iHeartMedia, Inc.
IHRTInvestment snapshot
Positive
3
BUY / PASS
Neutral / negative
2 / 11
NEUTRAL / FAIL
Median fair value
$0.79
+32.3% vs price
Models with upside
2 / 17
Positive margin of safety
Strongest signal
IHRT undervalued: all 2 models price fair value above $0.60 (median $0.79)
Key risk
All 12 investors flag IHRT's debt & leverage
Framework analysis
| Verdict | Meaning |
|---|---|
| BUY | Positive purchase signal: the framework's buy requirements are met. |
| PASS | The company clears the framework's checklist or screen, but the framework does not produce a buy signal. For valuation frameworks this often means margin of safety is missing, insufficient, or unavailable; some screen-only frameworks have no intrinsic-value BUY state. |
| NEUTRAL | Neither a positive nor negative conclusion. It does not mean to hold an existing position. |
| FAIL | The company does not clear the framework's requirements. |
| Ranked | Ranked strategies do not use PASS: selected cohort is BUY, outside the cohort is FAIL, and unranked is NEUTRAL. |
Current investor scores use trailing 12-month flows and the latest balance sheet where supported. Multi-year and EPS tests retain annual history; each framework shows its financial basis below. Intrinsic values use annual financials.
| Metric | Graham Defensive Value | Buffett Quality Compounder | Lynch GARP | Greenblatt Magic Formula | Piotroski F-Score | Dreman Contrarian Value | Munger Quality Focus | Pabrai Dhandho Framework | Akre Three-Legged Stool | Marks Risk-Aware Value | Ackman Activist Value | Templeton Global Bargain Hunter | Sleep Scale Economies Shared | Asness Systematic Factors | Neff Low-P/E Total Return | Schloss Asset-Value Discipline | O'Shaughnessy Systematic Factor Composite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verdict | FAIL | FAIL | FAIL | FAIL · Rank #1243 (Top 40.1%) | PASS | FAIL | FAIL | FAIL | FAIL | FAIL | PASS | FAIL | PASS | NEUTRAL | FAIL | FAIL | NEUTRAL |
| Score | |||||||||||||||||
| Analysis | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… |
| Intrinsic Value (annual) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
| Margin of Safety | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | +18.2% | N/A | N/A | N/A | +29.8% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Financial Basis | TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Balance sheet at 2026-09-30 · Annual history · FY 2025 Latest source filing: 2026-11-09 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 Latest source filing: 2026-03-02 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · Balance sheet at 2026-09-30 · TTM ended 2026-09-30 vs 2025-09-30 · TTM ended 2026-09-30 Latest source filing: 2026-11-09 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | TTM ended 2026-09-30 Latest source filing: 2026-11-09 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 Latest source filing: 2026-03-02 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Balance sheet at 2026-09-30 · Market data at 2026-11-01 Latest source filing: 2026-11-09 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Qualitative assessment · Annual history · FY 2025 · TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Balance sheet at 2026-09-30 Latest source filing: 2026-11-09 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Qualitative assessment · Annual history · FY 2025 Latest source filing: 2026-03-02 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · Qualitative assessment · TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Balance sheet at 2026-09-30 Latest source filing: 2026-11-09 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · Qualitative assessment Latest source filing: 2026-03-02 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Balance sheet at 2026-09-30 · Market data at 2026-11-01 Latest source filing: 2026-11-09 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · Price history 2025-01-01–2026-11-01 · Balance sheet at 2026-09-30 Latest source filing: 2026-11-09 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · Qualitative assessment Latest source filing: 2026-03-02 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Balance sheet at 2026-09-30 · Price history 2025-01-01–2026-11-01 · Annual history · FY 2025 Latest source filing: 2026-11-09 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · TTM ended 2026-09-30 Latest source filing: 2026-11-09 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · Balance sheet at 2026-09-30 Latest source filing: 2026-11-09 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Annual history · FY 2025 · Price history 2025-01-01–2026-11-01 Latest source filing: 2026-11-09 Score computed: 2026-11-14 |
Where It Passes
- Valuation models100% pass✓ 2▾
IHRT undervalued: all 2 models price fair value above $0.60 (median $0.79)
Munger fair value$0.73✓Munger+18.2% margin vs $0.60Ackman fair value$0.85✓Ackman+29.8% margin vs $0.60 - Cash Flow90% pass✓ 11✗ 1▾
9 of 10 pass — Buffett objects
Free Cash Flow Proxy$-194.5M✗BuffettPositive and growingFCF Positive and Growing$58.7M✓LynchPositive and growingOperating Cash Flow$92.6M✓PiotroskiCFO > 0(CFO / Total Assets) vs ROACFO/Assets=1.81%, ROA=-9.22%✓PiotroskiCFO/Assets > ROAPrice / (CFO / Shares)1.0x✓Dreman< 8xP/E or FCF YieldFCF Yield=11.8%✓PabraiP/E < 15 or FCF Yield > 10%FCF Positive9/16 years FCF positive✓MarksPositive FCF in majority of recent years(OCF - CapEx) / Market Cap63.7%✓Ackman>= 4%Price / FCF per Share8.4x✓Ackman<= 25Positive Operating Cash Flow frequency15/18 years positive✓SleepPositive OCF in >= 70% of available yearsOperating Cash Flow - Capital Expenditures$58.7M✓Neff> $0 (app proxy for a strong fundamental case)(Operating cash flow - capex) / market capitalization+63.48%; #77/4519 (top 1.7%)✓OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section
Where It Falls Short
- Debt & Leverage0% pass✗ 15▾
All 12 investors flag IHRT's debt & leverage
LT Debt vs Net Current AssetsLT Debt $4.9B vs NCA $375.8M✗GrahamLT Debt <= Net Current AssetsDebt/Equity & Interest CoverageD/E: N/A (negative equity), IC: -0.1x✗BuffettD/E < 0.5 AND Interest Coverage > 5xTotal Debt / EquityN/A (negative equity)✗Lynch< 0.33Cash - Long-term Debt$-4.8B✗LynchPositive preferredLT Debt / Total Assets Change90.62% -> 97.15%✗PiotroskiDecreased YoYCurrent Assets / Current Liabilities1.40✗Dreman> 1.5✗SchlossCurrent ratio >= 1.50x (app cutoff)Total Debt / Shareholders' Equity✗Dreman< 0.8✗Templeton< 1.0 (fixed cap; proxy for below-sector-median leverage)✗SchlossD/E < 1.00xDebt LevelsN/A (non-positive equity)✗MungerDebt/Equity < 0.5✗AkreDebt/Equity < 0.3Interest Coverage & Debt/EBITDAIC=-0.1x, D/EBITDA=14.9x✗MarksInterest Coverage > 3x; Debt/EBITDA < 4xTotal Debt / Shareholders Equity✗Ackman<= 1.0Negative debt-to-equity (higher means less debt)✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section - Growth0% pass✓ 3✗ 10▾
No clean pass — all 8 investors flag at least one growth criterion
EPS Growth (3-yr avg, 10-yr window)✗Graham>= 33% growthBasic earnings-growth PEG (dividends excluded)✗Lynch< 1.0 (ideally < 0.5)3-5 Year EPS CAGR✗Lynch15-30% (Fast Grower); > 0% to passInventory Growth vs Revenue GrowthN/A (no inventory)✓LynchInventory growth < Revenue growthEPS Growth Direction✗DremanPositive over recent yearsEPS CAGR✗Dreman> 5% annualizedPositive Net Income Frequency3/19 years positive✗MarksPositive net income in >= 7 of last 10 years3yr Median Revenue Growth0.3%✗Ackman>= 5%Positive EPS Growth Frequency3/5 years with positive EPS growth✓AckmanPositive EPS growth in >= 3 of last 5 years5-Year EPS CAGR✗Templeton> 0% (5-year EPS CAGR)Revenue growth vs. gross and operating margin trendrevenue up, operating margin -21.3% -> -0.5%✓SleepRevenue rising; gross margin flat or falling; operating margin holding5-year Revenue CAGR5.6%✗SleepCAGR > 7%3-5 Year Diluted EPS CAGR✗Neff7%-20% annualized - Profitability6% pass✓ 4✗ 31▾
15 of 16 flag IHRT's profitability — Graham, Buffett, Lynch +12 more
Positive EPS (10 years)0/22 years positive✗GrahamPositive EPS every year for 10 yearsEPS Growth (3-yr avg, 10-yr window)✗Graham>= 33% growthNet Income Positive (10+ years)3/22 years positive✗BuffettPositive every year for 10+ yearsROE (up to 5-year arithmetic mean)-48.9%✗Buffett> 15% arithmetic mean (app rule)Operating Margin (10-yr trend)-0.5% (latest)✗BuffettStable or rising over 10 yearsFree Cash Flow Proxy$-194.5M✗BuffettPositive and growingEarnings Variance (10-yr CoV)✗BuffettCoV < 0.3Retained Earnings Effectiveness✗Buffett$1 retained -> > $1 market value createdBasic earnings-growth PEG (dividends excluded)✗Lynch< 1.0 (ideally < 0.5)3-5 Year EPS CAGR✗Lynch15-30% (Fast Grower); > 0% to passROEN/A (negative equity)✗Lynch> 15%EBIT / Enterprise Value3.9%✗Greenblatt> 10%Earnings Yield + ROC AssessmentEY=3.9%, ROC=27.5%✗GreenblattBoth EY > 10% and ROC > 25%Net Income / Total Assets-9.22%✗PiotroskiROA > 0ROA Change YoY-18.13% -> -9.22% (delta: +8.90%)✓PiotroskiCurrent ROA > Prior ROA(CFO / Total Assets) vs ROACFO/Assets=1.81%, ROA=-9.22%✓PiotroskiCFO/Assets > ROAGross Margin Change YoY✗PiotroskiImproved YoYPre-Tax Income / Revenue-12.3%✗Dreman>= 8%Net Income / Shareholders' Equity✗Dreman> 12%Margin of Safety✗PabraiP/B < 1.5 or P/E < 15Return on Equity-79.4% (3-yr avg)✗AkreROE > 20% (3-year avg)Discount to Intrinsic ValueN/A (negative normalized EPS)✗Marks>= 20% below intrinsic valuePositive Net Income Frequency3/19 years positive✗MarksPositive net income in >= 7 of last 10 yearsOperating Income / Revenue4.9%✗Ackman>= 15%Net Income / Shareholders Equity✗Ackman>= 15%5-Year EPS CAGR✗Templeton> 0% (5-year EPS CAGR)Operating Margin Trend-21.3% (2023) -> -0.5% (2025)✓TempletonNon-negative operating-margin trend over 3 yearsRevenue growth vs. gross and operating margin trendrevenue up, operating margin -21.3% -> -0.5%✓SleepRevenue rising; gross margin flat or falling; operating margin holdingNet income / market capitalization-246.94%; #5728/6340 (top 90.3%)✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-sectionGross profit / total assets✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-sectionNet income / positive book equity✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-sectionNegative 5-year standard deviation of ROA-0.0655; #2916/5884 (top 49.6%)✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section3-5 Year Diluted EPS CAGR✗Neff7%-20% annualizedPositive Diluted-EPS Years0/9 years positive✗Schloss>= 70% positive over 5-10 observed years (app rule) - Efficiency13% pass✓ 2✗ 9▾
7 of 8 flag IHRT's efficiency — Graham, Buffett, Piotroski +4 more
Current Ratio1.40✗Graham>= 2.0ROIC (3-5 yr avg)-5.9%✗Buffett> 10%ROIC - WACC-15.9%✗BuffettPositive (WACC = 10%)EBIT / (NWC + Net Fixed Assets)27.5%✓Greenblatt> 25%Current Ratio Change YoY1.56 -> 1.51✗PiotroskiIncreased YoYRevenue / Total Assets Change YoY0.69x -> 0.75x✓PiotroskiImproved YoYCurrent Assets / Current Liabilities1.40✗Dreman> 1.5Return on Invested Capital5.1%✗Munger> 15%ROIC (high and growing)FY2023: ROIC=-13.0%; FY2024: ROIC=-16.3%; FY2025: ROIC=-0.5%✗AkreLatest 3 consecutive FYs: ROIC > 15% in eachReinvestment Rate x ROICN/A (non-positive net income)✗AkreReinvestment Rate * ROIC > 10%ROIC (5-year)0/5 years above 12% (latest -0.5%)✗SleepROIC > 12% in a majority of years - Valuation15% pass✓ 6✗ 22▾
11 of 13 flag IHRT's valuation — Graham, Lynch, Greenblatt +8 more
Price / 3-yr avg EPS✗Graham<= 15xPrice-to-Book Ratio✗Graham<= 1.5xP/E x P/B✗Graham<= 22.5Basic earnings-growth PEG (dividends excluded)✗Lynch< 1.0 (ideally < 0.5)EBIT / Enterprise Value3.9%✗Greenblatt> 10%Earnings Yield + ROC AssessmentEY=3.9%, ROC=27.5%✗GreenblattBoth EY > 10% and ROC > 25%Price / EPS✗Dreman< 12x✗Templeton< 12x (fixed ceiling; proxy for the market's cheapest 40%)Price / (CFO / Shares)1.0x✓Dreman< 8xPrice / Book Value per ShareN/A (negative BVPS)✗Dreman< 1.2x✗Templeton< 1.5x✗SchlossP/B <= 0.80x (app cutoff)Valuation ReasonablenessOE Yield=-211.1%✗MungerP/E < 25 or Owner Earnings Yield > 5%P/E or FCF YieldFCF Yield=11.8%✓PabraiP/E < 15 or FCF Yield > 10%P/B or P/E vs. Historical Average✗MarksP/E < 15 or P/B < 2.0Discount to Intrinsic ValueN/A (negative normalized EPS)✗Marks>= 20% below intrinsic valuePrice / FCF per Share8.4x✓Ackman<= 25Price vs. Trailing Low100% of trailing low ($0.60)✓Templeton<= 120% of trailing low (certified split-adjusted live window)Net income / market capitalization-246.94%; #5728/6340 (top 90.3%)✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-sectionPositive book equity / market capitalization-21.7984; #6330/6449 (top 98.2%)✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-sectionPrice / Diluted EPS✗NeffP/E <= 15x (app proxy for a P/E 40%-60% below the market)(EPS CAGR % + Dividend Yield %) / P/E✗Neff> 0.7 (Neff's published traditional edge)Price / Tangible Book Value per ShareN/A (non-positive TBVPS)✗SchlossP/TBV <= 1.00x (app cutoff)Book Value per Share Change-264.7%✗SchlossLatest BVPS >= earliest BVPS over >= 3 years (app rule)Revenue / market capitalization+43.4630; #128/5247 (top 2.4%)✓OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section(Operating cash flow - capex) / market capitalization+63.48%; #77/4519 (top 1.7%)✓OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-sectionTrailing six-month price return through the evaluation date-86.15%; #5931/6202 (top 95.6%)✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section - Verdicts20% pass✓ 3✗ 12▾
Split decision: 11 FAIL · 3 PASS · 2 NEUTRAL
Overall verdict✗GrahamFAIL (1/9)✗BuffettFAIL (0/9)✗LynchFAIL (2/7)✗GreenblattRank #1243✓PiotroskiPASS (F-Score 4)✗DremanFAIL (1/11)✗MungerFAIL (0/4)✗PabraiFAIL (1/3)✗AkreFAIL (1/6)✗MarksFAIL (1/5)✓AckmanPASS (4/9)✗TempletonFAIL (3/8)✓SleepPASS (3/6)•AsnessNEUTRAL (Not ranked)✗NeffFAIL (2/6)✗SchlossFAIL (0/7)•OshaughnessyNEUTRAL (Not ranked)
Business & financials
Financial snapshot: annual FY 2025. Current investor scores may use newer quarterly data.
Company Profile
Financial Snapshot
Shareholder Return
Fiscal 2025
Issued 2.0% of shares last year, 2.4% issued over two.
- Buybacks
- —
- Dividends
- —
Company Financials
Latest TTM and quarters alongside annual years
TTM sums four consecutive quarters and uses the latest quarter-end balances. Quarter columns show three-month results; annual columns show full-year totals. Growth compares the same period a year earlier. EPS is not added for TTM; full-year ratios are blank for quarters.
The latest annual period end is unavailable. Showing the latest fiscal cycle’s quarters; quarter and annual columns may overlap. Quarterly shows the full quarter history.
| Metric | TTM · 2026-09-30 2025-10-01 – 2026-09-30 Sources · derived quarter valuesDerived from cumulative filings: revenue, net income, operating income, ebit, operating cash flow, depreciation amortization, capex, buybacks. | Q3 FY 2026 2026-07-01 – 2026-09-30 Sources · derived quarter valuesDerived from cumulative filings: operating cash flow, capex, buybacks. | Q2 FY 2026 2026-04-01 – 2026-06-30 Sources · derived quarter valuesDerived from cumulative filings: operating cash flow, capex. | Q1 FY 2026 2026-01-01 – 2026-03-31 Sources | FY 2025Sources
| FY 2024Sources
| FY 2023Sources
| FY 2022Sources
| FY 2021Sources
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $92.5Mcurrent | -- | -- | -- | $499.9Mest. | $335.8Mest. | $408.5Mest. | $1.2Best. | $3.0Best. |
| Revenue | $4.0B↑4% | $1.0B↑3% | $977.2M↑5% | $884.2M↑10% | $3.9B | $3.9B↑3% | $3.8B↓4% | $3.9B↑10% | $3.6B |
| Operating Income | $195.7M↑11007% | $73.0M↑163% | $35.5M | $1.5M↑106% | -$20.6M↑97% | -$763.1M↑4% | -$797.3M↓1502% | $56.9M↓63% | $154.9M |
| Net Income | -$228.3M↑43% | -$8.8M↑87% | -$82.4M↑1% | -$95.2M↑66% | -$472.9M↑53% | -$1.0B↑8% | -$1.1B↓317% | -$264.7M↓66% | -$159.2M |
| EPS (Diluted) | -- | $-0.06↑86% | $-0.52↑4% | $-0.61↑67% | $-3.06↑54% | $-6.68↑10% | $-7.39↓313% | $-1.79↓64% | $-1.09 |
| Gross Margin | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Operating Margin | 4.9%↑10567% | 7.1%↑161% | 3.6%↓4% | 0.2%↑105% | -0.5%↑97% | -19.8%↑7% | -21.3%↓1563% | 1.5%↓67% | 4.4% |
| ROE | 11.3%↓49% | — | — | — | 25.9%↓65% | 73.6%↓74% | 286.6%↑841% | -38.7%↓122% | -17.4% |
| Total Debt | $5.0B↓2% | $5.0B↓2% | $5.0B↓2% | $5.0B | $5.1B | $5.1B↓3% | $5.2B↓4% | $5.4B↓6% | $5.7B |
| Shareholders' Equity | -$2.0B↓13% | -$2.0B↓13% | -$2.0B↓16% | -$1.9B↓17% | -$1.8B↓33% | -$1.4B↓257% | -$384.8M↓156% | $684.5M↓25% | $915.8M |
| Current Ratio | 1.40↓12% | 1.40↓12% | 1.41↓6% | 1.49↓6% | 1.51↓4% | 1.56↓12% | 1.78 | 1.77↑2% | 1.73 |
| Debt / Equity | -2.49↑13% | -2.49↑13% | -2.51↑16% | -2.62↑15% | -2.77↑25% | -3.70↑73% | -13.55↓271% | 7.91↑26% | 6.27 |
| Operating Cash Flow | $142.3M↑328% | $13.7M↑244% | $64.9M↑851% | -$92.5M↓52% | $92.6M↑30% | $71.4M↓66% | $213.1M↓49% | $420.1M↑27% | $330.6M |
| Free Cash Flow | $58.7M↑139% | -$10.4M↑68% | $46.0M↑449% | -$114.5M↓42% | $10.9M↑142% | -$26.2M↓124% | $110.4M↓57% | $259.1M↑76% | $147.2M |
Score history
Historical Score Timeline
Industry peers
Industry Peers
Similar companies in Communication
IHRT vs Peers — Financial Grading
| Company | Market Cap | Price | Revenue | Net Income | ROE | D/E | Op. Margin | Curr. Ratio | Graham | Buffett | Lynch | Greenblatt | Piotroski | Dreman |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INCVZ | $192.1B | $46.36 | $138.2B | $17.2B | 16.2% | 1.50 | 21.2% | 0.91 | 4/9 | 3/9 | 2/7 | 1/3 | F-Score 5 | 6/11 |
| AT&T INC.T | $149.4B | $22.18 | $125.6B | $22.0B | 17.4% | 1.08 | 19.2% | 0.91 | 5/9 | 2/9 | 3/7 | 0/3 | F-Score 6 | 6/11 |
| NIPPON TELEGRAPH & TELEPHONE CORPNTTYY | $85.0B | $26.32 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2/9 | 1/9 | 2/7 | 1/3 | F-Score 7 | 6/11 |
| AMERICA MOVIL SAB DE CV/AMX | $76.0B | $25.47 | $42.1B | $1.1B | 6.2% | 1.54 | 20.7% | 0.72 | 1/9 | 5/9 | 1/7 | 1/3 | F-Score 6 | 2/11 |
| VODAFONE GROUP PUBLIC LTD COVOD | $35.6B | $15.37 | $40.5B | $4.5B | -7.9% | 1.01 | -1.1% | — | 1/9 | 2/9 | 0/7 | 0/3 | F-Score 5 | 2/11 |
| CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. /MO/CHTR | $24.8B | $138.39 | $54.8B | $5.0B | 31.1% | 5.90 | 23.6% | 0.39 | 4/9 | 3/9 | 3/7 | 0/3 | F-Score 6 | 5/11 |
| BCE INCBCE | $20.0B | $21.43 | $17.9B | $4.8B | 28.3% | 1.52 | — | 0.58 | 4/9 | 1/9 | 5/7 | 1/3 | F-Score 6 | 9/11 |
| ROGERS COMMUNICATIONS INCRCI | $18.0B | $33.24 | $15.9B | $5.0B | 38.8% | 2.25 | 45.2% | 0.61 | 5/9 | 5/9 | 5/7 | 1/3 | F-Score 4 | 8/11 |