News Corp (Class B) stock (US65249B2088): earnings jump and buyback fuel investor interest

News Corp (Class B) has rallied after solid quarterly results, a higher dividend and an expanded buyback program highlighted strong cash generation. We look at the latest numbers, key business drivers and what the developments could mean for US investors.

News Corp (Class B) has moved back into the spotlight after the media group reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings, raised its dividend and expanded its share repurchase authorization, underscoring strong cash generation across its digital real estate and subscription businesses, according to a company earnings release published on 05/08/2025 and recent coverage by Reuters as of 05/08/2025.

As of: 15.05.2026

By the editorial team – specialized in equity coverage.

At a glance

• Name: News Corp
• Sector/industry: Media, publishing, digital real estate
• Headquarters/country: New York, United States
• Core markets: United States, United Kingdom, Australia
• Key revenue drivers: Digital real estate, subscription news media, book publishing
• Home exchange/listing venue: Nasdaq / NasdaqGS (ticker: NWS)
• Trading currency: US dollar (USD)

News Corp (Class B): core business model

News Corp (Class B) represents one of the two main share classes of the global media and information group built around news publishing, digital real estate listings and information services. The company operates well-known brands such as The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones, The Times and The Australian, while also controlling major real estate platforms in several large English-speaking markets, according to its corporate overview updated on 09/01/2024 on the company’s website News Corp website as of 09/01/2024.

The Class B shares carry different voting rights compared with the Class A shares but represent an economic interest in the same operating businesses, an important point for US investors considering liquidity, index inclusion and governance aspects. The firm has over the past decade shifted away from a heavier reliance on traditional print advertising toward digital subscriptions, data products and online real estate marketplaces, a transition that has reshaped its revenue mix and margin profile, as described in its fiscal 2024 annual report released on 08/09/2024, according to SEC filing as of 08/09/2024.

Beyond consumer media, News Corp also operates business-to-business information services under the Dow Jones brand, including financial news wires, risk and compliance databases and research products used by banks, asset managers and corporations worldwide. This blend of consumer and professional content creates diversification benefits but also exposes the group to swings in global advertising cycles, corporate spending and financial markets activity.

Main revenue and product drivers for News Corp (Class B)

According to the company’s fiscal third-quarter 2025 report for the period ended 03/31/2025, published on 05/08/2025, News Corp generated a significant portion of its revenue from its digital real estate services segment, which includes majority ownership stakes in REA Group in Australia and Move in the United States, operator of Realtor.com. The company highlighted that segment as a core earnings driver thanks to higher listing depth revenue and improving yields, according to News Corp investor release as of 05/08/2025.

For that fiscal third quarter 2025, News Corp reported total revenue of around 2.6 billion USD and a notable year-over-year increase in segment EBITDA from digital real estate and Dow Jones, while advertising revenues in some news media markets remained mixed, reflecting macroeconomic conditions in North America and Europe. The company emphasized growth in digital-only subscriptions for The Wall Street Journal and other titles, which helped offset structural declines in print advertising, according to the same earnings release dated 05/08/2025.

The Dow Jones segment, which includes The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s and various professional information products, continued to benefit from growth in digital subscriptions and risk and compliance solutions during fiscal 2025. Management noted that professional information services and subscription-based products generally carry higher margins and more recurring revenue characteristics than traditional advertising businesses, which in turn supports the group’s focus on free cash flow generation and returning capital to shareholders.

In book publishing, HarperCollins remained an important contributor to group revenue, although performance can fluctuate significantly depending on the timing of major releases and broader consumer spending patterns. The company has previously pointed out that this segment’s earnings can be volatile from quarter to quarter but provides a portfolio of well-known authors and franchises in both print and digital formats, according to its fiscal 2024 annual report released on 08/09/2024 on the SEC platform SEC filing as of 08/09/2024.

The news media segment, which includes national and metropolitan newspapers and digital outlets in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, faces ongoing headwinds from the shift of advertising budgets to large digital platforms. However, the company highlighted in its fiscal 2025 third-quarter results that cost efficiency programs, portfolio rationalization and continued growth in digital subscriptions helped stabilize profitability. The mix of subscription and advertising revenues within this segment remains a key factor for margins and cash flow.

Across segments, News Corp has consistently pointed to currency movements as a meaningful driver of reported results given its strong exposure to Australia and the United Kingdom. In its fiscal third-quarter 2025 release, management flagged foreign exchange translation effects on revenue and profits, illustrating that investors in the Class B shares are also indirectly exposed to movements in the Australian dollar and British pound against the US dollar.

Industry trends and competitive position

News Corp operates at the intersection of several industries: traditional news publishing, digital advertising, data and information services, and online real estate portals. In digital real estate, the company’s REA Group subsidiary competes with other listing platforms and property marketplaces for consumer attention and agent marketing budgets in Australia and parts of Asia, while Move faces competition from Zillow and other US real estate platforms. This competitive landscape has been shaped by increasing consumer reliance on online tools for home searches and agent discovery, a multi-year trend that accelerated during the pandemic and remains a key driver of traffic and monetization, as outlined by the company in an investor presentation dated 11/15/2024, according to News Corp presentation as of 11/15/2024.

In the news and information space, News Corp’s Dow Jones division competes with global financial and business information providers including Bloomberg and Thomson Reuters, as well as digital news outlets and market data platforms. The company emphasizes the strength of The Wall Street Journal brand, as well as its proprietary data sets and compliance tools, as competitive differentiators that support pricing power and subscription resilience. This is particularly relevant for US institutional investors who may interact with Dow Jones products in their daily workflows, from risk screening to research and news flow monitoring.

The broader media industry is undergoing structural changes as advertising continues to migrate to large technology platforms and as consumers adopt streaming and on-demand formats. News Corp’s diversified portfolio – especially the combination of subscription news media and digital real estate – offers multiple exposure points to these trends but also requires continuous investment in technology, data analytics and content offerings. Management has highlighted cost control and disciplined capital allocation as priorities to balance investment needs with shareholder returns, notably through dividends and share repurchases, as reiterated in its earnings commentary for fiscal third quarter 2025 published on 05/08/2025, according to News Corp investor release as of 05/08/2025.

Why News Corp (Class B) matters for US investors

For US investors, News Corp (Class B) provides exposure to a combination of US and international media and digital assets through a single Nasdaq-listed security. The company’s ownership of Dow Jones, including The Wall Street Journal and various institutional information products, ties its fortunes partly to the health of US capital markets and corporate activity, as subscriptions and licensing deals often reflect the intensity of financial and business decision-making. In addition, the presence of Move and Realtor.com connects the firm to US housing market trends, with listing volumes and advertising budgets influenced by mortgage rates and consumer confidence.

The Class B shares trade in US dollars and are accessible through major US brokerage platforms, making them relatively straightforward to include in diversified portfolios that seek international revenue streams without the operational complexity of trading on multiple foreign exchanges. At the same time, investors should recognize that a sizeable portion of News Corp’s revenue and earnings originates in Australia and the United Kingdom, implying currency and regulatory exposure beyond the US. This combination of US listing, international operations and diversified segments can make the stock a potential tool for investors aiming to balance domestic and overseas media and technology-related holdings, while also requiring careful monitoring of global macroeconomic developments.

What type of investor might consider News Corp (Class B) – and who should be cautious?

Investors who tend to focus on cash-generating, asset-rich media and information companies may find News Corp’s blend of subscription news, digital real estate portals and book publishing appealing from a diversification perspective. The company’s dividend payments and buyback authorization, highlighted in its fiscal third-quarter 2025 release on 05/08/2025, suggest a continued emphasis on shareholder returns alongside strategic investments in digital capabilities, according to News Corp investor release as of 05/08/2025. Such attributes may resonate with long-term investors who prioritize free cash flow and recurring revenue.

By contrast, investors who seek pure-play high-growth technology exposure or very stable, regulated cash flows similar to utilities might find the cyclical aspects of advertising, real estate and consumer spending within News Corp’s portfolio less aligned with their risk preferences. The company’s earnings can be influenced by macroeconomic cycles, changes in interest rates affecting housing markets, and structural shifts in media consumption. Furthermore, the governance structure, including dual share classes, may not appeal to investors who strongly favor one-share-one-vote frameworks. These factors suggest that careful due diligence on segment dynamics, governance and risk tolerance is important before considering a position.

Conclusion

News Corp (Class B) sits at the crossroads of global media, data and digital real estate, with recent earnings, an increased dividend and an expanded buyback authorization underscoring management’s confidence in the company’s cash generation, as detailed in its fiscal third-quarter 2025 report dated 05/08/2025 and related coverage by Reuters as of 05/08/2025. The business benefits from strong brands such as The Wall Street Journal and leading real estate platforms, but remains exposed to cyclical advertising trends, housing market conditions and structural changes in how audiences consume news and information. For US investors, the stock offers an accessible way to gain diversified international media and digital exposure through a Nasdaq-listed security, while demanding careful attention to segment performance, governance structure and macroeconomic drivers over time.

Disclaimer: This article does not constitute investment advice. Stocks are volatile financial instruments.