CTLP vs NXST

For growth investors, Cantaloupe, Inc.

(CTLP) is the stronger pick with 12. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -8. 5% for Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NXST). Cantaloupe, Inc. (CTLP) offers the better valuation at 13. 0x trailing P/E (27. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Cantaloupe, Inc. (CTLP) a "Buy" — based on 5 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, Cantaloupe, Inc.

(CTLP) is the cheapest at 13. 0x versus Nexstar Media Group, Inc. at 64. 8x. On forward P/E, Nexstar Media Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 9x — 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 +1. 1% for Cantaloupe, Inc. (CTLP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NXST returned +331. 4% versus CTLP's +141. 9%. 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), Cantaloupe, Inc.

(CTLP) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 38β versus Nexstar Media Group, Inc. 's 0. 73β — meaning NXST is approximately 92% more volatile than CTLP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Cantaloupe, Inc. (CTLP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 19% versus 3% for Nexstar Media Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(CTLP) is pulling ahead at 12. 6% versus -8. 5% for Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NXST). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Cantaloupe, Inc. grew EPS 473. 3% year-over-year, compared to -86. 0% for Nexstar Media Group, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CTLP leads at 13. 8% 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.

Cantaloupe, Inc.

(CTLP) is the more profitable company, earning 21. 3% net margin versus 2. 2% for Nexstar Media Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 21. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NXST leads at 17. 4% versus 7. 4% for CTLP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CTLP leads at 40. 9%, 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, Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

(NXST) trades at 7. 9x forward P/E versus 27. 3x for Cantaloupe, Inc. — 19. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NXST: 28. 7% to $250. 00.

In this comparison, NXST (2.

8% yield) pays a dividend. CTLP 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). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NXST: +331. 4%, CTLP: +141. 9%), 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 (CTLP (Technology) and NXST (Communication Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CTLP is a small-cap deep-value stock; NXST is a small-cap quality compounder stock. NXST pays a dividend while CTLP 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.