Stock fact sheet · data as of
iHeartMedia, Inc. (IHRT): fair value, margin of safety and Wheel Score
Communication Services · Broadcasting · United States · Speculative / Distressed
Is IHRT undervalued?
IHRT has a margin of safety of 84%: the stock closed at 1.77 on 16 Oct 2026 against a GLS average fair value of 10.86. 2 of the 2 valuation models that produced a number sit above the price. Our screens treat a discount this large as a strong starting point for a cash-secured put, not as a verdict - the fair value is a model output, and a wide gap can mean the models are missing something the market knows.
The average is built from just 2 models (DCF, 10 Cap) - the rest returned nothing because an input they need (dividends, free cash flow, book value) is zero or negative - so treat it with more caution than usual.
The nightly engine files IHRT under Speculative / Distressed - negative earnings or a Piotroski score of 3 or less - which caps its Wheel Score at 45 and keeps it out of the Sunday Scan.
Nine valuation models for IHRT
Each model turns the latest filed numbers into a value per share; the GLS fair value is the simple average of the ones that produce a positive number. The last two rows are shown for reference and never enter the average. The Quote page lets you switch any model off and add your own margin of safety.
| Model | Value | vs price | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| DCF | 14.24 | +705% | Present value of the projected free cash flows, discounted at the cost of capital |
| Graham Number | - | - | The most a defensive investor pays for the earnings and book value per share; no value tonight |
| Graham Growth | - | - | Graham's growth formula: EPS × (8.5 + 2 × growth), adjusted for bond yields; no value tonight |
| Lynch | - | - | EPS × the earnings growth rate (PEG of 1), growth capped at 25%; no value tonight |
| GLS Growth | - | - | EPS compounded ten years at the blended growth rate, discounted back at 15% a year; no value tonight |
| 10 Cap | 7.48 | +323% | Owner's earnings (operating cash flow less maintenance capex) capitalised at 10% |
| Payback Time | - | - | Eight years of compounded free cash flow: the price at which the business pays for itself; no value tonight |
| DDM | - | - | Dividend discount model: next year's dividend ÷ (10% − 3% growth); needs a dividend; no value tonight |
| EPV | - | - | Earnings power value: current EPS capitalised at 9% with no growth; no value tonight |
| Zombie (liquidation) | -44.63 | -2622% | Current assets less all liabilities, per share: the balance-sheet floor. Not in the average |
| Wall St target | 4.25 | +140% | Analysts' average 12-month price target. Not in the average |
Quality and financial health
iHeartMedia, Inc. scores 5 of 9 on the Piotroski F-score: a middling result that falls one point short of the Sunday Scan's "6 or more" rule. Some of the nine tests on profitability, leverage and efficiency are failed, so the accounts are worth a look before selling a put on the name. A GLS Moat score of 0.8/10 is a weak reading: the ten-year history the score grades (revenue, EPS, book value, margins, cash flow, share count, ROIC) has not been steady, so the Moat part of the Wheel Score contributes little.
Returns on capital are thin or negative - ROIC -12.0%, ROE 25.8%, ROA -8.4% - with debt at -3.16 times equity and a free-cash-flow yield of 15.3%.
iHeartMedia, Inc. pays no dividend, so the DDM model does not apply and a covered-call holder earns only the premium and any price gain. Revenue comes mainly from Broadcast Radio 41%, Digital Non podcast 21%, Digital Podcast 17% (quarter Q2 FY2026).
Institutional ownership scores 7/10, insider activity 10/10 and Congressional trading 5/10 on the GLS smart-money scales.
| Piotroski F-score | 5 / 9 | ROIC | -12.0% |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLS Moat | 0.8 / 10 | ROE | 25.8% |
| Debt / equity | -3.16 | ROA | -8.4% |
| Free-cash-flow yield | 15.3% | Payout ratio | 0% |
| Institutions | 7 / 10 | Insiders · Congress | 10 · 5 / 10 |
Wheel Score 45: Weak
With a Wheel Score of 45 iHeartMedia, Inc. sits in the Weak band, capped at 45 because the engine files it as Speculative / Distressed. The parts - Value 25/25, Health 11/20, Moat 1/15, Premium 5/20, Stability 7/20 - show where: Moat (1/15) scores lowest.
Implied volatility is 179%, far above the range the wheel strategy is built for. The premium looks generous; the Wheel Score gives it only 5 of 20 Premium points because moves of that size can blow through any strike. Chain open interest is 2,010 contracts across all expiries - enough for the wheel at normal size.
Volume runs at 525k shares a day on a market cap of $237M, with a beta of 2.29 - a high beta, so the stock tends to move more than the market and a strike can be gapped through; the Stability part of the Wheel Score gives that 7 of 20.
| Part | Points | From | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value | 25 / 25 | 84% margin of safety | |
| Health | 11 / 20 | Piotroski 5/9 | |
| Moat | 1 / 15 | moat 0.8/10 | |
| Premium | 5 / 20 | implied volatility 179% | |
| Stability | 7 / 20 | 525k shares/day, $237M cap, beta 2.29 |
The Wheel Score ranks ~7,400 US stocks for selling cash-secured puts and covered calls; it is updated nightly and is not a recommendation. The walkthrough lesson shows how the score fits into a trade, start to finish.
Upcoming events
The next earnings report is due on 9 Nov 2026 (after the close), 24 days away; a 30-45-day put sold today would expire after it, which is worth weighing against the premium.
Earnings, dividend, IPO, split and economic calendars for the whole market, filterable to your watchlists.
Similar stocks in Broadcasting
The 12 companies below are the closest to iHeartMedia, Inc. by market cap within the Broadcasting industry, each with its own fact sheet; the Compare page puts up to eight of them side by side.
| Stock | Close | Fair value | MoS | Wheel | Mkt cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSP The E.W. Scripps Company | 2.73 | - | - | 45Weak | $220M |
| CURI CuriosityStream Inc. | 2.71 | 0.8781 | -209% | 38Weak | $161M |
| GTN Gray Media, Inc. | 4.46 | 29.20 | +85% | 45Weak | $415M |
| EVC Entravision Communications | 6.67 | 3.11 | -114% | 35Weak | $616M |
| MDIA MediaCo Holding Inc. | 1.07 | 0.1394 | -669% | 20No options | $84M |
| TSQ Townsquare Media, Inc. | 4.11 | 19.04 | +78% | 45Weak | $70M |
| NMAX Newsmax, Inc. | 9.31 | - | - | 45Weak | $837M |
| SBGI Sinclair, Inc. | 12.38 | 27.22 | +55% | 72Good | $893M |
| FUBO fuboTV Inc. | 8.42 | - | - | 45Weak | $945M |
| SGA Saga Communications, Inc. | 8.19 | 15.67 | +48% | 39No options | $52M |
| CAST FreeCast, Inc. Class A Common Stock | 1.08 | 0.0873 | -1138% | 20No options | $43M |
| IHRTB iHeartMedia, Inc. | 4.00 | 10.95 | +63% | 39No options | $1.5B |
⚖ Compare IHRT with 7 of them All Communication Services stocks →
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Start free See the Sunday ScanQuestions about IHRT
Is IHRT undervalued right now?
By the GLS models, yes: at 1.77 the stock is 84% below the average fair value of 10.86 (data as of 16 Oct 2026). Whether the discount is deserved is the question to research next.
What is the Wheel Score of IHRT and what does it mean?
IHRT scores 45 out of 100 (Weak). The Wheel Score blends the margin of safety (25 points), Piotroski health (20), the GLS moat (15), the option premium on offer (20) and trading stability (20) into one number that ranks stocks for the wheel strategy - selling cash-secured puts, then covered calls if assigned. 80 and above is Prime, 65-79 Good, 50-64 Fair, under 50 Weak.
What is the GLS fair value for IHRT?
10.86 per share as of 16 Oct 2026 - the simple average of the 2 valuation models (out of nine: DCF, Graham Number, Graham Growth, Lynch, GLS Growth, 10 Cap, Payback Time, DDM and EPV) that produced a positive value. The models run every night on the latest filings; the Quote page lets you switch any of them off and add a margin of safety of your own.
When does iHeartMedia, Inc. report earnings next?
The next earnings report is due on 9 Nov 2026 (after the close), 24 days from the data date of 16 Oct 2026. The Calendars page lists every upcoming report with its time of day.
Does IHRT have listed options, and how liquid are they?
Yes. The nightly snapshot found 46 listed contracts with 2,010 open interest across all expiries and implied volatility of 179% on the near-the-money contracts. The Options scanner lists the cash-secured put and covered call set-ups with premium and annualised yield worked out.