iHeartMedia Inc Class A logo

iHeartMedia Inc Class A(IHRT)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
1-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$1.56
10/28/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
  • ALL
  • 1Y
  • 1M
  • 1W
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
  • Loss
  • PASS (Skip)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for IHRT

10/28/2026: IHRT (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

iHeartMedia Inc Class A is a prominent audio media company that combines a massive U.S. terrestrial radio network with a growing digital audio and podcasting business. The company's primary strength lies in its unmatched audience reach, which it uses to fuel its digital growth and ad-tech integration. Its investment story centers on the transition from legacy broadcasting to a modern, digital-first audio platform. However, the company faces significant execution and financial risks stemming from a high debt load and intense competition from digital-native streaming services. It may suit investors comfortable with media industry volatility and the potential for a digital-led turnaround, though the lack of a dividend remains a consideration.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitThe company is growing its digital and podcasting segments, but overall growth is constrained by legacy broadcast challenges.
Momentum investorWeak fitThe stock often exhibits high sensitivity to advertising sector sentiment rather than consistent price momentum.
Value investorMixed fitWhile the stock may appear discounted, the high debt profile requires a careful assessment of solvency risks.
Dividend investorWeak fitThe company does not pay a dividend, making it unsuitable for income-focused portfolios.
Low-risk investorWeak fitThe company's significant debt and exposure to cyclical advertising markets create high volatility.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityHighThe stock is susceptible to sharp swings based on advertising spending cycles and interest rate changes.
Valuation riskMedium / highThe valuation is often tied to debt-adjusted metrics, making it sensitive to credit market conditions.
Competition risk (Digital Streaming)HighPlatforms like Spotify and SiriusXM aggressively compete for listener time and advertising share.
Business qualityMediumWhile the brand reach is strong, the legacy broadcast model faces long-term structural pressures.
Dividend incomeLow / noneNo dividend payments are made to shareholders.
Execution riskMedium / highSuccess depends on effectively scaling digital ad tech while stabilizing traditional broadcast revenue.

Price Behavior

Steep Decline
PRICE PATH

Steep Decline

The stock price has dropped sharply with strong downward pressure.

Extreme Price Shocks
PRICE STABILITY

Extreme Price Shocks

The stock has experienced exceptionally large and disruptive price movements during the period.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit -11.55%
Avg. Invested days 26
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 3.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 1.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 10/28/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
IHRT receives a 3-star rating, supported by solid company fundamentals. The rating is constrained by soft unit economics, soft analyst coverage, and weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
IHRT has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with moderate financial health, solid growth momentum, and strong ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, strong earnings growth (+53.2%) is partially offset by soft cash generation (FCF margin 0.3%), moderate revenue growth (+0.3%), weak profitability (net margin -12.2%).

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
IHRT's financial health is supported by moderate cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation (0.3% of revenue). Profitability is soft (2 stars), which helps explain the 3-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Free-cash-flow growth is IHRT's strongest growth driver at +141.7% FY2025 versus FY2024 (strong, 5 stars). By comparison, earnings growth (+53.2%, strong) is also strong, while revenue growth (+0.3%, moderate) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 88.9% and approximately 108.2% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 6.79% supports management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

Allianz Asset Management AG 12.79%
BlackRock Inc 5.75%
Deutsche Bank AG 4.16%
Oak Hill Advisors LP 4.01%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 3.10%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
IHRT generates approximately $583 of gross profit, $50 of operating income, and $3 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Soft margins explain the 2-star rating, with weak cash conversion and weak capital efficiency.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 0.38%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
IHRT has a liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while elevated volatility.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Value-OrientedHigh VolatilitySmall / Mid Cap RiskShort Squeeze RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Small-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 266.24M USD
Price to earnings Ratio -
1Y Target Price 3.62
Price to earnings Ratio -
1Y Target Price 3.62
Volume (30-day avg) 797.7K shares
Beta 2.29
52 Weeks Range 1.38 - 6.56
Updated Date 10/28/2026
52 Weeks Range 1.38 - 6.56
Updated Date 10/28/2026
Dividends yield (FY) -
Basic EPS (TTM) -1.82

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Multiplatform GroupLocal broadcast radio advertising and live events.The foundation of the business, though it faces long-term headwinds from shifting consumer media habits.
Digital Audio GroupPodcast network revenue, streaming ads on iHeartRadio, and digital programmatic sales.The primary growth engine for the company as listeners move toward digital and on-demand audio.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

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Valuation

Trailing PE -
Forward PE 41.49
Enterprise Value 5.86B
Price to Sales(TTM) 0.07
Enterprise Value 5.86B
Price to Sales(TTM) 0.07
Enterprise Value to Revenue 1.47
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 18.89
Shares Outstanding 133.70M
Shares Floating 144.72M
Shares Outstanding 133.70M
Shares Floating 144.72M
Percent Insiders 6.79
Percent Institutions 88.86

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

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