GHC vs NYT vs GCI vs NWS

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

2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 8% for Gannett Co. , Inc. (GCI). Graham Holdings Company (GHC) offers the better valuation at 17. 0x trailing P/E (17. 0x 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, Graham Holdings Company (GHC) is the cheapest at 17.

0x versus The New York Times Company at 38. 4x. On forward P/E, Graham Holdings Company is actually cheaper at 17. 0x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: The New York Times Company wins at 1. 04x versus Graham Holdings Company's 6. 26x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

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

2%, compared to +25. 5% for News Corporation (NWS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NYT returned +576. 0% versus GCI's -28. 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), The New York Times Company (NYT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

28β versus Graham Holdings Company's 0. 87β — meaning GHC is approximately 216% 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 -5. 8% for Gannett Co. , Inc. (GCI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: News Corporation grew EPS 72. 3% year-over-year, compared to -59. 3% for Graham Holdings Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, GHC leads at 7. 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.

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

2% net margin versus -1. 1% for Gannett Co. , Inc. — 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 -1. 7% for GCI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NWS leads at 56. 2%, 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, The New York Times Company (NYT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 04x versus Graham Holdings Company's 6. 26x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Graham Holdings Company (GHC) trades at 17. 0x forward P/E versus 51. 0x for Gannett Co. , Inc. — 34. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for GCI: -6. 9% to $5. 55.

In this comparison, NWS (1.

1% yield), NYT (0. 8% yield), GHC (0. 6% yield) pay a dividend. GCI does 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%, GCI: -28. 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 (GHC (Consumer Defensive) and NYT (Communication Services) and GCI (Communication Services) and NWS (Communication Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: GHC is a small-cap deep-value stock; NYT is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; GCI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; NWS is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. GHC, NYT, NWS pay a dividend while GCI 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.