LYV
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.
Entertainment
Market Cap$38.65B
5Y Perf.+238.3%
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Stock Comparison
LYV vs IMAX
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
IMAX
IMAX Corporation
Entertainment
Market Cap$1.92B
5Y Perf.+182.6%
LYV vs IMAX — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | LYV | IMAX |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment | Entertainment |
| Market Cap | $38.65B | $1.92B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $25.61B | $405M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $84M | $43M |
| Gross Margin | 40.3% | 58.1% |
| Operating Margin | 3.4% | 21.4% |
| Forward P/E | 115.8x | 21.1x |
| Total Debt | $12.44B | $297M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $7.11B | $151M |
LYV vs IMAX — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
LYV
IMAX
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Nation Enterta… (LYV) | 100 | 338.3 | +238.3% |
| IMAX Corporation (IMAX) | 100 | 282.6 | +182.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: LYV vs IMAX
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: IMAX leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
LYV
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.
The Income Pick
LYV is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 0.80
- 6.2% 10Y total return vs IMAX's 8.9%
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
IMAX
IMAX Corporation
The Growth Play
IMAX carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night.
- Rev growth 16.5%, EPS growth 31.3%, 3Y rev CAGR 10.9%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.43, Low D/E 69.5%, current ratio 1.67x
- Beta 0.43, current ratio 1.67x
Best for: growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | IMAX | 16.5% revenue growth vs LYV's 8.8% |
| Value | IMAX | Lower P/E (21.1x vs 115.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | IMAX | 10.7% margin vs LYV's 0.3% |
| Stability / Safety | IMAX | Beta 0.43 vs LYV's 0.80, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | IMAX | +38.9% vs LYV's +24.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | IMAX | 4.9% ROA vs LYV's 0.4%, ROIC 12.7% vs 19.7% |
LYV vs IMAX — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
LYV vs IMAX — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLIMAXLAGGINGLYV
LYVLive Nation Entertain…
1leads
IMAXIMAX Corporation
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs LYVMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
IMAX5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
IMAX4/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
IMAX8/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
LYV5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
IMAX leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LYV is the larger business by revenue, generating $25.6B annually — 63.3x IMAX's $405M. IMAX is the more profitable business, keeping 10.7% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to LYV's 0.3%. On growth, LYV holds the edge at +12.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | LYVLive Nation Enter… | IMAXIMAX Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $25.6B | $405M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.6B | $150M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $84M | $43M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.2B | $115M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +40.3% | +58.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +3.4% | +21.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +0.3% | +10.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +4.8% | +28.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +12.1% | -6.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -4.8% | +65.5% |
IMAX leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
IMAX leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, IMAX's 13.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than LYV's 19.9x.
| Metric | LYVLive Nation Enter… | IMAXIMAX Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $38.6B | $1.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $44.0B | $2.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -692.98x | 56.56x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 115.80x | 21.15x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 19.89x | 13.10x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.53x | 4.69x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 21.20x | 4.63x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 115.84x | 16.18x |
IMAX leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
IMAX leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
IMAX delivers a 10.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $11 in annual profit, vs $4 for LYV. IMAX carries lower financial leverage with a 0.70x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to LYV's 6.84x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), IMAX scores 7/9 vs LYV's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | LYVLive Nation Enter… | IMAXIMAX Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +4.4% | +10.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.4% | +4.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +19.7% | +12.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +13.4% | +14.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 6.84x | 0.70x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $5.3B | $146M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $7.1B | $151M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $12.4B | $297M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 3.68x | 21.15x |
IMAX leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
LYV leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in LYV five years ago would be worth $20,800 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $17,034 for IMAX. Over the past 12 months, IMAX leads with a +38.9% total return vs LYV's +24.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LYV at 28.8% vs IMAX's 21.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | LYVLive Nation Enter… | IMAXIMAX Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +14.5% | -1.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +24.0% | +38.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +113.7% | +79.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +108.0% | +70.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +622.5% | +8.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +28.8% | +21.5% |
LYV leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — LYV and IMAX each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
IMAX is the less volatile stock with a 0.43 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than LYV's 0.80 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. LYV currently trades 94.9% from its 52-week high vs IMAX's 82.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | LYVLive Nation Enter… | IMAXIMAX Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.80x | 0.43x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $175.25 | $43.16 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $125.34 | $24.20 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +94.9% | +82.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 63.6 | 42.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.8M | 1.1M |
Evenly matched — LYV and IMAX each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates LYV as "Buy" and IMAX as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 20.7% upside for IMAX (target: $43) vs 8.8% for LYV (target: $181).
| Metric | LYVLive Nation Enter… | IMAXIMAX Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $181.00 | $43.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 44 | 25 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.1% | +0.1% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
IMAX leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). LYV leads in 1 (Total Returns). 1 tied.
Best OverallIMAX Corporation (IMAX)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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LYV vs IMAX: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LYV or IMAX a better buy right now?
For growth investors, IMAX Corporation (IMAX) is the stronger pick with 16.
5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 8. 8% for Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (LYV). IMAX Corporation (IMAX) offers the better valuation at 56. 6x trailing P/E (21. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (LYV) a "Buy" — based on 44 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 — LYV or IMAX?
On forward P/E, IMAX Corporation is actually cheaper at 21.
1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — LYV or IMAX?
Over the past 5 years, Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.
(LYV) delivered a total return of +108. 0%, compared to +70. 3% for IMAX Corporation (IMAX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LYV returned +622. 5% versus IMAX's +8. 9%. 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 — LYV or IMAX?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), IMAX Corporation (IMAX) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
43β versus Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. 's 0. 80β — meaning LYV is approximately 87% more volatile than IMAX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, IMAX Corporation (IMAX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 70% versus 7% for Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — LYV or IMAX?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), IMAX Corporation (IMAX) is pulling ahead at 16.
5% versus 8. 8% for Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (LYV). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: IMAX Corporation grew EPS 31. 3% year-over-year, compared to -108. 8% for Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, LYV leads at 14. 7% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — LYV or IMAX?
IMAX Corporation (IMAX) is the more profitable company, earning 8.
5% net margin versus 2. 0% for Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. — meaning it keeps 8. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IMAX leads at 23. 3% versus 5. 9% for LYV. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IMAX leads at 57. 9%, 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.
07Is LYV or IMAX more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, IMAX Corporation (IMAX) trades at 21.
1x forward P/E versus 115. 8x for Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. — 94. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for IMAX: 20. 7% to $43. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — LYV or IMAX?
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.
09Is LYV or IMAX better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.
(LYV) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 80), +622. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LYV: +622. 5%, IMAX: +8. 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.
10What are the main differences between LYV and IMAX?
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.
In terms of investment character: LYV is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; IMAX is a small-cap high-growth stock. 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
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that outperform both.
- Sector: Communication Services
- Market Cap > $100B
- Revenue Growth > 6%
- Gross Margin > 24%
Revenue Growth>
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