Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Key Takeaways CMCSA wireless added a record 448K lines as Connectivity & Platforms EBITDA beat estimates.Peacock's first EBITDA profit helped Media EBITDA beat estimates on sports and ad strength.Studios EBITDA beat estimates, while Theme Parks EBITDA missed on weaker attendance. Comcast (CMCSA - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS of $1.04, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7 cents and declined 16.7% year over year.

Revenues of $29.94 billion beat the consensus mark by 2.33% and declined 1.2% year over year, though pro forma revenues, which adjust for the Versant separation and the sale of Sky's German operations, increased 4.7%. (Read More: Comcast's Q2 Earnings Surpass Estimates, Revenues Decrease Y/Y)

The company ended the quarter with 10.2 million domestic wireless lines, up from 8.5 million in the prior year period. However, total domestic broadband customers declined to 28.5 million from 29 million. Adjusted EBITDA declined 13.4% to $8.9 billion, or 5.3% on a pro forma basis.

Wireless and Peacock Strength Drive Segment BeatsDomestic wireless line net additions of 448,000 marked the company's best quarterly result on record and beat the consensus estimate by 11.64%. Domestic broadband customer net losses of 167,000 came in worse than expected, missing the consensus mark by 3.43%, while domestic video customer net losses of 280,000 also missed estimates by 2.28%.

At Media, Peacock achieved quarterly profitability for the first time, generating EBITDA of $189 million compared with a loss of $101 million in the prior year period, on the back of the NBA playoffs, the FIFA World Cup and Love Island USA. Media Adjusted EBITDA of $708 million beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 34.63%.

Studios also outperformed, with Adjusted EBITDA of $202 million beating the consensus mark by 18.07%, supported by strong theatrical performance across the slate.

Connectivity & Platforms Beats While Theme Parks MissTotal Connectivity & Platforms Adjusted EBITDA of $7.96 billion declined year over year but beat the consensus estimate by 0.69%. Within the segment, Residential Connectivity & Platforms Adjusted EBITDA of $6.45 billion beat estimates by 0.25%, while Business Services Connectivity Adjusted EBITDA of $1.52 billion beat by 2.34%, aided by growth in enterprise solutions offerings.

Theme Parks Adjusted EBITDA of $609 million missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 6.72%, pressured by softening attendance in Orlando amid higher travel costs and weaker consumer sentiment, as well as continued China-related travel restrictions affecting the Osaka park.

Total Content & Experiences Adjusted EBITDA of $1.33 billion beat the consensus mark by 13.48%, as strength in Media and Studios more than offset the Theme Parks shortfall.

Broadband and Advertising Revenue Top EstimatesDomestic broadband revenues declined 5.5% to $6.28 billion, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.45%, as lower average rates and a smaller customer base weighed on the top line despite the beat.

Media domestic advertising revenue rose 55% to $2.16 billion, beating the consensus mark by 12.24%, driven in part by incremental FIFA World Cup advertising along with stronger NBA and Peacock advertising demand.

Within Content & Experiences, Studios content licensing revenues declined slightly to $1.80 billion, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7.04%, as lower film studio licensing activity offset gains at the television studios.

Studios’ theatrical revenues, however, surged to $972 million from $284 million a year earlier, beating the consensus mark by 199.46%, powered by The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Obsession and the international distribution of Michael.

Comcast generated free cash flow of $4.6 billion in the quarter and returned $2.1 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.

Zacks Rank & Stocks to ConsiderComcast currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

Some better-ranked stocks in the broader Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector are Cimpress (CMPR - Free Report) , The Marcus (MCS - Free Report) and News Corporation (NWSA - Free Report) , each currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Shares of Cimpress have returned 46.2% in the year-to-date period. Cimpress is slated to report fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results on July 29.

Shares of The Marcus have returned 53.4% in the year-to-date period. The Marcus is slated to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 30.

Shares of News Corporation have returned 0.8% in the year-to-date period. News Corporation is slated to report its fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results on Aug. 05.

Key Takeaways Comcast reported Q2 EPS and revenues above estimates while advancing its broadband repositioning strategy.Comcast added 448,000 wireless lines, reaching 10.2 million total domestic wireless lines.CMCSA's Peacock reached quarterly profitability with $189 million EBITDA and 48 million paid subscribers. Comcast Corporation (CMCSA - Free Report) used its second-quarter earnings call to highlight progress in broadband repositioning, wireless expansion and the planned separation of NBCUniversal and Sky. Management emphasized execution milestones while acknowledging near-term pressure from investments.

The discussion centered on building long-term growth engines as the company reshapes its operating structure and customer strategy.

CMCSA Advances Broadband StrategyManagement said that the connectivity business is moving through a deliberate go-to-market transition focused on simpler pricing, improved customer experience and stronger wireless attachment. CEO Brian Roberts and CFO Jason Armstrong highlighted that these investments are weighing on near-term results while positioning the business for future growth.

CMCSA reported adjusted EPS of $1.04 for the quarter, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.97. Revenues were $29.94 billion, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $29.18 billion.

The company said that domestic broadband customer losses improved year over year, with losses of 167,000 compared with 201,000 in the prior-year quarter. Broadband ARPU declined 3.8% as pricing actions and wireless promotions affected near-term revenue trends.

Comcast Builds Wireless MomentumComcast highlighted wireless as a key growth opportunity, with total domestic wireless lines reaching 10.2 million. The company added 448,000 wireless lines in the quarter, its best quarterly result on record.

Steven Croney, CEO of Connectivity & Platforms, said that free wireless offers are helping increase awareness and customer adoption, while premium unlimited plans accounted for roughly 30% of postpaid phone connects.

Management stated that early free-line conversion cohorts are tracking in line with expectations, with a significant majority converting into paid relationships. The company expects monetization of these customers to support convergence revenue growth over time.

CMCSA Sees Media Growth OpportunitiesThe Media segment delivered a major milestone as Peacock reached quarterly profitability for the first time. Peacock generated $189 million in EBITDA, while paid subscribers increased by 2 million during the quarter to 48 million.

Management attributed Peacock momentum to sports, entertainment programming and major events, including the NBA playoffs, FIFA World Cup and Love Island. Media revenues increased 25.3% year over year, while EBITDA rose 3.7%.

Michael Cavanagh, co-CEO of Comcast, said the NBCUniversal and Sky businesses have the scale and assets needed to operate as a focused independent media company following the planned separation.

Comcast Balances Growth InvestmentsThe company continued investing in infrastructure and customer capabilities. Capital expenditures increased to $2.9 billion, including higher spending within Connectivity & Platforms on scalable infrastructure and customer equipment.

Business Services remained a relative strength, with revenues increasing 3.7% to $2.7 billion and EBITDA rising 5% to $1.5 billion. Management pointed to enterprise solutions as a driver of continued momentum.

Comcast generated $4.6 billion in free cash flow and returned $2.1 billion to shareholders during the quarter. The company paused share repurchases as it works through the separation process.

CMCSA Addresses Competitive PressureDuring Q&A, a UBS analyst asked about broadband competition from fiber, fixed wireless and emerging satellite alternatives. Management said that competition remains intense but emphasized network quality, WiFi capabilities and converged offerings as key advantages.

A Wells Fargo analyst questioned the timing of improvement in Connectivity & Platforms profitability. Armstrong said that pressure from pricing changes, wireless investments and customer experience spending should begin easing as the company laps the initial investment period.

Management also discussed AI-driven demand for connectivity, with Roberts highlighting rising upstream traffic and plans for multi-gig symmetrical networks.

Comcast Sets Focus AheadComcast’s leadership emphasized execution around two future businesses: a connectivity-focused company built around broadband and wireless, and a media company centered on NBCUniversal and Sky assets.

The company’s near-term focus remains on customer conversion, wireless monetization, operational improvements and completing the separation process while maintaining financial flexibility.

Zacks SignalsCMCSA currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). The Zacks Rank reflects earnings estimate revision trends and is designed to help identify stocks with stronger or weaker near-term performance potential.

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The stock has a Value Score of A, a Growth Score of D, a Momentum Score of F and a VGM Score of C. The Zacks Style Score evaluates value, growth and momentum characteristics, with higher grades indicating stronger attributes within each style category.

The Zacks Rank can change as analysts update earnings estimates following new company information, including quarterly results.

Thursday will go down in history as a major day in the history of the businesses that comprise Comcast (CMCSA -6.80%). Not only did the entertainment company’s high-profile Peacock streaming service log its first profitable quarter (at least by one metric), it also announced plans to effectively split itself in two.

There was a lot to digest in Comcast’s Thursday developments. So let’s not waste any time and dive right into them.

Image source: Getty Images.

One business flew well higherThe Peacock news was tucked inside Comcast’s second-quarter results, which were published well before market open that day.

For the period, total revenue slid by a little over 1% year over year to $29.4 billion, while net income not under generally accepted accounting principles (non-GAAP, or adjusted), declined notably more steeply. It tumbled by 20% to $3.7 billion, or $1.04 per share.  

Despite the decreases, Comcast’s key figures exceeded the average analyst estimates. The pundit consensus for revenue was under $29.3 billion, while that for adjusted net profit was $0.96 per share.

The larger of the company’s two primary reporting units, connectivity and platforms (essentially the broadband and cable infrastructure operations), saw its revenue dip by 3% to just under $19.8 billion. The division’s profitability also sank, with its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) withering by almost 6% to just under $8 billion.

Comcast attributed this to weakness in the residential segment, which was responsible for almost 87% of the unit’s revenue. The far smaller business segment saw a 3.7% rise, but this wasn’t enough to offset residential’s 4.3% slump.

Content and experiences, the business that will form the core and bulk of the NBCUniversal spinoff, was a movie with quite a different ending. It managed to crank its revenue 23% higher to $10.7 billion, while its adjusted EBITDA improved by 7% over the year-ago quarter to $1.3 billion.

Numerous pieces of Comcast content scored with audiences during the quarter. Millions of people were glued to their TVs or smart devices watching the FIFA World Cup and the high-profile reality show Love Island USA, for example. Also, ticket sales were brisk for silver screen offerings like The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and, especially, the low-budget sleeper horror hit Obsession.

Peacock deserves special mention here for that inaugural profitability milestone. Specifically, revenue and adjusted EBITDA “related” to the streaming service clocked in at $1.9 billion and $189 million, respectively. Those numbers were vast improvements over the $1.2 billion and $101 million of the second quarter of 2025.

Finally, Comcast’s eliminations of transactions within and between its business units totaled slightly over $1 billion during the period.

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Leaving the nestThe more important news item from Comcast is that it’s spinning off those growing media assets — plus the division’s theme parks and the U.K.-based media and telecom business Sky — to form the basis of NBCUniversal (Comcast will continue with most of the residential connectivity and platforms unit). Current Comcast shareholders will retain their Comcast stock and receive a tax-free distribution of NBCUniversal equity.

The exact number of shares hasn’t been made public yet. Comcast said it expects the spinoff to be completed in about one year.

Does any of this sound familiar? It should, because this isn’t Comcast’s first major business divestment in recent times. Early this year, it separated its legacy cable channels into a new standalone business, Versant Media Group (VSNT -1.74%).

In the press release trumpeting the coming spinoff, Comcast quoted co-CEO Mike Cavanagh as saying that the legacy company “will continue to build on its leadership in connectivity, while NBCUniversal, together with Sky, will have the scale, brands, content, and financial resources to compete as a premier global media and entertainment company.”

Cavanagh, incidentally, is to be the sole CEO of NBCUniversal. CFO Michael Angelakis will serve as CEO of the slimmed-down Comcast. He was formerly the company’s CFO.

A tale of 2 businessesWhat are we to make of all this? As with Versant, splitting Comcast’s business makes sense. Connectivity is a mature, relatively stable, cash-generating business, while media is a more volatile growth play. Having both under the same corporate structure risks failing to realize the full potential of either.

I think NBCUniversal, especially with Peacock’s impressive flight into profitability, will be an attractive stock straight out of the nest. After the split, legacy Comcast will likely pay most of the company’s present high-yield dividend (which pays out at 5.6%). So ideally, it’ll be a low-risk income stock.

There was much to like in Comcast’s second quarter, enough to consider holding on to both the new Comcast and NBCUniversal when the spinoff comes. I’m intrigued to see how the major upcoming development in the entertainment giant’s story unfolds.

Key Takeaways Comcast beat Q2 earnings estimates as reported revenues fell 1.2% year over year. CMCSA posted a record wireless quarter, while Peacock reached quarterly profitability for the first time.Comcast plans to separate NBCUniversal and Sky into two publicly traded companies through a tax-free spin-off. Comcast (CMCSA - Free Report) delivered adjusted earnings of $1.04 per share in the second quarter of 2026, down 16.7% from the year-ago period but ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 97 cents by 7.2%.

Consolidated revenues decreased 1.2% year over year to $29.94 billion but topped the consensus mark of $29.18 billion by 2.6%. On a pro forma basis, reflecting the Versant separation completed on Jan. 2, 2026, and the sale of Sky operations in Germany completed on May 31, 2026, revenues increased 4.7% year over year.

The quarter was shaped by continued traction in the company's go-to-market reset in Connectivity & Platforms, highlighted by the best wireless quarter on record alongside Peacock reaching quarterly profitability for the first time. Comcast also announced its intention to separate NBCUniversal and Sky into two publicly traded companies through a tax-free spin-off.

CMCSA Connectivity Pivot Shows Early TractionConnectivity & Platforms revenues (66.1% of revenues) decreased 3% year over year to $19.8 billion in the reported quarter as pressure in Residential Connectivity & Platforms outweighed continued gains in Business Services Connectivity.

Under the segment, Residential Connectivity & Platforms revenues decreased 4% year over year to $17.12 billion. Business Services Connectivity revenues increased 3.7% year over year to $2.67 billion.

Total Residential Connectivity & Platforms customer relationships decreased 230,000 to 47.7 million, reflecting decreases in both domestic and international customer relationships. Total domestic broadband residential customer net losses were 167,000. Total domestic wireless line net additions were 448,000, marking the company's best quarterly result on record, with total wireless lines rising to 10.2 million. Total domestic video customer net losses were 280,000.

 Content & Experiences revenues (35.8% of revenues) increased 22.9% year over year to $10.73 billion, driven primarily by Media and Studios.

Under the segment, Media revenues increased 25.3% year over year to $5.69 billion, including $440 million of incremental revenues from the FIFA World Cup. Peacock reached quarterly profitability for the first time with EBITDA of $189 million, increasing $290 million year over year, while paid subscribers rose by 2 million net additions in the quarter to 48 million, driven by the NBA Playoffs, the FIFA World Cup and Love Island USA.

Studios revenues increased 25% year over year to $3.04 billion, driven by higher theatrical revenues from The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Obsession and the international distribution of Michael. Theme Parks revenues increased 2.7% year over year to $2.41 billion, reflecting higher revenues at Orlando theme parks, partially offset by lower revenues at international parks.

CMCSA’s Operating DetailsCosts and expenses in the second quarter of 2026 increased 1.9% year over year to $24.78 billion.

Programming and production costs increased 10.7% from the year-ago quarter to $8.39 billion. Marketing and promotion expenses increased 4.2% year over year to $2.26 billion while other operating and administrative expenses rose 0.2% to $10.45 billion.

Adjusted EBITDA decreased 13.4% year over year to $8.9 billion. On a pro forma basis, reflecting the Versant separation and the Sky Germany sale, adjusted EBITDA declined 5.3% year over year.

Total Connectivity & Platforms adjusted EBITDA declined 5.7% year over year to $7.96 billion. Residential Connectivity & Platforms adjusted EBITDA decreased 8% year over year to $6.45 billion, reflecting investment in the new go-to-market strategy. Business Services Connectivity adjusted EBITDA increased 5% year over year to $1.52 billion, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 56.7%.

Content & Experiences adjusted EBITDA increased 7.1% year over year to $1.33 billion. Media adjusted EBITDA increased 3.7% year over year to $708 million. Studios adjusted EBITDA increased to $202 million from $61 million, driven by strong theatrical performance. Theme Parks’ adjusted EBITDA decreased 5.1% year over year to $609 million.

CMCSA's Cash Flow & LiquidityAs of June 30, 2026, cash and cash equivalents totaled $7.66 billion, which decreased from $9.47 billion as of March 31, 2026.

As of June 30, 2026, consolidated total debt was $90.38 billion, which decreased from $94.61 billion as of March 31, 2026.

Free cash flow was $4.6 billion in the reported quarter, which increased from $4.5 billion in the prior year quarter.

In the second quarter of 2026, Comcast generated $8.09 billion in cash from operations, which increased from $7.82 billion reported in the prior year quarter.

Comcast paid dividends totaling $1.2 billion and repurchased 33.8 million of its shares for $900 million, resulting in a total return of capital to shareholders of $2.1 billion. On June 29 2026, the company announced it would pause its share repurchase program as it works through the separation of its businesses into two independent publicly traded companies.

Zacks Rank & Stocks to ConsiderCMCSA currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

Some better-ranked stocks in the broader Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector are Cimpress (CMPR - Free Report) , The Marcus (MCS - Free Report) and News Corporation (NWSA - Free Report) , each currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Shares of Cimpress have returned 45.6% in the year-to-date period. Cimpress is slated to report fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results on July 29.

Shares of The Marcus have returned 53.5% in the year-to-date period. The Marcus is slated to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 30.

Shares of News Corporation have returned 2.8% in the year-to-date period. News Corporation is slated to report fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results on Aug. 5.

Why the Comcast Spin-Off Won't Fix What's Actually BrokenComcast NASDAQ: CMCSA executives said the company’s second-quarter results reflected progress in wireless, streaming and studios, while broadband and theme parks remained under pressure amid competitive and macroeconomic challenges.

On the company’s earnings call, Chairman and Co-CEO Brian Roberts and Co-CEO Mike Cavanagh also emphasized the strategic separation Comcast announced three weeks earlier, saying the company is moving toward creating two focused businesses with investment-grade financial profiles.

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Comcast Highlights Separation Plans Comcast’s NBCUniversal Split Puts Broadband Back in FocusRoberts said feedback from employees, partners and other constituencies has been “overwhelmingly positive” since the separation announcement. He said the structure is intended to give both businesses “the focus and agility to win in markets that are changing fast.”

Cavanagh said Comcast is working through details of the transaction with a goal of completing the separation in approximately one year. He said a key focus is the balance sheet and capital structure, with the intention of setting up both companies with “strong investment-grade profiles” and financial flexibility to pursue growth strategies.

3 Low P/E Stocks: Separating Multibaggers From a Value TrapCFO Jason Armstrong said Comcast paused share repurchases as of July 1 and expects to remain paused through the separation. He said the priority is ensuring both businesses are well-capitalized with favorable investment-grade ratings.

Second-Quarter Results Reflect Growth and Investment Pressures Armstrong said second-quarter revenue increased 5% on a pro forma basis, partly benefiting from Telemundo and Peacock’s airing of the FIFA World Cup. Adjusted EBITDA declined 5%, which he attributed to investment in Comcast’s Connectivity & Platforms business and the first year of NBA rights costs in Content & Experiences. Adjusted earnings per share were $1.04.

Comcast generated $4.6 billion of free cash flow in the quarter and returned $2.1 billion to shareholders, including $900 million in share repurchases before the July pause. Armstrong noted that Comcast issued updated pro forma schedules reflecting the removal of Sky Germany after the sale of that business on May 31.

In Connectivity & Platforms, Cavanagh said results were broadly in line with prior commentary. He described Comcast as being nearly a year into a deliberate broadband pivot focused on simplified pricing and packaging, improved customer experience and a stronger push into wireless.

Armstrong said broadband subscriber losses improved by 34,000 year over year to a loss of 167,000. However, broadband average revenue per user declined 3.8%, reflecting simplified pricing, lower everyday price points and the impact of free wireless lines. Connectivity & Platforms EBITDA declined 5.8%.

Armstrong said Comcast expects “modest improvements” beginning in the third quarter as the company laps early go-to-market investments and more free wireless lines convert to paid relationships.

Wireless Posts Record Additions as Broadband Competition Remains Intense Wireless was a major focus of management’s remarks. Cavanagh said Comcast crossed 10 million wireless lines for the first time in the quarter, calling it a meaningful milestone. Armstrong said the company ended the quarter with 10.2 million total lines, representing 17% penetration of Comcast’s domestic residential broadband customer base and 7% of the total wireless line opportunity in its footprint.

Comcast added 448,000 net wireless lines in the quarter, its best quarter on record. Armstrong said roughly half of residential postpaid phone connects came from customers taking a free line, while premium unlimited plans accounted for about 30% of postpaid phone connects.

Steve Croney, CEO of Connectivity and Platforms, said the free-line offer is driving awareness and allowing customers to trial the product. He said a “significant majority” of customers rolling off free lines are converting to paid, consistent with expectations.

On broadband competition, Croney said the market remains intense, citing continued fiber expansion, fixed wireless aggressiveness and satellite as an emerging competitor. Armstrong said Comcast is not currently seeing Starlink as a meaningful competitive factor in its markets, but expects satellite to become more competitive over time, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

Armstrong said Comcast’s strategy is to improve its competitive position through its network, Wi-Fi product and customer experience. He added that Comcast already works with Starlink in Comcast Business by combining Comcast’s managed connectivity portfolio with satellite capabilities for enterprise customers.

Business services revenue grew 3.7% and EBITDA increased 5%, though Armstrong said both benefited from a non-recurring item tied to a long-term fiber lease renewal. Excluding that benefit, underlying revenue and EBITDA growth were just under 3%. He said enterprise solutions continue to drive growth, with larger customers seeking more complex connectivity, security and managed services.

Peacock Reaches Profitability; Media and Studios Strengthen Comcast’s media segment delivered stronger results, with Cavanagh saying it generated mid-single-digit EBITDA growth. Armstrong said media revenue increased 25% and EBITDA increased 4%, even as the company absorbed first-year NBA rights costs.

Peacock reached profitability for the first time, generating $189 million of EBITDA in the quarter, according to Armstrong. Peacock revenue increased 54%, with distribution revenue up more than 50% and advertising revenue up nearly 70%. Paid subscribers rose by 2 million sequentially to 48 million, and Armstrong said Peacock had 7 million more paid subscribers than a year earlier.

Cavanagh said Peacock’s profitability is an important milestone but added that results will vary by quarter because of sports schedules and content timing. He said the company expects Peacock profitability to continue improving on an annual basis.

Management pointed to the FIFA World Cup, NBA playoffs and “Love Island” as engagement and advertising drivers. Cavanagh said the World Cup delivered the biggest Spanish-language sporting event in U.S. media history for Telemundo and Peacock, while “Love Island” was the top overall streaming title in the U.S. this summer.

Studios also had a strong quarter. Armstrong said Studios revenue increased 25% and EBITDA rose by $141 million year over year, driven by releases including the “Super Mario Galaxy” movie, “Obsession” and international distribution of “Michael.” Cavanagh also highlighted “Minions & Monsters,” “Disclosure Day” and “The Odyssey” as contributors to the studio slate’s momentum.

Parks Face Attendance Pressure, but Long-Term Outlook Unchanged Theme parks revenue increased 3%, while EBITDA declined 5%. Armstrong said the EBITDA decline was primarily driven by continued pressure at Osaka, where China-related travel restrictions are affecting attendance. U.S. parks partially offset that pressure.

Cavanagh said the Orlando market softened beginning in June, and that trend has continued into the third quarter. He attributed the weakness mainly to attendance rather than per-capita spending, citing weaker consumer sentiment and higher travel costs as possible factors.

Epic Universe continues to perform in line with expectations, according to Cavanagh, who said guest response remains strong and the park is helping strengthen Orlando as a multi-destination resort. He said the broader softness does not change Comcast’s long-term view of the parks business.

Executives also discussed Sky’s proposed acquisition of ITV’s media and entertainment business. Cavanagh said the deal would strengthen Sky’s long-term position in the U.K. by combining Sky’s premium content, connectivity and sports leadership with ITV’s reach and digital user base.

Roberts closed his prepared remarks by saying Comcast is positioned for an AI-driven technology cycle that will require more data, bandwidth, lower latency and smarter networks. He said the company’s network roadmap includes multi-gig, symmetrical and low-latency capabilities, which he believes will support Comcast’s long-term competitive position.

About Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA)Comcast Corporation NASDAQ: CMCSA is a diversified global media and technology company headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its principal operations are organized around Comcast Cable, which provides broadband internet, video, voice and wireless services to residential and business customers in the United States under the Xfinity and Comcast Business brands, and NBCUniversal, a media and entertainment group that develops, produces and distributes content across broadcast and cable networks, film, and streaming platforms.

NBCUniversal's assets include the NBC broadcast network, a portfolio of cable channels, Universal Pictures and other film and television production businesses, and the Peacock streaming service.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

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For the quarter ended June 2026, Comcast (CMCSA - Free Report) reported revenue of $29.94 billion, down 1.2% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $1.04, compared to $1.25 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $29.18 billion, representing a surprise of +2.62%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +7.22%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.97.

While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

Here is how Comcast performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

Net Additions / (Losses) - Total Domestic Wireless Lines: 448 thousand versus the four-analyst average estimate of 401.29 thousand.Total Domestic Wireless Lines: 10.19 million compared to the 10.14 million average estimate based on four analysts.Total Domestic Video Customers: 10.67 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of 10.67 million.Net Additions / (Losses) - Total Domestic Broadband Residential Customers: -167 thousand versus the four-analyst average estimate of -161.46 thousand.Revenue- Connectivity & Platforms- Total: $19.8 billion versus $19.72 billion estimated by six analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -2.9% change.Revenue- Content & Experiences- Total: $10.73 billion versus the six-analyst average estimate of $9.8 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +1%.Revenue- Residential Connectivity & Platforms- Other: $1.13 billion compared to the $1.13 billion average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of -6.6% year over year.Revenue- Residential Connectivity & Platforms- Video: $6.09 billion versus $6.13 billion estimated by five analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -9.4% change.Revenue- Content & Experiences- Media: $5.69 billion versus the five-analyst average estimate of $5.42 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -11.6%.Revenue- Content & Experiences- Studios: $3.04 billion versus $2.64 billion estimated by five analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +25% change.Revenue- Content & Experiences- Theme Parks: $2.41 billion compared to the $2.47 billion average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of +2.7% year over year.Revenue- Residential Connectivity & Platforms- Residential Connectivity- Domestic convergence- Domestic broadband: $6.28 billion versus the five-analyst average estimate of $6.25 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -3.8%.View all Key Company Metrics for Comcast here>>>

Shares of Comcast have returned +3.9% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.4% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), indicating that it could underperform the broader market in the near term.

Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA) announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.33 a share on the company's common stock. Th

NBCUniversal streamer Peacock swung to a $189 million profit for the three months ended in June, its first quarter in the black, and added 2 million paid subscribers to reach 48 million.

Streaming, along with wireless and the studio numbers all contributed to parent Comcast‘s quarterly earnings report Thursday, its first since announcing it plans to split into two companies.

The FIFA World Cup, the NBA Playoffs, and Love Island USA were all key drivers for Peacock.

The Studios division had a standout quarter, with left-field horror hit Obsession taking in more than $400 million at the box office.

Comcast said total Content & Experiences saw $440 million in incremental revenue from the FIFA World Cup and Studios. Media and Studios both saw revenue surge 25% to, respectively, about $5.7 billion and $3 billion. Studios profit more than tripled to $202 million from $61 million. Media profit was up 3.7% to $708 million.

Comcast total revenue dipped 1.2% from the prior-year period to hit $29.9 billion. That beat Wall Street forecasts, as did adjusted earnings per share. Net income fell 68% but that’s because the year-earlier quarter was inflated by a one-time $9.4 billion gain – $7.1 billion net of tax – reflecting a check from Disney to acquire Comcast’s stake in Hulu.

The company, which has been actively restrucuturing, is reporting proforma numbers to account for the spinoff of Versant early this year as well as the sale of Sky Germany.

The World Cup ran from June 11 to July 19 on Telemundo and Peacock (and Fox of course) with the juggernaut final between Spain and Argentina generating record viewership that will boost the current third quarter. The final was the most-watched World Cup in Spanish-language history with 23.9 million tuning in to Telemundo and Peacock. Overall, it was the most-watched World Cup in Spanish-language history with an average of 6.3M viewers on Telemundo across the 104 games.

Curry Barker’s low-budget indie Obsession released May 15 quickly became a massive hit, becoming the top grossing film ever from ever Universal’s specialty label Focus Features. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie grossed more than $1 billion after its April bow. International distribution of Michael also buoyed studio profits, which rose to $141 million. For the current third quarter and beyond, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey just opened to massive numbers.

Theme parks, however, are facing headwinds. Higher revenue at domestic parks driven by the opening of Epic Universe in May 2025 were partially offset by lower revenue at our international parks. Profit declined, reflecting higher operating expenses which more than offset higher revenue.

Fresh off the Versant spin, which took effect last January, Comcast is now busy working on another, spinning off NBCUniversal and Sky into a standalone company, separate from the Connectivity & Platforms business. The NBCUniversal business will be run by Comcast co-CEO Mike Cavanagh. Comcast’s former CFO Michael Angelakis will become CEO of Comcast after the separation is complete, anticipated in about a year, and will join as a strategic advisor until then.

Shortly after that news hit in late June, Sky inked a £1.6 billion ($2.1 billion) deal to acquire ITV‘s television network operations, a major shakeup in the UK media landscape.

Wall Street is enthusiastic about the separation. It’s designed to unlock the value of assets that can likely perform better apart than together and is likely to generate M&A interest.

Connectivity & Platforms, total residential customer relationships decreased by 230,000 to 47.7 million, reflecting a decrease in domestic and international residential customer relationships.

Total domestic broadband residential customer net losses were 167,000, about in line with expectations. The company has been working hard with some success to slow the rate of decline here amid stiff competition from fiber and fixed wireless providers from AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile.

Total domestic wireless line net additions were 448,000 and total domestic video customer net losses were 280,000.

The division saw revenue dip 4.3% to $17 billion and earnings fall 8% to $6.4 billion.

“Second quarter results show continued progress against our strategic priorities,” said co-CEOs Brian Roberts and Cavanagh in a statement alongside the earnings. “In Connectivity & Platforms, our strategic pivot in broadband is gaining traction, and we are seeing that progress extend across the broader connectivity portfolio.

“Within Content & Experiences, Media delivered mid-single digit EBITDA growth and Peacock reached profitability for the first time, supported by a broad slate of sports, entertainment and major live events that drove strong engagement across our platforms. Our Studios continued to perform at a high level across franchises, animation, originals and specialty titles, capped by the recent success of The Odyssey. While we are seeing some near-term softness in Theme Parks, we remain confident in the long-term opportunity, supported by our world-class brands, attractive locations and proven ability to create attractions and experiences that drive real consumer demand.”

Investors will be looking for updates on Comcast’s numbers and plans on a post-earnings call set for 8:30 ET.

More to come

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA) today reported results for the quarter ended June 30, 2026. “Second quarter results show continued progress against our strategic priorities," said Brian L. Roberts and Mike Cavanagh, co-CEOs of Comcast Corporation. "In Connectivity & Platforms, our strategic pivot in broadband is gaining traction, and we are seeing that progress extend across the broader connectivity portfolio. We delivered our best wireless quarter ever, s.

Comcast's Peacock streaming service reported its first quarterly profit ever on Thursday, as the soccer World Cup and the hit reality show "Love Island USA" ​attracted more subscribers.

While its spinoff plans for NBCUniversal have taken center stage, Comcast's core broadband and wireless business remains critical—and under pressure.

GIBSON, Ga. & SPARTA, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Comcast's Xfinity today announced that more than 3,300 new homes and businesses in Hancock and Glascock counties, including the communities of Sparta and Gibson, now have access to multi-gigabit, symmetrical Internet from America's smartest and most reliable converged network. Xfinity brings Internet, mobile, entertainment, and smart home services into one simple, seamless solution – giving customers more speed, savings, and control over their connect.

HIGHLANDS COUNTY, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Comcast announced a major milestone today in the company's continued efforts to bring rural Floridians fast, reliable connectivity. Xfinity and Comcast Business services are now available to more than 4,000 homes and businesses in Highlands County including more than 1,800 previously unserved locations. Families and entrepreneurs now have access to high-speed Internet from America's smartest and most reliable converged network. Xfinity brings Internet, m.

Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" is off to an epic start.

The Universal film adaptation tallied an estimated $124.5 million in its opening weekend as audiences flocked to premium large-format screenings, especially IMAX theaters.

"Death, taxes, and Christopher Nolan," said Shawn Robbins, director of analytics at Fandango and founder of Box Office Theory. "He's reinvented the superhero genre, captured the zeitgeist with multiple thought-provoking originals, and turned a three-hour biopic into a global blockbuster. He's done it again with the retelling of a 2,700-year-old poem that serves as the foundation of what we recognize as modern storytelling."

IMAX reported nearly $30 million in estimated ticket sales for the weekend, representing around 24% of the domestic opening haul.

Internationally, "The Odyssey" secured $139.6 million, bringing the global weekend total to $264.1 million. IMAX contributed around $22 million, or 15%, to the film's international debut. The film has yet to open in China, Japan and South Korea.

"The Odyssey" is Nolan's third-best domestic opening weekend and highest global opening, according to data from Rentrak.

Around 7.5 million tickets were sold domestically for the film, data from EntTelligence showed. Premium large-format screenings accounted for 45% of those tickets sold, costing an average of $19 a piece. Coveted 70mm screenings accounted for 5% of all tickets sold over the weekend and averaged nearly $22.50.

"This was always going to be a great movie," Rich Gelfond, CEO of IMAX, told CNBC. "It had a great cast, great director and locations it was shot at. But I think what IMAX did was help turn it from a great movie into a massive cultural event on a worldwide basis."

"The Odyssey" is expected to continue to draw moviegoers in the coming weeks. It has limited direct competition until the release of Sony and Marvel's "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" on July 31 and has theatrical exclusivity in IMAX theaters for the next three weeks.

Not to mention, tickets for "The Odyssey," some of which have been on sale since July 2025, have sold out for theaters showing coveted 70 mm screenings of the film. A similar phenomenon was seen in 2023 when Nolan released the Oscar-winning biopic "Oppenheimer."

The director's films have become event cinema, particularly because Nolan uses cutting-edge filming equipment and techniques to capture footage. For "The Odyssey," he used IMAX-branded cameras, and favors practical set locations and effects over computer-generated images. The results are cinematic spectacles that demand to be seen on the biggest screens with the best sound systems.

"Premium screen showtimes, especially IMAX, sell out weeks in advance for Nolan's releases, guaranteeing a long box office runway for 'The Odyssey' as positive word of mouth sets in," Robbins said. "Fans drive hours in many cases just to find auditoriums presenting the film as close as possible to what Nolan intended."

IMAX's Gelfond noted that 42 IMAX locations had screenings between midnight and 3 a.m. over the weekend to accommodate demand. The company is extending the film's run in its theaters into a fifth week, with ticket sales for some of those showings already sold out, Gelfond said.

"It's not just the old guard of moviegoers showing up for films like 'The Odyssey' and 'Oppenheimer,'" Robbins said. "Nolan has a rare drawing power among young millennials and Gen Z crowds that are critically important to the continued evolution of the theatrical business."

Half of moviegoers were aged 18 to 34 — a coveted target demographic that cinemas have been trying to recapture since the pandemic.

"Christopher Nolan is one of a handful of movie directors whose name on the marquee is a guarantee for box office success," said Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends at Rentrak. "[His] body of work has endeared him to movie fans and film aficionados around the world. He's truly in a class of his own."

Disclosure: Versant Media is the parent company of CNBC and Fandango.

Comcast (CMCSA - Free Report) has recently been on Zacks.com's list of the most searched stocks. Therefore, you might want to consider some of the key factors that could influence the stock's performance in the near future.

Over the past month, shares of this cable provider have returned +7.5%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.5% change. During this period, the Zacks Cable Television industry, which Comcast falls in, has lost 0.3%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?

Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.

Revisions to Earnings EstimatesHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.

Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.

For the current quarter, Comcast is expected to post earnings of $0.97 per share, indicating a change of -22.4% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -1.1% over the last 30 days.

The consensus earnings estimate of $3.49 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of -19%. This estimate has changed -1.2% over the last 30 days.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $3.68 indicates a change of +5.6% from what Comcast is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -2.9%.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) for Comcast.

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Projected Revenue GrowthEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.

For Comcast, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $29.17 billion indicates a year-over-year change of -3.8%. For the current and next fiscal years, $121.57 billion and $119.42 billion estimates indicate -1.7% and -1.8% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryComcast reported revenues of $31.46 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +5.3%. EPS of $0.79 for the same period compares with $1.09 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $30.6 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +2.8%. The EPS surprise was +8.22%.

The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.

ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.

Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.

As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Comcast is graded A on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Comcast. However, its Zacks Rank #4 does suggest that it may underperform the broader market in the near term.

Comcast (CMCSA - Free Report) closed at $23.49 in the latest trading session, marking a +1.29% move from the prior day. This change outpaced the S&P 500's 0.38% gain on the day. Elsewhere, the Dow gained 0.29%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq added 0.62%.

Heading into today, shares of the cable provider had lost 1.99% over the past month, lagging the Consumer Discretionary sector's loss of 1.13% and the S&P 500's gain of 1.61%.

The investment community will be paying close attention to the earnings performance of Comcast in its upcoming release. The company is slated to reveal its earnings on July 23, 2026. In that report, analysts expect Comcast to post earnings of $0.97 per share. This would mark a year-over-year decline of 22.4%. Meanwhile, the latest consensus estimate predicts the revenue to be $29.24 billion, indicating a 3.54% decrease compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates project earnings of $3.49 per share and a revenue of $121.86 billion, demonstrating changes of -19.03% and -1.49%, respectively, from the preceding year.

It is also important to note the recent changes to analyst estimates for Comcast. These recent revisions tend to reflect the evolving nature of short-term business trends. With this in mind, we can consider positive estimate revisions a sign of optimism about the business outlook.

Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. To exploit this, we've formed the Zacks Rank, a quantitative model that includes these estimate changes and presents a viable rating system.

The Zacks Rank system ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell). It has a remarkable, outside-audited track record of success, with #1 stocks delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has shifted 1.21% downward. Comcast is currently a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

In terms of valuation, Comcast is presently being traded at a Forward P/E ratio of 6.65. This denotes a premium relative to the industry average Forward P/E of 4.85.

One should further note that CMCSA currently holds a PEG ratio of 1.91. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company's expected earnings growth rate. The Cable Television industry currently had an average PEG ratio of 0.59 as of yesterday's close.

The Cable Television industry is part of the Consumer Discretionary sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 238, putting it in the bottom 4% of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the strength of our separate industry groups by calculating the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks contained within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

To follow CMCSA in the coming trading sessions, be sure to utilize Zacks.com.

Comcast announced a major milestone today in the company's continued efforts to bring rural Floridians fast, reliable connectivity. Xfinity and Comcast Busines

© Prostock-Studio / iStock via Getty Images

Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX | NFLX Price Prediction) and Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA) both reported first quarter results this spring with sharply divergent profiles. Netflix is a pure streaming machine collecting a $2.80 billion Warner Bros. breakup check. Comcast is a diversified operator juggling broadband erosion, Olympics costs, and a Peacock unit that keeps bleeding cash.

Ad Tier Lifts Netflix. Olympics Squeezes Comcast. Netflix pulled in $12.25 billion in Q1 revenue, up 16.2% year over year, with EPS of $1.23. The ad-supported tier drove over 60% of Q1 sign-ups in ads countries, and advertiser count grew 70% year over year to 4,000+ clients. Ad revenue is tracking to roughly $3 billion in 2026. That is a genuine second growth engine, not a slide-deck aspiration.

Comcast posted $31.46 billion in revenue and EPS of $0.79, its fourth straight beat. But adjusted EBITDA fell 16.8% as Media EBITDA swung to negative $426 million under Milan Cortina and Super Bowl LX programming costs. Peacock added subs to 46 million, but its EBITDA loss widened to $432 million. CEO Brian Roberts pitched the quarter as a pivot in motion, citing “record wireless line additions” of 435,000.

Focused Streamer Vs. Sprawling Conglomerate Lens Netflix Comcast Core Bet Global streaming plus ads Broadband, wireless, parks, Peacock Margin Direction Op margin target 31.5% in 2026 Broadband revenue -5.1%; video losses 322,000 Capital Return Buybacks ($6.8B left) Dividend yield 5.56% Forward P/E 24 7 Netflix walked from the Warner Bros. deal and pocketed the fee. Comcast went the other direction, completing the Versant Media Group spin on January 2, 2026 to slim NBCUniversal down.

The Next Test Is Whether The Pivot Sticks I will be watching whether Netflix can hit its $50.7B to $51.7B full-year guide while doubling ad revenue and absorbing the InterPositive GenAI acquisition. For Comcast, the tell is broadband. Losses narrowed to 65,000 from 183,000 a year ago, but the 5-year price guarantee is still young, and video keeps shrinking.

Why Netflix Looks Like The Cleaner Story My read is straightforward. Netflix trades at a forward multiple of 24 with return on equity of 48.5% and a free cash flow guide raised to roughly $12.5 billion. You are paying a fair price for compounding scale, pricing power, and a genuine ad business. Comcast is cheaper for a reason. Its $32.29 analyst target and 5.56% yield reward patience, but you inherit cord-cutting, cable capex, and a Peacock unit still absorbing NBA rights. For investors focused on yield and turnaround stories, Comcast offers that profile. For me, Netflix is the cleaner story this quarter based on the growth trajectory and margin profile.

Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Netflix didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

TREVOSE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Comcast today announced a significant construction milestone in its network expansion across the Greater Phillipsburg area, with the overall project now more than halfway complete as the company works to bring its reliable, high-speed Internet network to more than 15,700 additional homes and businesses for the first time. Momentum across Warren County remains strong with construction in Greenwich, Lopatcong and Alpha nearing completion. Half of planned work in Phi.

Comcast (CMCSA - Free Report) closed the most recent trading day at $23.38, moving -1.72% from the previous trading session. The stock's change was less than the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.72%. Meanwhile, the Dow gained 0.3%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, added 1.12%.

Heading into today, shares of the cable provider had lost 0.13% over the past month, lagging the Consumer Discretionary sector's gain of 2.31% and outpacing the S&P 500's loss of 0.9%.

Analysts and investors alike will be keeping a close eye on the performance of Comcast in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company's earnings report is set to go public on July 23, 2026. It is anticipated that the company will report an EPS of $0.97, marking a 22.4% fall compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Simultaneously, our latest consensus estimate expects the revenue to be $29.34 billion, showing a 3.22% drop compared to the year-ago quarter.

In terms of the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates predict earnings of $3.5 per share and a revenue of $121.92 billion, indicating changes of -18.79% and -1.45%, respectively, from the former year.

Investors might also notice recent changes to analyst estimates for Comcast. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the business outlook.

Our research shows that these estimate changes are directly correlated with near-term stock prices. To take advantage of this, we've established the Zacks Rank, an exclusive model that considers these estimated changes and delivers an operational rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, running from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), holds an admirable track record of superior performance, independently audited, with #1 stocks contributing an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has shifted 0.8% downward. Comcast is holding a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold) right now.

From a valuation perspective, Comcast is currently exchanging hands at a Forward P/E ratio of 6.79. This valuation marks a premium compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 5.02.

Also, we should mention that CMCSA has a PEG ratio of 1.95. Comparable to the widely accepted P/E ratio, the PEG ratio also accounts for the company's projected earnings growth. CMCSA's industry had an average PEG ratio of 0.57 as of yesterday's close.

The Cable Television industry is part of the Consumer Discretionary sector. With its current Zacks Industry Rank of 190, this industry ranks in the bottom 23% of all industries, numbering over 250.

The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the vigor of our specific industry groups by computing the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks incorporated in the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

To follow CMCSA in the coming trading sessions, be sure to utilize Zacks.com.

Comcast (CMCSA - Free Report) has recently been on Zacks.com's list of the most searched stocks. Therefore, you might want to consider some of the key factors that could influence the stock's performance in the near future.

Shares of this cable provider have returned -0.1% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.9% change. The Zacks Cable Television industry, to which Comcast belongs, has gained 2% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.

Revisions to Earnings EstimatesRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.

We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

Comcast is expected to post earnings of $0.97 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -22.4%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -1%.

The consensus earnings estimate of $3.5 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of -18.8%. This estimate has changed -0.8% over the last 30 days.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $3.74 indicates a change of +6.7% from what Comcast is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -1.3%.

Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Comcast is rated Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Projected Revenue GrowthEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.

For Comcast, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $29.34 billion indicates a year-over-year change of -3.2%. For the current and next fiscal years, $121.92 billion and $120.04 billion estimates indicate -1.4% and -1.5% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryComcast reported revenues of $31.46 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +5.3%. EPS of $0.79 for the same period compares with $1.09 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $30.6 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +2.8%. The EPS surprise was +8.22%.

The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.

ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.

While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.

The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Comcast is graded A on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Comcast. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

In the world of megacap stocks, Walt Disney (DIS +3.85%) is among the more disappointing performers. During the past 10 years, its stock has been little changed. The huge changes in the entertainment industry amid the pandemic and home media technology have weighed on the stock, as has turmoil within its top management.

Given these factors, one might wonder how to improve the stock. Amid Comcast's spinoff of NBCUniversal, some analysts have considered Disney separating its parks business, but would such a move help boost Disney's stock? Let's take a closer look.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

Comcast and Disney, compared Comcast originally bought NBCUniversal in 2011 to capitalize on both the service and its content. This included media outlets such as NBC and Telemundo, as well as the Universal theme parks.

However, Comcast did not achieve the synergies it had hoped for because being a content provider is fundamentally different from providing infrastructure and services. Consequently, it has decided to unwind the merger through a spinoff.

Nonetheless, investors should know that this is not an apples-to-apples comparison when evaluating Disney, primarily because it does not provide telecom services as Comcast does. Thus, the difference is that content and theme parks are the majority of Disney's business.

Today's Change

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Separating businesses Moreover, it does not take a deep look at the company to understand the synergies between Disney's content businesses and Disney Experiences, which operates the theme parks and cruise lines.

In fact, the company's founder, Walt Disney, understood how a theme park might complement Disney's brand. This prompted him to open Disneyland in California in 1955 and lay the groundwork for Disney World in Florida before he passed away in 1966.

This is a different path from NBC and Universal, which merged in 2004. Additionally, all indications are that NBC and Universal will remain one after the Comcast spinoff.

Furthermore, even if Disney spins off Disney Experiences, it might actually cause investors to sell Disney and invest in the parks company. Indeed, Disney Experiences has had to contend with backlash over high ticket prices, and inclement weather that can sometimes reduce attendance.

Nonetheless, most of the company's major challenges stem from Disney Entertainment and ESPN, as cord-cutting and intense competition in the streaming business have affected its revenue growth.

On the content side, poor box-office performance and a lack of ability to develop compelling new content have weighed on the company. Although Toy Story 5 performed well, the company cannot depend on one movie or established franchise to reignite Disney.

Moreover, the financials confirm the company's struggles. In the first half of fiscal 2026 (ended March 28), revenue rose 6% year over year to $51 billion. Interestingly, Disney Entertainment's revenue increased by 8%, slightly above Disney Experiences at 6%.

However, Disney Experiences accounted for $5.9 billion of the company's $9.2 billion in operating income. Also, it was the only segment to report an increase in operating income, providing a compelling incentive for Disney to keep its parks division rather than spin it off.

Given the company's challenges and financial results, separating the parks business is more likely to hurt Disney stock than help it.

With Comcast spinning off NBCUniversal, it will have little resemblance to Disney, becoming a pure-play telecom services provider once again. Instead, Disney will more closely resemble NBCUniversal, a content and theme parks business with no obvious plans to separate its parks.

Such a move does not appear to make sense for Disney either. Although Disney Experiences has had its struggles, it is the business segment least affected by the company's longer-term issues with cord-cutting, streaming competition, and content development. Additionally, Disney Experiences is the only part of the company posting operating income growth in the current fiscal year.

Thus, rather than dragging down Disney stock, Disney Experiences may be the strongest reason to continue holding the company's shares.

Comcast's Sky has agreed to buy ITV's media and entertainment business in a deal that will see ITV spin ITV Studios off into a separate London-listed business.

Eight S&P 500 'safer' dividend dogs, including VICI, VZ, T, F, BEN, KMI, KEY, and RF, offer attractive yields with free cash flow coverage. Analyst projections for the top ten S&P 500 dividend dogs indicate potential net gains of 21.99% to 50.26% by July 2027, with an average risk 54% below market. The dividend dog strategy favors stocks where annual dividends from $1K invested exceed single share prices, signaling fair value and income potential.

Comcast Corp. NASDAQ: CMCSA dipped into a familiar playbook this week. But after an initial pop, CMCSA is drifting back to its pre-announcement levels.

Comcast Today

$23.79 +0.06 (+0.25%)

As of 07/2/2026 04:00 PM Eastern

52-Week Range$22.13▼

$36.40Dividend Yield5.55%

P/E Ratio4.68

Price Target$34.40

This isn’t a sell-the-news moment. It’s traders doing what they do, which is making a quick profit on news that doesn’t really do much for Comcast’s business.

The announcement was a spinoff of its NBCUniversal, Peacock, Universal Studios, and Sky business units into a second new public company. Comcast will retain a minority ownership stake but plans to unwind it over time. The move makes sense. Content creation in the streaming space is a competitive, cash-intensive business. Although Comcast was still posting stable revenue and earnings, the idea is that this move will unlock more value.

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A New Chapter in an Old PlaybookInvestors familiar with Comcast may think they've been here before. They have. Recently. In late 2025, the company announced it was spinning off several of its cable bundle channels, such as CNBC and USA Network, into a new company, Versant NASDAQ: VSNT.

VSNT began trading publicly in mid-December, and the early returns have been poor. The stock is down a little over 20%. That may be evidence that Comcast was wise to jettison that business. But that doesn’t mean a leaner, more focused business will deliver the growth investors may expect.

Aside from being a more streamlined stock, do analysts have a reason to re-rate Comcast? Since the announcement, the Comcast analyst forecasts on MarketBeat have rendered a split decision. Rosenblatt Securities upgraded CMCSA from Neutral to Buy and raised its price target from $24 to $31. Deutsche Bank also upgraded the stock from a Hold to a Buy, but lowered its price target to $32 from $34.

Next Up...EarningsInvestors won’t have to wait long to learn about the company’s next steps. Comcast is expected to deliver its Q2 2026 earnings report on July 23. While information about the company’s strategy is important, the more vital question may be when investors can expect to see a return on that investment, as it relates to margins and earnings.

They may be waiting a little while. In its prior earnings report, the company reported that residential broadband net losses improved 117K year-over-year to (65K) , and the company had added 435K wireless lines. It was the best quarterly result on record.

However, it also showed that the broadband market is mature. Without a new catalyst, what should investors realistically expect?

The Technical Picture Shows Slowing MomentumOver a long period of time, a stock chart tells a story. After a spike in 2020, CMCSA has been in a steady decline. The Versant spinoff and now this new transaction have done nothing to reverse the slide.

In the short term, though, charts can indicate momentum. In this case, any momentum Comcast had is already starting to fade.

Know What You OwnNone of this is to suggest that CMCSA isn’t worth owning. For starters, the company is attractively valued with a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 6.8x. That’s not only a significant discount to the broader market, but it’s also a discount to its own historical average.

But investors have to know what they own. In the case of Comcast, that amounts to a utility stock. It has a legacy business that tends to deliver sticky revenue. Plus, the company has a near monopoly in the areas in which it operates.

But it's not a high-growth business. Even though broadband is something most consumers won't give up, Comcast's pricing power is limited by growing competition from satellite offerings. Consumers may not have many alternatives, but they have enough to keep Comcast's prices in check.

That matters for how investors should size a position. Comcast isn't fighting for market share the way a growth stock would. It's managing decline at the margins while defending pricing power where it still has it. The spinoffs, Versant and now the NBCUniversal transaction are best read as portfolio triage rather than a turnaround story.

Management is narrowing its focus to the parts of the business that still throw off predictable cash, which is a defensible strategy for a mature operator, but it's not one that typically re-rates a stock higher. Investors chasing the next catalyst may be disappointed. Investors looking for income backed by a durable, if slow-growing, business have more reason to stick around.

One reason for investors to stick around would be a safe dividend that yields 5.6% as of the market close on July 1. Plus, the company has increased the dividend for 18 consecutive years. There’s a place for CMCSA in some portfolios, but it shouldn’t be confused with a growth stock.  

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