Versant Media Group, Inc. research snapshot
VSNT AI stock analysis as of the August 3, 2026 data cutoff reads Versant Media Group as a deeply discounted pure-play media portfolio trading at roughly $35.99 per share, a market value near $5.09 billion, and an enterprise value near $6.85 billion. The stock carries a 4.17% dividend yield, a trailing PE of about 6.0x, a price-to-book near 0.63x, and a trailing EV/EBITDA near 3.1x, all well below typical media benchmarks. TTM revenue is about $6.67 billion, down 4.06%, while the platforms business, which includes Fandango, GolfNow, and GolfPass, grew high single digits in Q1 2026 and is the strategic engine for the bull case. Recent catalysts include the $530 million Full Swing acquisition announced in early July, the exclusive multi-year Bundesliga U.S. media rights deal for USA Sports signed July 14, 2026, and the Q2 2026 earnings report due August 6, 2026. The bear case centers on continued cord cutting in linear distribution and advertising, a 36% TTM earnings decline, the balance sheet drag of new debt from the Full Swing deal, and a stock that is trading below all of its short and medium-term moving averages after a roughly 20% year-to-date decline. This page is informational research, not investment advice.
Current price
$35.99 close on July 31, 2026
Market cap
$5.09 billion
AI score
63 / 100
Rating
Deep value with a 4.17% dividend yield and growing platforms business, offset by declining revenue and weak momentum
Trend status
Trading below its 5-day, 20-day, 50-day, and 100-day moving averages after a 20% year-to-date decline
Data cutoff (updated monthly)
August 4, 2026
Informational use only. This page is not investment advice.
| Dimension | Conclusion | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Business quality | Versant runs a portfolio of seven cable networks and digital platforms across business news (CNBC), political news (MS NOW), golf (Golf Channel, GolfNow, GolfPass), and sports and entertainment (USA Network, E!, SYFY, Oxygen), plus Fandango and Free TV Networks. Revenue splits into linear distribution, advertising, platforms, and content licensing. | Medium-high |
| Moat | CNBCs business news franchise, MS NOWs political audience with over 30 million weekly viewers, Golf Channels vertical ecosystem, and Fandangos ticketing position provide real franchises, but pay TV distribution is the structural weak point and streaming rivals pressure every linear brand. | Medium |
| Management | CEO Mark Lazarus and CFO Anand Kini are executing a capital allocation plan that pairs a $1.50 annual dividend, share buybacks including a $100 million Q1 repurchase and a $100 million Q2 accelerated buyback, with targeted M&A such as INDY Cinema, StockStory, Free TV Networks, and the $530 million Full Swing acquisition. | Medium |
| Financial trend | Q1 2026 revenue was about $1.69 billion, down 1%, with platforms up 9%, advertising down 5% (improved from a 12% decline a year earlier), adjusted EBITDA of $704 million up 5%, and free cash flow of $558 million. TTM revenue is down 4.06% and TTM net income is down about 36%, and FY2026 guidance points to revenue of $6.15 to $6.4 billion with adjusted EBITDA of $1.85 to $2.0 billion. | Medium-high |
| Valuation | At $35.99, the stock trades at about 6.0x trailing earnings, 0.76x sales, 0.63x book value, 2.6x trailing free cash flow, and 3.1x EV/EBITDA, with a 4.17% dividend yield and a 6.03% shareholder yield. These are deep value multiples that assume a permanent decline in the linear business. | Medium-high |
| Technical trend | The July 31, 2026 snapshot showed price at $35.99, below the 5-day average of $36.39, the 20-day of $36.09, the 50-day of $38.29, and the 100-day of $38.73, with 14-day RSI near 45, weak ADX near 19, and negative directional indicators, consistent with a short and medium-term downtrend. | Medium |
| Risk level | Risks include accelerated cord cutting, advertising cyclicality, the untested $530 million Full Swing integration, higher leverage from the deal, the Q2 2026 report due August 6, content licensing revenue volatility, and limited standalone trading history. | Medium |
| AI confidence | Quote, balance sheet, TTM financials, valuation ratios, and technical levels carry medium-high confidence because they cross-checked across StockAnalysis.com and Barchart. Forward estimates carry medium confidence because the Q2 report is pending and pay TV trends are hard to forecast. | Medium-high data confidence |
| Investment certainty | Medium-low certainty. The dividend and valuation provide a measurable floor, but the short standalone track record, declining revenue, and weak momentum mean the re-rating thesis is not yet proven. | Medium-low |
VSNT AI stock forecast
The VSNT AI stock forecast uses scenario math around the July 31, 2026 close of $35.99, the TTM EBITDA of about $2.24 billion, and net debt of about $1.76 billion. Applying 2.5x, 3.5x, and 4.5x EV/EBITDA to TTM EBITDA and subtracting net debt produces a bearish area near $27, a base area near $43, and a bullish area near $59 per share before dividends. These are scenarios, not price targets.
$54 to $63
More likely if Q2 2026 revenue and advertising trends improve, platforms revenue keeps growing high single digits or faster, the Full Swing acquisition and Bundesliga rights add visible upside, linear declines slow, and the market re-rates the stock toward a 4.5x EV/EBITDA multiple.
$38 to $47
More likely if Versant holds to its FY2026 guidance of $6.15 to $6.4 billion revenue and $1.85 to $2.0 billion adjusted EBITDA, platforms growth offsets much of the linear decline, and the market holds EV/EBITDA near the 3.5x area.
$24 to $30
More likely if cord cutting accelerates, advertising enters a downturn, the Full Swing deal or new leverage strains the balance sheet, Q2 2026 results disappoint on August 6, or the stock stays below its moving averages and compresses toward a 2.5x EV/EBITDA multiple.
VSNT AI technical analysis
VSNT AI technical analysis is bearish in the short and medium term as of the August 3, 2026 data cutoff. The stock closed at $35.99 on July 31, 2026, below its 5-day average of $36.39, 20-day average of $36.09, 50-day average of $38.29, and 100-day average of $38.73, with 14-day RSI near 45 and a weak ADX near 19 with negative directional indicators. The 52-week range is wide at $27.17 to $59.00, and the stock is down about 20% year to date.
| Level | Value | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Current price | $35.99 | StockAnalysis.com quote at the July 31, 2026 close, after-hours $36.05, used for market-cap and valuation math. |
| 5-day moving average | $36.39 | Barchart reported the 5-day moving average near $36.39, just above the July 31 close. |
| Near resistance | $36.00 to $38.80 | The 5-day, 20-day, 50-day, and 100-day moving averages cluster from about $36.09 to $38.73 and form the first overhead zone. |
| Key resistance | $40.00 to $46.00 | The analyst average target of $44.00 and the Arete $40 and Goldman Sachs $48 targets define the next resistance band. |
| Near support | $33.00 to $34.00 | A short-term support zone below the current price based on recent trading before the July 31 close. |
| Key support | $27.17 to $28.50 | The 52-week low of $27.17 is the primary downside support level. |
| 52-week high | $59.00 | The post-spin high from early 2026, far above the current price. |
| 52-week low | $27.17 | The low end of the range since the spin-off listing. |
| Momentum | RSI near 45, ADX near 19 | 14-day RSI was near 45.13 and 14-day ADX near 19.21 on July 31, 2026, with -DI above +DI, signaling weak negative momentum rather than an oversold turn. |
| Volume | About 1.64 million average shares | 20-day average volume was about 1.64 million shares on Barchart and about 1.64 million on StockAnalysis.com, useful for confirming any move off the Q2 earnings date of August 6. |
| Volatility | Elevated near earnings | 14-day historical volatility was near 29.67% on July 31, 2026, so position sizing should account for larger swings around earnings and news. |
| Invalidation | Close below $33.00 | A decisive close below the $33 to $34 support zone would point toward the 52-week low of $27.17; a close below $27.17 would mark a new low and a stronger downtrend. |
VSNT AI trading strategy
This VSNT AI trading strategy is a rules-based research framework, not personal advice. It connects price levels with reported Q1 2026 segment trends, FY2026 guidance, the August 6 earnings date, the Full Swing integration, and dividend, buyback, and portfolio-level risk limits.
Wait for VSNT to reclaim its 20-day moving average near $36.09 and then the 50-day near $38.29 on rising volume, ideally supported by Q2 2026 revenue and adjusted EBITDA results on August 6 that hold to or beat guidance.
A close back below the $33 to $34 support zone, especially with weaker Q2 results, lower guidance, or a downgrade, should weaken or stop the setup.
If VSNT pulls back toward the $33 to $34 zone or the 52-week low near $27.17 without a new fundamental break, compare the trailing PE near 6x, PB near 0.63x, EV/EBITDA near 3.1x, and 4.17% dividend yield with the trajectory of platforms growth and linear declines.
Do not treat the low multiples as sufficient value evidence if pay TV revenue keeps contracting, the Full Swing deal adds too much leverage, or Q2 2026 guidance disappoints.
Track Q2 2026 revenue by segment (linear distribution, advertising, platforms, content licensing), adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow, the August 6 report, Full Swing integration and new debt, Bundesliga audience and ad performance, Fandango and GolfNow growth, dividend coverage, and buyback execution.
Position sizing should account for the short standalone track record and the fact that deep value multiples on a declining business can stay depressed for a long time.
Investment research summary
Versant gets paid when advertisers, pay TV distributors, content licensees, and consumers engage with its brands across business news (CNBC), political news (MS NOW), golf (Golf Channel, GolfNow, GolfPass), and sports and entertainment (USA Network, E!, SYFY, Oxygen), plus Fandango and Free TV Networks.
The moat rests on CNBCs business news franchise, MS NOWs political audience of over 30 million weekly viewers, Golf Channels vertical control from content to tee-time bookings, and Fandangos ticketing position. Cord cutting and streaming competition keep narrowing the moat in linear television.
The thesis fails if cord cutting accelerates beyond expectations, advertising enters a structural downturn, the $530 million Full Swing acquisition and the new debt strain the balance sheet or dilute returns, content licensing revenue proves lumpy, or the standalone management team cannot match Comcast-era support.
Mark Lazarus and Anand Kini need to prove that the spin-off structure enables a faster digital pivot, disciplined capital allocation, and targeted M&A rather than simply adding costs and complexity without the parent safety net. The Full Swing deal and the Q2 accelerated buyback are the current tests.
Media is in a generational shift from linear to streaming. Linear advertising and affiliate revenue face long-term pressure, while digital platforms, FAST channels, and content licensing are the growth areas. Versants pure-play structure removes Comcast conflicts but also removes cross-subsidy protection.
At roughly 6x trailing earnings, 0.63x book, and 3.1x EV/EBITDA with a 4.17% dividend, the market already discounts significant pessimism about the linear business. Margin of safety depends on whether platforms growth, content licensing, and cost discipline can stabilize earnings and justify a re-rating.
Source-backed data
Every metric below includes a source and last verification date.
| Metric | Value | Source | Last verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| VSNT quote reference | $35.99 close on July 31, 2026, after-hours $36.05 | StockAnalysis.com VSNT page | August 3, 2026 |
| Market capitalization verification | $5.09 billion reported and calculated from $35.99 x 141.5 million shares, a 0.05% variance | Pineify financial_rigor.py and StockAnalysis.com market cap page | August 3, 2026 |
| TTM financials | Revenue $6.668 billion down 4.06%, gross profit $3.747 billion, operating income $1.214 billion, net income $849 million, EBITDA $2.235 billion, EPS $5.99, free cash flow $1.956 billion | StockAnalysis.com income statement | August 3, 2026 |
| FY2025 results | Revenue $6.688 billion down 5.30%, net income $930 million down 31.77%, gross margin 56.09%, operating margin 19.02% | StockAnalysis.com income statement | August 3, 2026 |
| Q1 2026 results | Revenue about $1.69 billion down 1%, linear distribution $1.01 billion down 7%, advertising $368 million down 5%, platforms $192 million up 9%, content licensing $121 million, adjusted EBITDA $704 million up 5%, free cash flow $558 million | Versant Media Q1 2026 earnings call transcript | August 3, 2026 |
| FY2026 guidance | Revenue of $6.15 to $6.4 billion, adjusted EBITDA of $1.85 to $2.0 billion, free cash flow of $1.0 to $1.2 billion | Versant Media Q1 2026 earnings call | August 3, 2026 |
| Balance sheet | Cash $1.19 billion, total debt $2.95 billion, net debt $1.759 billion, book value $8.145 billion, book value per share $56.78, current ratio 2.32, debt to equity 0.36 as of March 31, 2026 | StockAnalysis.com balance sheet | August 3, 2026 |
| Valuation metrics | TTM PE 6.01, forward PE 6.99 (statistics page) or about 8.43 (forecast page, FY2026 consensus EPS $4.27), PS 0.76, PB 0.63, P/FCF 2.60, PEG 0.56, EV/EBITDA 3.07, EV/Sales 1.03, dividend yield 4.17%, shareholder yield 6.03% | StockAnalysis.com statistics and forecast pages | August 3, 2026 |
| Dividend | Annual dividend of $1.50 per share paid quarterly at $0.375, yield 4.17%, last ex-dividend date July 1, 2026, payout ratio 12.52%, buyback yield 1.86% | StockAnalysis.com dividend page | August 3, 2026 |
| Analyst consensus | Buy consensus across 7 analysts, average target $44.00, low $35.00, high $52.00, median $44.50 | StockAnalysis.com forecast page | August 3, 2026 |
| Recent analyst actions | Arete upgraded to Neutral from Sell with a $40 target on July 17, 2026; Goldman Sachs maintained Hold with a $48 target on July 15; Seaport maintained Buy and raised the target to $46 on May 18; Citi maintained Hold and raised to $42 on May 14; Raymond James reiterated Hold on May 15 | StockAnalysis.com forecast page and news feed | August 3, 2026 |
| Full Swing acquisition | Versant agreed on July 5, 2026 to acquire Full Swing, a golf simulator and sports technology company, for about $530 million in cash | Business Wire and CNBC press coverage | August 3, 2026 |
| Bundesliga media rights | USA Sports signed an exclusive multi-year U.S. media rights agreement for the Bundesliga, beginning August 2026 with more than 300 live matches | Business Wire press release | August 3, 2026 |
| Technical snapshot | 5-day SMA $36.39, 20-day SMA $36.09, 50-day SMA $38.29, 100-day SMA $38.73, 200-day SMA n/a, 14-day RSI 45.13, 14-day ADX 19.21, 14-day historical volatility 29.67%, 20-day average volume about 1.64 million shares | Barchart and StockAnalysis.com technical snapshots | August 3, 2026 |
| Short interest | 4.02 million shares short, 2.84% of shares outstanding, 1.71 days to cover | StockAnalysis.com statistics short selling section | August 3, 2026 |
| Next earnings date | Thursday, August 6, 2026, before market open | StockAnalysis.com VSNT page | August 3, 2026 |
This VSNT AI stock analysis is an informational research tool only. It is not investment advice, not a recommendation to buy or sell Versant Media Group, Inc., and not a promise of future returns. Forecasts are scenario-based estimates from available public data as of the stated cutoff date and can be wrong. Versant Media was spun off from Comcast in early 2026 and has limited standalone operating history, and its Q2 2026 results had not been released as of the August 3, 2026 data cutoff.
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