Pandora Media (NYSE: P) and Salem Media Group (NASDAQ:SALM) are both computer and technology companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, valuation, profitabiliy, analyst recommendations, risk, dividends and earnings.
Risk & Volatility
Pandora Media has a beta of 0.07, meaning that its share price is 93% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Salem Media Group has a beta of 1.16, meaning that its share price is 16% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Profitability
This table compares Pandora Media and Salem Media Group’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Pandora Media | -25.66% | -45.15% | -21.73% |
| Salem Media Group | 3.49% | 6.42% | 2.32% |
Dividends
Salem Media Group pays an annual dividend of $0.26 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.6%. Pandora Media does not pay a dividend. Salem Media Group pays out 72.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend.
Earnings & Valuation
This table compares Pandora Media and Salem Media Group’s revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | EBITDA | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Pandora Media | $1.40 billion | 1.66 | -$256.51 million | ($1.54) | -6.27 |
| Salem Media Group | $274.73 million | 0.69 | $46.50 million | $0.36 | 20.14 |
Salem Media Group has higher revenue, but lower earnings than Pandora Media. Pandora Media is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Salem Media Group, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Institutional and Insider Ownership
29.7% of Salem Media Group shares are held by institutional investors. 2.6% of Pandora Media shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 60.0% of Salem Media Group shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.
Analyst Ratings
This is a summary of current ratings for Pandora Media and Salem Media Group, as provided by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Pandora Media | 1 | 19 | 17 | 0 | 2.43 |
| Salem Media Group | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
Pandora Media presently has a consensus price target of $12.83, indicating a potential upside of 32.93%. Given Pandora Media’s higher possible upside, equities research analysts plainly believe Pandora Media is more favorable than Salem Media Group.
Summary
Salem Media Group beats Pandora Media on 9 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Pandora Media
Pandora Media, Inc. (Pandora) is a music discovery platform, offering a personalized experience for each of its listeners wherever and whenever they want to listen to music, whether through earbuds, car speakers or live on stage. The Company delivers targeted messages to its listeners using a combination of audio, display and video advertisements. Its segments include Pandora-Internet Radio Service and Ticketfly. As of December 31, 2016, it provided Pandora service through two models: advertising-supported service and subscription service-Pandora Plus. Pandora is integrated with connected devices, including automobiles, automotive aftermarket devices and consumer electronic devices. Its Ticketfly service is a cloud ticketing platform for live events. It operates ticketing service through its subsidiary, Ticketfly, a live events technology company that provides ticketing and marketing software and services for its clients, which are venues and event promoters, across North America.
About Salem Media Group
Salem Media Group, Inc., formerly Salem Communications Corporation, is a multi-media company specializing in Christian and Conservative content, with media properties consisting of radio broadcasting, digital media, and book, magazine and newsletter publishing. The Company operates through three segments: Broadcast, Digital Media and Publishing. The Company’s broadcasting segment is engaged in the ownership and operation of radio stations in metropolitan markets. The Company’s radio stations carry national and local programming content, as well as national and local advertisers. The Company’s Digital Media segment focuses on Web-based platform designed for audiences interested in Christian and family-themed content and conservative news. The Company’s publishing segment consists of Regnery Publishing, Xulon Press and Salem Publishing. The Company owns and operates approximately 116 radio stations in over 40 markets.
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