CMLS vs GTN vs NXST vs IHRT

For growth investors, iHeartMedia, Inc.

(IHRT) is the stronger pick with 0. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -15. 1% for Gray Media, Inc. (GTN). Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NXST) offers the better valuation at 64. 8x trailing P/E (7. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Gray Media, Inc. (GTN) a "Buy" — based on 9 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 forward P/E, Gray Media, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 1. 8x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

(NXST) delivered a total return of +50. 1%, compared to -100. 0% for Cumulus Media Inc. (CMLS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NXST returned +331. 4% versus CMLS's -100. 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), Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

(NXST) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 73β versus Cumulus Media Inc. 's 1. 87β — meaning CMLS is approximately 157% more volatile than NXST relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Gray Media, Inc. (GTN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 114% for Cumulus Media Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(IHRT) is pulling ahead at 0. 3% versus -15. 1% for Gray Media, Inc. (GTN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: iHeartMedia, Inc. grew EPS 54. 3% year-over-year, compared to -145. 8% for Cumulus Media Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, IHRT leads at -0. 4% 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.

Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

(NXST) is the more profitable company, earning 2. 2% net margin versus -34. 2% for Cumulus Media Inc. — meaning it keeps 2. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NXST leads at 17. 4% versus -29. 0% for CMLS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GTN leads at 96. 6%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Gray Media, Inc.

(GTN) trades at 1. 8x forward P/E versus 7. 9x for Nexstar Media Group, Inc. — 6. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for GTN: 80. 6% to $8. 00.

In this comparison, GTN (7.

7% yield), NXST (2. 8% yield), IHRT (0. 2% yield) pay a dividend. CMLS does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

(NXST) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 73), 2. 8% yield, +331. 4% 10Y return). Cumulus Media Inc. (CMLS) carries a higher beta of 1. 87 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (NXST: +331. 4%, CMLS: -100. 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: CMLS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; GTN is a small-cap income-oriented stock; NXST is a small-cap quality compounder stock; IHRT is a small-cap quality compounder stock. GTN, NXST pay a dividend while CMLS, IHRT 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.