WOW vs LUMN

For growth investors, Lumen Technologies, Inc.

(LUMN) is the stronger pick with -5. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -8. 1% for WideOpenWest, Inc. (WOW). Analysts rate WideOpenWest, Inc. (WOW) a "Hold" — based on 15 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, Lumen Technologies, Inc.

(LUMN) delivered a total return of -28. 8%, compared to -67. 3% for WideOpenWest, Inc. (WOW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LUMN returned -35. 7% versus WOW'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), WideOpenWest, Inc.

(WOW) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 87β versus Lumen Technologies, Inc. 's 2. 74β — meaning LUMN is approximately 216% more volatile than WOW relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Lumen Technologies, Inc.

(LUMN) is pulling ahead at -5. 4% versus -8. 1% for WideOpenWest, Inc. (WOW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: WideOpenWest, Inc. grew EPS 79. 6% year-over-year, compared to -30. 4% for Lumen Technologies, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, WOW leads at -4. 6% 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.

WideOpenWest, Inc.

(WOW) is the more profitable company, earning -9. 3% net margin versus -14. 0% for Lumen Technologies, Inc. — meaning it keeps -9. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WOW leads at 1. 0% versus -1. 5% for LUMN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WOW leads at 59. 3%, 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, WideOpenWest, Inc.

(WOW) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 87)). Lumen Technologies, Inc. (LUMN) carries a higher beta of 2. 74 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (WOW: -68. 5%, LUMN: -35. 7%), 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.