NXST vs TGNA

For growth investors, Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

(NXST) is the stronger pick with -8. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -12. 6% for TEGNA Inc. (TGNA). TEGNA Inc. (TGNA) offers the better valuation at 14. 9x trailing P/E (6. 4x 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, TEGNA Inc.

(TGNA) is the cheapest at 14. 9x versus Nexstar Media Group, Inc. at 65. 7x. On forward P/E, TEGNA Inc. is actually cheaper at 6. 4x.

Over the past 5 years, Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

(NXST) delivered a total return of +50. 3%, compared to +10. 5% for TEGNA Inc. (TGNA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NXST returned +335. 9% versus TGNA's +61. 4%. 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), TEGNA Inc.

(TGNA) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 47β versus Nexstar Media Group, Inc. 's 0. 73β — meaning NXST is approximately 53% more volatile than TGNA relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

(NXST) is pulling ahead at -8. 5% versus -12. 6% for TEGNA Inc. (TGNA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: TEGNA Inc. grew EPS -62. 0% year-over-year, compared to -86. 0% for Nexstar Media Group, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NXST leads at -1. 7% 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.

TEGNA Inc.

(TGNA) is the more profitable company, earning 8. 1% net margin versus 2. 2% for Nexstar Media Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 8. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NXST leads at 17. 2% versus 16. 3% for TGNA. 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, TEGNA Inc.

(TGNA) trades at 6. 4x forward P/E versus 8. 0x for Nexstar Media Group, Inc. — 1. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NXST: 26. 8% to $250. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NXST) offers the highest yield at 2. 8%, versus 2. 5% for TEGNA Inc. (TGNA).

For long-horizon retirement investors, TEGNA Inc.

(TGNA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 47), 2. 5% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (TGNA: +61. 4%, 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.

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; TGNA is a small-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.