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Graham Holdings (GHC)
NYSE:GHC

Graham Holdings (GHC) AI Stock Analysis

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GHC

Graham Holdings

(NYSE:GHC)

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Neutral 64 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:64Neutral
Price Target:
$1,143.00
▲(0.38% Upside)
Action:DowngradedDate:02/25/26
The score is driven primarily by generally solid fundamentals (moderate leverage, improving profitability into 2024, and consistently positive free cash flow), tempered by the significant uncertainty created by the reported 2025 revenue of zero. Valuation is a clear positive due to the low P/E, but technicals are weak with the stock trading below key moving averages and negative MACD.
Positive Factors
Diversified business model
Graham Holdings operates across education (Kaplan), media, healthcare and manufacturing, spreading revenue sources and lowering single-market exposure. This diversification supports resilient cash flows and reduces reliance on any single cyclical sector over a multi-month horizon.
Consistent free cash flow
Historically consistent positive free cash flow provides the company with internal funding for capex, dividends, and acquisitions. Even with year-to-year volatility, recurring free cash generation supports long-term financial flexibility and strategic investment capacity.
Conservative leverage and rising equity
Moderate leverage and growing equity indicate a conservative balance sheet that enhances resilience to downturns and enables opportunistic capital deployment. Lower relative debt reduces refinancing risk and preserves headroom for strategic moves over the coming months.
Negative Factors
2025 revenue reporting anomaly
The 2025 annual revenue showing as zero is a material data anomaly that undermines confidence in recent-period metrics and trend analysis. This ambiguity complicates forecasting and investor assessment of operating performance until clarified or restated, a persistent governance concern.
Weakness in broadcasting and manufacturing
Television broadcasting and automotive-related businesses showed declines, dragging operating income and adjusted operating cash flow. Structural pressures in ad-driven broadcasting and cyclical manufacturing exposures can persist and depress segment profitability over multiple quarters.
Cash flow volatility and near-term decline
While cash generation is positive overall, volatility and a meaningful downshift in 2025 reduce predictability for funding and capital allocation. Lower adjusted operating cash flow constrains optionality for investments or buybacks until multi-quarter stability returns.

Graham Holdings (GHC) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Graham Holdings Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionGraham Holdings Company, through its subsidiaries, operates as a diversified education and media company worldwide. It provides test preparation services and materials; data science and training services; professional training and exam preparation for professional certifications and licensures; and non-academic operations support services to the Purdue University Global. The company also offers training, test preparation, and degrees for accounting and financial services professionals; English-language training, academic preparation programs, and test preparation for English proficiency exams; and A-level examination preparation services, as well as operates three colleges, a business school, a higher education institution, and an online learning institution. In addition, it owns and operates seven television stations; and provides social media management tools to connect newsrooms with their users, as well as produces Foreign Policy magazine and ForeignPolicy.com website. Further, the company publishes Slate, an online magazine; and two French-language news magazine websites at slate.fr and slateafrique.com. Additionally, it provides social media marketing solutions; home health and hospice services; burners, igniters, dampers, and controls; screw jacks, linear actuators and related linear motion products, and lifting systems; pressure impregnated kiln-dried lumber and plywood products; cybersecurity training solutions; digital advertising services; and power charging and data systems, industrial and commercial indoor lighting solutions, and electrical components and assemblies. The company also owns and operates 11 restaurants and entertainment venues; and engages in automobile dealerships business. The company was formerly known as The Washington Post Company and changed its name to Graham Holdings Company in November 2013. Graham Holdings Company was founded in 1877 and is based in Arlington, Virginia.
How the Company Makes MoneyGraham Holdings generates revenue through multiple key streams. Primarily, it earns significant income from its education division, Kaplan, which offers online and campus-based programs across various fields, including professional training and higher education. The media segment contributes through advertising revenue, subscription fees, and syndication from The Washington Post and other media outlets. Additionally, GHC has interests in healthcare and manufacturing, providing further diversification of income sources. Strategic partnerships with educational institutions and digital platforms enhance Kaplan's reach and profitability, while advertising relationships and content distribution agreements bolster the media segment's financial performance.

Graham Holdings Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Balance sheet is solid with moderate leverage (debt-to-equity ~0.26–0.32 through 2020–2024) and rising equity, and profitability rebounded strongly in 2024 (net margin ~15%, ROE ~17%). Cash flow is consistently positive with positive free cash flow each year, though it is volatile and down in 2025. A major risk is the reported 2025 annual revenue of 0 (and -100% growth), which materially reduces confidence in the most recent operating picture.
Income Statement
58
Neutral
From 2020–2024, revenue grew steadily (2024 up ~8.5% after 2023 up ~12.5%), and profitability improved meaningfully in 2024 with net margin rising to ~15% (from ~4.6% in 2023). However, 2025 annual revenue is shown as 0 with a -100% growth rate, which is a major red flag for data quality or a reporting anomaly; margins for 2025 are also not provided. Overall, the earnings trend is positive into 2024, but the latest reported revenue figure materially weakens confidence in the current trajectory.
Balance Sheet
72
Positive
Leverage appears conservative with debt-to-equity around ~0.26–0.32 during 2020–2024, and equity increased over time (about $3.76B in 2020 to ~$4.26B in 2024). Returns also strengthened in 2024 (return on equity ~17% vs. ~5% in 2023), indicating improved profitability on the capital base. A watch item is that total debt rose in 2024 and again in 2025 (to ~$1.32B), though it remains moderate relative to equity.
Cash Flow
63
Positive
Cash generation is consistently positive, with operating cash flow of ~$203M–$407M over 2020–2024 and free cash flow positive each year. Free cash flow improved sharply in 2022 and 2024, but it is volatile (notably weak in 2021 and down ~24% in 2025). Conversion is reasonable in 2023–2024 (free cash flow was ~64% and ~80% of net income, respectively), though operating cash flow relative to net income in 2024 is modest (~34%), suggesting earnings-to-cash timing effects.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue4.91B4.79B4.41B3.92B3.19B
Gross Profit1.36B1.47B1.31B1.27B1.07B
EBITDA740.61M1.45B665.21M504.84M719.55M
Net Income292.29M724.63M205.29M67.08M352.07M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets8.40B7.68B7.19B6.55B7.43B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments1.36B1.12B866.92M791.73M970.33M
Total Debt1.73B1.17B1.25B1.19B1.15B
Total Liabilities3.53B3.35B3.12B2.78B3.00B
Stockholders Equity4.79B4.26B3.98B3.73B4.40B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow267.66M324.08M166.43M152.92M39.89M
Operating Cash Flow339.54M406.99M259.88M235.60M202.43M
Investing Cash Flow-180.97M-62.33M-154.03M-177.15M-494.63M
Financing Cash Flow-156.30M-240.97M-98.78M-25.02M31.03M

Graham Holdings Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price1138.66
Price Trends
50DMA
1120.21
Negative
100DMA
1086.81
Negative
200DMA
1046.62
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-21.21
Positive
RSI
37.85
Neutral
STOCH
24.14
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For GHC, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 1138.66 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 1107.09, above the 50-day MA of 1120.21, and above the 200-day MA of 1046.62, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -21.21 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 37.85 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 24.14 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for GHC.

Graham Holdings Risk Analysis

Graham Holdings disclosed 46 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Graham Holdings reported the most risks in the "Legal & Regulatory" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Graham Holdings Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (62)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
79
Outperform
$2.08B13.8016.55%1.88%24.23%17.56%
76
Outperform
$3.59B12.8422.26%17.25%30.15%
73
Outperform
$4.32B20.6128.24%7.05%-2.63%
71
Outperform
$4.62B16.8826.23%2.01%-13.82%
64
Neutral
$4.59B15.8517.20%0.65%4.13%228.37%
62
Neutral
$20.33B14.63-3.31%3.23%1.93%-12.26%
* Consumer Defensive Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
GHC
Graham Holdings
1,053.21
93.33
9.72%
PRDO
Perdoceo Education
33.35
8.07
31.90%
LOPE
Grand Canyon Education
159.07
-21.83
-12.07%
LRN
Stride
84.38
-55.06
-39.49%
LAUR
Laureate Education
32.34
12.35
61.78%
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Feb 25, 2026