SSP vs IHRT

For growth investors, iHeartMedia, Inc.

(IHRT) is the stronger pick with 0. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -14. 3% for The E. W. Scripps Company (SSP). Analysts rate iHeartMedia, Inc. (IHRT) a "Buy" — based on 10 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, iHeartMedia, Inc.

(IHRT) delivered a total return of -75. 0%, compared to -76. 9% for The E. W. Scripps Company (SSP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SSP returned -66. 5% versus IHRT's -68. 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), The E.

W. Scripps Company (SSP) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 50β versus iHeartMedia, Inc. 's 1. 82β — meaning IHRT is approximately 21% more volatile than SSP relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), iHeartMedia, Inc.

(IHRT) is pulling ahead at 0. 3% versus -14. 3% for The E. W. Scripps Company (SSP). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: iHeartMedia, Inc. grew EPS 54. 3% year-over-year, compared to -285. 1% for The E. W. Scripps Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, IHRT 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.

The E.

W. Scripps Company (SSP) is the more profitable company, earning -4. 7% net margin versus -12. 2% for iHeartMedia, 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 -0. 5% for IHRT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IHRT leads at 78. 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SSP: -16.

7% to $3. 90.

In this comparison, IHRT (0.

2% yield) pays a dividend. SSP does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for 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. iHeartMedia, Inc. (IHRT) carries a higher beta of 1. 82 — 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%, IHRT: -68. 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.

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.