DLPN vs MDIA

For growth investors, MediaCo Holding Inc.

(MDIA) is the stronger pick with 195. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 19. 9% for Dolphin Entertainment, Inc. (DLPN). 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, MediaCo Holding Inc.

(MDIA) delivered a total return of -67. 8%, compared to -92. 4% for Dolphin Entertainment, Inc. (DLPN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MDIA returned -52. 0% versus DLPN's -99. 4%. 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 Dolphin Entertainment, Inc. 's 1. 07β — meaning DLPN is approximately 495% more volatile than MDIA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, MediaCo Holding Inc. (MDIA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 185% versus 2% for Dolphin Entertainment, 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 19. 9% for Dolphin Entertainment, Inc. (DLPN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: MediaCo Holding Inc. grew EPS 79. 4% year-over-year, compared to 27. 8% for Dolphin Entertainment, 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.

MediaCo Holding Inc.

(MDIA) is the more profitable company, earning -4. 3% net margin versus -24. 4% for Dolphin Entertainment, Inc. — meaning it keeps -4. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DLPN leads at -20. 3% 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.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, MediaCo Holding Inc.

(MDIA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 18)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MDIA: -52. 0%, DLPN: -99. 4%), 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.

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.