PODC vs IHRT vs AMWL

For growth investors, PodcastOne, Inc.

(PODC) is the stronger pick with 20. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 0% for American Well Corporation (AMWL). Analysts rate iHeartMedia, Inc. (IHRT) a "Buy" — based on 10 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, PodcastOne, Inc.

(PODC) delivered a total return of -19. 6%, compared to -97. 2% for American Well Corporation (AMWL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PODC returned -19. 6% versus AMWL's -98. 3%. 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), PodcastOne, Inc.

(PODC) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 87β versus iHeartMedia, Inc. 's 1. 82β — meaning IHRT is approximately 108% more volatile than PODC relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), PodcastOne, Inc.

(PODC) is pulling ahead at 20. 4% versus -2. 0% for American Well Corporation (AMWL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: PodcastOne, Inc. grew EPS 61. 8% year-over-year, compared to 54. 3% for iHeartMedia, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, PODC leads at 17. 2% 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.

iHeartMedia, Inc.

(IHRT) is the more profitable company, earning -12. 2% net margin versus -38. 4% for American Well Corporation — meaning it keeps -12. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IHRT leads at -0. 5% versus -42. 2% for AMWL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IHRT leads at 78. 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.

In this comparison, IHRT (0.

2% yield) pays a dividend. PODC, AMWL do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, PodcastOne, Inc.

(PODC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 87)). iHeartMedia, Inc. (IHRT) carries a higher beta of 1. 82 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (PODC: -19. 6%, IHRT: -68. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (PODC (Communication Services) and IHRT (Communication Services) and AMWL (Healthcare)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: PODC is a small-cap high-growth stock; IHRT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; AMWL is a small-cap quality compounder stock. 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.