EDUC vs SSP

For growth investors, The E.

W. Scripps Company (SSP) is the stronger pick with -14. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -33. 0% for Educational Development Corporation (EDUC). Analysts rate The E. W. Scripps Company (SSP) a "Hold" — based on 8 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

Over the past 5 years, The E.

W. Scripps Company (SSP) delivered a total return of -77. 0%, compared to -89. 0% for Educational Development Corporation (EDUC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: EDUC returned -59. 9% versus SSP's -66. 5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Educational Development Corporation (EDUC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

66β versus The E. W. Scripps Company's 1. 50β — meaning SSP is approximately 126% more volatile than EDUC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, The E. W. Scripps Company (SSP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 80% for Educational Development Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), The E.

W. Scripps Company (SSP) is pulling ahead at -14. 3% versus -33. 0% for Educational Development Corporation (EDUC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: The E. W. Scripps Company grew EPS -285. 1% year-over-year, compared to -1071. 2% for Educational Development Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, SSP leads at -4. 3% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

The E.

W. Scripps Company (SSP) is the more profitable company, earning -7. 6% net margin versus -15. 4% for Educational Development Corporation — meaning it keeps -7. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SSP leads at 8. 6% versus -19. 8% for EDUC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — EDUC leads at 61. 5%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Educational Development Corporation (EDUC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

66)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EDUC: -59. 9%, SSP: -66. 5%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Communication Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.