If you’ve been keeping an eye on the ticker lately, you’ve probably noticed that News Corp (NWSA) isn't just a "newspaper company" anymore. It’s a beast. Honestly, watching the News Corp stock price over the last few years is like watching a slow-motion transformation of a legacy media dinosaur into a digital-first powerhouse. As of mid-January 2026, the stock has been hovering around the $26.25 mark for Class A shares, while the Class B shares (NWS) are sitting slightly higher, closer to $30.29.
It’s easy to get lost in the sea of red and green bars on a chart.
But look closer.
There's a lot more happening under the hood than just Rupert Murdoch's headlines. We’re talking about a massive $15.5 billion market cap company that basically owns the professional information space through Dow Jones and dominates the Australian real estate market via REA Group.
Why News Corp Stock Price Keeps Moving (and Why It Matters)
People usually think of Fox News when they hear the Murdoch name, but Fox is actually a separate company. News Corp is the parent of The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, and HarperCollins. More importantly, it owns a huge chunk of REA Group, which is basically the Zillow of Australia.
In early 2026, the stock has seen some volatility, swinging between a 52-week high of $31.61 and a low of $23.38. If you’re wondering why it’s not just moving in a straight line, you have to look at the Q1 fiscal 2026 earnings that dropped in late 2025. They beat expectations. Revenue hit $2.14 billion, which was a 2% jump.
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Wait, only 2%?
That sounds small. But in the world of media, where everyone is fighting for a scrap of attention, growing revenue while simultaneously increasing profitability is a flex. Net income for that quarter was $150 million. The real engine, though, was Dow Jones. That segment alone saw revenues rise 6%, mostly because of their "Risk & Compliance" business. Apparently, companies are terrified of breaking laws and are willing to pay News Corp a lot of money to help them stay compliant.
The Real Estate Secret
Most casual investors don't realize that a massive portion of the News Corp stock price value is tied to Australian houses. REA Group is a powerhouse. In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, their digital real estate services saw revenue grow by 5%. In the US, their brand Move (which runs Realtor.com) saw a 9% revenue jump.
That’s the highest quarterly growth for Realtor.com since 2022.
If the housing market in Sydney or New York sneezes, News Corp catches a cold. But right now, things are looking pretty resilient.
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The AI Wildcard and Big Tech Deals
You can't talk about a media company in 2026 without mentioning AI. Robert Thomson, the CEO, has been very vocal about making tech companies pay for the content they use to train their models. News Corp already has deals with OpenAI and other tech giants.
Basically, they are turning their vast archives of journalism into a recurring revenue stream.
Think about it: Every time a chatbot summarizes a Wall Street Journal article, there’s a chance News Corp is getting a tiny slice of that pie. It’s a far cry from the days of relying solely on print advertising. In fact, digital revenue now makes up over 50% of their total sales. At Dow Jones, digital is a staggering 84% of their revenue.
What the Analysts are Saying Right Now
If you ask the folks at J.P. Morgan or Guggenheim, they’re generally leaning "Buy" or "Overweight." The consensus price target among those who follow the stock closely is somewhere around $36 to $38.
Of course, analysts aren't psychics.
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They like the company's aggressive share buyback program. News Corp has been buying back its own stock at a rate four times faster than they did in 2025. When a company buys back its own shares, it usually signals that they think the stock is undervalued. It also reduces the supply of shares, which—theoretically—helps boost the News Corp stock price over time.
- Revenue Diversification: They aren't just selling papers. They are selling data, real estate listings, and books.
- Profitability: Net income has been trending upward significantly. In fiscal 2025, it jumped 71% to $648 million.
- The REA Value: Many analysts argue that if you just valued their stake in REA Group and Dow Jones separately, it would be worth more than the current total market cap of News Corp. This is the "sum-of-the-parts" argument that keeps value investors interested.
The Risks You Shouldn't Ignore
It’s not all sunshine and dividends. The dividend yield is quite low, around 0.76%, which is basically pennies. If you’re looking for a steady income stock, this probably isn't the one.
Also, the Book Publishing arm—HarperCollins—had a bit of a rough patch recently. They had a $13 million write-off because of a customer who couldn't pay their bills, and overall orders were down. Plus, the global economy in 2026 is still a bit shaky. J.P. Morgan recently noted a 35% probability of a recession this year. If people stop buying houses or companies cut their WSJ subscriptions, the stock will feel the heat.
Actionable Insights for Your Portfolio
So, what do you actually do with this information?
If you're already holding NWSA, the current trend suggests a "Hold" or "Buy on the dip" strategy, especially given the aggressive buybacks. The company is leaner than it was five years ago, and the pivot to digital is largely complete.
- Watch the Real Estate Data: Keep an eye on Australian residential property trends. Since REA Group is such a huge driver, any major cooling in that market is a red flag for News Corp.
- Monitor AI Partnerships: Any new announcements regarding licensing deals with Google, Meta, or Apple will likely cause a short-term spike in the stock.
- Check the Earnings Dates: The next big report is scheduled for early February 2026. Analysts are expecting an Earnings Per Share (EPS) of about $0.36. If they miss that, expect a price correction.
- Compare A and B Shares: If you want voting rights, you go for NWS. If you just want the price action and don't care about the Murdoch family's voting control, NWSA is the standard play.
Keep it simple. Don't overthink the daily noise. The News Corp stock price is a bet on the value of premium information and the digital real estate market. As long as people need to know what’s happening in the financial world and need a place to live, this company has a massive moat.
If you are looking to dig deeper into the specific financial statements, your next move should be to pull the SEC Form 8-K filings from January 2026. These documents detail the exact progress of the $1 billion repurchase program and give you a clearer picture of the company's current cash reserves. Following the February earnings call will also be critical for seeing if the Book Publishing segment has managed to bounce back from its recent slump.