If you’ve been watching the ticker lately, you know the conservative media space is anything but quiet. Honestly, keeping track of media stocks in 2026 feels like a full-time job. Yesterday, Friday, January 16, 2026, Newsmax (NMAX) wrapped up the trading week with a bit of a bounce, finishing the day at $7.94 on the New York Stock Exchange.
It’s been a wild ride since they went public back in March 2025. Remember when the stock opened at $10.00? Since then, the price has basically been on a rollercoaster. Yesterday’s close of $7.94 represents a modest gain from the previous day's close of $7.78, which is kinda interesting given how much pressure the stock has been under recently.
Breaking Down the Daily Numbers
Looking at the intraday movement, things weren't exactly smooth. The stock opened at $7.80 and dipped as low as $7.58 before finding some legs in the afternoon. It even touched a high of $7.995, almost breaking that $8.00 psychological barrier, before settling just a few cents shy.
Trading volume was sitting around 953,000 shares. That’s pretty much in line with the recent average, so we aren't seeing a massive "buy everything" signal or a "run for the hills" panic—at least not today.
Newsmax Stock: What Most People Get Wrong
There is a lot of noise surrounding what did Newsmax stock close at today and why the price keeps hovering near these levels. A lot of folks assume that because a media outlet has a loud, loyal audience, the stock price will automatically skyrocket.
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But here is the thing: the stock market cares about "revenue multiples" and "customer acquisition costs" more than it cares about ratings.
Newsmax (NMAX) is currently trading at a Price-to-Sales (P/S) ratio of roughly 5.5x. To put that in perspective, the average for the U.S. media industry is usually below 1.0x. Some analysts, like those over at Simply Wall St, have suggested the stock might be overvalued based on revenue, even though fans of the network argue that the brand’s influence is worth the premium.
The Elephant in the Room: Legal Settlements
You can't talk about the NMAX share price without mentioning the baggage. Newsmax had to navigate some pretty heavy legal waters over the last couple of years. They settled a massive lawsuit with Smartmatic for $40 million in late 2024, and then followed that up with a $67 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems in mid-2025.
Those aren't just numbers on a page; they are direct hits to the company's cash reserves. When a company is paying out over $100 million in settlements, investors get jittery. It's one reason why we’re seeing the stock trade closer to its 52-week low of $7.31 rather than its highs.
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Why the 2026 Election Cycle Changes Everything
We are officially in an election year. In the world of political media, that’s like the Super Bowl, but it lasts for twelve months. Historically, Newsmax sees a significant surge in viewership during high-stakes political seasons.
- YouTube TV Renewal: They recently locked in a multi-year deal with YouTube TV, which keeps them in the base package.
- Newsmax+ Growth: The company is pushing hard on their subscription streaming service, Newsmax+, trying to pivot away from relying solely on cable carriage fees.
- Expansion: CEO Christopher Ruddy has been vocal about "Big Growth Ahead," including new distribution deals in Europe and the Middle East.
The Financial Health Check
Despite the recent daily gains, the company's fundamentals are a bit of a mixed bag. They reported a net loss of over $111 million recently, largely due to those one-time legal costs. However, for 2026, analysts are forecasting revenue to hit around $206 million.
The real question is whether they can turn that revenue into a profit (EPS). Currently, the Earnings Per Share (EPS) is sitting in the negative, but the "bull case" is that as the election heats up, ad revenue will finally push them into the black.
Actionable Insights for Investors
If you're looking at the $7.94 closing price and wondering what to do, here's how the "smart money" is viewing the situation:
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Watch the $7.31 Support Level: This is the 52-week low. If the stock drops below this, it could trigger a lot of automated sell orders. As long as it stays above $7.50, there’s a floor.
The $10.00 Resistance: The IPO price is a major hurdle. Psychologically, investors want to see the stock get back to double digits. Until it clears $10.00 with high volume, it's likely to remain a "trader's stock" rather than a "buy and hold" for most.
Diversification is Key: Media stocks are notoriously volatile, especially ones tied to political cycles. If you’re heavy on NMAX, make sure you’re balanced with more stable sectors like tech or consumer staples.
To stay ahead of the next move, you should keep a close eye on the upcoming Q1 2026 financial results. These will show whether the YouTube TV deal and the early election ad spend are actually hitting the bottom line. You can find these updates directly on the Newsmax Investor Relations site or through the NYSE ticker NMAX.