LEE vs GTN vs NXST vs NYT vs DIS

For growth investors, The New York Times Company (NYT) is the stronger pick with 9.

2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -15. 1% for Gray Media, Inc. (GTN). The Walt Disney Company (DIS) offers the better valuation at 15. 9x trailing P/E (16. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. 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.

On trailing P/E, The Walt Disney Company (DIS) is the cheapest at 15.

9x versus Nexstar Media Group, Inc. at 64. 8x. On forward P/E, Gray Media, Inc. is actually cheaper at 1. 8x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, The New York Times Company (NYT) delivered a total return of +83.

2%, compared to -74. 3% for Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (LEE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NYT returned +576. 0% 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), The New York Times Company (NYT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

28β versus Gray Media, Inc. 's 1. 54β — meaning GTN is approximately 457% more volatile than NYT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, The New York Times Company (NYT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 3% for Nexstar Media Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), The New York Times Company (NYT) is pulling ahead at 9.

2% versus -15. 1% for Gray Media, Inc. (GTN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: The Walt Disney Company grew EPS 151. 8% year-over-year, compared to -126. 2% for Gray Media, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NYT leads at 7. 0% 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.

The Walt Disney Company (DIS) is the more profitable company, earning 13.

1% net margin versus -6. 7% for Lee Enterprises, Incorporated — meaning it keeps 13. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NXST leads at 17. 4% 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.

On forward earnings alone, Gray Media, Inc.

(GTN) trades at 1. 8x forward P/E versus 29. 4x for The New York Times Company — 27. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for GTN: 80. 6% to $8. 00.

In this comparison, GTN (7.

7% yield), NXST (2. 8% yield), DIS (0. 9% yield), NYT (0. 8% yield) pay a dividend. LEE does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, The New York Times Company (NYT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

28), 0. 8% yield, +576. 0% 10Y return). 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 (NYT: +576. 0%, 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; NXST is a small-cap quality compounder stock; NYT is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; DIS is a mid-cap deep-value stock. GTN, NXST, NYT, DIS pay 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.