MDIA vs SSB

For growth investors, MediaCo Holding Inc.

(MDIA) is the stronger pick with 195. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 57. 0% for SouthState Corporation (SSB). SouthState Corporation (SSB) offers the better valuation at 12. 4x trailing P/E (10. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate SouthState Corporation (SSB) a "Buy" — based on 20 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, SouthState Corporation (SSB) delivered a total return of +20.

3%, compared to -67. 8% for MediaCo Holding Inc. (MDIA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SSB returned +67. 9% versus MDIA's -52. 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), MediaCo Holding Inc.

(MDIA) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 18β versus SouthState Corporation's 1. 02β — meaning SSB is approximately 467% more volatile than MDIA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, SouthState Corporation (SSB) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 15% versus 185% for MediaCo Holding Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), MediaCo Holding Inc.

(MDIA) is pulling ahead at 195. 1% versus 57. 0% for SouthState Corporation (SSB). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: MediaCo Holding Inc. grew EPS 79. 4% year-over-year, compared to 12. 8% for SouthState 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.

SouthState Corporation (SSB) is the more profitable company, earning 21.

3% net margin versus -4. 3% for MediaCo Holding Inc. — meaning it keeps 21. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SSB leads at 27. 9% versus -29. 5% for MDIA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SSB leads at 68. 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.

In this comparison, SSB (2.

4% yield) pays a dividend. MDIA does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, MediaCo Holding Inc.

(MDIA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 18)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MDIA: -52. 0%, SSB: +67. 9%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (MDIA (Communication Services) and SSB (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

SSB pays a dividend while MDIA 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.