Macquarie downgrades News Corp stock rating to Neutral on fair valuation

Published 06/08/2025, 17:54
Macquarie downgrades News Corp stock rating to Neutral on fair valuation

Investing.com - Macquarie downgraded News Corp. (NASDAQ:NWSA) from Outperform to Neutral on Wednesday, setting a price target of $32.70. The media giant, currently trading at $29.22 with a market capitalization of $16.55 billion, has shown mixed signals according to InvestingPro data.

The research firm cited fair valuation as the primary reason for the downgrade, noting that News Corp’s owned business is trading at 5.9x 12-months forward EV/EBITDA when adjusting for the REA stake at spot price. This valuation represents its highest level since early 2018, excluding the COVID period. InvestingPro analysis shows the company’s current EV/EBITDA at 12.33x, with a "GOOD" Financial Health Score of 2.6.

Macquarie revised its forecast for News Corp’s FY26 segment EBITDA to $1,519 million, representing a 7% year-over-year increase, down from its previous estimate of $1,584 million. The company’s current EBITDA stands at $1,415 million, with detailed financial metrics and growth projections available in the comprehensive Pro Research Report on InvestingPro.

The firm expects Dow Jones to see improved earnings and margins as the business shifts toward higher-margin B2B products, while Digital Real Estate Services should continue to benefit from REA’s market position and strategy, including its commitment to Australian residential double-digit buy yield growth in FY26, despite increasing competition risk.

For Book Publishing and News Media segments, Macquarie described the outlook as "opaque," citing softness in the publishing and advertising markets respectively.

In other recent news, News Corp has provided an update on its ongoing stock repurchase programs. The company remains authorized to buy back up to $1 billion of its Class A and Class B common shares. This information was disclosed in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. News Corp is required to report daily on these transactions to the Australian Securities Exchange, and it includes this data in its quarterly and annual reports. The company has not specified the exact amounts or timing of the repurchases. Additionally, News Corp attached copies of the information provided to the Australian Securities Exchange as exhibits in its SEC filing. The company also noted that any forward-looking statements about repurchasing shares are based on current management expectations and may change due to various factors.

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