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olivLaw · European equity research

Polaris Media ASA POL.OL

Norway · Euronext Oslo Børs · ISIN NO0010466022 · Vertical: Listed companies from Norway

58.20NOK−1.36% · 1 dayClose 06 Nov 2026

Polaris Media ASA is a Norwegian-Swedish media group that publishes regional newspapers and distributes press in Norway and Sweden. In fiscal 2025 advertising revenue declined while user revenue grew, and the group is shifting more strongly to digital amid global competition and the decline of print.

At the close of 06 Nov 2026, Polaris Media ASA (POL.OL) stock was 58.20 NOK (−1.36% on the day), with market capitalisation 2.9 bn NOK, P/E 388.0 on diluted EPS of 0.15 NOK over the last 12 months, dividend yield 37.74%, beta 0.10, 52-week range 49.40–63.50 NOK.

Data as of · AI analysis dated · Source: ESEF annual reports and closing prices, computed by olivLaw.

Market cap
2.9 bn NOK
shares as of 31 Dec 2025
P/E (TTM)
388.0
Diluted EPS TTM 0.15 · TTM to 31 Dec 2025
E/P (TTM)
0.26%
TTM to 31 Dec 2025
Dividend yield
37.74%
DPS 12m 21.96
Beta (2y)
0.10
Volatility (1y) 41%
52-week range
49.4063.50

Price history

Loading chart…

Technical reading

RSI (14)
48.3
neutral
Bollinger (20, 2)
56.13 – 60.43
in the lower half of the band · %B 0.48 · band width 7.4%
SMA 50 / 200
59.97 / 59.03
mixed trend
MACD (12, 26, 9)
-0.41 / -0.51
MACD above signal

Indicators describe past prices; on their own they do not predict direction. On our history the RSI ≤ 40 filter added no return (see the signals methodology).

Performance

CompanyEURO STOXX 50vs EURO STOXX 50Vertical median
1 month−1.4%−0.6%−0.7 pp—
3 months−3.0%−4.2%+1.2 pp—
6 months−0.7%+4.3%−5.0 pp—
Year to date+6.8%+7.5%−0.7 pp—
1 year+8.8%+9.9%−1.1 pp−4.7%
3 years+9.8%+49.8%−40.0 pp+12.7%
5 years−32.3%+42.8%−75.2 pp—
Max drawdown (1y)
−12.4%
12 Mar 2026 → 27 Oct 2026
Max drawdown (5y)
−54.7%
05 Jan 2022 → 04 May 2023
Compound annual growth (5y)
−7.5%
EURO STOXX 50 +7.4%

Price returns, dividends excluded.

Quarterly results

ESEF annual reports carry no quarters: the results are annual (below).

E/P over time

E/P = trailing-12-month diluted EPS / price at quarter end. E/P is the inverse of P/E and stays defined when earnings are negative.

Today's P/E sits at the 100 percentile of its own 2-quarter history (min 6.1, median 184.7, max 363.3; quarters with earnings only).

Fiscal years

Fiscal year202320242025
Revenue3.4 bn3.4 bn3.4 bn
Revenue YoYunavailable−1.0%+1.4%
Net income-47.0 m677.8 m7.5 m
Net income YoYunavailableunavailable−98.9%
Diluted EPS-0.9613.830.15
Diluted EPS YoYunavailableunavailable−98.9%
net %-1.4%20.0%0.2%
Free cash flow59.2 m159.1 m142.4 m

Balance sheet & financial health

Fiscal year 2025 · 31 Dec 2025

Cash
347.8 m NOK
Financial debt
unavailable NOK
Net debt
unavailable NOK
Equity
2.1 bn NOK
Total assets
4.0 bn NOK
Debt / equity
unavailable
Current ratio
0.60x
ROE
0.3%
ROA
0.2%
FCF margin
4.2%

Financial statements (source on every figure)

Revenue and net income (NOK)

Margins

Income statement · NOK

Revenue
2023
3.4 bn
2024
3.4 bn
2025
3.4 bn

esef· 21 Oct 2026verified

Operating income
2023
-114.8 m
2024
32.7 m
2025
20.8 m

esef· 21 Oct 2026verified

Depreciation & amortisation
2023
108.6 m
2024
109.9 m
2025
106.9 m

esef· 21 Oct 2026verified

EBITDA
2023
-6.2 m ≈
2024
142.6 m ≈
2025
127.7 m ≈

esef· 21 Oct 2026derived

Interest expense
2023
84.6 m
2024
65.2 m
2025
55.7 m

esef· 21 Oct 2026verified

Pre-tax income
2023
-81.9 m
2024
697.9 m
2025
24.3 m

esef· 21 Oct 2026verified

Income tax
2023
-31.1 m
2024
4.6 m
2025
5.9 m

esef· 21 Oct 2026verified

Net income
2023
-47.0 m
2024
677.8 m
2025
7.5 m

esef· 21 Oct 2026verified

Diluted EPS
2023
-0.96
2024
13.83
2025
0.15

esef· 21 Oct 2026verified

Dividend per share
2023
1.90
2024
1.04
2025
21.96

esef· 21 Oct 2026derived

Balance sheet · NOK

Cash
2023
276.2 m
2024
1.3 bn
2025
347.8 m

esef· 21 Oct 2026verified

Receivables
2023
319.0 m
2024
339.1 m
2025
328.1 m

esef· 21 Oct 2026verified

Inventories
2023
26.8 m
2024
19.3 m
2025
16.6 m

esef· 21 Oct 2026verified

Current assets
2023
622.0 m
2024
1.6 bn
2025
692.4 m

esef· 21 Oct 2026verified

Property, plant & equipment, net
2023
153.0 m
2024
143.5 m
2025
114.1 m

esef· 21 Oct 2026verified

Goodwill
2023
636.9 m
2024
653.3 m
2025
671.6 m

esef· 21 Oct 2026verified

Intangibles (excl. goodwill)
2023
767.7 m
2024
767.0 m
2025
766.2 m

esef· 21 Oct 2026verified

Total assets
2023
6.1 bn
2024
5.7 bn
2025
4.0 bn

esef· 21 Oct 2026verified

Current liabilities
2023
1.1 bn
2024
1.2 bn
2025
1.2 bn

esef· 21 Oct 2026verified

Total liabilities
2023
2.6 bn
2024
2.0 bn
2025
1.9 bn

esef· 21 Oct 2026verified

Equity
2023
3.5 bn
2024
3.7 bn
2025
2.1 bn

esef· 21 Oct 2026verified

Shares outstanding at year end
2023
49.0 m
2024
49.0 m
2025
50.0 m

esef· 21 Oct 2026derived

Cash flow · NOK

Operating cash flow
2023
134.5 m
2024
230.2 m
2025
213.2 m

esef· 21 Oct 2026verified

Capex
2023
75.3 m
2024
71.1 m
2025
70.8 m

esef· 21 Oct 2026verified

Free cash flow
2023
59.2 m ≈
2024
159.1 m ≈
2025
142.4 m ≈

esef· 21 Oct 2026derived

Investing cash flow
2023
-20.0 m
2024
1.6 bn
2025
454.6 m

esef· 21 Oct 2026verified

Financing cash flow
2023
-257.5 m
2024
-831.2 m
2025
-1.6 bn

esef· 21 Oct 2026verified

Dividends paid
2023
92.8 m
2024
50.9 m
2025
1.1 bn

esef· 21 Oct 2026verified

Share repurchases
2023
0
2024
7.2 m
2025
17.0 m

esef· 21 Oct 2026verified

Computed indicators

Growth

Revenue growth (YoY)
1.4%
computed by olivLawFY 2025
Revenue CAGR 3Y
unavailable
input data missing
Revenue CAGR 5Y
unavailable
input data missing
EBIT growth (YoY)
-36.4%
computed by olivLawFY 2025
Net income growth (YoY)
-98.9%
computed by olivLawFY 2025
Net income CAGR 3Y
unavailable
input data missing
Net income CAGR 5Y
unavailable
input data missing
EPS growth (YoY)
-98.9%
computed by olivLawFY 2025
EPS CAGR 3Y
unavailable
input data missing
EPS CAGR 5Y
unavailable
input data missing
FCF growth (YoY)
-10.5%
computed by olivLawFY 2025

Profitability

Gross margin
unavailable
input data missing
EBITDA margin
3.7%
computed by olivLawFY 2025
EBIT margin
0.6%
computed by olivLawFY 2025
Net margin
0.2%
computed by olivLawFY 2025
FCF margin
4.2%
computed by olivLawFY 2025

Returns

ROE
0.3%
computed by olivLawFY 2025 · balance sheet at 31 Dec 2025
ROA
0.2%
computed by olivLawFY 2025 · balance sheet at 31 Dec 2025
ROIC
unavailable
input data missing
ROCE
0.7%
computed by olivLawFY 2025 · balance sheet at 31 Dec 2025
Payout ratio (EPS)
14,641.3%
computed by olivLawFY 2025
Payout ratio (FCF)
771.1%
computed by olivLawFY 2025

Balance sheet

Net debt
unavailable
input data missing
Net debt / EBITDA
unavailable
input data missing
Debt / equity
unavailable
input data missing
Interest coverage
0.4x
computed by olivLawFY 2025

Liquidity

Current ratio
0.6x
computed by olivLawbalance sheet at 31 Dec 2025
Quick ratio
0.6x
computed by olivLawbalance sheet at 31 Dec 2025
Cash ratio
0.3x
computed by olivLawbalance sheet at 31 Dec 2025

Cash

Operating cash flow
213.2 m NOK
computed by olivLawFY 2025
Capital expenditure
70.8 m NOK
computed by olivLawFY 2025
Free cash flow
142.4 m NOK
computed by olivLawFY 2025
FCF conversion
1,898.7%
computed by olivLawFY 2025
Cash conversion
167.0%
computed by olivLawFY 2025

Efficiency

Days sales outstanding
35 days
computed by olivLawFY 2025 · balance sheet at 31 Dec 2025
Days inventory outstanding
unavailable
input data missing
Days payables outstanding
unavailable
input data missing
Cash conversion cycle
unavailable
input data missing

Market and valuation

Market capitalisation
2.9 bn NOK
computed by olivLawbalance sheet at 31 Dec 2025
Enterprise value
unavailable
input data missing
Market cap / net income TTM
388.0x
computed by olivLawFY 2025
P/E (TTM)
388.0x
computed by olivLawFY 2025
Earnings yield
0.3%
computed by olivLawFY 2025
P/B
1.4x
computed by olivLawbalance sheet at 31 Dec 2025
P/S
0.8x
computed by olivLawFY 2025 · balance sheet at 31 Dec 2025
EV/EBITDA
unavailable
input data missing
EV/EBIT
unavailable
input data missing
EV/Sales
unavailable
input data missing
P/FCF
20.4x
computed by olivLawFY 2025 · balance sheet at 31 Dec 2025
FCF yield
4.9%
computed by olivLawFY 2025 · balance sheet at 31 Dec 2025
Dividend yield
37.7%
computed by olivLawFY 2025
Shareholder yield (distributions)
38.3%
computed by olivLawFY 2025 · balance sheet at 31 Dec 2025

1 indicators that do not apply to the sector.

Valuation

olivLaw classification

Insufficient data
What is missing
  • score weight coverage: 52.1% of at least 60%

A scoring methodology on indicators and valuation, not investment advice.

Closing price

58.20 NOK

06 Nov 2026Source: olivLaw, closing series

Market cap: 2.9 bn NOK

Key indicators

Market capitalisation
2.9 bn NOK
computed by olivLawbalance sheet at 31 Dec 2025
P/E (TTM)
388.0x
computed by olivLawFY 2025
P/B
1.4x
computed by olivLawbalance sheet at 31 Dec 2025
EV/EBITDA
unavailable
input data missing
ROE
0.3%
computed by olivLawFY 2025 · balance sheet at 31 Dec 2025
Net margin
0.2%
computed by olivLawFY 2025
Revenue growth (YoY)
1.4%
computed by olivLawFY 2025
Dividend yield
37.7%
computed by olivLawFY 2025

Coverage and freshness

29/37 reporting lines present
Latest full fiscal year: 2025
Latest reported period: 31 Dec 2025
Latest balance sheet date: 31 Dec 2025
Share count (cover of the latest filing), as of: 31 Dec 2025
Source: esefpublished 21 Oct 2026
verified 80derived 6

Score by group

52% · Insufficient data

Estimated value range

unavailable — no valuation assumptions for the reporting currency

Valuation assumptions are editorial choices, not measured; beta is not measured.

Valuation methods

    Assumptions (illustrative, editorial)

    Risk-free rate
    6.5%
    Equity risk premium
    6.0%
    Beta (default)
    1.00
    Cost of equity
    12.5%
    Terminal growth
    3.0%

    Factor scorecard

    Insufficient data

    Minimum-evidence gate: score weight coverage: 52.1% of at least 60%

    FactorValueScoreWeight used
    ROIC · Qualityunavailableunavailable—
    Net margin · Quality0.2%34 (vs peers)12%
    FCF conversion · Quality1,898.7%100 (on a fixed band)12%
    Revenue CAGR 3Y · Growthunavailableunavailable—
    EPS CAGR 3Y · Growthunavailableunavailable—
    Net debt / EBITDA · Balance sheetunavailableunavailable—
    Interest coverage · Balance sheet0.4x0 (on a fixed band)12%
    Current ratio · Balance sheet0.6x0 (on a fixed band)8%
    P/E (TTM) · Valuation388.0x0 (vs peers)20%
    EV/EBITDA · Valuationunavailableunavailable—
    FCF yield · Valuation4.9%61 (on a fixed band)16%
    Shareholder yield (distributions) · Returns38.3%100 (on a fixed band)12%
    Payout ratio (FCF) · Returns771.1%0 (on a fixed band)8%

    Factors without a value were dropped; the remaining weights were renormalised.

    Score groups

    • Balance sheet0/100 · 2/3 factors with a value
    • Growth· partialunavailable · 0/2 factors with a value
    • Quality67/100 · 2/3 factors with a value
    • Returns60/100 · 2/2 factors with a value
    • Valuation27/100 · 2/3 factors with a value

    A «partial» group is computed from under half of its weight or from one factor: it is not a full assessment of the group.

    Memo

    POLARIS MEDIA ASA (POL.OL). Latest full fiscal year: 2025; data up to 2025-12-31.

    Figures computed from the financial statements: revenue 3.4 bn NOK in 2025; YoY growth 1.4%; net margin 0.2%; ROE 0.3%.

    The estimated value range is 108.41–135.43 NOK per share (median of 2 methods, agreement: low); assumptions are illustrative. Against the central value of 120.54 NOK, the price of 58.20 NOK leaves a potential of 107.1% (value / price − 1) and a margin of safety of 51.7% (1 − price / value). The range is the median of the methods' low, central and high values, not a probability interval.

    Insufficient data for a verdict (score weight coverage: 52.1% of at least 60%).

    Text generated deterministically from the figures shown; no language model. Not investment advice.

    What supports the thesis

    • FCF conversion: 1,898.7%
    • Shareholder yield (distributions): 38.3%
    • The price is below the estimated value range

    What contradicts it

    • Interest coverage: 0.4x
    • Current ratio: 0.6x
    • P/E (TTM): 388.0x
    • Payout ratio (FCF): 771.1%
    • The valuation methods diverge

    Not assessed (insufficient data or a ratio without meaning): ROIC, Revenue CAGR 3Y, EPS CAGR 3Y, Net debt / EBITDA, EV/EBITDA.

    Versus the vertical median

    Listed companies from Norway · same country · compared with 39 companies

    Multiples and returns vs the median

    P/E
    388.0x
    vertical median 20.0x
    above median (+1,837.2%)
    EV/EBITDA
    —
    vertical median 9.0x
    P/S
    0.8x
    vertical median 1.3x
    below median (−34.7%)
    P/B
    1.4x
    vertical median 1.8x
    below median (−20.0%)
    ROE
    0.3%
    vertical median 2.9%
    below median (−91.1%)
    Net margin
    0.2%
    vertical median 3.1%
    below median (−92.9%)
    EBIT margin
    0.6%
    vertical median 5.5%
    below median (−89.0%)
    Revenue YoY
    1.4%
    vertical median 6.0%
    below median (−76.4%)
    Net debt/EBITDA
    —
    vertical median 1.5x
    Dividend yield
    37.7%
    vertical median 5.0%
    above median (+650.0%)

    Price rebased to 100 (monthly, 5 years)

    Companies in the vertical

    Market capP/EROENet marginRevenue YoY1A / 3A
    AKER.OLAker Asa79.8 bn20.37.9%21.4%+42.5%+36% / +59%
    AFG.OLAf Gruppen Asa21.5 bn19.839.7%3.4%+4.4%+8% / +69%
    ELK.OLElkem Asa19.2 bn39.31.9%2.7%−15.7%+10% / +73%
    ATEA.OLAtea Asa18.5 bn21.419.7%2.3%+8.1%+11% / +36%
    AKSO.OLAker Solutions Asa17.4 bn6.822.5%4.1%+19.2%+18% / −12%
    AUSS.OLAustevoll Seafood Asa16.6 bn37.11.6%1.1%+11.1%−7% / +10%
    BRG.OLBorregaard Asa15.6 bn25.111.4%8.0%+1.3%−18% / −9%
    BONHR.OLBonheur ASA11.2 bn7.817.1%11.4%−10.8%+17% / +44%
    AFK.OLArendals Fossekompani Asa10.3 bn—-2.3%-3.1%−14.9%+39% / +31%
    B2I.OLB2 Impact Asa8.8 bn14.311.0%16.4%+2.6%+40% / +238%
    AKVA.OLAkva Group Asa5.7 bn31.213.7%4.2%+24.4%+74% / +152%
    ELMRA.OLElmera Group Asa5.1 bn32.010.5%1.3%−0.9%+32% / +98%
    BOUV.OLBouvet Asa5.0 bn14.280.7%9.2%−0.2%−19% / −16%
    CLOUD.OLCloudberry Clean Energy Asa4.0 bn61.91.3%13.1%+34.0%−5% / +29%
    ABG.OLAbg Sundal Collier Holding Asa3.6 bn10.734.9%16.8%+12.4%−13% / +20%
    POL.OLPolaris Media Asa2.9 bn388.00.3%0.2%+1.4%+14% / +5%
    ANDF.OLAndfjord Salmon Group As2.2 bn—-5.7%-12,770.4%+328.9%−18% / −11%
    BMA.OLByggma Asa1.6 bn—-25.3%-11.9%−2.5%+61% / +15%
    APR.OLAppear Asa1.4 bn10.530.1%16.1%+32.3%−53% / unavailable
    AZT.OLArcticzymes Technologies Asa1.1 bn108.92.9%8.6%+7.9%−8% / −48%
    CAPSL.OLCapsol Technologies Asa884.6 m—-89.4%-114.8%−25.0%−33% / −66%
    BOR.OLBorgestad Asa553.2 m36.12.1%1.4%−3.0%−7% / +41%
    ARR.OLArribatec Group Asa234.6 m4.822.1%9.3%+15.7%−33% / −55%
    DELIA.OLDellia Group Asa73.5 m1.522.6%7.7%+140.0%−62% / unavailable
    ABTEC.OLAqua Bio Technology Asa11.1 m0.1—7,297.7%−87.2%−82% / −97%

    1- and 3-year price returns: for POL.OL from daily closes (the same as the performance table), for the other companies from month-end closes.

    olivLaw engine forecast

    The world engine ran after the company's latest material disclosure. Probabilities are of TOUCHING a level within the horizon (not closing there) and sit next to the random walk (p_rw), the no-information benchmark.

    The engine has no published run for this company yet.

    Valuation scenarios (editable assumptions)

    Illustrative scenarios

    Illustrative: not forecasts and without probabilities. Each case is one coherent set of assumptions, computed on today's figures.

    Bear
    Allowed range: -50 … 50%
    Allowed range: -100 … 100%
    Allowed range: 0 … 100
    Allowed range: -10 … 20%
    Allowed range: 0 … 100%
    Base
    Allowed range: -50 … 50%
    Allowed range: -100 … 100%
    Allowed range: 0 … 100
    Allowed range: -10 … 20%
    Allowed range: 0 … 100%
    Bull
    Allowed range: -50 … 50%
    Allowed range: -100 … 100%
    Allowed range: 0 … 100
    Allowed range: -10 … 20%
    Allowed range: 0 … 100%
    Nothing is saved.

    Estimated price (NOK)

    Estimated priceBearBaseBull
    1 years
    33.33
    Total return -43% · Per year -43%
    59.02
    Total return 2% · Per year 2%
    89.03
    Total return 53% · Per year 53%
    3 years
    30.38
    Total return -47% · Per year -19%
    60.70
    Total return 5% · Per year 2%
    100.81
    Total return 74% · Per year 20%
    5 years
    27.68
    Total return -52% · Per year -13%
    62.43
    Total return 9% · Per year 2%
    114.16
    Total return 98% · Per year 15%
    What moves the 3-year price the most
    • Exit P/E± 15.18
    • Net margin± 10.62
    • Annual revenue growth± 8.99
    • Annual dilution± 0.89

    AI analysis

    AI-generatedAI-generated analysis (Claude) from cited public sources; it may contain errors. Not investment advice. As of 27 Oct 2026 · Model: claude-haiku-5-5.

    In brief

    Polaris Media ASA is a Norwegian-Swedish media group that publishes regional newspapers and distributes press in Norway and Sweden. In fiscal 2025 advertising revenue declined while user revenue grew, and the group is shifting more strongly to digital amid global competition and the decline of print.

    SWOT

    Strengths

    • Established regional brands and a strong local position, backed by reader trust and editorial quality.
    • Steady growth in digital subscriptions and a recurring revenue model.
    • A solid financial position with good liquidity and financial flexibility.

    Weaknesses

    • Still high dependence on print, with structural decline in print advertising and distribution.
    • Distribution in Sweden is loss-making and relies on staff reductions.
    • Advertising revenue is sensitive to the economic cycle.

    Opportunities

    • Continued shift to digital subscriptions and higher realised prices.
    • Use of artificial intelligence for efficiency and data-driven journalism.
    • The position in Sweden could be strengthened through digital offers and a more efficient commercial organisation.

    Threats

    • Strong competition from global digital platforms for advertising.
    • AI-generated news services could change media consumption habits.
    • Macroeconomic uncertainty and monetary policy changes can weigh on advertising.

    Risks

    • Decline of print advertisinghigh

      Print advertising is declining structurally, and revenue from it could keep falling faster than digital compensates.

    • Advertising sensitivity to the economymedium

      Advertising revenue depends on the economic cycle, and a slowdown could weigh on group results.

    • Distribution in Swedenmedium

      Losing the Early Bird contract and closing parcel activity may bring extra costs and pressure on results.

    • IT security and datamedium

      Cyberattacks or leaks of personal data could damage reader trust and raise compliance costs.

    • Value of the Vend stakelow

      An important part of group assets is the investment in Vend Marketplaces, exposed to market risk, so its carrying value can change.

    Investment thesis

    What would need to be true (bull case)

    • If digital subscriptions keep growing, the group could gradually turn its business model into a more recurring one less dependent on paper.
    • Efficiency measures and a leaner cost base could support margins even while revenue declines.
    • Strong regional brands and good liquidity give room to invest in products and technology.

    What would break the thesis

    • If the decline of print advertising accelerates, total revenue could fall faster than digital subscriptions can grow.
    • Distribution in Sweden remains loss-making, and closing parcel activity could bring extra costs in the coming year.
    • Global competition for advertising and AI-generated news services could reduce the pricing power of media houses.

    What to watch

    • Development of digital and print advertising revenueQ1 2027
    • Effect of ending parcel distribution in Sweden on EBITDA2027
    • Value of the Vend Marketplaces stake and its effect on the balance sheet2027

    Products, market & competition

    AI-generatedAI-generated analysis (Claude) from cited public sources; it may contain errors. Not investment advice. As of 27 Oct 2026 · Model: claude-haiku-5-5.

    The business

    Polaris Media ASA owns several of the most established local and regional media brands in Norway and Sweden, grouped into media houses such as Stampen Media in Sweden. The group earns revenue from subscriptions and reader sales, from advertising, and from distribution services for newspapers and parcels. In fiscal 2025, distribution revenue in Norway was MNOK 382 and in Sweden MNOK 320. User revenue is rising while structural decline weighs on print advertising.

    Segments

    Media houses (Norway and Sweden)

    The media houses own regional newspapers and digital publications, with digital subscription revenue growing and forming a larger share of user revenue. User revenue grew 7% in 2025, and three in four subscriptions were already digital at year end 1.

    Distribution Norway

    Distribution in Norway delivers newspapers and parcels, and revenue fell in 2025 on lower print volumes. EBITDA dropped to MNOK 16 from MNOK 22, according to the annual report 1.

    Distribution Sweden

    Distribution in Sweden was the weakest area of the group in 2025, with negative EBITDA and a reduction of parcel activity. The parcel distribution agreement with Early Bird was terminated and the activity will fully end on 30 June 2026 1.

    Market context

    The media market in Norway and Sweden faces a structural decline in print and strong competition from global digital platforms for advertising. The group's advertising revenue fell 2% in 2025 while subscription revenue grew 7%, showing demand moving to paid digital products 1.

    Macroeconomic conditions weigh mainly on advertising, which is more cyclical than subscriptions. Management points to uncertainty from geopolitical conflict and monetary policy, and an economic recovery could stabilise the advertising market 1.

    Trends

    • Shift to digital subscriptionstailwind

      Digital subscriptions are growing fast and reduce dependence on print, supporting a recurring business model.

    • Decline of print advertisingheadwind

      Print advertising is falling structurally due to lower publication frequency and changed distribution, pressuring total revenue.

    • Artificial intelligencemixed

      AI could lower production costs and support data-driven journalism, but it could also create news services that compete directly with traditional media.

    • Cost efficiency and restructuringtailwind

      Efficiency measures and staff reductions have limited the growth of operating costs, which could support margins if revenue stabilises.

    Competitive position

    The group competes for advertising with global digital platforms that have strong reach in audiences and ad targeting. In regional and local press, competition also comes from other media groups in Norway and Sweden that fight for subscribers and advertising budgets.

    In distribution, activity depends on print volumes and contracts with other publishers, and price and profitability pressure is constant. The group's advantage lies in its established regional brands and reader trust, which global competitors cannot easily replicate.

    • Global digital advertising platforms

      Compete directly for advertising budgets, with an advantage in audience and data.

    • Other Norwegian media groups

      Compete for subscribers and regional advertising in Norway.

    • Swedish media groups

      Compete for audience and advertising in Sweden, where the group is weakest.

    • Parcel distribution operators

      Compete on price and volume in parcel and press distribution.

    News & filings

    In the press

    Annual reports (ESEF)

    Sources

    1. [1] Annual report, fiscal year ended 2026-02-17 (ESEF) · SEC / Polaris Media ASA · 17 Feb 2026

    Figures computed by olivLaw from ESEF annual reports and closing prices; the qualitative analysis is AI-generated from cited sources. Not investment advice.

    Polaris Media ASA (POL.OL): stock, results, valuation and forecast · olivLaw