Quarterly earnings results are a good time to check in on a company’s progress, especially compared to its peers in the same sector. Today we are looking at iHeartMedia (NASDAQ: IHRT) and the best and worst performers in the consumer discretionary - broadcasting industry.

The Consumer Discretionary sector, by definition, is made up of companies selling non-essential goods and services. When economic conditions deteriorate or tastes shift, consumers can easily cut back or eliminate these purchases. For long-term investors with five-year holding periods, this creates a structural challenge: the sector is inherently hit-driven, with low switching costs and fickle customers. As a result, only a handful of companies can reliably grow demand and compound earnings over long periods, which is why our bar is high and High Quality ratings are rare. Broadcasting companies produce and distribute television and radio content, generating revenue primarily through advertising and, in some cases, retransmission fees (payments cable and satellite operators make to carry local channels). Tailwinds include resilient demand for live sports and event programming, which commands premium ad rates, and political advertising during election cycles. Headwinds, however, are substantial: secular cord-cutting (consumers canceling traditional pay-TV subscriptions) is shrinking linear audiences, digital platforms are capturing an increasing share of advertising budgets, and content production costs continue to rise. Regulatory scrutiny over media consolidation and spectrum ownership further constrains strategic flexibility.

The 6 consumer discretionary - broadcasting stocks we track reported a satisfactory Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.6% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 0.6% below.

Luckily, consumer discretionary - broadcasting stocks have performed well with share prices up 15.4% on average since the latest earnings results.

Weakest Q4: iHeartMedia (NASDAQ: IHRT)

Occasionally featuring celebrity hosts like Ryan Seacrest on its shows, iHeartMedia (NASDAQ: IHRT) is a leading multimedia company renowned for its extensive network of radio stations, digital platforms, and live events across the globe.

iHeartMedia reported revenues of $1.13 billion, flat year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 2.8%. Despite the top-line beat, it was still a softer quarter for the company with a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income and EPS estimates.

“We’re pleased with our fourth quarter results, generating Adjusted EBITDA of $220 million, at the midpoint of our previously provided guidance range, and our consolidated revenue was $1.1 billion, up 0.8% compared to prior year and above our guidance; excluding the impact of political, our consolidated revenue was up 7.7%,” said Bob Pittman, Chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia, Inc.

iHeartMedia pulled off the biggest analyst estimates beat of the whole group. Unsurprisingly, the stock is up 23.2% since reporting and currently trades at $3.82.

Read our full report on iHeartMedia here, it’s free.

Best Q4: FOX (NASDAQ: FOXA)

Founded in 1915, Fox (NASDAQ: FOXA) is a diversified media company, operating prominent cable news, television broadcasting, and digital media platforms.

FOX reported revenues of $5.18 billion, up 2% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 1.8%. The business had a stunning quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS and EBITDA estimates.

FOX scored the fastest revenue growth among its peers. Although it had a fine quarter compared to its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 8.2% since reporting. It currently trades at $64.52.

Is now the time to buy FOX? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

E.W. Scripps (NASDAQ: SSP)

Founded as a chain of daily newspapers, E.W. Scripps (NASDAQ: SSP) is a diversified media enterprise operating a range of local television stations, national networks, and digital media platforms.

E.W. Scripps reported revenues of $560.3 million, down 23.1% year on year, exceeding analysts’ expectations by 1.4%. Still, it was a mixed quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Interestingly, the stock is up 31.7% since the results and currently trades at $4.78.

Read our full analysis of E.W. Scripps’s results here.

Gray Television (NYSE: GTN)

Specializing in local media coverage, Gray Television (NYSE: GTN) is a broadcast company supplying digital media to various markets in the United States.

Gray Television reported revenues of $792 million, down 24.2% year on year. This number surpassed analysts’ expectations by 1.5%. Zooming out, it was a mixed quarter as it also logged a solid beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates but a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Gray Television had the slowest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is up 20.6% since reporting and currently trades at $5.73.

Read our full, actionable report on Gray Television here, it’s free.

Paramount (NASDAQ: PSKY)

Owner of Spongebob Squarepants and formerly known as ViacomCBS, Paramount Global (NASDAQ: PSKY) is a major media conglomerate offering television, film production, and digital content across various global platforms.

Paramount reported revenues of $8.15 billion, down 5.1% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations. Aside from that, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also recorded a solid beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates but a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Paramount had the weakest performance against analyst estimates among its peers. The stock is up 15.6% since reporting and currently trades at $11.74.

Read our full, actionable report on Paramount here, it’s free.

Market Update

Late in 2025 into early 2026, there was hand wringing around artificial intelligence. For software companies, the fear was that AI would erode pricing power and compress margins as new tools made it easier to replicate what once required expensive enterprise platforms. Crypto investors had their own version of the same anxiety: if AI agents could trade, allocate capital, and manage wallets autonomously, what exactly was the long-term value of today’s crypto infrastructure?

These concerns triggered a noticeable rotation away from these sectors and into safer havens. But markets rarely dwell on one narrative for long. Spring 2026 came, and the focus shifted abruptly from technological disruption to geopolitical risk. The US’ conflict with Iran became the dominant driver of market psychology, and when geopolitics takes center stage, the script changes quickly. Investors stop debating growth rates and start worrying about oil supply, inflation, and global stability.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 5 Quality Compounder Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.