GCI vs NYT vs NWS vs LEE vs IAC

For growth investors, The New York Times Company (NYT) is the stronger pick with 9.

2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -37. 1% for IAC InterActive Corp. (IAC). News Corporation (NWS) offers the better valuation at 38. 1x trailing P/E (29. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate News Corporation (NWS) a "Buy" — based on 33 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, News Corporation (NWS) is the cheapest at 38.

1x versus The New York Times Company at 38. 4x. On forward P/E, News Corporation is actually cheaper at 29. 4x.

Over the past 5 years, The New York Times Company (NYT) delivered a total return of +83.

2%, compared to -74. 3% for Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (LEE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NYT returned +576. 0% versus LEE's -60. 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), The New York Times Company (NYT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

28β versus IAC InterActive Corp. 's 1. 10β — meaning IAC is approximately 296% more volatile than NYT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, The New York Times Company (NYT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 8% for Gannett Co. , Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), The New York Times Company (NYT) is pulling ahead at 9.

2% versus -37. 1% for IAC InterActive Corp. (IAC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: IAC InterActive Corp. grew EPS 79. 5% year-over-year, compared to -41. 4% for Lee Enterprises, Incorporated. Over a 3-year CAGR, NYT leads at 7. 0% 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.

The New York Times Company (NYT) is the more profitable company, earning 12.

2% net margin versus -6. 7% for Lee Enterprises, Incorporated — meaning it keeps 12. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NWS leads at 16. 7% versus -4. 1% for IAC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IAC leads at 66. 8%, 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, News Corporation (NWS) trades at 29.

4x forward P/E versus 109. 7x for IAC InterActive Corp. — 80. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for IAC: 14. 0% to $49. 17.

In this comparison, NWS (1.

1% yield), NYT (0. 8% yield) pay a dividend. GCI, LEE, IAC do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, The New York Times Company (NYT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

28), 0. 8% yield, +576. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NYT: +576. 0%, IAC: +347. 8%), 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 (GCI (Communication Services) and NYT (Communication Services) and NWS (Communication Services) and LEE (Communication Services) and IAC (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

NYT, NWS pay a dividend while GCI, LEE, IAC 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.