SCHL vs SSP

For growth investors, Scholastic Corporation (SCHL) is the stronger pick with 2.

3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -14. 3% for The E. W. Scripps Company (SSP). Analysts rate Scholastic Corporation (SCHL) a "Hold" — based on 4 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.

Over the past 5 years, Scholastic Corporation (SCHL) delivered a total return of +39.

9%, compared to -76. 9% for The E. W. Scripps Company (SSP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SCHL returned +27. 1% versus SSP's -66. 5%. 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), Scholastic Corporation (SCHL) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

77β versus The E. W. Scripps Company's 1. 50β — meaning SSP is approximately 95% more volatile than SCHL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Scholastic Corporation (SCHL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 40% versus 2% for The E. W. Scripps Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Scholastic Corporation (SCHL) is pulling ahead at 2.

3% versus -14. 3% for The E. W. Scripps Company (SSP). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Scholastic Corporation grew EPS -117. 2% year-over-year, compared to -285. 1% for The E. W. Scripps Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, SCHL leads at -0. 4% 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.

Scholastic Corporation (SCHL) is the more profitable company, earning -0.

1% net margin versus -4. 7% for The E. W. Scripps Company — meaning it keeps -0. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SSP leads at 7. 5% versus 1. 3% for SCHL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SCHL leads at 51. 7%, 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, The E.

W. Scripps Company (SSP) trades at 18. 7x forward P/E versus 22. 0x for Scholastic Corporation — 3. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

In this comparison, SCHL (2.

0% yield) pays a dividend. SSP does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Scholastic Corporation (SCHL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

77), 2. 0% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SCHL: +27. 1%, SSP: -66. 5%), 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.

SCHL pays a dividend while SSP 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.