LEE vs GCI

For growth investors, Gannett Co.

, Inc. (GCI) is the stronger pick with -5. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -8. 0% for Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (LEE). Analysts rate Gannett Co. , Inc. (GCI) a "Hold" — based on 16 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, Gannett Co.

, Inc. (GCI) delivered a total return of +32. 4%, compared to -73. 8% for Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (LEE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GCI returned -30. 7% versus LEE's -59. 0%. 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), Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (LEE) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

54β versus Gannett Co. , Inc. 's 0. 79β — meaning GCI is approximately 45% more volatile than LEE relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Gannett Co.

, Inc. (GCI) is pulling ahead at -5. 8% versus -8. 0% for Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (LEE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Gannett Co. , Inc. grew EPS 10. 0% year-over-year, compared to -41. 4% for Lee Enterprises, Incorporated. Over a 3-year CAGR, GCI leads at -7. 9% 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.

Gannett Co.

, Inc. (GCI) is the more profitable company, earning -1. 1% net margin versus -6. 7% for Lee Enterprises, Incorporated — meaning it keeps -1. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LEE leads at 3. 5% versus -1. 7% for GCI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LEE leads at 55. 9%, 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.

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.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (LEE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

54)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LEE: -59. 0%, GCI: -30. 7%), 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.

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.