CMLS vs SSB vs HBAN vs IHRT vs CFG

For growth investors, SouthState Corporation (SSB) is the stronger pick with 57.

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 1% for Cumulus Media Inc. (CMLS). Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (HBAN) offers the better valuation at 11. 6x trailing P/E (11. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate SouthState Corporation (SSB) 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.

On trailing P/E, Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (HBAN) is the cheapest at 11.

6x versus Citizens Financial Group, Inc. at 21. 2x. On forward P/E, SouthState Corporation is actually cheaper at 10. 3x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: SouthState Corporation wins at 0. 35x versus Huntington Bancshares Incorporated's 0. 74x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Citizens Financial Group, Inc.

(CFG) delivered a total return of +46. 9%, compared to -100. 0% for Cumulus Media Inc. (CMLS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CFG returned +257. 8% 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), SouthState Corporation (SSB) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

02β versus Cumulus Media Inc. 's 1. 87β — meaning CMLS is approximately 82% more volatile than SSB relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, SouthState Corporation (SSB) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 15% versus 114% for Cumulus Media Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), SouthState Corporation (SSB) is pulling ahead at 57.

0% versus -2. 1% for Cumulus Media Inc. (CMLS). 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.

SouthState Corporation (SSB) is the more profitable company, earning 21.

3% net margin versus -34. 2% for Cumulus Media Inc. — meaning it keeps 21. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SSB leads at 27. 9% versus -29. 0% for CMLS. 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.

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, SouthState Corporation (SSB) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 35x versus Huntington Bancshares Incorporated's 0. 74x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, SouthState Corporation (SSB) trades at 10. 3x forward P/E versus 12. 4x for Citizens Financial Group, Inc. — 2. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HBAN: 25. 9% to $20. 38.

In this comparison, HBAN (3.

7% yield), CFG (2. 6% yield), SSB (2. 4% 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, SouthState Corporation (SSB) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

02), 2. 4% yield). 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 (SSB: +67. 9%, 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (CMLS (Communication Services) and SSB (Financial Services) and HBAN (Financial Services) and IHRT (Communication Services) and CFG (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CMLS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; SSB is a small-cap high-growth stock; HBAN is a mid-cap deep-value stock; IHRT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CFG is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. SSB, HBAN, CFG 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.