Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare AMC Networks Inc. (AMCX) 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 | AMCX | -4.5% revenue growth vs WBD's -4.8% |
| Value | AMCX | Better valuation composite |
| Quality / Margins | WBD | 1.3% net margin vs AMCX's -6.0% |
| Stability / Safety | AMCX | Beta 0.96 vs WBD's 1.72 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | WBD | +175.2% vs AMCX's +3.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | WBD | 0.5% ROA vs AMCX's -3.3%, ROIC -9.7% vs 12.1% |
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
AMC Networks is a cable and streaming entertainment company that operates a portfolio of television networks and subscription streaming services. It generates revenue primarily from affiliate fees paid by cable/satellite providers for its networks (roughly 60% of revenue) and advertising sales (about 30%), with the remainder coming from streaming subscriptions and content licensing. The company's key advantage is its portfolio of strong, recognizable cable brands—particularly AMC with its acclaimed original programming—which provides leverage in carriage negotiations and attracts loyal audiences.
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 3 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). AMCX leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
WBD is the larger business by revenue, generating $37.9B annually — 16.3x AMCX's $2.3B. WBD is the more profitable business, keeping 1.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to AMCX's -6.0%.
| Metric | AMCXAMC Networks Inc. | WBDWarner Bros. Disc… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.3B | $37.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $686M | $16.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$140M | $485M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $267M | $4.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +51.0% | +44.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -3.0% | +1.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -6.0% | +1.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +11.5% | +10.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -6.3% | -6.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -10.4% | -2.1% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, AMCX's 0.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than WBD's 10.3x.
| Metric | AMCXAMC Networks Inc. | WBDWarner Bros. Disc… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $86M | $78.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $86M | $112.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | — | -6.26x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 4.38x | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 0.07x | 10.27x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.04x | 1.99x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | — | 2.03x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 0.28x | 17.68x |
Profitability & Efficiency
WBD delivers a 1.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $1 in annual profit, vs $-12 for AMCX. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), WBD scores 4/9 vs AMCX's 3/9, reflecting mixed financial health.
| Metric | AMCXAMC Networks Inc. | WBDWarner Bros. Disc… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -12.2% | +1.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -3.3% | +0.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +12.1% | -9.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | — | -10.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 1.13x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $0 | $34.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | — | $5.3B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $0 | $39.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.95x | 1.85x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in WBD five years ago would be worth $5,450 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $1,147 for AMCX. Over the past 12 months, WBD leads with a +175.2% total return vs AMCX's +3.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WBD at 21.9% vs AMCX's -30.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | AMCXAMC Networks Inc. | WBDWarner Bros. Disc… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -18.7% | +1.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +3.7% | +175.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -67.0% | +81.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -88.5% | -45.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -88.6% | +15.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -30.9% | +21.9% |
Risk & Volatility
AMCX is the less volatile stock with a 0.96 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than WBD's 1.72 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. WBD currently trades 96.3% from its 52-week high vs AMCX's 73.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | AMCXAMC Networks Inc. | WBDWarner Bros. Disc… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.96x | 1.72x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $10.18 | $30.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $5.41 | $7.52 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +73.9% | +96.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 40.3 | 64.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 425K | 25.2M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates AMCX as "Hold" and WBD as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 6.4% upside for AMCX (target: $8) vs -11.5% for WBD (target: $26).
| Metric | AMCXAMC Networks Inc. | WBDWarner Bros. Disc… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $8.00 | $25.59 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 40 | 31 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| 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 | Feb 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMC Networks Inc. (AMCX) | 100 | 26.47 | -73.5% |
| Warner Bros. Discov… (WBD) | 100 | 103.97 | +4.0% |
Warner Bros. Discov… (WBD) returned -46% over 5 years vs AMC Networks Inc. (AMCX)'s -89%.
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMC Networks Inc. (AMCX) | $2.8B | $2.3B | -16.1% |
| Warner Bros. Discov… (WBD) | $6.5B | $39.3B | +505.2% |
AMC Networks Inc.'s revenue grew from $2.8B (2016) to $2.3B (2025) — a -1.9% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMC Networks Inc. (AMCX) | 9.8% | 8.4% | -14.4% |
| Warner Bros. Discov… (WBD) | 18.4% | -28.8% | -256.5% |
AMC Networks Inc.'s net margin went from 10% (2016) to 8% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 7 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMC Networks Inc. (AMCX) | 7.5 | 3.8 | -49.3% |
| Warner Bros. Discov… (WBD) | 28.8 | 15.3 | -46.9% |
AMC Networks Inc. has traded in a 4x–92x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~4x. 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 | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMC Networks Inc. (AMCX) | 3.74 | 0 | -100.0% |
| Warner Bros. Discov… (WBD) | 1.96 | -4.62 | -335.7% |
AMC Networks Inc.'s EPS grew from $3.74 (2016) to $0.00 (2025) — a -100% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
AMC Networks Inc. generated $306M FCF in 2025 (+203% vs 2021). Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. generated $4B FCF in 2024 (+83% vs 2021).
AMCX vs WBD: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AMCX or WBD a better buy right now?
Analysts rate AMC Networks Inc. (AMCX) a "Hold" — based on 40 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 — AMCX or WBD?
Over the past 5 years, Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (WBD) delivered a total return of -45.5%, compared to -88.5% for AMC Networks Inc. (AMCX). A $10,000 investment in WBD five years ago would be worth approximately $5K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WBD returned +15.2% versus AMCX's -88.6%. 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 — AMCX or WBD?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), AMC Networks Inc. (AMCX) is the lower-risk stock at 0.96β versus Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.'s 1.72β — meaning WBD is approximately 79% more volatile than AMCX relative to the S&P 500.
04Which has better profit margins — AMCX or WBD?
AMC Networks Inc. (AMCX) is the more profitable company, earning 8.4% net margin versus -28.8% for Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. — meaning it keeps 8.4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AMCX leads at 5.8% versus -25.5% for WBD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AMCX leads at 51.0%, 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 AMCX or WBD more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AMCX: 6.4% to $8.00.
06Which pays a better dividend — AMCX or WBD?
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.
07Is AMCX or WBD better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, AMC Networks Inc. (AMCX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.96)). Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (WBD) carries a higher beta of 1.72 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (AMCX: -88.6%, WBD: +15.2%), 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 AMCX 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. 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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