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Verdict
Quantitative factor alignment verified for current market regime.
Quant Score
Rank
#925
Positioning
Market Dominance
Services
Business Services
$785M
Scott R. Wells
Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. owns, operates, and sells advertising displays in the United States and internationally. It operates through two segments, Americas and Europe. As of December 31, 2021, it owned or operated approximately 69,000 advertising displays. The company was formerly known as Eller Media Company.
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X-AXIS: EV/EBITDA (LOWER = CHEAPER) | Y-AXIS: ROE (HIGHER = ELITE) | RED CIRCLE = CCO ANALYSIS TARGET
| Stock | Rating | Score▼ | Quality | Value | Momentum | P/E | EV/EBITDA | ROE | ROA | Gross Mgn | Op Mgn | Net Mgn | Rev Growth | Div Yield | D/E | Mkt Cap | AUDIT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$YALA Yalla Group Ltd | 75 | 89 | 99 | 80 | - | - | 21.3% | 18.6% | 64.5% | 35.7% | 39.5% | 6.5% | 0.0% | 0.0x | $644M | VS | |
$GRVY GRAVITY Co., Ltd. | 75 | 82 | 96 | 71 | - | - | 15.4% | 12.6% | 38.7% | 17.1% | 17.0% | -39.7% | 0.0% | 0.0x | $439M | VS | |
$ISSC INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS & SUPPORT INC | 73 | 81 | 88 | 94 | 25.0x | 14.1x | 28.1% | 16.8% | 48.1% | 23.8% | 18.5% | 78.6% | 0.0% | 37.0x | $220M | VS | |
$AER AerCap Holdings N.V. | 72 | 60 | 87 | 84 | - | - | 12.4% | 2.9% | 100.0% | 28.2% | 26.2% | 5.5% | 0.8% | 264.0x | $19.4B | VS | |
$HCSG HEALTHCARE SERVICES GROUP INC | 72 | 74 | 88 | 88 | 7.1x | 6.1x | 28.9% | 20.8% | 20.8% | 9.9% | 9.3% | 8.5% | 0.0% | 1.0x | $1.2B | VS | |
$LQDT LIQUIDITY SERVICES INC | 72 | 90 | 88 | 68 | 24.9x | 14.3x | 14.6% | 7.8% | 43.8% | 7.4% | 5.9% | 31.2% | 0.0% | 0.0x | $857M | VS | |
$TRTNpA Triton International Ltd | 71 | 70 | 89 | 70 | - | 1.7x | 18.0% | 4.6% | 97.3% | 52.2% | 32.7% | -3.4% | 0.0% | 271.0x | $8.0B | VS | |
$EDU New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. | 71 | 83 | 52 | 77 | - | - | 9.4% | 4.9% | 55.5% | 8.7% | 7.7% | 13.6% | 1.3% | 7.0x | $78.0B | VS | |
$NTES NetEase, Inc. | 71 | 88 | 93 | 68 | - | - | 22.1% | 15.6% | 62.5% | 28.1% | 28.7% | -1.0% | 2.8% | 9.0x | $56.6B | VS | |
$UTI UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE INC | 70 | 86 | 86 | 72 | 43.2x | 16.0x | 21.4% | 8.0% | 100.0% | 10.0% | 7.5% | 14.1% | 0.0% | 27.0x | $1.8B | VS | |
$CCO Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. | 58 | 40 | 65 | 90 | - | 23.3x | -2.9% | -0.4% | 53.4% | 17.6% | -0.3% | 7.7% | 0.0% | - | $785M | ||
| SECTOR BENCH | - | - | - | - | - | 23.7x | 11.7x | 5.3% | 1.9% | 59.6% | 3.5% | 2.3% | 7.8% | 0.0% | 0.3x | - | REF |
Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (CCO) receives a "Hold" rating with a composite score of 57.8/100. It ranks #925 out of 7,333 stocks in our coverage universe and carries a 3-star rating. Ratings are driven by a 6-factor quantitative model measuring quality, value, momentum, investment, stability, and short interest.
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YOY expansion rate
Core pricing power
Operating efficiency
Bottom-line conversion
Equity capital efficiency
Asset base utilization
Direct cash return
Scott R. Wells
Chief Executive Officer
Labor Force
4,700
40
29
45
Audit Verdict: Lower quality and stability scores may indicate governance concerns.
No recent insider transactions available for CCO
Outperforming peers — winners tend to keep winning over 3-12 months
Trading at a discount to fundamentals — favorable entry valuation
Average quality profile
Average volatility — neutral timing signal
Aggressive spending — empire-building risk, dilutive growth
Mid-range overall rating
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Relative valuation derived from Services sector benchmarks. Model weights: EV/EBITDA (40%), P/B (35%), P/S (25%). Re-calculated daily.
No analyst ratings for CCO.
View All RatingsMaterial decline in asset turnover efficiency detected
High margin volatility — erratic forensic earnings quality
| Factor | Global | Sector | Tilt |
|---|---|---|---|
| PROFITABILITY | 40 | 34 | +6ALPHA |
| MOMENTUM | 90 | 96 | -6DRAG |
| VALUATION | 65 | 72 | -7DRAG |
| INVESTMENT | 29 | 27 | +2NEUTRAL |
| STABILITY | 45 | 44 | +1NEUTRAL |
| SHORT INT | 40 | 34 | +6ALPHA |
Global = full universe. Sector = relative to industry peers. Positive tilt indicates idiosyncratic strength.
ROIC 1.3% vs WACC 3.1% (spread -1.8%)
GM 53% vs sector 60%, OM 18% vs sector 4%
Capital turnover 0.08x
Rev growth 8%, 10yr history
Interest coverage 0.8x, Net debt/EBITDA 61.3x
Composite assessment of profitability, capital efficiency, and financial strength. Top-tier entities demonstrate sustainable cash flow generation and elite competitive moats.
Profit generated per dollar of shareholder equity
Efficiency of asset utilization
Pricing power and cost efficiency
Core business profitability
Bottom-line profitability
The Quality factor evaluates the persistence and magnitude of realized cash flows. Companies with scores >70 exhibit superior pricing power and structural financial resilience through diverse economic regimes.
Our uncertainty rating tracks the predictability of future cash flows and potential for permanent capital loss. Moderate visibility with standard industry cyclicality.
Our model assigns Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. a Hold rating, with a composite score of 57.8/100 and 3 out of 5 stars. Ranked #925 of 7,333 stocks, CCO presents a mixed quantitative picture — neither compelling enough to initiate new positions nor weak enough to warrant selling. Investors already holding may consider maintaining their position while monitoring for changes in the factor profile.
CCO's quality score of 40/100 is below average, suggesting challenges with profitability or capital efficiency. The company reports a return on equity of -2.9% (sector avg: 5.3%), gross margins of 53.4% (sector avg: 59.6%), net margins of -0.3% (sector avg: 2.3%). Investors should examine whether management is actively addressing these weaknesses or if they reflect structural industry headwinds.
CCO's value score of 65/100 indicates the stock is fairly valued based on its current fundamentals. Key valuation metrics include an EV/EBITDA of 23.33x. At this level, neither a clear bargain nor overpriced, the stock's attractiveness depends more on forward growth expectations and qualitative factors.
Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc.'s investment score of 29/100 suggests limited reinvestment activity. Key growth metrics include revenue growth of 7.7% vs. a sector average of 7.8% and a return on assets of -0.4% (sector: 1.9%). While this can be positive for mature, cash-generative businesses returning capital to shareholders, it may also signal a lack of growth opportunities or management conservatism.
Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (CCO) is exhibiting exceptional momentum with a score of 90/100, placing it among the strongest trending stocks in the market. Revenue growth stands at 7.7% year-over-year, while a beta of 1.67 reflects its sensitivity to broader market moves. Stocks with momentum scores this high have historically outperformed over the following 3–12 months, suggesting CCO may continue to benefit from strong institutional interest and positive price trends.
With a stability score of 45/100, CCO exhibits average financial resilience. Key stability metrics include a beta of 1.67. While the balance sheet is not a major concern, the stock is subject to typical market volatility and may experience sharper drawdowns during risk-off episodes.
The short interest score of 40/100 for CCO suggests somewhat elevated bearish positioning by institutional traders. Specific risk factors include high market sensitivity (beta: 1.67), small-cap liquidity risk. With a $785M market cap (small-cap), Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. may experience above-average volatility. Investors should consider whether the short thesis has merit or if it creates a potential short-squeeze opportunity.
Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. is a small-cap company in the Services sector, ranked #0 of 50 in its sector (100th percentile) and #925 of 7,333 overall (87th percentile). Key comparisons include ROE of -2.9% trailing the 5.3% sector median and operating margins of 17.6% above the 3.5% sector average. This top-quartile standing reflects exceptional competitive strength relative to Services peers.
While CCO currently exhibits a HOLD profile, superior opportunities exist within the SERVICES sector. Our model identifies several "Strong Buy" candidates with higher quality scores and more attractive valuations among direct industry competitors.
View Top Services Alpha →Quant Factor Profile
Key factor gap
Momentum (90) vs Investment (29) — closing this gap could shift the rating.
EV/EBITDA 99% ABOVE SECTOR MEDIAN
ROE 155% BELOW SECTOR MEDIAN
Gross Margin 10% BELOW SECTOR MEDIAN
AUDIT DATA AS OF SEP 30, 2025 (Q2 FY2025)
We rate Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (CCO) as a Hold with a composite score of 57.8/100 at a current price of $2.37. The stock presents a mixed quantitative picture — neither compelling enough to warrant new accumulation nor weak enough to justify selling for existing holders. Our factors are split, and the overall profile suggests patience is warranted.
The rating is primarily driven by strength in momentum (90th percentile) and value (65th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. Offsetting weakness in investment (29th percentile) and quality (40th percentile) tempers our overall conviction. We assign a No Moat rating (22/100), High uncertainty, and Poor capital allocation.
Key items to watch: the path to profitability. Any material change in these dynamics could warrant a reassessment of our rating. The moat trend is stable, which suggests the competitive landscape is stable for now.
Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. holds a top-quartile position (#0 of 50) within the Services sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 57.8/100 places it at rank #925 in our full 7,333-stock universe. At $785M in market capitalization, Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. is a small-cap player in the Services space, which limits certain scale advantages but may allow for more agile strategic execution.
The outlook is moderately positive, with revenue expanding at 8% and favorable momentum (90th percentile) reflecting constructive market sentiment. The business shows steady execution, though the growth rate is below the levels typically associated with high-conviction growth stories. Momentum confirmation provides support for the current price level.
The margin cascade tells an important story: gross margins of 53% (-6.2pp vs sector) narrow to operating margins of 18% (+14.1pp vs sector) and net margins of -0.3%, yielding a gross-to-net conversion rate of -1%. The significant margin erosion from gross to net suggests elevated operating expenses, high interest costs, or other structural drags that warrant monitoring.
At a current price of $2.37, Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. is trading near fair value based on current fundamentals. Our value factor score of 65/100 reflects a composite assessment across multiple valuation metrics including price-to-earnings, price-to-book, EV/EBITDA, and price-to-sales ratios relative to both sector peers and the broader market. Valuation metrics are mixed, with no strong signal of mispricing in either direction.
The stock currently trades at EV/EBITDA of 23.3x (at a premium), P/S of 0.8x. We evaluate these multiples in the context of both absolute levels and sector-relative positioning to form our valuation view.
Gross margins of 53% signal strong pricing power and brand/IP advantages — businesses with margins above 40% have historically demonstrated more resilient earnings through economic cycles.
Positive momentum (90th percentile) indicates institutional accumulation and favorable technical dynamics that tend to persist in the intermediate term.
Thin net margins of -0.3% provide limited cushion against cost pressures, competitive pricing, or macroeconomic headwinds — even small changes in costs could swing the company to a loss.
High beta of 1.67 means amplified losses in market selloffs — in a broad market correction, this stock would likely decline more than the index.
We assign a High uncertainty rating to Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc.. Key risk factors include elevated market sensitivity (beta of 1.67), current negative profitability (net margin -0.3%). The wide range of potential outcomes widens our fair value estimate and increases the possibility of permanent capital impairment. Investors considering this name should size positions accordingly and demand a meaningful margin of safety before initiating.
Specific risk factors that inform our assessment include: elevated market sensitivity (beta of 1.67); current negative profitability (net margin -0.3%). Each of these factors independently widens the distribution of potential outcomes, and in combination they create a risk profile that demands careful position sizing. The stability factor at the 45th percentile and quality factor at the 40th percentile provide a quantitative summary of the overall risk landscape.
Key risk mitigants include: healthy gross margins of 53% provide a buffer against cost pressures. These factors partially offset the identified risks and provide downside protection in adverse scenarios. On balance, the risk-reward profile warrants caution and disciplined position management.
We rate Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc.'s capital allocation as Poor. Key concerns include low returns on equity (-2.9%), negative profitability, weak asset returns (ROA -0.4%). Exemplary capital allocators generate ROE above 20% and maintain conservative leverage — Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. significantly underperforms these benchmarks, raising questions about management's ability to create shareholder value.
Investors should scrutinize management's reinvestment decisions and balance sheet trajectory before committing capital. Poor capital allocation often compounds over time: overlevered balance sheets limit strategic flexibility, while low returns on capital destroy shareholder value. We would need to see sustained improvement in profitability metrics and balance sheet discipline before considering an upgrade.
In summary, Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. receives a Hold rating with a composite score of 57.8/100 (rank #925 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a No Moat (22/100, trend: stable), High uncertainty, and Poor capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 54/100.
Our analysis supports a neutral stance on Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc.. While the quantitative profile is not weak enough to warrant selling, it lacks the multi-factor strength required for a buy recommendation. Existing holders should maintain positions and monitor for catalysts — either fundamental improvement or valuation compression — that would shift the risk-reward balance.
Analysis derived from Blank Capital Research quantitative terminal. For informational purposes only. No trade solicitation. Past performance not indicative of future results. Consult a qualified advisor.
We do not assign Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. a meaningful economic moat, scoring 22/100 on our composite assessment. The ROIC-WACC spread of -1.8% is the primary signal of economic value creation. Current fundamentals do not demonstrate the kind of durable competitive advantages — such as superior returns on invested capital, margin superiority, or reinvestment efficiency — that would protect the company from competitive erosion over the long term. The highest-scoring pillar, margin superiority, reached only 10.8/20.
The strongest moat sources are margin superiority (10.8/20) and financial resilience (5/20). GM 53% vs sector 60%, OM 18% vs sector 4%. Interest coverage 0.8x, Net debt/EBITDA 61.3x. These pillars form the core of Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc.'s competitive identity and are the primary drivers of excess returns in our framework.
Areas of relative weakness include reinvestment efficiency (0/20) and economic value creation (1.9/20). Capital turnover 0.08x. Improvement in these areas could meaningfully widen the moat over time, while deterioration would be an early warning of competitive erosion.
Our moat trend assessment is Stable. Multi-year ROIC and operating margin trajectories show neither meaningful improvement nor deterioration, suggesting the competitive position is steady. We expect Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc.'s moat profile to remain largely unchanged absent a material shift in return on capital or industry dynamics.
Key profit drivers include gross margins of 53% providing a solid profitability foundation, operating margins of 18% reflecting effective cost management, moderate revenue growth of 8%. The margin cascade from 53% gross to 18% operating to -0.3% net reveals the company's cost structure and reinvestment intensity. Our analysis indicates that profit quality is adequate though not exceptional, with the quality factor at the 40th percentile.
The margin profile shows gross margins of 53%, operating margins of 18%, net margins of -0.3%. Return metrics include ROE of -2.9% and ROA of -0.4%. Relative to the Services sector, gross margins are 6.2 percentage points below the sector median of 60%, and ROE of -2.9% compares to a sector median of 5.3%.
The balance sheet reflects revenue growth of 8%. Overall balance sheet health is adequate for the current business environment.
Above 50MA
37.18%
Net New Highs
+51081
Clear Channel Outdoor surged 8.22% after announcing a $6.2 billion all-cash acquisition by Mubadala Capital and TWG Global at $2.43 per share. The deal includes a 45-day go-shop period for alternative offers. Meanwhile, the broader market declined with the S&P 500 falling 0.36% and Nasdaq dropping 0.59%.
Lamar Advertising Co (LAMR) achieves historic operating margins and robust acquisition activity, setting the stage for continued expansion in 2026.
U.S. stock futures rose on Tuesday as investors await delayed economic data including retail sales and employment costs. Major indices showed modest gains with the S&P 500 up 0.18% and Nasdaq 100 up 0.15%. Key movers included Credo Technology jumping 16.89% on strong earnings guidance, Oracle rising 1.47% after launching new AI agents, and Clear Channel Outdoor advancing 6.85% following a $6.2 billion acquisition agreement. Analysts maintain a constructive outlook on the global economy with expectations for continued AI investment and emerging market outperformance.
Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings (NYSE:CCO) stock surged 8.22% in premarket trading following announcement of a definitive acquisition agreement by Mubadala Capital and TWG Global for $6.2 billion. The deal values the company at $2.43 per share, representing a 71% premium to its October 2025 unaffected price. The acquisition is expected to close by Q3 2026, with a 45-day go-shop period ending March 26, 2026.
Sean Reilly: Thank you, Angela. Excluding political, revenues grew more than 4% on an acquisition-adjusted basis in the quarter. Based on those pacings and as noted in the release, we anticipate full year AFFO to be between $8.50 and $8.70 per share representing year-over-year growth of 4.1% in AFFO per share at the midpoint.