Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare News Corporation (NWSA) vs Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (WBD) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | NWSA | 2.4% revenue growth vs WBD's -4.8% |
| Value | NWSA | Better valuation composite |
| Quality / Margins | NWSA | 12.2% net margin vs WBD's 1.3% |
| Stability / Safety | NWSA | Beta 0.78 vs WBD's 1.72, lower leverage |
| Dividends | NWSA | 1.4% yield; 1-year raise streak; WBD pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | WBD | +175.2% vs NWSA's -15.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NWSA | 7.0% ROA vs WBD's 0.5%, ROIC 6.8% vs -9.7% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
News Corporation is a global media and information services company that creates and distributes authoritative content across newspapers, digital platforms, books, and video services. It generates revenue primarily through digital real estate services (~30% of revenue), subscription video services (~25%), Dow Jones business information (~15%), book publishing (~15%), and news media advertising and subscriptions. The company's competitive advantage lies in its portfolio of iconic media brands—including The Wall Street Journal, The Times, and HarperCollins—which create a diversified content ecosystem with strong subscriber loyalty.
Warner Bros. Discovery is a global media and entertainment conglomerate that produces and distributes content across film, television, and streaming platforms. It generates revenue primarily through three segments: Studios (film and TV production), Networks (cable and broadcast channels), and Direct-to-Consumer (streaming services like Max and discovery+). The company's key advantage is its massive content library and iconic franchises — including DC, Harry Potter, HBO originals, and Discovery's unscripted programming — which create a deep moat in an increasingly competitive streaming landscape.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
NWSA leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). WBD leads in 1 (Total Returns). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
WBD is the larger business by revenue, generating $37.9B annually — 4.3x NWSA's $8.9B. NWSA is the more profitable business, keeping 12.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to WBD's 1.3%. On growth, NWSA holds the edge at +15.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | NWSANews Corporation | WBDWarner Bros. Disc… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $8.9B | $37.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.6B | $16.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.1B | $485M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $652M | $4.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +85.5% | +44.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +12.1% | +1.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +12.2% | +1.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +7.4% | +10.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +15.7% | -6.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -44.7% | -2.1% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, NWSA's 3.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than WBD's 10.3x.
| Metric | NWSANews Corporation | WBDWarner Bros. Disc… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $4.4B | $78.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $4.9B | $112.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 11.39x | -6.26x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 22.44x | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 3.48x | 10.27x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.52x | 1.99x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.43x | 2.03x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 6.03x | 17.68x |
Profitability & Efficiency
NWSA delivers a 11.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $11 in annual profit, vs $1 for WBD. NWSA carries lower financial leverage with a 0.31x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to WBD's 1.13x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NWSA scores 7/9 vs WBD's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | NWSANews Corporation | WBDWarner Bros. Disc… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +11.4% | +1.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +7.0% | +0.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.8% | -9.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +7.2% | -10.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.31x | 1.13x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $537M | $34.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $2.4B | $5.3B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.9B | $39.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 39.56x | 1.85x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in NWSA five years ago would be worth $10,482 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $5,450 for WBD. Over the past 12 months, WBD leads with a +175.2% total return vs NWSA's -15.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WBD at 21.9% vs NWSA's 11.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | NWSANews Corporation | WBDWarner Bros. Disc… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -10.0% | +1.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -15.3% | +175.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +40.0% | +81.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +4.8% | -45.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +134.2% | +15.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +11.9% | +21.9% |
Risk & Volatility
NWSA is the less volatile stock with a 0.78 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than WBD's 1.72 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. WBD currently trades 96.3% from its 52-week high vs NWSA's 74.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | NWSANews Corporation | WBDWarner Bros. Disc… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.78x | 1.72x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $31.61 | $30.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $22.20 | $7.52 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +74.6% | +96.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 38.6 | 64.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.5M | 25.2M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates NWSA as "Buy" and WBD as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 37.4% upside for NWSA (target: $32) vs -11.5% for WBD (target: $26). NWSA is the only dividend payer here at 1.38% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | NWSANews Corporation | WBDWarner Bros. Disc… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $32.40 | $25.59 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 28 | 31 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.4% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.32 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +3.4% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| News Corporation (NWSA) | 100 | 215.37 | +115.4% |
| Warner Bros. Discov… (WBD) | 107.01 | 111.55 | +4.2% |
News Corporation (NWSA) returned +5% over 5 years vs Warner Bros. Discov… (WBD)'s -46%. A $10,000 investment in NWSA 5 years ago would be worth $10,482 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| News Corporation (NWSA) | $8.3B | $8.5B | +1.9% |
| Warner Bros. Discov… (WBD) | $6.5B | $39.3B | +505.2% |
News Corporation's revenue grew from $8.3B (2016) to $8.5B (2025) — a 0.2% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| News Corporation (NWSA) | 2.2% | 14.0% | +546.7% |
| Warner Bros. Discov… (WBD) | 18.4% | -28.8% | -256.5% |
News Corporation's net margin went from 2% (2016) to 14% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2018 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| News Corporation (NWSA) | 54.4 | 12.6 | -76.8% |
| Warner Bros. Discov… (WBD) | 28.8 | 15.3 | -46.9% |
News Corporation has traded in a 13x–94x P/E range over 6 years; current trailing P/E is ~11x. Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. has traded in a 11x–29x P/E range over 4 years; current trailing P/E is ~-6x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| News Corporation (NWSA) | 0.3 | 2.07 | +590.0% |
| Warner Bros. Discov… (WBD) | 1.96 | -4.62 | -335.7% |
News Corporation's EPS grew from $0.30 (2016) to $2.07 (2025) — a 24% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
News Corporation generated $727M FCF in 2025 (-14% vs 2021). Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. generated $4B FCF in 2024 (+83% vs 2021).
NWSA vs WBD: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NWSA or WBD a better buy right now?
News Corporation (NWSA) offers the better valuation at 11.4x trailing P/E (22.4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate News Corporation (NWSA) a "Buy" — based on 28 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.
02Which is the better long-term investment — NWSA or WBD?
Over the past 5 years, News Corporation (NWSA) delivered a total return of +4.8%, compared to -45.5% for Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (WBD). A $10,000 investment in NWSA five years ago would be worth approximately $10K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NWSA returned +134.2% versus WBD's +15.2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — NWSA or WBD?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), News Corporation (NWSA) is the lower-risk stock at 0.78β versus Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.'s 1.72β — meaning WBD is approximately 119% more volatile than NWSA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, News Corporation (NWSA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 31% versus 113% for Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which has better profit margins — NWSA or WBD?
News Corporation (NWSA) is the more profitable company, earning 14.0% net margin versus -28.8% for Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. — meaning it keeps 14.0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NWSA leads at 11.3% versus -25.5% for WBD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NWSA leads at 100.0%, 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.
05Is NWSA or WBD more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NWSA: 37.4% to $32.40.
06Which pays a better dividend — NWSA or WBD?
In this comparison, NWSA (1.4% yield) pays a dividend. WBD does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
07Is NWSA or WBD better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, News Corporation (NWSA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.78), 1.4% yield, +134.2% 10Y return). Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (WBD) carries a higher beta of 1.72 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (NWSA: +134.2%, WBD: +15.2%), 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.
08What are the main differences between NWSA and WBD?
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: NWSA is a small-cap deep-value stock; WBD is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. NWSA pays a dividend while WBD 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.
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