NYT vs. WMG: New York Times vs. Warner Music Stock Comparison
How do New York Times (NYT) and Warner Music (WMG) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
New York Times (NYT) and Warner Music (WMG) both fall under the Media & Entertainment industry group, but NYT is classified in Media while WMG is classified in Entertainment.
New York Times (NYT) has more than two decades of public-market history since May 3, 1973, whereas Warner Music (WMG) listed on June 3, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.
| Profile Item | NYT | WMG |
|---|---|---|
| Name | New York Times Co. Class A Common Stock | Warner Music Group Corp. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Communication Services | Communication Services |
| GICS Industry Group | Media & Entertainment | Media & Entertainment |
| GICS Industry | Media | Entertainment |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Publishing | Movies & Entertainment |
| Market Capitalization | 10.93 billion USD | 16.37 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | May 3, 1973 | June 3, 2020 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | NYT | WMG |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 16.49% | 6.98% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 19.25% | 1.34% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 8.78% | -6.02% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | NYT | WMG |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 31.87% | 35.24% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.86 | 1.31 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -42.87% | -53.17% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.55M | 2.05M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | NYT | WMG |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.38 | 0.08 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.50 | 0.11 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but Warner Music (WMG) at 70.07% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; New York Times (NYT) at 20.30% also sits in the top quartile.
NYT
Media & Entertainment industry group
20.30%
- Max
- 49.92%
- NYT
- 20.30%
- Q3
- 17.95%
- Median
- 7.20%
- Q1
- -4.53%
- Min
- -26.31%
WMG
Media & Entertainment industry group
70.07%
- WMG
- 70.07%
- Max
- 49.92%
- Q3
- 17.95%
- Median
- 7.20%
- Q1
- -4.53%
- Min
- -26.31%
Net Margin (TTM)
New York Times (NYT) at 13.54% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Warner Music (WMG) at 9.20%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
NYT
Media & Entertainment industry group
13.54%
- Max
- 32.91%
- NYT
- 13.54%
- Q3
- 11.75%
- Median
- 5.04%
- Q1
- -4.17%
- Min
- -25.14%
WMG
Media & Entertainment industry group
9.20%
- Max
- 32.91%
- Q3
- 11.75%
- WMG
- 9.20%
- Median
- 5.04%
- Q1
- -4.17%
- Min
- -25.14%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both New York Times (NYT) at 16.26% and Warner Music (WMG) at 16.74% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
NYT
Media & Entertainment industry group
16.26%
- Max
- 40.16%
- Q3
- 18.72%
- NYT
- 16.26%
- Median
- 8.63%
- Q1
- 1.90%
- Min
- -22.08%
WMG
Media & Entertainment industry group
16.74%
- Max
- 40.16%
- Q3
- 18.72%
- WMG
- 16.74%
- Median
- 8.63%
- Q1
- 1.90%
- Min
- -22.08%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | NYT | WMG |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 20.30% | 70.07% |
| ROA (TTM) | 10.61% | 7.65% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 13.54% | 9.20% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 16.26% | 16.74% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 51.25% | 45.77% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both New York Times (NYT) at 9.24% and Warner Music (WMG) at 4.37% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both New York Times (NYT) at 18.08% and Warner Music (WMG) at -16.87% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | NYT | WMG |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.24% | 4.37% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 6.96% | 4.25% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 18.08% | -16.87% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 26.19% | -13.33% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
New York Times (NYT) at 1.52 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Warner Music (WMG) at 0.73 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for WMG.
NYT
Media & Entertainment industry group
1.52
- Max
- 4.69
- Q3
- 2.53
- NYT
- 1.52
- Median
- 1.52
- Q1
- 0.95
- Min
- 0.28
WMG
Media & Entertainment industry group
0.73
- Max
- 4.69
- Q3
- 2.53
- Median
- 1.52
- Q1
- 0.95
- WMG
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.28
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Warner Music (WMG) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 4.53 against its industry range, while New York Times (NYT) reports no figure this period.
NYT
Media & Entertainment industry group
--
- Max
- 3.65
- Q3
- 1.69
- Median
- 0.46
- Q1
- 0.17
- Min
- 0.00
- NYT
- --
WMG
Media & Entertainment industry group
4.53
- WMG
- 4.53
- Max
- 3.65
- Q3
- 1.69
- Median
- 0.46
- Q1
- 0.17
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | NYT | WMG |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.52 | 0.73 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | 4.53 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -1.17 | 2.57 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
New York Times (NYT) at 1.33% earns its spot in the top quartile of its industry’s yields; Warner Music (WMG) at 2.38% is past the top of its own peer range — territory where a dividend-safety check matters more than the headline number.
NYT
Media & Entertainment industry group
1.33%
- NYT
- 1.33%
- Max
- 1.33%
- Q3
- 0.65%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
WMG
Media & Entertainment industry group
2.38%
- WMG
- 2.38%
- Max
- 1.33%
- Q3
- 0.65%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both New York Times (NYT) at 32.80% and Warner Music (WMG) at 60.80% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.
NYT
Media & Entertainment industry group
32.80%
- Max
- 71.43%
- NYT
- 32.80%
- Q3
- 28.98%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
WMG
Media & Entertainment industry group
60.80%
- Max
- 71.43%
- WMG
- 60.80%
- Q3
- 28.98%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | NYT | WMG |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.33% | 2.38% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 32.80% | 60.80% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both New York Times (NYT) at 27.34 and Warner Music (WMG) at 25.04 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
NYT
Media & Entertainment industry group
27.34
- Max
- 51.21
- Q3
- 28.90
- NYT
- 27.34
- Median
- 17.98
- Q1
- 11.53
- Min
- 1.64
WMG
Media & Entertainment industry group
25.04
- Max
- 51.21
- Q3
- 28.90
- WMG
- 25.04
- Median
- 17.98
- Q1
- 11.53
- Min
- 1.64
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both New York Times (NYT) at 3.62 and Warner Music (WMG) at 2.24 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
NYT
Media & Entertainment industry group
3.62
- Max
- 7.43
- Q3
- 3.82
- NYT
- 3.62
- Median
- 1.40
- Q1
- 0.70
- Min
- 0.00
WMG
Media & Entertainment industry group
2.24
- Max
- 7.43
- Q3
- 3.82
- WMG
- 2.24
- Median
- 1.40
- Q1
- 0.70
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: New York Times (NYT) at 5.36 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Warner Music (WMG) at 19.17 prices even higher, above its industry range.
NYT
Media & Entertainment industry group
5.36
- Max
- 11.45
- NYT
- 5.36
- Q3
- 5.30
- Median
- 1.84
- Q1
- 0.77
- Min
- -2.61
WMG
Media & Entertainment industry group
19.17
- WMG
- 19.17
- Max
- 11.45
- Q3
- 5.30
- Median
- 1.84
- Q1
- 0.77
- Min
- -2.61
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | NYT | WMG |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 27.34 | 25.04 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.62 | 2.24 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 5.36 | 19.17 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 4.32% | 2.33% |