MH vs STRA

For growth investors, McGraw Hill, Inc.

(MH) is the stronger pick with 7. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 0% for Strategic Education, Inc. (STRA). Strategic Education, Inc. (STRA) offers the better valuation at 14. 6x trailing P/E (11. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate McGraw Hill, Inc. (MH) a "Buy" — based on 7 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 forward P/E, McGraw Hill, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 6. 5x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Strategic Education, Inc.

(STRA) delivered a total return of +17. 8%, compared to -29. 6% for McGraw Hill, Inc. (MH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: STRA returned +114. 9% versus MH's -29. 6%. 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), Strategic Education, Inc.

(STRA) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 48β versus McGraw Hill, Inc. 's 0. 76β — meaning MH is approximately 58% more volatile than STRA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Strategic Education, Inc. (STRA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 7% versus 12% for McGraw Hill, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), McGraw Hill, Inc.

(MH) is pulling ahead at 7. 2% versus 4. 0% for Strategic Education, Inc. (STRA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: McGraw Hill, Inc. grew EPS 55. 4% year-over-year, compared to 16. 1% for Strategic Education, Inc.. 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.

Strategic Education, Inc.

(STRA) is the more profitable company, earning 10. 0% net margin versus -4. 1% for McGraw Hill, Inc. — meaning it keeps 10. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: STRA leads at 15. 5% versus 14. 6% for MH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MH leads at 79. 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.

On forward earnings alone, McGraw Hill, Inc.

(MH) trades at 6. 5x forward P/E versus 11. 0x for Strategic Education, Inc. — 4. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MH: 63. 7% to $19. 60.

In this comparison, STRA (3.

2% yield) pays a dividend. MH does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Strategic Education, Inc.

(STRA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 48), 3. 2% yield, +114. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (STRA: +114. 9%, MH: -29. 6%), 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 Consumer Defensive sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: MH is a small-cap quality compounder stock; STRA is a small-cap deep-value stock. STRA pays a dividend while MH 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.