GHC vs SSP vs NXST vs GTN

For growth investors, Graham Holdings Company (GHC) is the stronger pick with 2.

5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -15. 1% for Gray Media, Inc. (GTN). 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 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.

On trailing P/E, Graham Holdings Company (GHC) is the cheapest at 17.

0x versus Nexstar Media Group, Inc. at 64. 8x. On forward P/E, Gray Media, Inc. is actually cheaper at 1. 8x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Graham Holdings Company (GHC) delivered a total return of +76.

3%, compared to -76. 9% for The E. W. Scripps Company (SSP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NXST returned +331. 4% versus SSP's -66. 5%. 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), Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

(NXST) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 73β versus Gray Media, Inc. 's 1. 54β — meaning GTN is approximately 112% more volatile than NXST relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Graham Holdings Company (GHC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 36% versus 3% for Nexstar Media Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Graham Holdings Company (GHC) is pulling ahead at 2.

5% versus -15. 1% for Gray Media, Inc. (GTN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Graham Holdings Company grew EPS -59. 3% year-over-year, compared to -285. 1% for The E. W. Scripps 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.

Graham Holdings Company (GHC) is the more profitable company, earning 6.

0% net margin versus -4. 7% for The E. W. Scripps Company — meaning it keeps 6. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NXST leads at 17. 4% versus 5. 1% for GHC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GTN leads at 96. 6%, 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, Gray Media, Inc.

(GTN) trades at 1. 8x forward P/E versus 18. 7x for The E. W. Scripps Company — 16. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for GTN: 80. 6% to $8. 00.

In this comparison, GTN (7.

7% yield), NXST (2. 8% yield), GHC (0. 6% yield) pay a dividend. SSP 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%, SSP: -66. 5%), 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 SSP (Communication Services) and NXST (Communication Services) and GTN (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; SSP is a small-cap quality compounder stock; NXST is a small-cap quality compounder stock; GTN is a small-cap income-oriented stock. GHC, NXST, GTN pay a dividend while SSP 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.