Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NXST) vs Apple Inc. (AAPL) 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 | AAPL | 6.4% revenue growth vs NXST's -8.5% |
| Value | NXST | Lower P/E (9.9x vs 31.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | AAPL | 27.0% net margin vs NXST's 2.2% |
| Stability / Safety | NXST | Beta 0.85 vs AAPL's 1.28 |
| Dividends | NXST | 2.2% yield, vs AAPL's 0.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | NXST | +52.8% vs AAPL's +9.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs NXST's 22.5%, ROIC 64.5% vs 19.1% |
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
Nexstar Media Group is the largest local television broadcasting company in the U.S., operating stations and digital platforms that deliver news, entertainment, and advertising to communities nationwide. It generates revenue primarily from advertising sales — both local/regional spots and national network compensation — along with retransmission fees from cable and satellite providers for carrying its broadcast signals. The company's competitive advantage lies in its massive scale and local market dominance, owning or operating stations that reach nearly two-thirds of U.S. television households, creating significant negotiating leverage with content distributors.
Apple is a technology giant that designs and sells premium consumer electronics — most famously the iPhone — along with related software and services. It generates revenue primarily from hardware sales (roughly 80% of total) and a fast-growing services segment (around 20%) that includes the App Store, subscriptions, and licensing. Its key competitive advantage is a powerful ecosystem that locks users into its hardware, software, and services through seamless integration and high switching costs.
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
AAPL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). NXST leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $435.6B annually — 88.0x NXST's $5.0B. AAPL is the more profitable business, keeping 27.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to NXST's 2.2%. On growth, AAPL holds the edge at +15.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | NXSTNexstar Media Gro… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $5.0B | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.9B | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $109M | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $743M | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +36.4% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +17.2% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +2.2% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +15.0% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -13.3% | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -173.7% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 35.4x trailing earnings, AAPL trades at a 58% valuation discount to NXST's 83.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, NXST's 5.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than AAPL's 27.5x.
| Metric | NXSTNexstar Media Gro… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $7.6B | $3.88T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $7.6B | $3.97T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 83.67x | 35.41x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 9.91x | 31.15x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 5.77x | 27.45x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.54x | 9.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | — | 53.76x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 10.25x | 39.33x |
Profitability & Efficiency
On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AAPL scores 7/9 vs NXST's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | NXSTNexstar Media Gro… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | — | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +22.5% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +19.1% | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +15.3% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $0 | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | — | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $0 | $123.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 3.31x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in AAPL five years ago would be worth $21,049 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $19,290 for NXST. Over the past 12 months, NXST leads with a +52.8% total return vs AAPL's +9.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AAPL at 21.9% vs NXST's 13.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | NXSTNexstar Media Gro… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +21.1% | -2.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +52.8% | +9.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +45.8% | +81.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +92.9% | +110.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +540.9% | +1027.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +13.4% | +21.9% |
Risk & Volatility
NXST is the less volatile stock with a 0.85 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AAPL's 1.28 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. NXST currently trades 98.7% from its 52-week high vs AAPL's 91.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | NXSTNexstar Media Gro… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.85x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $254.30 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $141.66 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.7% | +91.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 68.1 | 57.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 281K | 40.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates NXST as "Buy" and AAPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 14.7% upside for AAPL (target: $303) vs -0.4% for NXST (target: $250). For income investors, NXST offers the higher dividend yield at 2.19% vs AAPL's 0.39%.
| Metric | NXSTNexstar Media Gro… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $250.00 | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 24 | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.2% | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $5.50 | $1.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.6% | +2.3% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nexstar Media Group… (NXST) | 100 | 181.25 | +81.3% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 361.46 | +261.5% |
Apple Inc. (AAPL) returned +110% over 5 years vs Nexstar Media Group… (NXST)'s +93%. A $10,000 investment in AAPL 5 years ago would be worth $21,049 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nexstar Media Group… (NXST) | $1.1B | $4.9B | +348.6% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | $215.6B | $416.2B | +93.0% |
Nexstar Media Group, Inc.'s revenue grew from $1.1B (2016) to $4.9B (2025) — a 18.1% CAGR. Apple Inc.'s revenue grew from $215.6B (2016) to $416.2B (2025) — a 7.6% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nexstar Media Group… (NXST) | 8.3% | 2.2% | -73.5% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 21.2% | 26.9% | +27.0% |
Nexstar Media Group, Inc.'s net margin went from 8% (2016) to 2% (2025). Apple Inc.'s net margin went from 21% (2016) to 27% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nexstar Media Group… (NXST) | 7.8 | 67.7 | +767.9% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
Nexstar Media Group, Inc. has traded in a 6x–68x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~84x. Apple Inc. has traded in a 13x–41x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~35x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nexstar Media Group… (NXST) | 2.89 | 3 | +3.8% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 2.08 | 7.46 | +258.7% |
Nexstar Media Group, Inc.'s EPS grew from $2.89 (2016) to $3.00 (2025) — a 0% CAGR. Apple Inc.'s EPS grew from $2.08 (2016) to $7.46 (2025) — a 15% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Nexstar Media Group, Inc. generated $743M FCF in 2025 (-30% vs 2021). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
NXST vs AAPL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NXST or AAPL a better buy right now?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) offers the better valuation at 35.4x trailing P/E (31.1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NXST) a "Buy" — based on 24 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 has the better valuation — NXST or AAPL?
On trailing P/E, Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the cheapest at 35.4x versus Nexstar Media Group, Inc. at 83.7x. On forward P/E, Nexstar Media Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 9.9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — NXST or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, Apple Inc. (AAPL) delivered a total return of +110.5%, compared to +92.9% for Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NXST). A $10,000 investment in AAPL five years ago would be worth approximately $21K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AAPL returned +1027% versus NXST's +540.9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — NXST or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NXST) is the lower-risk stock at 0.85β versus Apple Inc.'s 1.28β — meaning AAPL is approximately 51% more volatile than NXST relative to the S&P 500.
05Which has better profit margins — NXST or AAPL?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the more profitable company, earning 26.9% net margin versus 2.2% for Nexstar Media Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 26.9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AAPL leads at 32.0% versus 17.2% for NXST. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AAPL leads at 46.9%, 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.
06Is NXST or AAPL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NXST) trades at 9.9x forward P/E versus 31.1x for Apple Inc. — 21.2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AAPL: 14.7% to $303.11.
07Which pays a better dividend — NXST or AAPL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NXST) offers the highest yield at 2.2%, versus 0.4% for Apple Inc. (AAPL).
08Is NXST or AAPL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NXST) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.85), 2.2% yield, +540.9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NXST: +540.9%, AAPL: +1027%), 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.
09What are the main differences between NXST and AAPL?
These companies operate in different sectors (NXST (Communication Services) and AAPL (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced. NXST pays a dividend while AAPL 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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- Sector: Communication Services
- Market Cap > $100B
- Gross Margin > 21%
- Dividend Yield > 0.8%