USA Today (NYSE:TDAY) Reaches New 52-Week High – Time to Buy?

USA Today Co. (NYSE:TDAY)’s stock price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $6.22 and last traded at $6.01, with a volume of 598368 shares. The stock had previously closed at $5.88.

Key USA Today News

Here are the key news stories impacting USA Today this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Executed a binding Letter of Intent to buy The Detroit News — expands USA TODAY Co.’s local-news footprint and subscriber base, which could boost recurring revenue and scale. USA TODAY Co. Announces Execution of Binding Letter of Intent With MediaNews Group
• Positive Sentiment: Press coverage frames the acquisition as the end of a joint-operating era and a return to standalone local ownership — a narrative that may reassure readers and local advertisers about continuity. USA TODAY Co. moves to buy The Detroit News after joint-operating era ends
• Neutral Sentiment: High-volume sports and seasonal content published (NFL playoff guides, TV listings, college basketball coverage) supports traffic and ad impressions but is routine editorial activity unlikely to move fundamentals by itself. Example coverage: Seahawks vs Rams preview. Seahawks vs Rams predictions, picks, odds for NFL playoff game today
• Negative Sentiment: Financial and execution risks: TDAY carries high leverage (debt/equity ~4.66) and recently missed EPS and revenue estimates — an acquisition could strain the balance sheet and raise investor concern about financing and integration. (Background: Q3 earnings miss and elevated leverage.)

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

TDAY has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Wall Street Zen downgraded USA Today from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Saturday, November 8th. Citigroup upped their price objective on shares of USA Today from $4.30 to $5.10 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 12th. Finally, Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of USA Today from a “sell (d+)” rating to a “hold (c-)” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, USA Today presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $5.55.

USA Today Trading Up 1.5%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.66, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 0.69. The firm has a market cap of $878.25 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.43 and a beta of 1.52. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $4.84 and a 200-day simple moving average of $4.38.

USA Today (NYSE:TDAY) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported ($0.21) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.04) by ($0.17). USA Today had a return on equity of 42.98% and a net margin of 4.11%.The firm had revenue of $560.80 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $575.58 million.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. CWM LLC bought a new position in shares of USA Today during the fourth quarter worth about $202,000. PFG Investments LLC acquired a new stake in shares of USA Today during the fourth quarter worth $271,000. Ritholtz Wealth Management bought a new position in USA Today during the fourth quarter worth $163,000. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in USA Today in the fourth quarter valued at $57,000. Finally, Range Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in USA Today in the fourth quarter valued at $321,000. 76.71% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About USA Today

Gannett Co, Inc (NYSE: GCI) is a media and marketing solutions company headquartered in McLean, Virginia. As the largest U.S. newspaper publisher by circulation, Gannett publishes USA Today alongside more than 260 local news brands. The company’s multimedia platforms include daily and weekly newspapers, websites, mobile apps and a network of subscription-based digital products.

In addition to journalism and content production, Gannett offers a suite of digital marketing services designed to help small and medium-sized businesses grow online.