IHRT vs SIRI

For growth investors, iHeartMedia, Inc.

(IHRT) is the stronger pick with 0. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 6% for Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (SIRI). Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (SIRI) offers the better valuation at 11. 9x trailing P/E (8. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate iHeartMedia, Inc. (IHRT) a "Buy" — based on 10 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, Sirius XM Holdings Inc.

(SIRI) delivered a total return of -43. 1%, compared to -70. 4% for iHeartMedia, Inc. (IHRT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SIRI returned -8. 0% versus IHRT's -67. 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), Sirius XM Holdings Inc.

(SIRI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 65β versus iHeartMedia, Inc. 's 1. 82β — meaning IHRT is approximately 180% more volatile than SIRI relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), iHeartMedia, Inc.

(IHRT) is pulling ahead at 0. 3% versus -1. 6% for Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (SIRI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Sirius XM Holdings Inc. grew EPS 145. 6% year-over-year, compared to 54. 3% for iHeartMedia, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, IHRT leads at -0. 4% 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.

Sirius XM Holdings Inc.

(SIRI) is the more profitable company, earning 9. 4% net margin versus -12. 2% for iHeartMedia, Inc. — meaning it keeps 9. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SIRI leads at 17. 2% versus -0. 5% for IHRT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IHRT leads at 78. 5%, 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SIRI: 0.

3% to $26. 75.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (SIRI) offers the highest yield at 3. 8%, versus 0. 2% for iHeartMedia, Inc. (IHRT).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Sirius XM Holdings Inc.

(SIRI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 65), 3. 8% yield). iHeartMedia, Inc. (IHRT) carries a higher beta of 1. 82 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (SIRI: -8. 0%, IHRT: -67. 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.

In terms of investment character: IHRT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; SIRI is a small-cap deep-value stock. SIRI pays a dividend while IHRT 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.