GHC
Consumer DefensiveGraham Holdings Company · Education & Training Services · $5B
What is Graham Holdings Company?
Graham Holdings Company is a diversified holding company with roots in education and media, operating businesses across multiple industries worldwide. Founded in 1947 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, it has evolved well beyond its legacy publishing origins.
Graham Holdings generates revenue through a wide range of subsidiaries. Its education segment offers test preparation, professional certification training, English-language programs, and degree-granting institutions. Its media operations include seven television stations, Foreign Policy magazine, and Slate. Beyond education and media, the company operates businesses in home health, industrial manufacturing, cybersecurity training, digital advertising, and lumber products — making it one of the more eclectic conglomerates in the consumer defensive sector.
Graham Holdings was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.
- Test preparation and professional certification training programs
- Television broadcasting across seven owned stations
- Foreign Policy magazine and Slate online publication
- Home health and hospice care services
- Industrial products including linear actuators and lumber
Is GHC a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates GHC as Below Average overall.
Among GHC's five pillars, Valuation stands out as the relative bright spot, rated Good — suggesting the stock may not be priced at a premium relative to what the business currently delivers. The Risk pillar comes in at Neutral, indicating the company does not carry outsized financial or operational risk compared to peers.
The Quality, Moat, and Growth pillars all register as Weak, pointing to limited competitive advantages, below-average business quality, and a lack of meaningful growth momentum across its diversified operations.
See the exact pillar breakdown and full financial metrics by signing up for a UQS Pro account. Sign up free →
Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does GHC pay dividends?
Yes — Graham Holdings Company pays a dividend.
Graham Holdings pays a regular dividend, which is relatively uncommon among diversified holding companies of its size. The dividend reflects the company's preference for returning some capital to shareholders alongside its ongoing reinvestment across its varied subsidiaries. Income-oriented investors may find this cadence appealing, though the overall payout context is best evaluated alongside the full UQS financial profile.
When does GHC report earnings?
Graham Holdings reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, typical for US-listed equities.
Given the Weak ratings across Quality and Growth pillars, recent earnings cycles have not demonstrated consistent expansion in profitability or revenue across GHC's diversified segments. The conglomerate structure means results can vary significantly by division from quarter to quarter.
For the most recent quarter's results, visit Graham Holdings Company's investor relations page directly.
GHC Price History
+80.2% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Graham Holdings Company?
Based on Graham Holdings Company's historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
GHC Long-term Outlook
The fundamental outlook for GHC is cautious. With Growth rated Weak, the company's diversified portfolio does not appear to be generating the kind of compounding expansion that drives long-term value creation. The Neutral Risk rating provides some stability, and the Good Valuation label suggests the market has already priced in much of the uncertainty. The path forward depends heavily on whether any of its education or media segments can reaccelerate.
Growth drivers
- Potential expansion in professional certification and online education demand
- Stabilization or recovery in local television advertising markets
- Opportunistic acquisitions typical of diversified holding company strategies
Key risks
- Structural decline in traditional media and print advertising
- Fragmented business model limiting operational focus and margin improvement
- Competitive pressure in education from lower-cost digital-first providers
GHC vs Peers
Graham Holdings operates in overlapping territory with several education-focused companies, though its diversified structure sets it apart from pure-play peers.
Grand Canyon Education focuses exclusively on higher education services, giving it a more concentrated and operationally focused model than GHC's conglomerate structure.
Laureate operates degree-granting institutions internationally, competing with GHC's higher education subsidiaries but without the media and industrial business lines.
Stride targets K-12 online and career learning, occupying a different educational segment than GHC's professional certification and test preparation focus.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Graham Holdings do?
Graham Holdings operates a diversified set of businesses spanning education, media, home health, and industrial manufacturing. Its education arm covers test preparation, professional certifications, and degree programs. Its media holdings include television stations, Foreign Policy magazine, and Slate. The company also owns businesses in cybersecurity training, lumber products, and digital advertising.
Does GHC pay dividends?
Yes, Graham Holdings pays a regular dividend. This makes it somewhat distinctive among diversified holding companies of its size. Investors seeking income may find this relevant, though the full dividend context — including yield category and payout sustainability — is available in the complete UQS financial profile.
When does GHC report earnings?
Graham Holdings reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with standard US-listed company practice. For exact upcoming report dates and the most recent results, check Graham Holdings' official investor relations page.
Is GHC a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates GHC as Below Average, driven by Weak ratings in Quality, Moat, and Growth. The Valuation pillar is rated Good, which may interest value-oriented investors. Whether GHC fits a portfolio depends on individual goals — the full pillar breakdown is available to Pro members.
Is GHC overvalued?
Based on the UQS Valuation pillar, GHC is rated Good — suggesting it is not trading at an elevated premium relative to its fundamentals. This is one of the stronger signals in GHC's overall profile, though it should be weighed against the Weak Quality and Growth ratings.
How does GHC compare to its competitors?
Unlike pure-play education companies such as Grand Canyon Education or Stride, Graham Holdings blends education with media, health services, and industrial operations. This diversification reduces direct comparability but also dilutes the focused growth profiles seen in sector-specific peers.
What is GHC's market cap bracket?
Graham Holdings is classified as a mid-cap company. This places it in a range typically associated with established businesses that have moved beyond early growth stages but have not yet reached the scale of large- or mega-cap peers.
Who founded Graham Holdings?
Graham Holdings traces its origins to The Washington Post Company, which was built around the Washington Post newspaper. The company has been associated with the Graham family for decades. For detailed founding history, publicly available sources and the company's own history page provide comprehensive context.
Is GHC a long-term quality investment?
As a long-term quality indicator, GHC's UQS profile raises some caution. The Weak Moat rating suggests limited durable competitive advantages, and the Weak Growth rating points to below-average expansion prospects. The Neutral Risk and Good Valuation ratings provide some balance. Pro members can view the complete analysis.
What is the main competitive advantage of Graham Holdings?
Graham Holdings' primary structural advantage is its diversification — revenue from education, media, health, and industrial segments reduces dependence on any single market. However, the UQS Moat pillar rates this advantage as Weak, suggesting the individual businesses may not hold strong pricing power or barriers to entry on their own.
What sector does GHC belong to?
Graham Holdings is classified under the Consumer Defensive sector. This reflects the relatively stable, non-cyclical nature of some of its core businesses, particularly education and media, which tend to hold demand even during broader economic slowdowns.
Is GHC a growth stock or value stock?
Based on UQS pillar labels, GHC leans toward the value side of the spectrum. Its Growth pillar is rated Weak, indicating limited expansion momentum, while its Valuation pillar is rated Good — a combination more typical of value-oriented situations than high-growth profiles.
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Pro Analysis
GHC — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 20, 2026 | 35.1 | 33.3 | 26.0 | 18.7 | 45.2 | 65.3 | 0.0 |
| May 19, 2026 | 35.1 | 33.2 | 26.0 | 18.7 | 45.2 | 65.0 | -0.1 |
| May 14, 2026 | 35.2 | 33.3 | 26.0 | 18.7 | 45.2 | 65.7 | -0.1 |
| May 12, 2026 | 35.3 | 33.4 | 26.0 | 18.7 | 45.2 | 66.1 | -1.1 |
| May 7, 2026 | 36.4 | 31.7 | 26.0 | 18.7 | 47.3 | 74.6 | 0.0 |
| Apr 26, 2026 | 36.4 | 31.7 | 26.0 | 18.7 | 47.3 | 74.3 | +0.1 |
| Apr 25, 2026 | 36.3 | 31.7 | 26.0 | 18.7 | 47.3 | 73.6 | +0.1 |
| Apr 23, 2026 | 36.2 | 31.4 | 26.0 | 18.7 | 47.3 | 73.1 | 0.0 |
| Apr 21, 2026 | 36.2 | 31.4 | 26.0 | 18.7 | 47.3 | 73.3 | 0.0 |
| Apr 19, 2026 | 36.2 | 31.4 | 26.0 | 18.7 | 47.3 | 73.4 | -0.2 |
GHC — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 33.4/100 (25%)Graham Holdings Company currently shows below-average quality metrics, suggesting challenges with profitability.
How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 18.7/100 (20%)Graham Holdings Company faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 45.2/100 (15%)Graham Holdings Company has some risk factors including moderate leverage or solvency concerns.
Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 66.0/100 (15%)Graham Holdings Company trades at a reasonable valuation with decent earnings yield and FCF multiples.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 26/100 (25%)Graham Holdings Company operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for GHC.
Score Composition
Financial Data
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How is the GHC UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Graham Holdings Company is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses Graham Holdings Company's competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether Graham Holdings Company is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.