Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) vs Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (LYV) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | NFLX | 15.9% revenue growth vs LYV's 8.8% |
| Value | NFLX | Lower P/E (30.8x vs 101.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | NFLX | 24.3% net margin vs LYV's 3.7% |
| Stability / Safety | NFLX | Beta 0.76 vs LYV's 0.90, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | LYV | +13.1% vs NFLX's -1.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NFLX | 19.8% ROA vs LYV's 3.9%, ROIC 29.8% vs 343.5% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Netflix is a global streaming entertainment service that offers original and licensed TV shows, movies, and documentaries. It generates revenue primarily through subscription fees — with three pricing tiers — and earns additional income from licensing its original content to other platforms. Its key advantage is its massive scale and data-driven content creation, which allows it to invest billions in programming that attracts and retains subscribers worldwide.
Live Nation Entertainment is the world's largest live entertainment company, operating concerts, festivals, and venue management globally. It generates revenue primarily through concert promotion and production (~60%), ticketing services via Ticketmaster (~30%), and sponsorship/advertising deals (~10%). Its key competitive advantage is its vertically integrated ecosystem—controlling artists, venues, ticketing, and sponsorships—which creates powerful network effects and barriers to entry.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
NFLX leads in 4 of 6 categories — strongest in Financial Metrics and Valuation Metrics. 1 category is tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
NFLX is the larger business by revenue, generating $45.2B annually — 1.8x LYV's $24.6B. NFLX is the more profitable business, keeping 24.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to LYV's 3.7%. On growth, NFLX holds the edge at +17.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | NFLXNetflix, Inc. | LYVLive Nation Enter… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $45.2B | $24.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $30.1B | $1.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $11.0B | $899M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $9.5B | $1.6B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +48.5% | +46.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +29.5% | +4.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +24.3% | +3.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +20.9% | +6.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +17.6% | +11.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +31.1% | -56.0% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, NFLX's 13.7x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than LYV's 17.8x.
| Metric | NFLXNetflix, Inc. | LYVLive Nation Enter… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $407.8B | $38.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $413.2B | $33.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 38.04x | -675.58x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 30.75x | 101.03x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.15x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 13.74x | 17.83x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 9.03x | 1.51x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 15.61x | 42.03x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 43.10x | 114.42x |
Profitability & Efficiency
LYV delivers a 45.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $45 in annual profit, vs $41 for NFLX. NFLX carries lower financial leverage with a 0.54x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to LYV's 2.93x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NFLX scores 7/9 vs LYV's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | NFLXNetflix, Inc. | LYVLive Nation Enter… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +41.3% | +45.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +19.8% | +3.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +29.8% | +3.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +30.5% | +11.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.54x | 2.93x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $5.4B | -$4.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $9.0B | $7.1B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $14.5B | $2.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 17.33x | 3.95x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in NFLX five years ago would be worth $17,479 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $17,461 for LYV. Over the past 12 months, LYV leads with a +13.1% total return vs NFLX's -1.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NFLX at 44.0% vs LYV's 31.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | NFLXNetflix, Inc. | LYVLive Nation Enter… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +5.8% | +11.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -1.9% | +13.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +198.8% | +125.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +74.8% | +74.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +930.4% | +637.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +44.0% | +31.0% |
Risk & Volatility
NFLX is the less volatile stock with a 0.76 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than LYV's 0.90 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. LYV currently trades 92.5% from its 52-week high vs NFLX's 71.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | NFLXNetflix, Inc. | LYVLive Nation Enter… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.76x | 0.90x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $134.12 | $175.25 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $75.01 | $112.88 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +71.8% | +92.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 55.8 | 59.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 38.8M | 2.2M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates NFLX as "Buy" and LYV as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 21.8% upside for NFLX (target: $117) vs 11.8% for LYV (target: $181).
| Metric | NFLXNetflix, Inc. | LYVLive Nation Enter… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $117.25 | $181.20 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 97 | 43 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.2% | +0.1% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) | 100 | 217.16 | +117.2% |
| Live Nation Enterta… (LYV) | 100 | 248.34 | +148.3% |
Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) returned +75% over 5 years vs Live Nation Enterta… (LYV)'s +75%. A $10,000 investment in NFLX 5 years ago would be worth $17,479 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) | $8.8B | $45.2B | +411.7% |
| Live Nation Enterta… (LYV) | $7.8B | $25.2B | +222.0% |
Netflix, Inc.'s revenue grew from $8.8B (2016) to $45.2B (2025) — a 19.9% CAGR. Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.'s revenue grew from $7.8B (2016) to $25.2B (2025) — a 13.9% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) | 2.1% | 24.3% | +1049.7% |
| Live Nation Enterta… (LYV) | 0.0% | 2.0% | +5134.0% |
Netflix, Inc.'s net margin went from 2% (2016) to 24% (2025). Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.'s net margin went from 0% (2016) to 2% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) | 153.6 | 37.1 | -75.8% |
| Live Nation Enterta… (LYV) | 109 | 47.3 | -56.6% |
Netflix, Inc. has traded in a 30x–154x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~38x. Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. has traded in a 47x–109x P/E range over 3 years; current trailing P/E is ~-676x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) | 0.04 | 2.53 | +5783.7% |
| Live Nation Enterta… (LYV) | -0.23 | -0.24 | -4.3% |
Netflix, Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.04 (2016) to $2.53 (2025) — a 57% CAGR. Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-0.23 (2016) to $-0.24 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Netflix, Inc. generated $9B FCF in 2025 (+7269% vs 2021). Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. generated $334M FCF in 2025 (-79% vs 2021).
NFLX vs LYV: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NFLX or LYV a better buy right now?
Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) offers the better valuation at 38.0x trailing P/E (30.8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) a "Buy" — based on 97 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — NFLX or LYV?
On forward P/E, Netflix, Inc. is actually cheaper at 30.8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — NFLX or LYV?
Over the past 5 years, Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) delivered a total return of +74.8%, compared to +74.6% for Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (LYV). A $10,000 investment in NFLX five years ago would be worth approximately $17K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NFLX returned +930.4% versus LYV's +637.3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — NFLX or LYV?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) is the lower-risk stock at 0.76β versus Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.'s 0.90β — meaning LYV is approximately 19% more volatile than NFLX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 54% versus 3% for Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — NFLX or LYV?
Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) is the more profitable company, earning 24.3% net margin versus 2.0% for Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. — meaning it keeps 24.3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NFLX leads at 29.5% versus 5.0% for LYV. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NFLX leads at 48.5%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Is NFLX or LYV more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) trades at 30.8x forward P/E versus 101.0x for Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. — 70.3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NFLX: 21.8% to $117.25.
07Which pays a better dividend — NFLX or LYV?
None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend. All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.
08Is NFLX or LYV better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.76), +930.4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NFLX: +930.4%, LYV: +637.3%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
09What are the main differences between NFLX and LYV?
Both stocks operate in the Communication Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
Find Stocks Like These
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- Sector: Communication Services
- Market Cap > $100B
- Revenue Growth > 5%
- Gross Margin > 27%