Updating your Conservative stocks: Gannett, Tegna and Sherwin-Williams

Article Excerpt

GANNETT CO. INC. $3.09 (www.gannett.com) is a hold. The newspaper publisher recently sold its Austin American-Statesman newspaper in Austin, Texas. It used the proceeds of $57.5 million to pay down its long-term debt of $1.01 billion (as of December 31, 2024). Even so, that remaining debt load is still a very high 2.2 times its market cap. Gannett is a hold. TEGNA INC. $19 (www.tegna.com) is a hold. The company owns 64 TV stations and two radio stations in 51 U.S. markets. Thanks to stronger advertising revenue during the U.S. election campaign, Tegna’s revenue in the quarter ended December 31, 2024, rose 19.9%, to $870.5 million from $725.9 million a year earlier. Earnings before unusual items jumped 181.4%, to $1.21 from $0.43. However, Tegna’s long-term debt at the end of 2024 was $3.09 billion, which is a high 103% of its market cap. Tegna is a hold. SHERWIN-WILLIAMS CO. $344 (www.sherwin-williams.com) is a hold. The company is a leading maker of paints and varnishes. In the three months ended December 31, 2024, Sherwin’s sales…