News Corporation (NWS)
News Corporation is a global media giant that owns a vast collection of newspapers, book publishers, and digital real estate platforms.
Is News Corporation a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: News Corporation is a global media giant that owns a vast collection of newspapers, book publishers, and digital real estate platforms.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only - reinvesting the dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
New digital ventures become the primary profit drivers.
Structural decline in traditional media consumption.
What does News Corporation do?
News Corp operates a diverse portfolio including iconic brands like The Times, The Sun, and HarperCollins, alongside digital property sites like REA Group. Subscriptions, advertising space, and books bring in the cash, while fees from their online property listings add to the total. Their future rests on successfully transitioning their traditional print businesses into profitable digital-first models.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on income and quality, and weakest on growth.
- ✓Pays a dividend - about 0.6% a year
- ✓Growing - revenue up about 9% over the year
- !High P/E of 40 - big growth is already priced in
- ✓Low debt - a sturdier balance sheet
- Owns highly recognisable and trusted media brands
- Strong gross margins suggest efficient core operations
- Diversified income streams across print, digital, and books
- Continued shift of advertising budgets to social media platforms
- Economic downturns typically reduce consumer spending on books and news
- Regulatory changes affecting media ownership or digital property data
What do News Corporation's numbers mean?
How much money does News Corporation make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does News Corporation pay a dividend?
Yes - News Corporation currently pays a dividend of about 0.6% a year (the yearly payout as a share of the price). A dividend is a slice of profit handed to shareholders; the yield moves as the price moves, and a company can cut or stop it.
When does News Corporation report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
News Corporation is next scheduled to report on about 2026-08-05 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-07 | $0.20 | $0.21 | Beat +5% |
| 2026-02-05 | $0.37 | $0.40 | Beat +7% |
| 2025-11-06 | $0.19 | $0.22 | Beat +17% |
| 2025-08-05 | $0.18 | $0.19 | Beat +6% |
| 2025-05-08 | $0.13 | $0.17 | Beat +28% |
| 2025-02-05 | $0.31 | $0.33 | Beat +6% |
Across the last 6 quarters here, News Corporation came in ahead of what analysts expected 6 times. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
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AT&T Inc.What are the scenarios for News Corporation?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of News Corporation?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Owns highly recognisable and trusted media brands
- Strong gross margins suggest efficient core operations
- Diversified income streams across print, digital, and books
- Recent earnings growth has been negative
- High price-to-earnings ratio relative to current profit levels
- Heavy reliance on the declining print advertising industry
- Continued shift of advertising budgets to social media platforms
- Economic downturns typically reduce consumer spending on books and news
- Regulatory changes affecting media ownership or digital property data
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A sustained return to positive earnings growth
- A significant acquisition or divestment that changes the business model
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-01 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.