Have radio stocks finally begun to recover after hitting bottom? The RBR Radio Index ended Q2 in positive territory year-to-date, ahead 0.86%, and most radio stocks are now up YTD, improving over their Q1 performance. Still, it's not much of a trend to get excited about – at least, not yet.
Seven radio stocks are now up double digits for the year thus far, an improvement over only three at the end of Q1. The best performer is one of the newest and smallest companies. Debut Broadcasting closed on its first radio station acquisition and merged with a public shell to begin trading just last month. The penny stock was up over 58% by the end of the month, but since that was only 70 cents you would need to own a lot of shares to turn a big profit on the price boost. Of stocks listed on a major exchange, Entravision was the star performer, up nearly 27% this year as the biggest player remaining in the fast-growing Hispanic media sector after Univision was taken private. Arbitron moved into double-digit territory, up nearly 19% YTD, after signing PPM contracts with several major radio groups. Also up double digits so far this year are Regent, Fisher, Google and Emmis.
| Radio | 12/29/06 | 6/29/07 |
2007
|
2007
|
| Company | Close | Close |
Net Chg
|
Pct Chg
|
| Debut* | 1.20 | 1.90 | 0.70 | 58.33% |
| Entravision | 8.22 | 10.43 | 2.21 | 26.89% |
| Arbitron | 43.44 | 51.53 | 8.09 | 18.62% |
| Regent | 2.83 | 3.35 | 0.52 | 18.37% |
| Fisher | 44.21 | 50.79 | 6.58 | 14.88% |
| 460.48 | 522.70 | 62.22 | 13.51% | |
| Emmis | 8.24 | 9.21 | 0.97 | 11.77% |
| CBS Cl. B | 31.18 | 33.32 | 2.14 | 6.86% |
| Lincoln National | 66.40 | 70.95 | 4.55 | 6.85% |
| CBS Cl. A | 31.22 | 33.33 | 2.11 | 6.76% |
| Clear Channel | 35.54 | 37.82 | 2.28 | 6.42% |
| Radio One, Cl. D | 6.74 | 7.06 | 0.32 | 4.75% |
| Radio One, Cl. A | 6.75 | 7.07 | 0.32 | 4.74% |
| SBS | 4.11 | 4.30 | 0.19 | 4.62% |
| Journal | 12.61 | 13.01 | 0.40 | 3.17% |
| Saga | 9.61 | 9.80 | 0.19 | 1.98% |
| Disney | 34.27 | 34.14 | -0.13 | -0.38% |
| Westwood One | 7.06 | 6.87 | -0.19 | -2.69% |
| Interep | 0.30 | 0.29 | -0.01 | -3.33% |
| Hearst-Argyle | 25.50 | 24.10 | -1.40 | -5.49% |
| Beasley | 9.57 | 8.90 | -0.67 | -7.00% |
| Salem | 11.95 | 11.09 | -0.86 | -7.20% |
| Cumulus | 10.39 | 9.35 | -1.04 | -10.01% |
| XM | 14.45 | 12.92 | -1.53 | -10.59% |
| Entercom | 28.18 | 24.89 | -3.29 | -11.67% |
| Cox Radio | 16.30 | 14.24 | -2.06 | -12.64% |
| Citadel** | 7.50 | 6.45 | -1.05 | -14.00% |
| Sirius | 3.54 | 3.02 | -0.52 | -14.69% |
| SWMX | 2.10 | 0.25 | -1.85 | -88.10% |
| Radio Index | 156.91 | 158.26 | 1.35 | 0.86% |
*began trading 6/4
**adjusted 6/13 for 2.46 special dividend
(c)2007 Radio Business Report, Inc. All rights reserved.
