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Warren Buffett Loves SiriusXM, But These 2 Media Stocks Are Better Buys
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Warren Buffett Loves SiriusXM, But These 2 Media Stocks Are Better Buys

While Buffett boosts SiriusXM shares, there are better options in the media sector.

Warren Buffett Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) (BRK.B 0.99%) Looks like he’s found the last apple of his eye. Trillion dollar conglomerate is rapidly accumulating shares SiriusXM Holdings (SIRI 2.39%)satellite radio company considered a monopoly by some investors.

Berkshire now owns 32% of SiriusXM, according to the latest SEC filings.

Buffett isn’t new to Sirius stock. Liberty Media first acquired shares of the company through SiriusXM shares in 2016; these shares were recently separated as Sirius became an independent company again.

Buffett didn’t explain why he likes SiriusXM. But I’ve been a fan for a long time media stocksIn the past, it viewed newspapers as a local monopoly and had a significant share in newspapers. Washington Post for decades.

SiriusXM ticks those boxes as the only currently operating satellite radio company and is a stable business with a solid subscriber base. It currently has a cheap valuation of 8 and a dividend yield of 4.1%; these are two traits that Buffett certainly appreciates.

But SiriusXM has struggled to grow, and the stock has chronically underperformed throughout Buffett’s ownership.

If you’re considering following Buffett on SiriusXM, there are two other media stocks to consider.

Warren Buffett at Berkshire's annual conference.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

1. New York Times Company

New York Times Company (NYT 0.05%)The company, which owns its eponymous newspaper and a handful of smaller media outlets like The Athletic and Wordle, appears to have much of what Buffett is looking for in a media stock.

New York Times It has a world-class brand in the news space and its reporting sets the news agenda for much of the media, including television. Readers don’t just look Times therefore, it can only attract the best journalistic talent because of its prestige.

The digital age has been a challenging time for newspapers, but Times It pivoted successfully and built a strong digital subscription business even as its print business continued to decline.

It now has a total of 10.8 million subscribers, showing steady growth, up 10% from a year ago. Revenue rose 6% to $625.1 million and it reported an adjusted operating margin of 18.3%.

Its digital business now accounts for the majority of its revenue, and its growth could accelerate further as less revenue comes from the print side. With a strong brand, a solid business model, and a leading position in the news industry, The New York Times Co. appears well positioned for long-term growth.

2.Netflix

netflix (NFL -0.74%) It continues to dominate media coverage, as the company’s third-quarter earnings report shows.

Netflix has repeatedly demonstrated its wide economic moat. Nearly 300 million households worldwide now subscribe to the service. At a time when many of its legacy media rivals are struggling, Netflix continues to win new customers and grow profits by unburdening traditional cable and streaming channels.

Netflix’s subscriber base has given it the firepower to invest in a wide range of entertainment; so it can attract new subscribers, retain existing subscribers, and absorb occasional price increases. The nature of the subscription business model also benefits Netflix because it expects its operating margin to increase steadily as the company grows.

The broadcaster has numerous competitive advantages, including its massive subscriber base, global content and expertise in producing new programming.

For investors like Buffett, who prefer industry leaders with sustainable competitive advantages, Netflix seems like a perfect fit. The streaming stock has already been one of the best-performing stocks this century, but it has more room to move higher as it grows in emerging markets like Asia.

Jeremy Bowman They have positions at Netflix. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Berkshire Hathaway, Netflix, and The New York Times Co. disclosure policy.