LBTYK
Liberty Global plc
Telecommunications Services
Market Cap$4.00B
5Y Perf.+10.5%
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Stock Comparison
LBTYK vs WOW
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
WOW
WideOpenWest, Inc.
Telecommunications Services
Market Cap$446M
5Y Perf.-20.4%
LBTYK vs WOW — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | LBTYK | WOW |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications Services | Telecommunications Services |
| Market Cap | $4.00B | $446M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $4.88B | $591M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-7.14B | $-78M |
| Gross Margin | 26.4% | 61.0% |
| Operating Margin | 0.7% | 1.2% |
| Total Debt | $10.16B | $1.04B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $2.08B | $39M |
LBTYK vs WOW — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
LBTYK
WOW
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty Global plc (LBTYK) | 100 | 110.5 | +10.5% |
| WideOpenWest, Inc. (WOW) | 100 | 79.6 | -20.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: LBTYK vs WOW
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: LBTYK leads in 3 of 6 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and capital preservation and lower volatility. WideOpenWest, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for profitability and margin quality and operational efficiency and capital deployment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
LBTYK
Liberty Global plc
The Income Pick
LBTYK carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 0.57
- Rev growth 12.4%, EPS growth -5.6%, 3Y rev CAGR 6.7%
- -27.6% 10Y total return vs WOW's -68.5%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
WOW
WideOpenWest, Inc.
The Quality Compounder
WOW is the clearest fit if your priority is quality and efficiency.
- -13.2% margin vs LBTYK's -146.3%
- -5.2% ROA vs LBTYK's -28.2%, ROIC 0.4% vs 0.1%
Best for: quality and efficiency
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | LBTYK | 12.4% revenue growth vs WOW's -8.1% |
| Quality / Margins | WOW | -13.2% margin vs LBTYK's -146.3% |
| Stability / Safety | LBTYK | Beta 0.57 vs WOW's 0.87, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | LBTYK | +24.1% vs WOW's +21.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | WOW | -5.2% ROA vs LBTYK's -28.2%, ROIC 0.4% vs 0.1% |
LBTYK vs WOW — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2024
LBTYK vs WOW — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLWOWLAGGINGLBTYK
LBTYKLiberty Global plc
1leads
WOWWideOpenWest, Inc.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs LBTYKMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
WOW4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
WOW3/4
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
WOW7/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
LBTYK5/5
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WOW leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LBTYK is the larger business by revenue, generating $4.9B annually — 8.3x WOW's $591M. WOW is the more profitable business, keeping -13.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to LBTYK's -146.3%. On growth, LBTYK holds the edge at +3.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | LBTYKLiberty Global plc | WOWWideOpenWest, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $4.9B | $591M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.1B | $212M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$7.1B | -$78M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $783M | -$68M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +26.4% | +61.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +0.7% | +1.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -146.3% | -13.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +16.0% | -11.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +3.8% | -8.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -2.3% | -59.3% |
WOW leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
WOW leads this category, winning 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, WOW's 6.7x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than LBTYK's 11.3x.
| Metric | LBTYKLiberty Global plc | WOWWideOpenWest, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $4.0B | $446M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $12.1B | $1.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -0.61x | -7.22x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 11.27x | 6.68x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.82x | 0.71x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.44x | 2.04x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
WOW leads this category, winning 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
WOW leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
WOW delivers a -52.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-53 in annual profit, vs $-58 for LBTYK. LBTYK carries lower financial leverage with a 1.02x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to WOW's 4.98x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), LBTYK scores 5/9 vs WOW's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | LBTYKLiberty Global plc | WOWWideOpenWest, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -58.3% | -52.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -28.2% | -5.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +0.1% | +0.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +0.2% | +0.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.02x | 4.98x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $8.1B | $1.0B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $2.1B | $39M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $10.2B | $1.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.07x | 0.07x |
WOW leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
LBTYK leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in LBTYK five years ago would be worth $8,199 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $3,270 for WOW. Over the past 12 months, LBTYK leads with a +24.1% total return vs WOW's +21.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LBTYK at 4.8% vs WOW's -14.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | LBTYKLiberty Global plc | WOWWideOpenWest, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +10.3% | — |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +24.1% | +21.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +15.2% | -37.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -18.0% | -67.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -27.6% | -68.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +4.8% | -14.5% |
LBTYK leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — LBTYK and WOW each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
LBTYK is the less volatile stock with a 0.57 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 LBTYK's 90.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | LBTYKLiberty Global plc | WOWWideOpenWest, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.57x | 0.87x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $13.12 | $5.25 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $9.27 | $3.06 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +90.9% | +99.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 55.3 | 58.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.3M | 573K |
Evenly matched — LBTYK and WOW each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates LBTYK as "Buy" and WOW as "Hold".
| Metric | LBTYKLiberty Global plc | WOWWideOpenWest, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $12.67 | — |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 29 | 15 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +4.8% | +0.3% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
WOW leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). LBTYK leads in 1 (Total Returns). 1 tied.
Best OverallWideOpenWest, Inc. (WOW)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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LBTYK vs WOW: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LBTYK or WOW a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Liberty Global plc (LBTYK) is the stronger pick with 12.
4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -8. 1% for WideOpenWest, Inc. (WOW). Analysts rate Liberty Global plc (LBTYK) a "Buy" — based on 29 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 — LBTYK or WOW?
Over the past 5 years, Liberty Global plc (LBTYK) delivered a total return of -18.
0%, compared to -67. 3% for WideOpenWest, Inc. (WOW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LBTYK returned -27. 6% 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 — LBTYK or WOW?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Liberty Global plc (LBTYK) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
57β versus WideOpenWest, Inc. 's 0. 87β — meaning WOW is approximately 53% more volatile than LBTYK relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Liberty Global plc (LBTYK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 102% versus 5% for WideOpenWest, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — LBTYK or WOW?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Liberty Global plc (LBTYK) is pulling ahead at 12.
4% versus -8. 1% for WideOpenWest, Inc. (WOW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: WideOpenWest, Inc. grew EPS 79. 6% year-over-year, compared to -564. 8% for Liberty Global plc. Over a 3-year CAGR, LBTYK leads at 6. 7% 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.
05Which has better profit margins — LBTYK or WOW?
WideOpenWest, Inc.
(WOW) is the more profitable company, earning -9. 3% net margin versus -146. 3% for Liberty Global plc — meaning it keeps -9. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WOW leads at 1. 0% versus 0. 7% for LBTYK. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WOW leads at 59. 3%, 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 — LBTYK 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 LBTYK or WOW better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Liberty Global plc (LBTYK) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
57)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LBTYK: -27. 6%, 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 LBTYK 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.
Find Stocks Like These
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- Sector: Communication Services
- Market Cap > $100B
- Revenue Growth > 189%
- Gross Margin > 15%
Revenue Growth>
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