ZD vs IHRT

For growth investors, Ziff Davis, Inc.

(ZD) is the stronger pick with 3. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 0. 3% for iHeartMedia, Inc. (IHRT). Ziff Davis, Inc. (ZD) offers the better valuation at 37. 7x trailing P/E (7. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Ziff Davis, Inc. (ZD) a "Buy" — based on 13 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, Ziff Davis, Inc.

(ZD) delivered a total return of -59. 2%, compared to -75. 0% for iHeartMedia, Inc. (IHRT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ZD returned -13. 7% 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), Ziff Davis, Inc.

(ZD) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 19β versus iHeartMedia, Inc. 's 1. 82β — meaning IHRT is approximately 52% more volatile than ZD relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Ziff Davis, Inc.

(ZD) is pulling ahead at 3. 5% versus 0. 3% for iHeartMedia, Inc. (IHRT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: iHeartMedia, Inc. grew EPS 54. 3% year-over-year, compared to -19. 0% for Ziff Davis, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ZD leads at 1. 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.

Ziff Davis, Inc.

(ZD) is the more profitable company, earning 3. 3% net margin versus -12. 2% for iHeartMedia, Inc. — meaning it keeps 3. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ZD leads at 14. 1% 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 ZD: -0.

7% to $43. 00.

In this comparison, IHRT (0.

2% yield) pays a dividend. ZD does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Ziff Davis, Inc.

(ZD) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 19)). 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 (ZD: -13. 7%, 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.