Clear Channel Outdoor revenue rallies 12% as pending take-private merger loom

Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings (NYSE:CCO) reported double-digit revenue growth for the first quarter of 2026, a performance that arrives amid significant corporate restructuring.

The San Antonio-based out-of-home (OOH) advertising leader posted consolidated revenue of $373.9 million, representing an 11.9% increase over the same period in 2025.

The growth was largely powered by the company's aggressive pivot toward digital inventory.

Combined digital revenue across all segments reached $195.1 million, underscoring the increasing demand for programmatic and flexible outdoor advertising solutions.

Profitability followed a similar upward trajectory, with adjusted EBITDA rising 31.0% year-over-year to $103.8 million.

The quarterly financial update was accompanied by details regarding a definitive agreement to take the company private.

The pending merger, valued at $2.43 per share, is expected to close by the end of the third quarter of 2026.

The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory clearances and approval by Clear Channel Outdoor stockholders.

If completed, the merger will transition the company from the public markets at a time when its digital transformation is yielding record operational efficiency.

Meanwhile, Clear Channel Outdoor ended the first quarter with $195.5 million in cash and cash equivalents on hand.

The company’s net debt stood at $4.923 billion as of March 31, 2026.