ATUS vs NFLX vs DIS vs CMCSA

For growth investors, Netflix, Inc.

(NFLX) is the stronger pick with 15. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -4. 1% for Altice USA, Inc. (ATUS). Comcast Corporation (CMCSA) offers the better valuation at 4. 9x trailing P/E (7. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Altice USA, Inc. (ATUS) a "Buy" — based on 36 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.

On trailing P/E, Comcast Corporation (CMCSA) is the cheapest at 4.

9x versus Netflix, Inc. at 34. 9x. On forward P/E, Comcast Corporation is actually cheaper at 7. 4x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Comcast Corporation wins at 0. 40x versus Netflix, Inc. 's 0. 75x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Netflix, Inc.

(NFLX) delivered a total return of +75. 2%, compared to -94. 9% for Altice USA, Inc. (ATUS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NFLX returned +875. 3% versus ATUS's -88. 0%. 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), Comcast Corporation (CMCSA) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

21β versus Altice USA, Inc. 's 1. 80β — meaning ATUS is approximately 762% more volatile than CMCSA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, The Walt Disney Company (DIS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 39% versus 113% for Comcast Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(NFLX) is pulling ahead at 15. 9% versus -4. 1% for Altice USA, Inc. (ATUS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: The Walt Disney Company grew EPS 151. 8% year-over-year, compared to -1718. 2% for Altice USA, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NFLX leads at 12. 6% 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.

Netflix, Inc.

(NFLX) is the more profitable company, earning 24. 3% net margin versus -21. 8% for Altice USA, Inc. — meaning it keeps 24. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NFLX leads at 29. 5% versus -1. 3% for ATUS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CMCSA leads at 60. 1%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Comcast Corporation (CMCSA) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 40x versus Netflix, Inc. 's 0. 75x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Comcast Corporation (CMCSA) trades at 7. 4x forward P/E versus 24. 8x for Netflix, Inc. — 17. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ATUS: 32. 3% to $2. 50.

In this comparison, CMCSA (5.

1% yield), DIS (0. 9% yield) pay a dividend. ATUS, NFLX do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

21), 5. 1% yield). Altice USA, Inc. (ATUS) carries a higher beta of 1. 80 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CMCSA: +15. 4%, ATUS: -88. 0%), 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.

In terms of investment character: ATUS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; NFLX is a large-cap high-growth stock; DIS is a mid-cap deep-value stock; CMCSA is a mid-cap deep-value stock. DIS, CMCSA pay a dividend while ATUS, NFLX do 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.