AENT
Alliance Entertainment Holding Corporation
Entertainment
Market Cap$359M
5Y Perf.-24.1%
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Stock Comparison
AENT vs BNED
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
BNED
Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.
Specialty Retail
Market Cap$364M
5Y Perf.-98.7%
AENT vs BNED — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | AENT | BNED |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment | Specialty Retail |
| Market Cap | $359M | $364M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.06B | $1.68B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $22M | $-9M |
| Gross Margin | 13.9% | 20.2% |
| Operating Margin | 3.9% | 4.1% |
| Forward P/E | 20.3x | — |
| Total Debt | $91M | $283M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1M | $9M |
AENT vs BNED — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
AENT
BNED
| Stock | Mar 21 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance Entertainm… (AENT) | 100 | 75.9 | -24.1% |
| Barnes & Noble Educ… (BNED) | 100 | 1.3 | -98.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: AENT vs BNED
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: AENT leads in 4 of 6 categories, making it the strongest pick for profitability and margin quality and capital preservation and lower volatility. Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion. This set spans 2 sectors — these stocks serve different portfolio roles, not just different price points.
AENT
Alliance Entertainment Holding Corporation
The Income Pick
AENT carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 0.90
- -25.0% 10Y total return vs BNED's -98.9%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.90, Low D/E 88.1%, current ratio 1.26x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
BNED
Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.
The Growth Play
BNED is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth 2.7%, EPS growth 89.3%, 3Y rev CAGR 2.5%
- 2.7% revenue growth vs AENT's -3.4%
Best for: growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | BNED | 2.7% revenue growth vs AENT's -3.4% |
| Quality / Margins | AENT | 2.1% margin vs BNED's -0.6% |
| Stability / Safety | AENT | Beta 0.90 vs BNED's 1.83, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | AENT | +226.3% vs BNED's +3.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AENT | 5.0% ROA vs BNED's -1.0%, ROIC 11.6% vs 2.3% |
AENT vs BNED — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
AENT vs BNED — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLAENTLAGGINGBNED
BNEDBarnes & Noble Educat…
1leads
AENTAlliance Entertainmen…
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs BNEDMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
BNED4/4
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
AENT9/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
AENT5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — AENT and BNED each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
BNED is the larger business by revenue, generating $1.7B annually — 1.6x AENT's $1.1B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 2.1% (AENT) to -0.6% (BNED). On growth, BNED holds the edge at +7.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | AENTAlliance Entertai… | BNEDBarnes & Noble Ed… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.1B | $1.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $47M | $102M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $22M | -$9M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $13M | -$5M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +13.9% | +20.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +3.9% | +4.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +2.1% | -0.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +1.2% | -0.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -6.3% | +7.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +28.6% | -61.5% |
Evenly matched — AENT and BNED each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
BNED leads this category, winning 4 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, BNED's 11.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than AENT's 12.7x.
| Metric | AENTAlliance Entertai… | BNEDBarnes & Noble Ed… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $359M | $364M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $449M | $638M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 24.37x | -4.27x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 20.31x | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.66x | 11.84x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.34x | 0.23x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.60x | 1.03x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 13.43x | — |
BNED leads this category, winning 4 of 4 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AENT leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AENT delivers a 18.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $19 in annual profit, vs $-3 for BNED. AENT carries lower financial leverage with a 0.88x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to BNED's 1.04x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AENT scores 7/9 vs BNED's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | AENTAlliance Entertai… | BNEDBarnes & Noble Ed… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +18.6% | -3.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.0% | -1.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +11.6% | +2.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +15.8% | +3.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.88x | 1.04x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $90M | $274M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1M | $9M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $91M | $283M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.33x | 0.65x |
AENT leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
AENT leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in AENT five years ago would be worth $7,490 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $136 for BNED. Over the past 12 months, AENT leads with a +226.3% total return vs BNED's +3.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AENT at 31.6% vs BNED's -59.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | AENTAlliance Entertai… | BNEDBarnes & Noble Ed… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -8.7% | +24.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +226.3% | +3.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +127.7% | -93.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -25.1% | -98.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -25.0% | -98.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +31.6% | -59.4% |
AENT leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — AENT and BNED each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
AENT is the less volatile stock with a 0.90 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than BNED's 1.83 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. BNED currently trades 87.5% from its 52-week high vs AENT's 83.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | AENTAlliance Entertai… | BNEDBarnes & Noble Ed… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.90x | 1.83x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $8.80 | $12.21 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $2.22 | $5.90 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +83.1% | +87.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 54.9 | 57.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 32K | 231K |
Evenly matched — AENT and BNED each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Consensus price targets imply 9.4% upside for AENT (target: $8) vs -77.7% for BNED (target: $2).
| Metric | AENTAlliance Entertai… | BNEDBarnes & Noble Ed… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $8.00 | $2.38 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 3 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
AENT leads in 2 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). BNED leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Best OverallAlliance Entertainment Hold… (AENT)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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AENT vs BNED: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AENT or BNED a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.
(BNED) is the stronger pick with 2. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 4% for Alliance Entertainment Holding Corporation (AENT). Alliance Entertainment Holding Corporation (AENT) offers the better valuation at 24. 4x trailing P/E (20. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. (BNED) a "Hold" — based on 3 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 is the better long-term investment — AENT or BNED?
Over the past 5 years, Alliance Entertainment Holding Corporation (AENT) delivered a total return of -25.
1%, compared to -98. 6% for Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. (BNED). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AENT returned -25. 0% versus BNED's -98. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — AENT or BNED?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Alliance Entertainment Holding Corporation (AENT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
90β versus Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. 's 1. 83β — meaning BNED is approximately 103% more volatile than AENT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Alliance Entertainment Holding Corporation (AENT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 88% versus 104% for Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — AENT or BNED?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.
(BNED) is pulling ahead at 2. 7% versus -3. 4% for Alliance Entertainment Holding Corporation (AENT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Alliance Entertainment Holding Corporation grew EPS 233. 0% year-over-year, compared to 89. 3% for Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, BNED leads at 2. 5% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
05Which has better profit margins — AENT or BNED?
Alliance Entertainment Holding Corporation (AENT) is the more profitable company, earning 1.
4% net margin versus -4. 1% for Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. — meaning it keeps 1. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AENT leads at 2. 8% versus 1. 0% for BNED. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BNED leads at 21. 0%, 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 AENT or BNED more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AENT: 9.
4% to $8. 00.
07Which pays a better dividend — AENT or BNED?
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 AENT or BNED better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Alliance Entertainment Holding Corporation (AENT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
90)). Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. (BNED) carries a higher beta of 1. 83 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (AENT: -25. 0%, BNED: -98. 9%), 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 AENT and BNED?
These companies operate in different sectors (AENT (Communication Services) and BNED (Consumer Cyclical)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
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.
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Revenue Growth>
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