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NXST vs FOX
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Entertainment
NXST vs FOX — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment | Entertainment |
| Market Cap | $5.98B | $13.21B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $4.95B | $16.58B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $109M | $1.89B |
| Gross Margin | 36.4% | 33.1% |
| Operating Margin | 17.2% | 19.0% |
| Forward P/E | 8.0x | 12.1x |
| Total Debt | $0.00 | $7.46B |
| Cash & Equiv. | — | $5.35B |
NXST vs FOX — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nexstar Media Group… (NXST) | 100 | 236.7 | +136.7% |
| Fox Corporation (FOX) | 100 | 195.3 | +95.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: NXST vs FOX
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
NXST carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for long-term compounding.
- 335.9% 10Y total return vs FOX's 103.2%
- Lower P/E (8.0x vs 12.1x)
- 2.8% yield, vs FOX's 1.1%
FOX is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 3 yrs, beta 0.51, yield 1.1%
- Rev growth 16.6%, EPS growth 56.9%, 3Y rev CAGR 5.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.51, Low D/E 60.4%, current ratio 2.91x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 16.6% revenue growth vs NXST's -8.5% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (8.0x vs 12.1x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 11.4% margin vs NXST's 2.2% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.51 vs NXST's 0.73 | |
| Dividends | 2.8% yield, vs FOX's 1.1% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +32.4% vs FOX's +23.5% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 22.5% ROA vs FOX's 8.8%, ROIC 19.1% vs 16.5% |
NXST vs FOX — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
NXST vs FOX — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
FOX leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
FOX is the larger business by revenue, generating $16.6B annually — 3.3x NXST's $5.0B. FOX is the more profitable business, keeping 11.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to NXST's 2.2%. On growth, FOX holds the edge at +2.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $5.0B | $16.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.9B | $3.5B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $109M | $1.9B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $743M | $2.5B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +36.4% | +33.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +17.2% | +19.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +2.2% | +11.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +15.0% | +15.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -13.3% | +2.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -173.7% | -35.8% |
Valuation Metrics
FOX leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 11.5x trailing earnings, FOX trades at a 83% valuation discount to NXST's 65.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, FOX's 4.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than NXST's 4.5x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $6.0B | $13.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $6.0B | $15.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 65.74x | 11.45x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 8.00x | 12.14x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.46x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 4.53x | 4.24x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.21x | 0.81x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | — | 2.10x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 8.05x | 4.41x |
Profitability & Efficiency
NXST leads this category, winning 4 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), FOX scores 8/9 vs NXST's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | — | +17.0% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +22.5% | +8.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +19.1% | +16.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +15.3% | +16.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 0.60x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $0 | $2.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | — | $5.4B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $0 | $7.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 3.31x | 8.91x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — NXST and FOX each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in FOX five years ago would be worth $16,027 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $15,031 for NXST. Over the past 12 months, NXST leads with a +32.4% total return vs FOX's +23.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors FOX at 25.1% vs NXST's 9.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -4.7% | -14.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +32.4% | +23.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +30.9% | +95.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +50.3% | +60.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +335.9% | +103.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +9.4% | +25.1% |
Risk & Volatility
FOX leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
FOX is the less volatile stock with a 0.51 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than NXST's 0.73 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. FOX currently trades 82.5% from its 52-week high vs NXST's 77.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.73x | 0.51x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $254.30 | $68.17 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $152.22 | $45.16 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +77.6% | +82.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 45.1 | 49.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 395K | 1.4M |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — NXST and FOX each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates NXST as "Buy" and FOX as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 40.5% upside for FOX (target: $79) vs 26.8% for NXST (target: $250). For income investors, NXST offers the higher dividend yield at 2.79% vs FOX's 1.07%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $250.00 | $79.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 24 | 42 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.8% | +1.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 3 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $5.50 | $0.60 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.0% | +7.6% |
FOX leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). NXST leads in 1 (Profitability & Efficiency). 2 tied.
NXST vs FOX: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NXST or FOX a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Fox Corporation (FOX) is the stronger pick with 16.
6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -8. 5% for Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NXST). Fox Corporation (FOX) offers the better valuation at 11. 5x trailing P/E (12. 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 FOX?
On trailing P/E, Fox Corporation (FOX) is the cheapest at 11.
5x versus Nexstar Media Group, Inc. at 65. 7x. On forward P/E, Nexstar Media Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 8. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — NXST or FOX?
Over the past 5 years, Fox Corporation (FOX) delivered a total return of +60.
3%, compared to +50. 3% for Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NXST). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NXST returned +335. 9% versus FOX's +103. 2%. 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 FOX?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Fox Corporation (FOX) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
51β versus Nexstar Media Group, Inc. 's 0. 73β — meaning NXST is approximately 41% more volatile than FOX relative to the S&P 500.
05Which is growing faster — NXST or FOX?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Fox Corporation (FOX) is pulling ahead at 16.
6% versus -8. 5% for Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NXST). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Fox Corporation grew EPS 56. 9% year-over-year, compared to -86. 0% for Nexstar Media Group, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, FOX leads at 5. 3% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — NXST or FOX?
Fox Corporation (FOX) is the more profitable company, earning 13.
9% net margin versus 2. 2% for Nexstar Media Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 13. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FOX leads at 19. 8% versus 17. 2% for NXST. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NXST leads at 36. 4%, 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.
07Is NXST or FOX more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Nexstar Media Group, Inc.
(NXST) trades at 8. 0x forward P/E versus 12. 1x for Fox Corporation — 4. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FOX: 40. 5% to $79. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — NXST or FOX?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NXST) offers the highest yield at 2. 8%, versus 1. 1% for Fox Corporation (FOX).
09Is NXST or FOX better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Fox Corporation (FOX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
51), 1. 1% yield, +103. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (FOX: +103. 2%, NXST: +335. 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.
10What are the main differences between NXST and FOX?
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: NXST is a small-cap quality compounder stock; FOX is a mid-cap high-growth stock. 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 > 1.1%
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