Exploring comScore, Inc. (SCOR) Investor Profile: Who’s Buying and Why?

You're looking at comScore, Inc. (SCOR) and asking the right question: who is buying this stock right now, and what do they see that the market might be missing? The investor profile for comScore is defintely a high-stakes mix of institutional players doubling down on a turnaround story, even as the stock trades near $6.39 a share as of mid-November 2025. Institutional ownership sits around 35.04%, and while that number of funds holding the stock is small-only 50 institutions reported positions recently-the total shares owned by them actually increased by 1.35% in the last quarter, which shows quiet conviction. We're not talking about passive index funds here; major holders like 180 Degree Capital and Westerly Capital Management are making active bets, even as a firm like BlackRock, Inc. trimmed its position to 38,972 shares as of June 2025.

But the real reason for the recent buying boils down to a massive capital structure clean-up: the pivotal recapitalization announced in September 2025 is set to eliminate an onerous $18.0 million annual dividend burden, freeing up cash flow. That move, plus the fact that comScore just reported Q3 2025 revenue of $88.9 million and a small but critical net income of $0.5 million, tells you a story of a company finally stabilizing its finances. So, are these institutions buying the turnaround, or are they just positioning for a takeout? The average analyst price target is now $8.67 per share, a 54.55% jump from the prior estimate, so let's dig into the data and see if that target is a realistic opportunity or just a pipe dream.

Who Invests in comScore, Inc. (SCOR) and Why?

The investor base for comScore, Inc. (SCOR) is a fascinating mix, dominated by institutional funds and insiders, who are betting on the company's pivot to cross-platform measurement. The direct takeaway is that a significant portion of the stock is held by sophisticated players focused on a long-term turnaround, evidenced by the Q3 2025 financial stabilization.

You're looking at a stock where the narrative is shifting from a financial restructuring story to a growth-in-niche-markets story. This is not a retail-heavy momentum play; it's a value-oriented, strategic investment for those who see comScore, Inc. as the definitive third-party measurement currency in a fragmented media landscape.

Key Investor Types and Ownership Breakdown

The ownership structure of comScore, Inc. is heavily weighted toward professional money managers and corporate insiders, which tells you the stock is not easily swayed by day-to-day retail sentiment. As of late 2025, institutional investors hold approximately 35.04% of the float. This includes major index funds and specialized asset managers.

Insider ownership is also unusually high, sitting around 28.69%, which signals strong management conviction, but also limits the available public float. For example, a major institutional player like Blackrock, Inc. held 38,972 shares as of the second quarter of 2025. The remaining portion is held by a combination of public companies and individual investors.

• Institutional Funds: 35.04% ownership.
• Insiders: 28.69% ownership.
• Retail/Public: The rest of the float.

Investment Motivations: The Turnaround Thesis

Investors are attracted to comScore, Inc. for two primary reasons: the demonstrable growth in strategic product lines and the recent, critical steps taken to improve the balance sheet. The company is finally starting to deliver on its promise of a financial turnaround.

The Q3 2025 results were a major catalyst. Revenue for the quarter was $88.9 million, and the company posted a net income of $0.5 million, a significant swing from the prior year's net loss. The real story is the growth in key areas like cross-platform solutions, which saw a 20% year-over-year increase, and local TV, which delivered double-digit growth. This shows product-market fit in a competitive space.

Plus, the proposed recapitalization transaction, which aims to eliminate over $18 million in annual preferred dividends, is a huge win for common stockholders. Here's the quick math: cutting that dividend burden frees up capital for investment in growth drivers, enhancing financial flexibility. That's a clear path to a healthier future, which is defintely what long-term investors want to see. For more on the financial health, you should read Breaking Down comScore, Inc. (SCOR) Financial Health: Key Insights for Investors.

Investment Strategies in Play

You see a few distinct strategies among comScore, Inc. shareholders, reflecting the company's complex profile as a growth-oriented turnaround play with a small market capitalization.

The largest holders, including strategic investors like WPP plc, are typically long-term holders who view the company as a necessary component in the media ecosystem. They are betting on comScore, Inc. becoming the de facto currency for media measurement, a slow but high-value proposition.

Conversely, the presence of index funds like Vanguard Group Inc. means a segment of the ownership is purely passive investing-they hold the stock simply because comScore, Inc. is a component of a total market or small-cap index. Then you have the more active players:

What this estimate hides is the potential for activist investing, given the high insider ownership and the recent strategic recapitalization. Any unexpected delay in the recapitalization could trigger a shift in strategy from passive holding to more aggressive engagement.

Institutional Ownership and Major Shareholders of comScore, Inc. (SCOR)

You're looking at comScore, Inc. (SCOR) and trying to figure out who holds the power and why they're buying now. The direct takeaway is that institutional investors, especially a core group of preferred stockholders, essentially dictated a major financial restructuring in late 2025 to stabilize the company's balance sheet, which is a massive strategic shift.

As of the most recent filings in the 2025 fiscal year, institutional investors hold a significant, though not majority, stake in the common stock, but the real influence comes from a handful of major preferred stockholders. Total institutional shares (long) stood at approximately 1.78 million as of October 2025. This is a small-cap stock, so a few large holders can move the needle defintely.

Here's a snapshot of the top institutional common stock holders, based on recent 2025 filings:

• 180 Degree Capital Corp.: Held 400,451 shares as of September 11, 2025.
• Westerly Capital Management LLC: Held 400,000 shares as of June 29, 2025.
• The Vanguard Group, Inc.: Held 172,729 shares as of September 30, 2025.
• Clune & Associates, Ltd.: Held 126,656 shares as of September 30, 2025.

It's important to note that WPP plc, a public company, holds a substantial position of around 11.32 million shares, representing a significant portion of the company's overall ownership. You can get a deeper dive into the company's foundational structure in this piece: comScore, Inc. (SCOR): History, Ownership, Mission, How It Works & Makes Money.

Recent Shifts and the 2025 Recapitalization Deal

The biggest change in comScore, Inc.'s ownership structure isn't a slow accumulation or divestment, but a pivotal recapitalization transaction announced on September 29, 2025. This deal fundamentally changed the capital structure and the power dynamics at the board level.

Before this, you saw smaller, quarterly adjustments in common stock holdings. For example, Blackrock, Inc. decreased its position by 10,106 shares as of the June 30, 2025, filing, while Westerly Capital Management LLC reported a slight increase of 1.3% in their stake around the same time.

But the recapitalization is the real story. The deal was struck with preferred stockholders: Charter Communications, Liberty Broadband Corporation, and an affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management. Here's the quick math on the impact:

• $80.0 million of existing preferred stock was exchanged for common stock at $8.11 per share.
• $183.7 million of remaining preferred stock was exchanged for new Series C preferred stock.
• This transaction is expected to result in the issuance of approximately 22.5 million new shares, which would represent 81.8% of the post-closing common stock on a converted basis.

This is a massive dilution event for existing common shareholders, but it's a necessary step to clean up the balance sheet. That's a huge trade-off you need to understand.

The Role and Strategic Impact of Large Investors

Institutional investors in comScore, Inc. play a direct and powerful role, especially when a company is navigating a complex financial situation. The recapitalization is the clearest example of these large investors wielding their influence to enforce a strategic change.

The immediate and concrete benefits of this institutional action are financial and operational:

• Elimination of the $18.0 million annual preferred dividend burden.
• Removal of a $47.0 million special dividend right.
• Reduction of the Board of Directors size from 10 to 7 members, streamlining governance.

This action by Charter Communications, Liberty Broadband Corporation, and Cerberus Capital Management is a clear signal: they are converting debt-like preferred stock into equity and new preferred stock to reduce cash outflows and stabilize the company for a long-term turnaround. Institutional investors aren't just passive holders here; they are active architects of the company's financial future. Their collective action essentially de-risks the capital structure, even at the cost of significant common stock dilution.

The table below summarizes the key financial impact of the institutional-driven recapitalization, which is expected to close in December 2025:

Your next step should be to monitor the closing of this transaction in December 2025 and the subsequent market reaction to the massive increase in the common stock float.

Key Investors and Their Impact on comScore, Inc. (SCOR)

You're looking at comScore, Inc. (SCOR) and trying to figure out who's really calling the shots and why the stock moves. The short answer is that institutional money-the big funds-holds the majority of the sway, and their focus right now is on the company's capital structure overhaul.

Institutional investors, like mutual funds and hedge funds (private investment partnerships), hold a significant portion of comScore, Inc.'s equity, with institutional ownership ranging between 32.86% and 42.15% as of late 2025. This is a critical mass that can defintely influence strategic votes, like mergers or major financial decisions. Insiders-executives and directors-also hold a considerable stake at around 11.18%.

Who Owns the Largest Stakes?

The investor profile for comScore, Inc. is dominated by a mix of specialized funds and large index managers. These firms are buying because they see a long-term play in the media measurement space, especially with the company's 20% growth in cross-platform solutions in the third quarter of 2025. They are betting that comScore, Inc. can solidify its position as a third-party measurement standard for linear TV and streaming (over-the-top or OTT) content.

Here's a snapshot of the largest institutional holders based on recent 2025 filings:

• Westerly Capital Management LLC: Held 400,000 shares as of August 14, 2025, representing a significant 7.984% ownership stake.
• Vanguard Group Inc: A major passive investor, holding 172,729 shares as of September 30, 2025.
• Clune & Associates, Ltd.: Held 126,656 shares as of September 30, 2025.
• Cerberus Capital Management, L.P.: A notable private investment firm with 109,654 shares as of June 30, 2025.

The sheer number of shares held by these institutions means they can impact the stock price just by adjusting their portfolio allocations, even by a small percentage. It's not always activism; sometimes it's just portfolio rebalancing.

Investor Influence: The Recapitalization Pivot

The most concrete example of investor influence in 2025 is the announced recapitalization transaction with the company's preferred stockholders. This isn't a typical activist battle, but it's a massive financial restructuring that directly addresses a long-standing investor burden.

The plan, announced on September 29, 2025, involves exchanging all outstanding preferred stock for common stock and new preferred stock that carries no annual dividends. Why does this matter? The existing preferred stock carried more than $18 million in annual dividends, which was a huge drain on cash flow. Eliminating that dividend burden, if approved by stockholders, gives comScore, Inc. much greater financial flexibility to invest in growth drivers, like their cross-platform measurement capabilities.

Here's the quick math: Removing an $18 million annual cash obligation is a game-changer for a company that reported only $11.0 million in adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) in Q3 2025. The preferred stockholders agreeing to this exchange is a clear, impactful vote on the company's future financial health.

For a deeper dive into the company's financial standing, you should review Breaking Down comScore, Inc. (SCOR) Financial Health: Key Insights for Investors.

Recent Notable Moves in 2025

We've seen a few interesting moves in the second half of 2025 that tell a story of mixed sentiment among key players:

• Insider Selling: Director William Paul Livek sold shares in November 2025, including 2,002 shares at an average price of $6.85 on November 12th. He sold a total of 9,900 shares on November 14th at a weighted average price of $6.55 per share, though the sales were attributed to tax and estate planning. Still, insider selling, regardless of the reason, is always something to watch.
• New Stake: Hedge fund Covestor Ltd initiated a new position in Q3 2025, acquiring 10,376 shares valued at approximately $91,000. This shows a small, but fresh, vote of confidence from a new institutional player.
• Big-Name Reduction: Blackrock, Inc., one of the world's largest asset managers, reduced its stake by 10,106 shares as of June 30, 2025. While a small reduction in the grand scheme, it reflects a slight pullback from a major passive fund.

The key takeaway is that the big financial lever for comScore, Inc. in 2025 is the recapitalization, which will dramatically change the balance sheet and free up cash. Your next step should be to monitor the shareholder vote on that transaction, as it will be the most significant near-term catalyst.

Market Impact and Investor Sentiment

You're looking at comScore, Inc. (SCOR) and seeing a complex picture: a company with strong strategic growth engines but a legacy capital structure that's been a drag on the stock. The direct takeaway is that major shareholders are pushing for a painful but necessary financial reset, which creates both a near-term dilution risk and a long-term cash flow opportunity.

Investor sentiment is defintely bifurcated. On one hand, the consensus among Wall Street analysts is a 'Neutral' or 'Sell' rating, reflecting the significant financial challenges, like ongoing losses and financial distress. On the other, the company's own board believes the current market capitalization of comScore, Inc. 'significantly undervalue[s]' the company, a sentiment shared by some common stockholders. Institutional investors own a substantial portion of the company, about 42.15% of the stock.

The Pivotal Recapitalization and Ownership Shift

The biggest factor driving investor sentiment right now is the pivotal recapitalization transaction announced in September 2025 with its preferred stockholders: Charter Communications, Liberty Broadband Corporation, and an affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management. This isn't just a routine financing; it's a massive balance sheet overhaul designed to fix a decade-long capital structure headache.

The deal's primary benefit is eliminating over $18 million in annual preferred dividends and canceling a $47 million special dividend obligation. That's immediate cash flow relief, which should boost comScore, Inc.'s ability to turn its adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) into actual free cash flow. Here's the quick math on the exchange:

What this estimate hides is the dilution: the transaction is expected to result in the issuance of approximately 22.5 million new shares, which represents about 81.8% of post-closing common shares on an as-converted basis. That's a huge dilution hit for existing common stockholders, but it's the price to pay for a cleaner balance sheet and a chance at real growth. You've got to weigh the short-term pain against the long-term structural improvement. For more on the company's financial history, you can check out comScore, Inc. (SCOR): History, Ownership, Mission, How It Works & Makes Money.

Market Response and Analyst Outlook

The stock market's reaction has been a classic case of hating complexity and dilution. When comScore, Inc. reported its Q3 2025 results on November 4, 2025, the stock dropped roughly 11% post-earnings. The market was digesting the recapitalization news alongside a revised full-year revenue guidance, which was tempered to be 'roughly flat' with the prior year, signaling stalled momentum.

For the third quarter of 2025, revenue was $88.9 million, a slight increase of 0.5% year-over-year. The good news is that the strategic growth area, cross-platform solutions, grew a strong 20%, with revenue of $12.3 million. But the core operating profitability is what worries the street: adjusted EBITDA for Q3 2025 was $11.0 million, down 11.1% from the prior year, with margins compressing to 12.4%. The company is making less cash profit per dollar of revenue it brings in. That's the real health indicator.

Analyst perspectives are cautious, but they acknowledge the potential impact of the key investors' move. The recapitalization is viewed as 'transformative' because it significantly enhances financial flexibility. The consensus price target is around $8.50, with the most recent Hold rating carrying an $11.00 price target. The key is execution in 2026. Investors are watching for:

• Sustained double-digit growth in cross-platform solutions.
• Successful execution of the new AI-powered measurement initiatives.
• A clear demonstration that the eliminated dividend burden translates to better free cash flow.

The next concrete step is to monitor the shareholder vote on the recapitalization, expected in December 2025. If approved, the financial flexibility immediately improves, and the focus shifts entirely to organic growth. Finance: model the new capital structure's impact on 2026 free cash flow projections by month-end.