Compare Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NXST) vs Fox Corporation (FOXA) Stock

Fox Corporation (FOXA) 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.

On trailing P/E, Fox Corporation (FOXA) is the cheapest at 11.5x 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.

Over the past 5 years, Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NXST) delivered a total return of +92.9%, compared to +69.3% for Fox Corporation (FOXA). A $10,000 investment in NXST five years ago would be worth approximately $19K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NXST returned +540.9% versus FOXA's +17.6%. 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), Fox Corporation (FOXA) is the lower-risk stock at 0.84β versus Nexstar Media Group, Inc.'s 0.85β — meaning NXST is approximately 1% more volatile than FOXA relative to the S&P 500.

Fox Corporation (FOXA) 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: FOXA 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.

On forward earnings alone, Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NXST) trades at 9.9x forward P/E versus 12.1x for Fox Corporation — 2.2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FOXA: 31.8% to $74.25.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NXST) offers the highest yield at 2.2%, versus 1.1% for Fox Corporation (FOXA).

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%, FOXA: +17.6%), 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 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; FOXA is a mid-cap deep-value 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.