LEE vs NYT

For growth investors, The New York Times Company (NYT) is the stronger pick with 9.

2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -8. 0% for Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (LEE). The New York Times Company (NYT) offers the better valuation at 38. 4x trailing P/E (29. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate The New York Times Company (NYT) a "Hold" — based on 16 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 New York Times Company (NYT) delivered a total return of +83.

2%, compared to -74. 3% for Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (LEE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NYT returned +576. 0% versus LEE's -60. 4%. 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), The New York Times Company (NYT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

28β versus Lee Enterprises, Incorporated's 0. 54β — meaning LEE is approximately 96% more volatile than NYT relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), The New York Times Company (NYT) is pulling ahead at 9.

2% versus -8. 0% for Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (LEE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: The New York Times Company grew EPS 18. 1% year-over-year, compared to -41. 4% for Lee Enterprises, Incorporated. Over a 3-year CAGR, NYT leads at 7. 0% 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 New York Times Company (NYT) is the more profitable company, earning 12.

2% net margin versus -6. 7% for Lee Enterprises, Incorporated — meaning it keeps 12. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NYT leads at 16. 0% versus 3. 5% for LEE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LEE leads at 55. 9%, 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.

In this comparison, NYT (0.

8% yield) pays a dividend. LEE does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, The New York Times Company (NYT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

28), 0. 8% yield, +576. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NYT: +576. 0%, LEE: -60. 4%), 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.

NYT pays a dividend while LEE does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.