DLPN vs HYFM vs GRWG vs MDIA vs NXST

For growth investors, MediaCo Holding Inc.

(MDIA) is the stronger pick with 195. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -16. 0% for Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc. (HYFM). 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 Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NXST) a "Buy" — based on 24 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.

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

(NXST) delivered a total return of +50. 1%, compared to -99. 8% for Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc. (HYFM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NXST returned +331. 4% versus HYFM's -99. 8%. 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), MediaCo Holding Inc.

(MDIA) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 18β versus GrowGeneration Corp. 's 1. 27β — meaning GRWG is approximately 605% more volatile than MDIA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, GrowGeneration Corp. (GRWG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 30% versus 3% for Nexstar Media Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), MediaCo Holding Inc.

(MDIA) is pulling ahead at 195. 1% versus -16. 0% for Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc. (HYFM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: MediaCo Holding Inc. grew EPS 79. 4% year-over-year, compared to -86. 0% for Nexstar Media Group, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, MDIA leads at 31. 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.

Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

(NXST) is the more profitable company, earning 2. 2% net margin versus -35. 1% for Hydrofarm Holdings Group, 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. 5% for MDIA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DLPN leads at 93. 7%, 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.

In this comparison, NXST (2.

8% yield) pays a dividend. DLPN, HYFM, GRWG, MDIA do 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%, GRWG: -75. 7%), 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 (DLPN (Communication Services) and HYFM (Industrials) and GRWG (Consumer Cyclical) and MDIA (Communication Services) 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: DLPN is a small-cap high-growth stock; HYFM is a small-cap quality compounder stock; GRWG is a small-cap quality compounder stock; MDIA is a small-cap high-growth stock; NXST is a small-cap quality compounder stock. NXST pays a dividend while DLPN, HYFM, GRWG, MDIA 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.