1032 ET - Investors may be worried about the decline of Versant's linear cable business, but the company can use its high cash flow generation to invest in areas adjacent to and supportive of key operating segments, Seaport Research Partners analyst David Joyce says in a note. Versant trades at a sizable discount to peers with linear TV exposure, even though the company's genres and sports exposure should insulate it well, he says. "The portfolio of those genre-specific networks can spur growth and fund the supportive and adjacent Platform opportunities that could offset linear declines in time," Joyce says. Meanwhile, Versant should generate $1 billion in free cash flow in 2026, which could fund $500 million in dividends and share buybacks, Joyce says. (nicholas.miller@wsj.com)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 31, 2026 10:32 ET (14:32 GMT)

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