Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NXST) vs Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) 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 | NFLX | 15.9% revenue growth vs NXST's -8.5% |
| Value | NXST | Lower P/E (9.9x vs 30.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | NFLX | 24.3% net margin vs NXST's 2.2% |
| Stability / Safety | NFLX | Beta 0.76 vs NXST's 0.85 |
| Dividends | NXST | 2.2% yield; NFLX pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | NXST | +52.8% vs NFLX's -1.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NXST | 22.5% ROA vs NFLX's 19.8%, ROIC 19.1% vs 29.8% |
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.
Netflix is a global streaming entertainment service that offers original and licensed TV shows, movies, and documentaries. It generates revenue primarily through subscription fees — with three pricing tiers — and earns additional income from licensing its original content to other platforms. Its key advantage is its massive scale and data-driven content creation, which allows it to invest billions in programming that attracts and retains subscribers worldwide.
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
NFLX leads in 2 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). NXST leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
NFLX is the larger business by revenue, generating $45.2B annually — 9.1x NXST's $5.0B. NFLX is the more profitable business, keeping 24.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to NXST's 2.2%. On growth, NFLX holds the edge at +17.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | NXSTNexstar Media Gro… | NFLXNetflix, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $5.0B | $45.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.9B | $30.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $109M | $11.0B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $743M | $9.5B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +36.4% | +48.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +17.2% | +29.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +2.2% | +24.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +15.0% | +20.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -13.3% | +17.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -173.7% | +31.1% |
Valuation Metrics
At 38.0x trailing earnings, NFLX trades at a 55% valuation discount to NXST's 83.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, NXST's 5.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than NFLX's 13.7x.
| Metric | NXSTNexstar Media Gro… | NFLXNetflix, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $7.6B | $407.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $7.6B | $413.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 83.67x | 38.04x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 9.91x | 30.75x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.15x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 5.77x | 13.74x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.54x | 9.03x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | — | 15.61x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 10.25x | 43.10x |
Profitability & Efficiency
On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NFLX scores 7/9 vs NXST's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | NXSTNexstar Media Gro… | NFLXNetflix, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | — | +41.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +22.5% | +19.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +19.1% | +29.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +15.3% | +30.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 0.54x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $0 | $5.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | — | $9.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $0 | $14.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 3.31x | 17.33x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in NXST five years ago would be worth $19,290 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $17,479 for NFLX. Over the past 12 months, NXST leads with a +52.8% total return vs NFLX's -1.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NFLX at 44.0% vs NXST's 13.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | NXSTNexstar Media Gro… | NFLXNetflix, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +21.1% | +5.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +52.8% | -1.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +45.8% | +198.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +92.9% | +74.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +540.9% | +930.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +13.4% | +44.0% |
Risk & Volatility
NFLX is the less volatile stock with a 0.76 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than NXST's 0.85 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 NFLX's 71.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | NXSTNexstar Media Gro… | NFLXNetflix, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.85x | 0.76x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $254.30 | $134.12 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $141.66 | $75.01 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.7% | +71.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 68.1 | 55.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 281K | 38.8M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates NXST as "Buy" and NFLX as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 21.8% upside for NFLX (target: $117) vs -0.4% for NXST (target: $250). NXST is the only dividend payer here at 2.19% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | NXSTNexstar Media Gro… | NFLXNetflix, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $250.00 | $117.25 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 24 | 97 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.2% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $5.50 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.6% | +2.2% |
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% |
| Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) | 100 | 217.16 | +117.2% |
Nexstar Media Group… (NXST) returned +93% over 5 years vs Netflix, Inc. (NFLX)'s +75%. A $10,000 investment in NXST 5 years ago would be worth $19,290 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nexstar Media Group… (NXST) | $1.1B | $4.9B | +348.6% |
| Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) | $8.8B | $45.2B | +411.7% |
Nexstar Media Group, Inc.'s revenue grew from $1.1B (2016) to $4.9B (2025) — a 18.1% CAGR. Netflix, Inc.'s revenue grew from $8.8B (2016) to $45.2B (2025) — a 19.9% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nexstar Media Group… (NXST) | 8.3% | 2.2% | -73.5% |
| Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) | 2.1% | 24.3% | +1049.7% |
Nexstar Media Group, Inc.'s net margin went from 8% (2016) to 2% (2025). Netflix, Inc.'s net margin went from 2% (2016) to 24% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nexstar Media Group… (NXST) | 7.8 | 67.7 | +767.9% |
| Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) | 153.6 | 37.1 | -75.8% |
Nexstar Media Group, Inc. has traded in a 6x–68x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~84x. Netflix, Inc. has traded in a 30x–154x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~38x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nexstar Media Group… (NXST) | 2.89 | 3 | +3.8% |
| Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) | 0.04 | 2.53 | +5783.7% |
Nexstar Media Group, Inc.'s EPS grew from $2.89 (2016) to $3.00 (2025) — a 0% CAGR. Netflix, Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.04 (2016) to $2.53 (2025) — a 57% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Nexstar Media Group, Inc. generated $743M FCF in 2025 (-30% vs 2021). Netflix, Inc. generated $9B FCF in 2025 (+7269% vs 2021).
NXST vs NFLX: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NXST or NFLX a better buy right now?
Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) offers the better valuation at 38.0x trailing P/E (30.8x 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 NFLX?
On trailing P/E, Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) is the cheapest at 38.0x 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 NFLX?
Over the past 5 years, Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NXST) delivered a total return of +92.9%, compared to +74.8% for Netflix, Inc. (NFLX). 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: NFLX returned +930.4% 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 NFLX?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) is the lower-risk stock at 0.76β versus Nexstar Media Group, Inc.'s 0.85β — meaning NXST is approximately 11% more volatile than NFLX relative to the S&P 500.
05Which has better profit margins — NXST or NFLX?
Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) is the more profitable company, earning 24.3% net margin versus 2.2% for Nexstar Media Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 24.3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NFLX leads at 29.5% versus 17.2% for NXST. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NFLX leads at 48.5%, 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 NFLX more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NXST) trades at 9.9x forward P/E versus 30.8x for Netflix, Inc. — 20.8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NFLX: 21.8% to $117.25.
07Which pays a better dividend — NXST or NFLX?
In this comparison, NXST (2.2% yield) pays a dividend. NFLX does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is NXST or NFLX 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%, NFLX: +930.4%), 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 NFLX?
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. NXST pays a dividend while NFLX 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%