TDAY vs LEE

For growth investors, Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (LEE) is the stronger pick with -8.

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -8. 3% for USA TODAY Co. , Inc. (TDAY). USA TODAY Co. , Inc. (TDAY) offers the better valuation at 611. 7x trailing P/E (113. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate USA TODAY Co. , Inc. (TDAY) a "Hold" — based on 17 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, USA TODAY Co.

, Inc. (TDAY) delivered a total return of +99. 5%, compared to -74. 3% for Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (LEE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: TDAY returned +247. 3% versus LEE's -60. 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), USA TODAY Co.

, Inc. (TDAY) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 49β versus Lee Enterprises, Incorporated's 0. 54β — meaning LEE is approximately 11% more volatile than TDAY relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (LEE) is pulling ahead at -8.

0% versus -8. 3% for USA TODAY Co. , Inc. (TDAY). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: USA TODAY Co. , Inc. grew EPS 106. 7% year-over-year, compared to -41. 4% for Lee Enterprises, Incorporated. Over a 3-year CAGR, TDAY leads at -7. 9% 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.

USA TODAY Co.

, Inc. (TDAY) is the more profitable company, earning 0. 1% net margin versus -6. 7% for Lee Enterprises, Incorporated — meaning it keeps 0. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TDAY leads at 3. 7% versus 3. 5% for LEE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LEE leads at 55. 9%, 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, USA TODAY Co.

, Inc. (TDAY) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 49), +247. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (TDAY: +247. 3%, LEE: -60. 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.

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.