LEE vs GTN

For growth investors, Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (LEE) is the stronger pick with -8.

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -15. 1% for Gray Media, Inc. (GTN). Analysts rate Gray Media, Inc. (GTN) a "Buy" — based on 9 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, Gray Media, Inc.

(GTN) delivered a total return of -72. 7%, compared to -74. 3% for Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (LEE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GTN returned -50. 5% versus LEE's -60. 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), Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (LEE) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

54β versus Gray Media, Inc. 's 1. 54β — meaning GTN is approximately 184% more volatile than LEE relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (LEE) is pulling ahead at -8.

0% versus -15. 1% for Gray Media, Inc. (GTN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Lee Enterprises, Incorporated grew EPS -41. 4% year-over-year, compared to -126. 2% for Gray Media, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, GTN leads at -5. 6% 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.

Gray Media, Inc.

(GTN) is the more profitable company, earning -2. 7% net margin versus -6. 7% for Lee Enterprises, Incorporated — meaning it keeps -2. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GTN leads at 12. 7% versus 3. 5% for LEE. 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.

In this comparison, GTN (7.

7% yield) pays a dividend. LEE does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for 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)). Gray Media, Inc. (GTN) carries a higher beta of 1. 54 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (LEE: -60. 4%, GTN: -50. 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.

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: LEE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; GTN is a small-cap income-oriented stock. GTN pays a dividend while LEE 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.