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LBRDA vs WOW
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Telecommunications Services
LBRDA vs WOW — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications Services | Telecommunications Services |
| Market Cap | $5.36B | $446M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $261M | $591M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-2.74B | $-78M |
| Gross Margin | 77.8% | 61.0% |
| Operating Margin | 8.8% | 1.2% |
| Forward P/E | 3.2x | — |
| Total Debt | $1.75B | $1.04B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $57M | $39M |
LBRDA vs WOW — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty Broadband C… (LBRDA) | 100 | 27.7 | -72.3% |
| WideOpenWest, Inc. (WOW) | 100 | 79.6 | -20.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: LBRDA vs WOW
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
LBRDA is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- beta 0.30
- -35.5% 10Y total return vs WOW's -68.5%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.30, Low D/E 30.6%, current ratio 0.10x
WOW carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure.
- Rev growth -8.1%, EPS growth 79.6%, 3Y rev CAGR -4.6%
- -8.1% revenue growth vs LBRDA's -100.0%
- -13.2% margin vs LBRDA's -10.5%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | -8.1% revenue growth vs LBRDA's -100.0% | |
| Quality / Margins | -13.2% margin vs LBRDA's -10.5% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.30 vs WOW's 0.87, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | +21.8% vs LBRDA's -59.6% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | -5.2% ROA vs LBRDA's -22.6%, ROIC 0.4% vs -0.3% |
LBRDA vs WOW — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
LBRDA vs WOW — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LBRDA leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WOW is the larger business by revenue, generating $591M annually — 2.3x LBRDA's $261M. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from -13.2% (WOW) to -10.5% (LBRDA). On growth, WOW holds the edge at -8.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $261M | $591M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$3.7B | $212M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$2.7B | -$78M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $303M | -$68M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +77.8% | +61.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +8.8% | +1.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -10.5% | -13.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +116.1% | -11.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -100.0% | -8.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -24.6% | -59.3% |
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — LBRDA and WOW each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $5.4B | $446M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $7.0B | $1.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -1.99x | -7.22x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 3.20x | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 6.68x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | — | 0.71x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.94x | 2.04x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
WOW leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LBRDA delivers a -35.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-36 in annual profit, vs $-53 for WOW. LBRDA carries lower financial leverage with a 0.31x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to WOW's 4.98x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), WOW scores 4/9 vs LBRDA's 3/9, reflecting mixed financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -35.5% | -52.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -22.6% | -5.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -0.3% | +0.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -0.3% | +0.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.31x | 4.98x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.7B | $1.0B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $57M | $39M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.7B | $1.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -28.58x | 0.07x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
WOW leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in WOW five years ago would be worth $3,270 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,307 for LBRDA. Over the past 12 months, WOW leads with a +21.8% total return vs LBRDA's -59.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WOW at -14.5% vs LBRDA's -22.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -23.1% | — |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -59.6% | +21.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -53.2% | -37.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -76.9% | -67.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -35.5% | -68.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -22.4% | -14.5% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — LBRDA and WOW each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
LBRDA is the less volatile stock with a 0.30 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than WOW's 0.87 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. WOW currently trades 99.0% from its 52-week high vs LBRDA's 36.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.30x | 0.87x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $102.38 | $5.25 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $36.23 | $3.06 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +36.4% | +99.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 28.2 | 58.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 180K | 573K |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates LBRDA as "Buy" and WOW as "Hold".
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $158.00 | — |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 13 | 15 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.3% |
WOW leads in 2 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). LBRDA leads in 1 (Income & Cash Flow). 2 tied.
LBRDA vs WOW: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LBRDA or WOW a better buy right now?
For growth investors, WideOpenWest, Inc.
(WOW) is the stronger pick with -8. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -100. 0% for Liberty Broadband Corporation (LBRDA). Analysts rate Liberty Broadband Corporation (LBRDA) a "Buy" — based on 13 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.
02Which is the better long-term investment — LBRDA or WOW?
Over the past 5 years, WideOpenWest, Inc.
(WOW) delivered a total return of -67. 3%, compared to -76. 9% for Liberty Broadband Corporation (LBRDA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LBRDA returned -35. 5% versus WOW's -68. 5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — LBRDA or WOW?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Liberty Broadband Corporation (LBRDA) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
30β versus WideOpenWest, Inc. 's 0. 87β — meaning WOW is approximately 190% more volatile than LBRDA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Liberty Broadband Corporation (LBRDA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 31% versus 5% for WideOpenWest, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — LBRDA or WOW?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), WideOpenWest, Inc.
(WOW) is pulling ahead at -8. 1% versus -100. 0% for Liberty Broadband Corporation (LBRDA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: WideOpenWest, Inc. grew EPS 79. 6% year-over-year, compared to -407. 7% for Liberty Broadband Corporation. 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.
05Which has better profit margins — LBRDA or WOW?
WideOpenWest, Inc.
(WOW) is the more profitable company, earning -9. 3% net margin versus -1050. 2% for Liberty Broadband Corporation — meaning it keeps -9. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LBRDA leads at 8. 8% versus 1. 0% for WOW. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LBRDA leads at 77. 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.
06Which pays a better dividend — LBRDA or WOW?
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.
07Is LBRDA or WOW better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Liberty Broadband Corporation (LBRDA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
30)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LBRDA: -35. 5%, WOW: -68. 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.
08What are the main differences between LBRDA and WOW?
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.
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