SSP vs CMLS

For growth investors, Cumulus Media Inc.

(CMLS) is the stronger pick with -2. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -14. 3% for The E. W. Scripps Company (SSP). Analysts rate The E. W. Scripps Company (SSP) a "Hold" — based on 8 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, The E.

W. Scripps Company (SSP) delivered a total return of -76. 9%, compared to -100. 0% for Cumulus Media Inc. (CMLS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SSP returned -66. 5% versus CMLS's -100. 0%. 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), The E.

W. Scripps Company (SSP) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 50β versus Cumulus Media Inc. 's 1. 87β — meaning CMLS is approximately 25% more volatile than SSP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, The E. W. Scripps Company (SSP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 114% for Cumulus Media Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(CMLS) is pulling ahead at -2. 1% versus -14. 3% for The E. W. Scripps Company (SSP). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Cumulus Media Inc. grew EPS -145. 8% year-over-year, compared to -285. 1% for The E. W. Scripps Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, CMLS leads at -3. 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.

The E.

W. Scripps Company (SSP) is the more profitable company, earning -4. 7% net margin versus -34. 2% for Cumulus Media Inc. — meaning it keeps -4. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SSP leads at 7. 5% versus -29. 0% for CMLS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CMLS leads at 60. 8%, 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.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, The E.

W. Scripps Company (SSP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. Cumulus Media Inc. (CMLS) carries a higher beta of 1. 87 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (SSP: -66. 5%, CMLS: -100. 0%), 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.

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.