Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Sinclair, Inc. (SBGI) vs Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (WBD) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | SBGI | 13.2% revenue growth vs WBD's -4.8% |
| Value | WBD | Better valuation composite |
| Quality / Margins | WBD | 1.3% net margin vs SBGI's -1.3% |
| Stability / Safety | SBGI | Beta 0.86 vs WBD's 1.73 |
| Dividends | SBGI | 6.1% yield; 11-year raise streak; WBD pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | WBD | +145.8% vs SBGI's +19.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | WBD | 0.5% ROA vs SBGI's -0.8%, ROIC -9.7% vs 10.3% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Sinclair is a major broadcast television company that owns and operates local TV stations across the United States. It generates revenue primarily through advertising sales on its stations — which account for roughly 80% of its income — with the remainder coming from carriage fees paid by cable and satellite providers to retransmit its signals. The company's key advantage is its extensive portfolio of local broadcast licenses — a regulated and scarce asset — which gives it significant leverage in retransmission fee negotiations and local advertising markets.
Warner Bros. Discovery is a global media and entertainment conglomerate that produces and distributes content across film, television, and streaming platforms. It generates revenue primarily through three segments: Studios (film and TV production), Networks (cable and broadcast channels), and Direct-to-Consumer (streaming services like Max and discovery+). The company's key advantage is its massive content library and iconic franchises — including DC, Harry Potter, HBO originals, and Discovery's unscripted programming — which create a deep moat in an increasingly competitive streaming landscape.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
WBD leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). SBGI leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Analyst Outlook). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
WBD is the larger business by revenue, generating $37.9B annually — 11.3x SBGI's $3.3B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 1.3% (WBD) to -1.3% (SBGI). On growth, WBD holds the edge at -6.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | SBGISinclair, Inc. | WBDWarner Bros. Disc… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.3B | $37.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $639M | $16.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$45M | $485M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $211M | $4.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +48.5% | +44.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +10.8% | +1.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -1.3% | +1.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +6.3% | +10.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -15.7% | -6.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -101.0% | -2.1% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, SBGI's 5.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than WBD's 10.1x.
| Metric | SBGISinclair, Inc. | WBDWarner Bros. Disc… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $388M | $76.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $4.0B | $110.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 3.48x | -6.10x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 14.33x | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.11x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 4.96x | 10.09x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.11x | 1.94x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.09x | 1.98x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 27.75x | 17.23x |
Profitability & Efficiency
WBD delivers a 1.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $1 in annual profit, vs $-16 for SBGI. WBD carries lower financial leverage with a 1.13x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SBGI's 8.30x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), SBGI scores 6/9 vs WBD's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | SBGISinclair, Inc. | WBDWarner Bros. Disc… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -16.3% | +1.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -0.8% | +0.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +10.3% | -9.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +10.7% | -10.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 8.30x | 1.13x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.6B | $34.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $697M | $5.3B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $4.3B | $39.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.02x | 1.85x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in SBGI five years ago would be worth $6,475 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $4,842 for WBD. Over the past 12 months, WBD leads with a +145.8% total return vs SBGI's +19.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WBD at 21.7% vs SBGI's 5.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SBGISinclair, Inc. | WBDWarner Bros. Disc… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +7.4% | -1.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +19.4% | +145.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +18.9% | +80.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -35.3% | -51.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -19.3% | +12.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +5.9% | +21.7% |
Risk & Volatility
SBGI is the less volatile stock with a 0.86 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than WBD's 1.73 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | SBGISinclair, Inc. | WBDWarner Bros. Disc… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.86x | 1.73x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $17.88 | $30.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $11.89 | $7.52 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +91.4% | +93.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 64.1 | 58.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 295K | 20.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SBGI as "Buy" and WBD as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 57.5% upside for SBGI (target: $26) vs -9.2% for WBD (target: $26). SBGI is the only dividend payer here at 6.11% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | SBGISinclair, Inc. | WBDWarner Bros. Disc… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $25.74 | $25.59 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 20 | 31 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +6.1% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 11 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.00 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sinclair, Inc. (SBGI) | 100 | 61.51 | -38.5% |
| Warner Bros. Discov… (WBD) | 100 | 104.24 | +4.2% |
Sinclair, Inc. (SBGI) returned -35% over 5 years vs Warner Bros. Discov… (WBD)'s -52%.
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sinclair, Inc. (SBGI) | $2.2B | $3.5B | +59.9% |
| Warner Bros. Discov… (WBD) | $6.4B | $39.3B | +515.0% |
Sinclair, Inc.'s revenue grew from $2.2B (2015) to $3.5B (2024) — a 5.4% CAGR. Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.'s revenue grew from $6.4B (2015) to $39.3B (2024) — a 22.4% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sinclair, Inc. (SBGI) | 7.7% | 8.7% | +13.0% |
| Warner Bros. Discov… (WBD) | 16.2% | -28.8% | -277.9% |
Sinclair, Inc.'s net margin went from 8% (2015) to 9% (2024). Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.'s net margin went from 16% (2015) to -29% (2024).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 7 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sinclair, Inc. (SBGI) | 6.6 | 3.4 | -48.5% |
| Warner Bros. Discov… (WBD) | 28.8 | 15.3 | -46.9% |
Sinclair, Inc. has traded in a 0x–30x P/E range over 5 years; current trailing P/E is ~3x. Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. has traded in a 11x–29x P/E range over 4 years; current trailing P/E is ~-6x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sinclair, Inc. (SBGI) | 1.79 | 4.69 | +162.0% |
| Warner Bros. Discov… (WBD) | 1.58 | -4.62 | -392.4% |
Sinclair, Inc.'s EPS grew from $1.79 (2015) to $4.69 (2024) — a 11% CAGR. Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.'s EPS grew from $1.58 (2015) to $-4.62 (2024) — a NaN% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Sinclair, Inc. generated $14M FCF in 2024 (-94% vs 2021). Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. generated $4B FCF in 2024 (+83% vs 2021).
SBGI vs WBD: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SBGI or WBD a better buy right now?
Sinclair, Inc. (SBGI) offers the better valuation at 3.5x trailing P/E (14.3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Sinclair, Inc. (SBGI) a "Buy" — based on 20 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.
02Which is the better long-term investment — SBGI or WBD?
Over the past 5 years, Sinclair, Inc. (SBGI) delivered a total return of -35.3%, compared to -51.6% for Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (WBD). A $10,000 investment in SBGI five years ago would be worth approximately $6K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WBD returned +12.7% versus SBGI's -19.3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — SBGI or WBD?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Sinclair, Inc. (SBGI) is the lower-risk stock at 0.86β versus Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.'s 1.73β — meaning WBD is approximately 102% more volatile than SBGI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (WBD) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 113% versus 8% for Sinclair, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which has better profit margins — SBGI or WBD?
Sinclair, Inc. (SBGI) is the more profitable company, earning 8.7% net margin versus -28.8% for Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. — meaning it keeps 8.7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SBGI leads at 15.5% versus -25.5% for WBD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SBGI leads at 51.7%, 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.
05Is SBGI or WBD more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SBGI: 57.5% to $25.74.
06Which pays a better dividend — SBGI or WBD?
In this comparison, SBGI (6.1% yield) pays a dividend. WBD does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
07Is SBGI or WBD better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Sinclair, Inc. (SBGI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.86), 6.1% yield). Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (WBD) carries a higher beta of 1.73 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (SBGI: -19.3%, WBD: +12.7%), 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.
08What are the main differences between SBGI and WBD?
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. In terms of investment character: SBGI is a small-cap deep-value stock; WBD is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. SBGI pays a dividend while WBD 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.
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- Sector: Communication Services
- Market Cap > $100B
- Gross Margin > 29%
- Dividend Yield > 2.4%