Castel Ruling Sends USA Today Stock Soaring Amid Google Antitrust Case

Judge P. Kevin Castel's recent ruling in the antitrust case between USA Today and Google has sent shockwaves through the tech world. The court largely denied Google's attempt to narrow the case before it reaches a jury, paving the way for a potential trial. This development has boosted USA Today's stock price, which surged nearly 10% over the past week and posted a 70% gain over the last year. With its core claims intact, the litigation now moves forward, leaving investors wondering what this means for the company's future.

USA Today is currently trading at $7.06 with a market cap of $1.03 billion. Citizens reiterated a Market Outperform rating and $10.00 price target on USA Today following the court ruling. The firm anticipates that USA Today will continue to deliver in-line results, with net income expected to grow this year as the company turns profitable.

Despite the recent surge in stock price, analysts expect a settlement to occur beforehand, according to Citizens. This view is based on the fact that USA Today's digital revenue was 1% ahead of consensus for the first quarter of 2026, with EBITDA surpassing expectations by $16 million. These results highlight the company's ongoing efforts to enhance its digital revenue growth.