantially all the combined assets, excluding FCC licenses, the other assets of consolidated VIEs unavailable to creditors of Nexstar (see Note 2) and the assets of The CW. Nexstar (excluding The CW) guarantees full payment of all obligations incurred under the Mission senior secured credit facility in the event of Mission’s default. Mission is a guarantor of Nexstar’s senior secured credit facility, Nexstar’s
In consideration of Nexstar’s guarantee of the Mission senior secured credit facility, Mission has granted Nexstar purchase options to acquire the assets and assume the liabilities of each Mission station, subject to FCC consent. These option agreements, which expire on various dates between 2026 and 2034, are freely exercisable or assignable by Nexstar without consent or approval by Mission. The Company expects these option agreements to be renewed upon expiration.
Debt Covenants
The Nexstar credit agreement (senior secured credit facility) contains a covenant, which requires Nexstar to comply with a maximum consolidated first lien net leverage ratio of
Note 8: Leases
The Company as a Lessee
The Company has operating leases for office spaces, tower facilities, antenna sites, studios and other real estate properties and equipment. The operating leases have remaining lease terms of
17
may include options to extend the leases from
Supplemental balance sheet information related to operating leases was as follows ($ in millions):
|
|
Balance Sheet Classification |
|
September 30, 2025 |
|
|
December 31, 2024 |
|
||
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net |
|
Other noncurrent assets, net |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Current operating lease liabilities |
|
Operating lease liabilities |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities |
|
Other noncurrent liabilities |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term of Operating leases |
|
|
|
|
||||||
Weighted Average Discount Rate of Operating leases |
|
|
% |
|
|
% |
||||
Operating lease expense for the three months ended September 30, 2025 was $
Operating lease expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 was $
Cash paid for operating leases included in the operating cash flows was $
Future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable leases as of September 30, 2025 were as follows (in millions):
|
|
Operating Leases |
|
|
Remainder of 2025 |
|
$ |
|
|
2026 |
|
|
|
|
2027 |
|
|
|
|
2028 |
|
|
|
|
2029 |
|
|
|
|
2030 |
|
|
|
|
Thereafter |
|
|
|
|
Total future minimum lease payments |
|
|
|
|
Less: imputed interest |
|
|
( |
) |
Total |
|
$ |
|
|
Note 9: Retirement and Postretirement Plans
Nexstar has various funded, qualified non-contributory defined benefit retirement plans which cover certain employees and former employees. All these retirement plans are frozen in terms of pay and service, except for a plan with immaterial pension benefit obligations.
Nexstar also has various other postretirement benefit plans (“OPEB”), including retiree medical savings account plans which reimburse eligible retired employees for certain medical expenses and unfunded plans that provide certain
18
health and life insurance benefits to certain retired employees. The periodic benefit cost (credit) related to OPEB is not significant.
The following tables provide the components of net periodic benefit cost (credit) for Nexstar’s pension benefit plans (in millions):
|
|
Pension Benefit Plans |
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
Three Months Ended September 30, |
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|
||||||||||
|
|
2025 |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2025 |
|
|
2024 |
|
||||
Service cost |
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
|
|
Interest cost |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Expected return on plan assets |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Amortization of net gain |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Net periodic benefit credit |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, Nexstar contributed $
Note 10: Commitments and Contingencies
Merger Agreement with TEGNA
On
Guarantee of Mission Debt
Nexstar (excluding The CW) guarantees full payment of all obligations incurred under the Mission senior secured credit facility. In the event that Mission is unable to repay amounts due, Nexstar will be obligated to repay such amounts. The maximum potential amount of future payments that Nexstar would be required to make under this guarantee would generally be limited to the outstanding principal amounts. As of September 30, 2025, Mission had a maximum commitment of $
Indemnification Obligations
In connection with certain agreements that the Company enters into in the normal course of its business, including local service agreements, business acquisitions and borrowing arrangements, the Company enters into contractual arrangements under which the Company agrees to indemnify a third party to such arrangement from losses, claims and damages incurred by the indemnified party for certain events as defined within the particular contract. Such indemnification obligations may not be subject to maximum loss clauses, and the maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification arrangements may be unlimited. Historically, payments made related to these indemnifications have been insignificant, and the Company has not incurred significant costs to defend lawsuits or settle claims related to these indemnification agreements.
Litigation
From time to time, the Company is involved in litigation that arises from the ordinary operations of business, such as contractual or employment disputes or other general actions. In the event of an adverse outcome of these proceedings, the Company believes the resulting liabilities would not have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations.
Local TV Advertising Antitrust Litigation—On March 16, 2018, a group of companies including Nexstar and Tribune (the “Defendants”) received a Civil Investigative Demand from the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice
19
(“DOJ”) regarding an investigation into the exchange of certain information related to the pacing of sales related to the same period in the prior year among broadcast stations in some local markets in alleged violation of federal antitrust law. Without admitting any wrongdoing, some Defendants, including Tribune, entered into a proposed consent decree (referred to herein as the “consent decree”) with the DOJ on November 6, 2018. Without admitting any wrongdoing, Nexstar agreed to settle the matter with the DOJ on December 5, 2018. The consent decree was entered in final form by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on May 22, 2019. The consent decree, which settles claims by the government of alleged violations of federal antitrust laws in connection with the alleged information sharing, does not include any financial penalty. Pursuant to the consent decree, Nexstar and Tribune agreed not to exchange certain non-public information with other stations operating in the same market except in certain cases, and to implement certain antitrust compliance measures and monitor and report on compliance with the consent decree.
Starting in July 2018, a series of plaintiffs filed putative class action lawsuits against the Defendants and others alleging that they coordinated their pricing of television advertising, thereby harming a proposed class of all buyers of television advertising time from one or more of the Defendants since at least January 1, 2014. The plaintiff in each lawsuit seeks injunctive relief and money damages caused by the alleged antitrust violations. On October 9, 2018, these cases were consolidated in a multi-district litigation in the District Court for the Northern District of Illinois captioned In Re: Local TV Advertising Antitrust Litigation, No. 1:18-cv-06785 (“MDL Litigation”). On January 23, 2019, the Court in the MDL Litigation appointed plaintiffs’ lead and liaison counsel.
The MDL Litigation is ongoing. The Plaintiffs’ Consolidated Complaint was filed on
The parties are in the discovery phase of litigation. In March 2025, the Court set a placeholder date for trial to begin on April 1, 2026. On October 1, 2025, the Court indicated that the trial will not proceed in April 2026, but did not set a new date. Nexstar and Tribune deny all allegations against them and will defend their advertising practices.
Tribune Related Contingencies
In connection with Nexstar’s acquisition of Tribune on September 19, 2019, Nexstar assumed contingencies from certain legal proceedings, as follows:
Chicago Cubs Transactions—On August 21, 2009, Tribune and Chicago Entertainment Ventures, LLC (f/k/a Chicago Baseball Holdings, LLC) (“CEV LLC”), and its subsidiaries (collectively, “New Cubs LLC”), among other parties, entered into an agreement (the “Cubs Formation Agreement”) governing the contribution of certain assets and liabilities related to the businesses of the Chicago Cubs Major League Baseball franchise then owned by Tribune and its subsidiaries to New Cubs LLC. The transactions contemplated by the Cubs Formation Agreement and the related agreements thereto (the “Chicago Cubs Transactions”) closed on October 27, 2009. As a result of these transactions, Northside Entertainment Holdings LLC (f/k/a Ricketts Acquisition LLC) owned
On June 28, 2016, the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) issued Tribune a Notice of Deficiency which presented the IRS’s position that the gain with respect to the Chicago Cubs Transactions should have been included in Tribune’s 2009 taxable income. Accordingly, the IRS proposed a $
20
Cubs LLC debt which was included in the reported tax basis previously determined upon emergence from bankruptcy and subject to Tribune’s 2014 and 2015 Federal Income Tax Audits (described below).
On September 19, 2019, Tribune became a wholly owned subsidiary of Nexstar following Nexstar’s acquisition of Tribune. Nexstar disagrees with the IRS’s position that the Chicago Cubs Transactions generated taxable gain in 2009, the proposed penalty and the IRS’s calculation of the gain. If the IRS prevails in its position, the gain on the Chicago Cubs Transactions would be deemed to be taxable in 2009. Nexstar estimates that the federal and state income taxes would be approximately $
A bench trial in the U.S. Tax Court took place between October 28, 2019 and November 8, 2019, and closing arguments took place on December 11, 2019. The Tax Court issued a separate opinion on January 6, 2020 holding that the IRS satisfied the procedural requirements for the imposition of the gross valuation misstatement penalty. The judge deferred any litigation of the penalty until a final determination was reached by the Tax Court or Court of Appeals.
On October 26, 2021, the Tax Court issued an opinion related to the Chicago Cubs Transactions, which held that Tribune’s structure was, in substantial part, in compliance with partnership provisions of the Code and, as a result, did not trigger the entire 2009 taxable gain proposed by the IRS. On October 19, 2022, the Tax Court entered the decision that there is no tax deficiency or penalty due in the 2009 tax year. On January 13, 2023, the IRS filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. On February 3, 2023, the Company filed a notice of cross-appeal. On February 15, 2024, the case was argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. The Company expects a ruling from the Court of Appeals in the fourth quarter of 2025 or first half of 2026.
As of September 30, 2025, Nexstar believes the tax impact of applying the Tax Court opinion to 2009 and its impact on subsequent tax years is not material to the Company’s accounting for uncertain tax positions or to its Consolidated Financial Statements. Although management believes its estimates and judgments are reasonable, the timing and ultimate resolution are unpredictable and could materially change.
Revenue Agent’s Report on Tribune’s 2014 to 2015 Federal Income Tax Audits— Prior to Nexstar’s acquisition of Tribune in September 2019, Tribune was undergoing federal income tax audits for taxable years 2014 and 2015. In the third quarter of 2020, the IRS completed its audits of Tribune and issued a Revenue Agent’s Report which disallows the reporting of certain assets and liabilities related to Tribune’s emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy on December 31, 2012. Nexstar disagrees with the IRS’s proposed adjustments to the tax basis of certain assets and the related taxable income impact, and Nexstar is contesting the adjustments through the IRS administrative appeal procedures. If the IRS prevails in its position and after taking into account the impact of the Tax Court opinion, Nexstar would be required to reduce its tax basis in certain assets resulting in a $
Regulatory Matters
On March 21, 2024, the FCC issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (“NAL”) to Nexstar and to Mission, a consolidated VIE, for alleged violations of the Communications Act of 1934, including the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (the “Communications Act”) and FCC rules relating to Mission television station WPIX, New York, New York. The NAL alleges that Nexstar and Mission engaged in an unauthorized transfer of control of WPIX and that Nexstar violated the national television ownership limit by acquiring undisclosed attributable interests in the station. The NAL proposes forfeitures to Nexstar and Mission for the alleged violations and additionally requires that within 12 months of a forfeiture order or payment of the forfeitures, either (i) Mission divest WPIX to an “unrelated third party” or (ii) Mission sell WPIX to Nexstar, with Nexstar divesting a sufficient number of other stations to reduce its national reach below the FCC national ownership limit. Nexstar and Mission have filed responses vigorously disputing the NAL. Nexstar is unable to reasonably estimate the possible financial statement impact, if any, relating to the NAL.
21
Note 11: Equity
The total remaining authorization for future common stock repurchases under Nexstar’s share repurchase program was $
Share repurchases are executed from time to time in open market transactions, block trades or in private transactions, including through Rules 10b5-1 and 10b-18 plans. There is no minimum number of shares that Nexstar is required to repurchase. The repurchase program does not have an expiration date and may be suspended or discontinued at any time without prior notice.
On
Note 12: Income Taxes
Income tax expense was $
For the three months ended September 30, 2025, nondeductible permanent differences accounted for a
Income tax expense was $
For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, nondeductible permanent differences accounted for a
The Company calculates its year-to-date provision for income taxes by applying the estimated annual effective tax rate to year-to-date pre-tax income or loss and adjusts the provision for discrete tax items recorded in the period.
Future changes in the forecasted annual income projections could result in significant adjustments to quarterly income tax expense in future periods.
On July 4, 2025, H.R.1, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (“OBBBA”) was signed into law, which includes significant changes to federal tax law and other regulatory provisions that will be applicable to the Company beginning in 2025. As of the date of these financial statements, the Company expects OBBBA will not have a material impact on its estimated annual effective tax rate in 2025 but will impact the split between current taxes payable and deferred taxes.
Note 13: Income Per Share
Income per share (basic and diluted) available to common stockholders is presented below ($ in millions, except per share amounts, and shares in thousands):
22
|
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Three Months Ended September 30, |
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Nine Months Ended September 30, |
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||||||||||
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2025 |
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2024 |
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2025 |
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2024 |
|
||||
Net income attributable to Nexstar Media Group, Inc. |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||||
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interests |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Net income available to common stockholders |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
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$ |
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$ |
|
||||
|
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|
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Weighted average shares outstanding – basic |
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||||
Dilutive effect of equity incentive plan instruments |
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Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted |
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||||
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Net income per share available to common stockholders – basic |
|
$ |
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$ |
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$ |
|
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$ |
|
||||
Net income per share available to common stockholders – diluted |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||||
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, weighted average restricted stock units of
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, weighted average restricted stock units of
Note 14: Fair Value Measurements
The Company measures and records in its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements certain assets and liabilities at fair value. ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurement and Disclosures,” establishes a fair value hierarchy for instruments measured at fair value that distinguishes between assumptions based on market data (observable inputs) and the Company’s own assumptions (unobservable inputs). This hierarchy consists of the following three levels:
The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value due to their short-term nature.
The estimated fair values and carrying amounts of the Company’s long-term debt not measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows ($ in millions):
23
|
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September 30, 2025 |
|
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December 31, 2024 |
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||||||||||
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Carrying |
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Fair |
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Carrying |
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Fair |
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||||
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Amount |
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Value |
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Amount |
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Value |
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||||
Nexstar |
|
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|
|
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|
||||
Revolving loans due June 2030 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
||
Term Loan A, due June 2030 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|||
Term Loan A, due June 2027 |
|
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- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
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|
|||
Term Loan B, due June 2032 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
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|
- |
|
|||
Term Loan B, due September 2026 |
|
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- |
|
|
|
- |
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|||
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Mission |
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|
||||
Revolving loans due June 2030 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|||
Revolving loans due June 2027 |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
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|
|||
Term Loan B, due June 2028 |
|
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|
||||||
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, there were no events or changes in circumstance that triggered an impairment to the Company’s significant assets, including equity method investments, indefinite-lived intangible assets, long-lived assets and goodwill.
Note 15: Segment Data
The Company’s reportable broadcast segment includes (i) television stations and related local websites that Nexstar owns, operates, programs or provides sales and other services to in various markets across the United States, (ii) NewsNation, a national cable news network, (iii)
The Company’s segment structure reflects the financial information and reports used by its Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) to assess operating performance, allocate resources and make decisions regarding current operating and financial focus. The Company’s CODM is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
The following table sets forth a breakdown of selected financial information for our reportable Broadcast segment and a reconciliation of that segment’s profit to income from operations (in millions):
24
|
|
Three Months Ended September 30, |
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|
||||||||||
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2025 |
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2024 |
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2025 |
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2024 |
|
||||
Reportable Broadcast Segment: |
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|
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|
||||
Net revenue |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||||
Programming and related expenses (1) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Selling, general and administrative expenses (1) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Amortization of broadcast rights (1) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Reportable Broadcast segmentʼs profit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Other segmentsʼ loss, net |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Corporate (unallocated) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Depreciation and amortization expense (2) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Transaction and other one-time expenses |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Miscellaneous |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Income from operations |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||||
The following tables present the disaggregation of the Company’s revenue by source (in millions):
Three Months Ended September 30, 2025 |
|
Reportable |
|
|
Other |
|
|
Corporate (unallocated) |
|
|
Eliminations(1) |
|
|
Consolidated |
|
|||||
Distribution |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|||
Advertising |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|||
Other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
||||
Total net revenue |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
||||
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2025 |
|
Reportable |
|
|
Other |
|
|
Corporate (unallocated) |
|
|
Eliminations(1) |
|
|
Consolidated |
|
|||||
Distribution |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|||
Advertising |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|||
Other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
||||
Total net revenue |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
||||
Three Months Ended September 30, 2024 |
|
Reportable |
|
|
Other |
|
|
Corporate (unallocated) |
|
|
Eliminations(1) |
|
|
Consolidated |
|
|||||
Distribution |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|||
Advertising |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|||
Other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
||||
Total net revenue |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
||||
25
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 |
|
Reportable |
|
|
Other |
|
|
Corporate (unallocated) |
|
|
Eliminations(1) |
|
|
Consolidated |
|
|||||
Distribution |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|||
Advertising |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|||
Other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
||||
Total net revenue |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
||||
(1)
Our primary sources of revenue include: (i) distribution, comprised primarily of retransmission revenue, carriage fees, affiliation fees and spectrum leasing revenue and (ii) advertising, comprised of non-political and political advertising.
Distribution revenue, our largest category of revenue, primarily results from compensation from cable, satellite and other multichannel video programming distributors (“MVPDs”) and virtual multichannel video distributors (“vMVPDs”) in return for our consent to the retransmission of the signals of our television stations and the carriage of NewsNation, typically based on the number of subscribers the MVPDs and vMVPDs have. We also generate distribution revenues from affiliation fees paid by affiliates of The CW and from programmers who use our spectrum in selected localities to air their content on our multicast streams. Distribution revenue is recognized at the point in time the broadcast signal or cable network feed is delivered to the distributors in the case of retransmission and carriage fee revenue or, in the case of affiliation fees and spectrum leasing revenue, as network programming and spectrum capacity are delivered to our affiliates and customers.
Advertising revenue primarily results from the sale to local, regional and national businesses, political candidates and other political advertisers of commercial airtime by our stations and networks and the sale of advertising on our owned or third-party websites, and through mobile and over-the-top (“OTT”) applications and other digital advertising solutions. Advertising revenue is generally highest in the second and fourth quarters of each year, due in part to increases in consumer advertising in the spring and retail advertising in the period leading up to, and including, the holiday season. Advertising revenue is generally higher during even-numbered years when congressional and/or presidential elections occur and advertising is aired during the Olympic Games. Advertising revenue is recognized at the time the advertisement airs or is delivered on our websites or mobile or OTT applications or the advertising solution is delivered.
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, revenues for
Note 16: Subsequent Events
On
26
ITEM 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024.
As used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and unless the context indicates otherwise, “Nexstar” refers to Nexstar Media Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated wholly owned and majority owned subsidiaries; the “Company” refers to Nexstar and the variable interest entities (“VIEs”) required to be consolidated in our financial statements; and all references to “we,” “our,” “ours,” and “us” refer to Nexstar.
As a result of our deemed controlling financial interests in the consolidated VIEs in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), we consolidate the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of these VIEs as if they were wholly owned entities. We believe this presentation is meaningful for understanding our financial performance. Refer to Note 2 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of our determinations of VIE consolidation under the related authoritative guidance. The following discussion of our financial position and results of operations includes the consolidated VIEs’ financial position and results of operations.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements other than statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements” for purposes of federal and state securities laws, including but not limited to: the ultimate outcome, benefits and synergies of the proposed merger between Nexstar and TEGNA and timing thereof; the risks and uncertainties of current economic factors that are beyond our control, such as tariffs and other trade barriers, capital markets volatility, sustained inflation and high interest rates and supply chain disruptions; any projections or expectations of earnings, revenue, financial performance, liquidity and capital resources or other financial items; any assumptions or projections about the television broadcasting industry; any statements of our plans, strategies and objectives for our future operations, performance, liquidity and capital resources or other financial items; any statements concerning proposed new products, services or developments; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; any statements of belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Forward-looking statements may include the words “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and other similar words.
Although we believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ from a projection or assumption in any of our forward-looking statements. Our future financial position and results of operations, as well as any forward-looking statements, are subject to change and inherent risks and uncertainties, including those described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and in our other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The forward-looking statements made in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are made only as of the date hereof, and we do not have or undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.
Executive Summary
Merger Agreement with TEGNA
On August 18, 2025, we entered into the Merger Agreement to acquire the outstanding equity of TEGNA, subject to TEGNA’s stockholder approval, certain regulatory approvals and other customary conditions. TEGNA owns and operates 64 television stations and two radio stations in 51 designated market areas in the U.S. We project the acquisition to close by the second half of 2026. Upon closing, the Merger is expected to increase our operational and geographic diversity and scale, enhance our presence in various localities and extend our footprint to additional areas experiencing contested elections. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, we will acquire TEGNA’s outstanding equity for a cash payment of $22 per share. The transaction is valued at an estimated $6.2 billion, which includes the estimated purchase price of
27
$5.8 billion (comprising the Merger Consideration and the refinancing of certain existing TEGNA debt), financing fees and transaction costs and expenses. On August 18, 2025, we entered into a debt commitment letter, which was subsequently amended and restated on September 11, 2025, pursuant to which a syndicate of financial institutions committed to provide debt financing up to a maximum of $5.725 billion to consummate the Merger, the refinancing of certain of TEGNA’s existing debt and related transactions. See Note 1 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2025 Highlights
Overview of Operations
As of September 30, 2025, we owned, operated, programmed or provided sales and other services to 201 full power television stations and one AM radio station, including those owned by VIEs, in 116 markets in 40 states and the District of Columbia. The stations are affiliates of ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, The CW, MyNetworkTV and other broadcast television networks. Through various local service agreements, we provided sales, programming and other services to 37 full power television stations owned by independent third parties, of which 35 full power television stations are VIEs that are consolidated into our financial statements.
As of September 30, 2025, we also own a 79.7% ownership interest in The CW, the fifth major broadcast network in the U.S.; NewsNation, a national cable news network; two multicast networks, Antenna TV and REWIND TV; multicast network services provided to third parties; and a 31.3% ownership stake in TV Food Network. Our digital assets include 125 local websites and 229 mobile applications across local stations, NewsNation and The Hill. The portfolio also includes 72 connected television applications and three free ad-supported television channels from The CW and The Hill.
We (excluding The CW) guarantee full payment of all obligations incurred under Mission’s senior secured credit facility in the event of its default. Mission is a guarantor of our senior secured credit facility, our 5.625% Notes, due July 2027, and our 4.75% Notes, due November 2028. In consideration of our guarantee of Mission’s senior secured credit facility, Mission has granted us purchase options to acquire the assets and assume the liabilities of each Mission station, subject to FCC consent. These option agreements (which expire on various dates between 2026 and 2034) are freely exercisable or assignable by us without consent or approval by Mission or its shareholders. We expect these option agreements to be renewed upon expiration.
We do not own the consolidated VIEs or their television stations. However, we are deemed under U.S. GAAP to have controlling financial interests for financial reporting purposes in these entities because of (i) the local service agreements we have with their stations, (ii) our (excluding The CW) guarantee of the obligations incurred under
28
Mission’s senior secured credit facility, (iii) our power over significant activities affecting the consolidated VIEs’ economic performance, including budgeting for advertising revenue, certain advertising sales and, in some cases, hiring and firing of sales force personnel and (iv) purchase options granted by each consolidated VIE which permit us to acquire the assets and assume the liabilities of each of these VIEs’ stations at any time, subject to FCC consent. In compliance with FCC regulations for all the parties, each of the consolidated VIEs maintains complete responsibility for and control over programming, finances and personnel for its stations.
See Note 2, “Variable Interest Entities” to our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for additional information on VIEs, including a discussion of the local service agreements we have with these independent third parties.
Seasonality
In even-numbered years we generate substantial advertising revenue from the political advertising we sell to candidates, political action committees and political parties. Advertising revenue is also positively affected by certain events such as the Olympic Games or the Super Bowl. Advertising revenue is generally highest in the second and fourth quarters of each year, due in part to increases in consumer advertising in the spring and retail advertising in the period leading up to, and including, the holiday season. As 2025 is not an election year, we expect a decrease in political advertising revenue, a component of our advertising revenue, to be reported in 2025 compared to 2024.
Historical Performance
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth the Company’s operating results ($ in millions):
|
|
Three Months Ended September 30, |
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
2025 |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
% Change |
|
|
2025 |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
% Change |
|
||||||
Net revenue: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Distribution |
|
$ |
709 |
|
|
$ |
719 |
|
|
|
(1.4 |
) |
|
$ |
2,204 |
|
|
$ |
2,215 |
|
|
|
(0.5 |
) |
Advertising |
|
|
476 |
|
|
|
622 |
|
|
|
(23.5 |
) |
|
|
1,410 |
|
|
|
1,656 |
|
|
|
(14.9 |
) |
Other |
|
|
13 |
|
|
|
25 |
|
|
|
(48.0 |
) |
|
|
46 |
|
|
|
49 |
|
|
|
(6.1 |
) |
Net revenue |
|
|
1,198 |
|
|
|
1,366 |
|
|
|
(12.3 |
) |
|
|
3,660 |
|
|
|
3,920 |
|
|
|
(6.6 |
) |
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Direct operating |
|
|
562 |
|
|
|
563 |
|
|
|
(0.2 |
) |
|
|
1,670 |
|
|
|
1,663 |
|
|
|
0.4 |
|
Selling, general and administrative |
|
|
270 |
|
|
|
277 |
|
|
|
(2.5 |
) |
|
|
790 |
|
|
|
818 |
|
|
|
(3.4 |
) |
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
190 |
|
|
|
190 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
592 |
|
|
|
588 |
|
|
|
0.7 |
|
Other |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
NM |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
NM |
|
||
Total operating expenses |
|
|
1,023 |
|
|
|
1,031 |
|
|
|
(0.8 |
) |
|
|
3,053 |
|
|
|
3,069 |
|
|
|
(0.5 |
) |
Income from operations |
|
|
175 |
|
|
|
335 |
|
|
|
(47.8 |
) |
|
|
607 |
|
|
|
851 |
|
|
|
(28.7 |
) |
Income from equity method investments, net |
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
17 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
24 |
|
|
|
52 |
|
|
|
|
||
Interest expense, net |
|
|
(94 |
) |
|
|
(113 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
(288 |
) |
|
|
(340 |
) |
|
|
|
||
Pension and other postretirement plans credit, net |
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
23 |
|
|
|
20 |
|
|
|
|
||
Gain on disposal of an investment |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
40 |
|
|
|
|
||
Other income (expenses), net |
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
(2 |
) |
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
|
||
Income before income taxes |
|
|
96 |
|
|
|
244 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
364 |
|
|
|
622 |
|
|
|
|
||
Income tax expense |
|
|
(31 |
) |
|
|
(64 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
(111 |
) |
|
|
(169 |
) |
|
|
|
||
Net income |
|
|
65 |
|
|
|
180 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
253 |
|
|
|
453 |
|
|
|
|
||
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests |
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
22 |
|
|
|
27 |
|
|
|
|
||
Net income attributable to Nexstar Media Group, Inc. |
|
$ |
70 |
|
|
$ |
187 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
275 |
|
|
$ |
480 |
|
|
|
|
||
NM – Not meaningful.
29
Three Months Ended September 30, 2025 Compared to the Same Period in 2024
The Company’s revenues decreased 12.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, primarily due to lower revenues from advertising.
Distribution revenue decreased by $10 million primarily due to the impact of MVPD subscriber attrition and the nonrecurring resolution of a disputed customer claim, offset in part by annual rate escalators and other contractual increases, growth in vMVPD subscribers, and the addition of CW affiliations on certain of our stations.
Advertising revenue decreased by $146 million, due to a decrease in political advertising by $145 million, as 2025 is not an election year.
Direct operating expenses, consisting primarily of programming, news and technical expenses, and selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $8 million primarily due recent restructuring initiatives to streamline key lines of business, offset in part by nonrecurring costs related to a disputed customer claim and legal and professional fees related to the proposed merger with TEGNA.
There were no significant changes in depreciation and amortization expense for the three months ended September 30, 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, as described below:
Income from equity method investments, net decreased by $12 million primarily due to a decrease in net income of TV Food Network, our largest equity method investment. TV Food Network’s net income decreased primarily due to a decrease in its revenue. For additional information on our investment in TV Food Network, refer to Note 5 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Interest expense, net decreased by $19 million, or 16.8% primarily due to lower interest rates and a reduction in outstanding debt.
The Company’s effective tax rates were 32.3% and 26.2% for each of the respective periods.
For the three months ended September 30, 2025, nondeductible permanent differences accounted for a 1.4% increase in the effective rate. Changes in the valuation allowance resulted in a 3.6% increase in the effective tax rate.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2025 Compared to the Same Period in 2024
The Company’s revenues decreased 6.6% for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, primarily due to lower revenues from advertising.
Distribution revenue decreased by $11 million primarily due to the impact of MVPD subscriber attrition and the nonrecurring resolution of a disputed customer claim, offset in part by annual rate escalators and other contractual increases, growth in vMVPD subscribers, and the addition of CW affiliations on certain of our stations.
Advertising revenue decreased by $246 million, due to a decrease in political advertising by $213 million, as 2025 is not an election year, and a decrease in non-political revenue of $33 million due to ongoing advertising market softness.
Direct operating expenses, consisting primarily of programming, news and technical expenses, and selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $21 million primarily due to recent restructuring initiatives to streamline key lines of business, offset in part by nonrecurring costs related to a disputed customer claim, legal and professional fees related to the proposed merger with TEGNA and costs associated with the debt refinancing completed in June 2025.
Depreciation and amortization expense increased by $4 million, as follows:
30
Income from equity method investments, net decreased by $28 million primarily due to a decrease in net income of TV Food Network, our largest equity method investment. TV Food Network’s net income decreased primarily due to a decrease in its revenue. For additional information on our investment in TV Food Network, refer to Note 5 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Interest expense, net decreased by $52 million, or 15.3%, primarily due to lower interest rates and a reduction in outstanding debt.
During the first quarter of 2024, Nexstar received $40 million in cash proceeds, and recorded a gain on disposal of an investment for the same amount, in connection with Broadcast Music Inc.’s sale to New Mountain Capital.
The Company’s effective tax rates were 30.5% and 27.2% for each of the respective periods.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, nondeductible permanent differences accounted for a 1.6% increase to the effective tax rate. Changes in the valuation allowance resulted in a 1.3% increase in the effective tax rate.
The Company calculates its year-to-date provision for income taxes by applying the estimated annual effective tax rate to year-to-date pre-tax income or loss and adjusts the provision for discrete tax items recorded in the period. Future changes in the forecasted annual income projections could result in significant adjustments to quarterly income tax expense in future periods.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company is leveraged, which makes it vulnerable to changes in general economic conditions. The Company’s ability to repay or refinance its debt will depend on, among other things, financial, business, market, competitive and other conditions, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. The Company believes it has sufficient unrestricted cash on hand, positive working capital, and availability to access additional cash under its revolving credit facilities (with a maturity date of June 2030) to meet its business operating requirements and capital expenditures and to continue to service its debt for at least the next 12 months as of the filing date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. As of September 30, 2025, the Company was in compliance with the financial covenants contained in the credit agreements governing its senior secured credit facilities.
Any future adverse economic conditions, including those resulting from tariffs and other trade barriers, sustained inflation and high interest rates among other factors, could adversely affect the Company’s future operating results, cash flows and financial condition.
31
Cash Flow Summary
The following tables present summarized financial information management believes is helpful in evaluating the Company’s liquidity and capital resources (in millions):
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|
|||||
|
|
2025 |
|
|
2024 |
|
||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
|
$ |
701 |
|
|
$ |
839 |
|
Net cash used in investing activities |
|
|
(118 |
) |
|
|
(68 |
) |
Net cash used in financing activities |
|
|
(491 |
) |
|
|
(737 |
) |
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
92 |
|
|
$ |
34 |
|
Cash paid for interest |
|
$ |
294 |
|
|
$ |
344 |
|
Income taxes paid, net of refunds |
|
$ |
175 |
|
|
$ |
187 |
|
|
|
As of September 30, |
|
|
As of December 31, |
|
||
|
|
2025 |
|
|
2024 |
|
||
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
236 |
|
|
$ |
144 |
|
Cash Flows—Operating Activities
Net cash flows provided by operating activities decreased by $138 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2025, compared to the same period in 2024, due primarily to a reduction in net income and changes in operating assets and liabilities primarily reflecting timing of receipts and payments.
Cash Flows—Investing Activities
Net cash flows used in investing activities increased by $50 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2025, compared to the same period in 2024. This was primarily due to payment for an acquisition of $22 million in 2025 and a decrease in proceeds received from disposal of an investment of $40 million in 2024, partially offset by a decrease in capital expenditures of $16 million.
Cash Flows—Financing Activities
Net cash flows used in financing activities decreased by $246 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2025, compared to the same period in 2024. This was primarily due to a decrease in stock repurchases of $298 million partially offset by an increase in debt repayments of $29 million, primarily due to the debt refinancing completed in June 2025, and a decrease in contribution received from noncontrolling interests of $19 million.
Subsequent Investing and Financing Activities
On October 29, 2025, Nexstar’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.86 per share of its common stock. The dividend is payable on November 26, 2025 to stockholders of record on November 12, 2025.
Merger Agreement with TEGNA
On August 18, 2025, Nexstar entered into the Merger Agreement with TEGNA. The agreement contains certain termination rights for both parties, including termination fees under certain circumstances. Nexstar also received committed financing from a group of commercial banks to fund the Merger with TEGNA and related transactions. See Note 1 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Long-term debt
As of September 30, 2025, the Company had total outstanding debt of $6.4 billion, net of unamortized financing costs, discounts and premium, which represented 73.6% of the Company’s combined capitalization. The Company’s high level of debt requires that a substantial portion of cash flow be dedicated to pay principal and interest on debt, which reduces the funds available for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes.
32
|
|
As of September 30, |
|
|
As of December 31, |
|
||
($ in millions) |
|
2025 |
|
|
2024 |
|
||
Nexstar senior secured credit facility |
|
$ |
3,324 |
|
|
$ |
3,479 |
|
Mission senior secured credit facility |
|
|
350 |
|
|
|
352 |
|
5.625% Notes, due July 2027 |
|
|
1,714 |
|
|
|
1,714 |
|
4.75% Notes, due November 2028 |
|
|
1,000 |
|
|
|
1,000 |
|
Total outstanding principal |
|
|
6,388 |
|
|
|
6,545 |
|
Less: Unamortized financing costs, discounts and premium, net |
|
|
(29 |
) |
|
|
(22 |
) |
Total outstanding debt |
|
$ |
6,359 |
|
|
$ |
6,523 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Unused revolving loan commitments under senior secured credit facilities (1) |
|
$ |
600 |
|
|
$ |
545 |
|
The following table summarizes the principal indebtedness scheduled to mature for the periods referenced as of September 30, 2025 (in millions):
|
|
|
|
|
Payments Due by Period |
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Total |
|
|
Remainder of 2025 |
|
|
2026 |
|
|
2027-2028 |
|
|
2029-2030 |
|
|
Thereafter |
|
||||||
Nexstar senior secured credit facility |
|
$ |
3,324 |
|
|
$ |
26 |
|
|
$ |
108 |
|
|
$ |
217 |
|
|
$ |
1,741 |
|
|
$ |
1,232 |
|
Mission senior secured credit facility |
|
|
350 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
284 |
|
|
|
62 |
|
|
|
- |
|
5.625% Notes, due July 2027 |
|
|
1,714 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1,714 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
4.75% Notes, due November 2028 |
|
|
1,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Total |
|
$ |
6,388 |
|
|
$ |
27 |
|
|
$ |
111 |
|
|
$ |
3,215 |
|
|
$ |
1,803 |
|
|
$ |
1,232 |
|
We (excluding The CW) guarantee full payment of all obligations incurred under Mission’s senior secured credit facility in the event of its default. Mission is a guarantor of our senior secured credit facility, our 5.625% Notes, due July 2027 and our 4.75% Notes, due November 2028. In consideration of our guarantee of Mission’s senior secured credit facility, Mission has granted us purchase options to acquire the assets and assume the liabilities of each Mission station, subject to FCC consent. These option agreements (which expire on various dates between 2026 and 2034) are freely exercisable or assignable by us without consent or approval by Mission or its shareholders. We expect these option agreements to be renewed upon expiration.
We make semiannual interest payments on the 5.625% Notes, due July 2027, on January 15 and July 15 of each year. We make semiannual interest payments on our 4.75% Notes, due November 2028, on May 1 and November 1 of each year. Interest payments on our and Mission’s senior secured credit facilities are generally paid every one to three months and are payable based on the type of interest rate selected.
The terms of our and Mission’s senior secured credit facilities, as well as the indentures governing our 5.625% Notes, due July 2027, and 4.75% Notes, due November 2028, limit, but do not prohibit us or Mission, from incurring substantial amounts of additional debt in the future. The Company’s senior secured credit facilities and the indentures governing our existing notes may limit the amount of dividends we may pay to stockholders and share repurchases we may make over the term of the agreements.
The Company does not have any rating downgrade triggers that would accelerate the maturity dates of its debt. However, a downgrade in the Company’s credit rating could adversely affect its ability to renew the existing credit facilities, obtain access to new credit facilities or otherwise issue debt in the future and could increase the cost of such debt.
33
The Company’s ability to access funds under its senior secured credit facilities depends, in part, on its compliance with certain financial covenants. Any additional drawings under the senior secured credit facilities will reduce the Company’s future borrowing capacity and the amount of total unused revolving loan commitments. Any future adverse economic conditions, including those resulting from heightened and sustained inflation and high interest rates, could adversely affect our future operating results and cash flows and may cause us to seek alternative sources of funding, including accessing capital markets, subject to market conditions. Such alternative sources of funding may not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all.
The Nexstar credit agreement contains a covenant which requires us to comply with a maximum consolidated first lien net leverage ratio of 4.25:1.00. Pursuant to the Nexstar credit agreement, this covenant ratio at Nexstar’s election will increase to 4.75:1.00 with respect to the last day of the fiscal quarter during which a Material Transaction (as defined therein) shall have been consummated and the last day of each of the immediately following three consecutive fiscal quarters; provided that no more than two such elections will be made during the life of the facility. The financial covenant, which is formally calculated on a quarterly basis, is based on the Company’s combined results, excluding the operating results of The CW, which Nexstar designated as an unrestricted subsidiary under its credit agreements and indentures. The Mission credit agreement does not contain financial covenant ratio requirements but does provide for default in the event we do not comply with all covenants contained in the Nexstar credit agreement. As of September 30, 2025, we were in compliance with our financial covenant. We believe the Company will be able to maintain compliance with all covenants contained in the credit agreements governing its senior secured facilities and the indentures governing Nexstar’s 5.625% Notes, due July 2027, and Nexstar’s 4.75% Notes, due November 2028, for a period of at least the next 12 months as of the filing date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Our senior secured credit facility may limit the amount of dividends we may pay to stockholders.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of September 30, 2025, we did not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or VIEs, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes. All of our arrangements with our VIEs in which we are the primary beneficiary are on-balance sheet arrangements. Our variable interests in other entities are obtained through local service agreements, which have valid business purposes and transfer certain station activities from the station owners to us. We are, therefore, not materially exposed to any financing, liquidity, market or credit risk that could arise if we had engaged in such relationships.
As of September 30, 2025, we had outstanding standby letters of credit with various financial institutions amounting to $20 million. The outstanding balance of standby letters of credit is deducted against our unused revolving loan commitment under our senior secured credit facility and would not be available for withdrawal.
Issuer and Guarantor Summarized Financial Information
Nexstar Media Inc. (the “Issuer”) is the issuer of 5.625% Notes, due July 2027, and 4.75% Notes, due November 2028. These notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (“Parent”), Mission (a consolidated VIE) and the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined below). The Issuer, Subsidiary Guarantors, Parent and Mission are collectively referred to as the “Obligor Group” for the 5.625% Notes, due July 2027, and 4.75% Notes, due November 2028. “Subsidiary Guarantors” refers to certain of the Issuer’s restricted subsidiaries (excluding The CW) that guarantee these notes. The guarantees of the notes are subject to release in limited circumstances upon the occurrence of certain customary conditions set forth in the indentures governing the 5.625% Notes, due July 2027, and the 4.75% Notes, due November 2028. The 5.625% Notes, due July 2027, and 4.75% Notes, due November 2028, are not registered with the SEC.
The following combined summarized financial information is presented for the Obligor Group after elimination of intercompany transactions between Parent, Issuer, Subsidiary Guarantors and Mission in the Obligor Group and amounts related to investments in any subsidiary that is a non-guarantor. This information is not intended to present the financial position or results of operations of the consolidated group of companies in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
34
Summarized Balance Sheet Information for the Obligor Group (in millions):
|
September 30, 2025 |
|
|
December 31, 2024 |
|
||
Current assets – external(1) |
$ |
1,262 |
|
|
$ |
1,149 |
|
Current assets – due from consolidated entities outside of Obligor Group |
|
11 |
|
|
|
11 |
|
Total current assets |
|
1,273 |
|
|
|
1,160 |
|
Noncurrent assets – external(1)(2) |
|
8,860 |
|
|
|
9,066 |
|
Noncurrent assets – due from consolidated entities outside of Obligor Group |
|
73 |
|
|
|
74 |
|
Total noncurrent assets |
|
8,933 |
|
|
|
9,140 |
|
Total current liabilities(1) |
|
667 |
|
|
|
685 |
|
Total noncurrent liabilities(1) |
|
8,187 |
|
|
|
8,387 |
|
Noncontrolling interests |
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Summarized Statements of Operations Information for the Obligor Group (in millions):
|
Nine Months Ended |
|
|
|
September 30, 2025 |
|
|
Net revenue – external |
$ |
3,505 |
|
Net revenue – from consolidated entities outside of Obligor Group |
|
11 |
|
Total net revenue |
|
3,516 |
|
Costs and expenses – external |
|
2,772 |
|
Costs and expenses – to consolidated entities outside of Obligor Group |
|
50 |
|
Total costs and expenses |
|
2,822 |
|
Income from operations |
|
694 |
|
Net income |
|
314 |
|
Net income attributable to Obligor Group |
|
314 |
|
Income from equity method investments, net |
|
24 |
|
Critical Accounting Estimates
Our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenue and expenses and related disclosures. On an ongoing basis, we base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from those estimates, and any such differences could be material to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Information with respect to the Company’s critical accounting estimates which it believes could have the most significant effect on the Company’s reported results and require subjective or complex judgments by management is contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. Management believes that as of September 30, 2025, there has been no material change to this information.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Refer to Note 2 of our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a discussion of recently issued accounting pronouncements, including our expected date of adoption and effects on results of operations and financial position.
35
ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Interest Rate Risk
The Company’s exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to its long-term debt obligations.
The term loan borrowings under the Company’s senior secured credit facilities bear interest at rates ranging from 5.63% to 6.63% as of September 30, 2025, which represent (i) SOFR plus (ii) a credit spread adjustment, as applicable, and (iii) the applicable margin, as defined. Interest is payable in accordance with the credit agreements.
Based on the outstanding balances of the Company’s senior secured credit facilities (term loans and revolving loans) as of September 30, 2025, an increase in SOFR by 100 basis points would increase our annual interest expense and decrease our cash flow from operations by $37 million (excluding tax effects). A decrease in SOFR by 100 basis points would decrease our annual interest expense and increase our cash flow from operations by $37 million (excluding tax effects). Our 5.625% Notes, due July 2027, and 4.75% Notes, due November 2028, are fixed rate debt obligations and therefore are not exposed to market interest rate changes. As of September 30, 2025, the Company has no financial instruments in place to hedge against changes in the benchmark interest rates on its senior secured credit facilities.
ITEM 4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Nexstar’s management, with the participation of its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer along with its Chief Financial Officer, conducted an evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this report of the effectiveness of the design and operation of Nexstar’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act.
Based upon that evaluation, Nexstar’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer concluded that as of the end of the period covered by this report, Nexstar’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective in providing reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act (i) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (ii) is accumulated and communicated to Nexstar’s management, including its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
As of the quarter ended September 30, 2025, there have been no changes in Nexstar’s internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, its internal control over financial reporting.
36
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. Legal Proceedings
From time to time, the Company is involved in litigation that arises from the ordinary operations of business, such as contractual or employment disputes or other general actions. In the event of an adverse outcome of these proceedings, the Company believes the resulting liabilities would not have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations. See Part I, Item 1, Note 10, “Commitments and Contingencies” for detailed discussion of ongoing litigation.
ITEM 1A. Risk Factors
There have been no material changes to the risk factors that were previously disclosed in Item 1A in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the SEC on February 27, 2025, except for the following risk factors associated with the proposed acquisition of TEGNA as fully described in Note 1 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Risk Factors Related to the Proposed Merger with TEGNA
The proposed Merger with TEGNA is subject to conditions, some or all of which may not be satisfied, on a timely basis or at all.
The completion of the Merger is subject to the satisfaction (or waiver by all parties, to the extent permissible) of a number of conditions as specified in the Merger Agreement. These closing conditions include, among other things, (i) the approval of the Merger Agreement by the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock of TEGNA entitled to vote thereon, (ii) the absence of any order, writ, injunction, judgment, decree or ruling by a court of competent jurisdiction in the United States or law in the United States having been adopted prohibiting the consummation of the Merger, (iii)(x) the expiration or termination of the waiting period applicable to the TEGNA Merger under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and under any agreement with a governmental entity not to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement that was entered into with the prior written consent of each of Nexstar and TEGNA and (y) the grant by the FCC of applications required to be filed with the FCC to obtain the approvals of the FCC pursuant to the Communications Act and FCC rules necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (iv) the accuracy of the representations and warranties contained in the Merger Agreement (subject to certain materiality qualifiers), (v) the performance and compliance in all material respects by the parties of their respective covenants required by the Merger Agreement to be performed or complied with by such party prior to the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement) and (vi) the absence, since June 30, 2025, of any effect, change, event, occurrence or development that has had or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Merger Agreement) that is continuing.
The failure to satisfy all of the required conditions could delay the completion of the Merger for a significant period of time or prevent it from occurring at all. There can be no assurance that the conditions to the completion of the Merger will be satisfied or waived or that the Merger will be completed. If the Merger is not completed, we may be materially adversely affected and, without realizing any of the benefits of having completed the Merger, will be subject to a number of risks. In particular, upon termination of the Merger Agreement under certain specified circumstances, including TEGNA’s entry into a definitive agreement with respect to a superior proposal in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, TEGNA will be required to pay Nexstar a termination fee of $120 million. Upon termination of the Merger Agreement under certain circumstances, including the termination by either party because certain required regulatory clearances are not obtained before the outside date of August 18, 2026 (subject to one three-month extension), Nexstar will be required to pay TEGNA a termination fee of $125 million. We may also experience negative reactions from the financial markets, and our stock price could decline to the extent that the current market price reflects an assumption that the Merger will be completed.
Delays in the completion of the Merger could cause the combined company not to realize, or to be delayed in realizing, some or all of the benefits that we expect to achieve if the Merger is successfully completed within its
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expected timeframe and, among other things, result in additional transaction costs, loss of revenue, additional expense or other negative effects associated with delay and uncertainty about completion of the Merger. If we or TEGNA are required to divest assets or businesses as a condition to the Merger, there can be no assurance that we will be able to negotiate such divestitures expeditiously or on favorable terms or that the governmental authorities will approve the terms of such divestitures. Such divestitures could also reduce the benefits that may be realized by the combined company from the Merger.
We may fail to realize all of the anticipated benefits of the Merger with TEGNA, or those benefits may take longer to realize than expected. The combined company may also encounter difficulties in integrating the two businesses.
Our ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the Merger will depend on our ability to successfully integrate TEGNA into our business. The integration of a business is a complex, costly and time-consuming process. As a result, we will be required to devote significant management attention and resources to integrating our business practices and operations with the business practices and operations of TEGNA. The integration process may disrupt our business and, if implemented ineffectively, would restrict the full realization of the anticipated benefits from the Merger. The failure to meet the challenges involved in integrating the acquired business and to realize the anticipated benefits of the transaction could adversely impact the carrying value of the goodwill, could cause an interruption of, or a loss of momentum in, our business activities, and could adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the overall integration of TEGNA may result in material unanticipated problems, expenses, liabilities, loss of customers and diversion of the attention of our management and employees. The challenges of integrating the operations of acquired businesses include, among others:
Many of these factors are outside of our control, and any one of them could result in increased costs and liabilities, decreases in the amount of expected revenue and earnings and diversion of management’s time and energy, each of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, even if the operations of our business and TEGNA are integrated successfully, the full benefits of the Merger may not be realized, including the synergies, cost savings, growth opportunities, or cash flows that are expected, and we will also be subject to additional risks that could impact future earnings. These benefits may not be achieved within the anticipated time frame, or at all. Further, additional unanticipated costs may be incurred in the integration of TEGNA. In addition, it is possible that the integration process could result in the loss of key employees and/or inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies, which may adversely affect our ability to maintain relationships with customers, other providers and employees or to achieve the anticipated benefits of the Merger. These integration matters and our significant amount of indebtedness may hinder our ability to make further acquisitions and could have an adverse effect on us for an undetermined period after consummation of the Merger. All of these factors could decrease or delay the expected accretive effect of the Merger or have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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ITEM 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
There was no common stock repurchased during the quarter ended September 30, 2025. As of September 30, 2025, the remaining available amount under the share repurchase authorization was $1.4 billion.
ITEM 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.
ITEM 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
None.
ITEM 5. Other Information
None of the Company’s directors or officers
ITEM 6. Exhibits
Exhibit No. |
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Description |
2.1 |
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Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 18, 2025, by and among Nexstar Media Group, Inc., Teton Merger Sub, Inc. and TEGNA Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 000-50478) filed by Nexstar Media Group, Inc. on August 19, 2025). |
31.1 |
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Certification of Perry A. Sook pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.* |
31.2 |
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Certification of Lee Ann Gliha pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.* |
32.1 |
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Certification of Perry A. Sook pursuant to 18 U.S.C. ss. 1350.* |
32.2 |
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Certification of Lee Ann Gliha pursuant to 18 U.S.C. ss. 1350.* |
101.INS |
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Inline XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document. |
101.SCH |
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Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema With Embedded Linkbases Document. |
104 |
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Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101). |
* Filed herewith
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
NEXSTAR MEDIA GROUP, INC. |
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/S/ PERRY A. SOOK |
By: |
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Perry A. Sook |
Its: |
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Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
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/S/ LEE ANN GLIHA |
By: |
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Lee Ann Gliha |
Its: |
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Chief Financial Officer (Principal Accounting and Financial Officer) |
Dated: November 6, 2025
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FAQ
What were Nexstar (NXST) Q3 2025 results?
Net revenue was $1,198 million vs. $1,366 million a year ago. Net income attributable to Nexstar was $70 million and diluted EPS was $2.14.
How did year-to-date 2025 compare for NXST?
For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, net revenue was $3,660 million vs. $3,920 million, and diluted EPS was $8.57 vs. $13.96.
What is Nexstar’s current debt and liquidity position?
Total outstanding debt was $6,359 million, cash and cash equivalents were $236 million, and total stockholders’ equity was $2,267 million as of September 30, 2025.
What changes did NXST make to its credit facilities in 2025?
On June 27, 2025, Nexstar added a $750 million revolver (borrowed $144 million), a $1,905 million Term Loan A due 2030, and a $1,300 million Term Loan B due 2032, at SOFR plus stated spreads.
What are the key terms of Nexstar’s planned TEGNA acquisition?
Nexstar agreed to acquire TEGNA for $22 per share in cash, with an estimated total purchase price of $5.8 billion and up to $5.725 billion in committed financing, subject to approvals and customary conditions.
How much operating cash flow did NXST generate year-to-date?
Net cash provided by operating activities was $701 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025.
How many NXST shares were outstanding recently?
Shares outstanding were 30,323,806 as of September 30, 2025, and 30,326,192 as of November 6, 2025.