LYV vs IMAX vs CNK vs EPR

For growth investors, IMAX Corporation (IMAX) is the stronger pick with 16.

5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 1% for Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (CNK). EPR Properties (EPR) offers the better valuation at 17. 6x trailing P/E (19. 2x 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.

On trailing P/E, EPR Properties (EPR) is the cheapest at 17.

6x versus IMAX Corporation at 56. 6x. On forward P/E, Cinemark Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 13. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.

(LYV) delivered a total return of +108. 0%, compared to +29. 3% for Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (CNK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LYV returned +622. 5% versus CNK's -6. 6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Cinemark Holdings, Inc.

(CNK) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 22β versus Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. 's 0. 80β — meaning LYV is approximately 265% more volatile than CNK relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, IMAX Corporation (IMAX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 70% versus 9% for Cinemark Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), IMAX Corporation (IMAX) is pulling ahead at 16.

5% versus 2. 1% for Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (CNK). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: EPR Properties grew EPS 105. 0% 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.

EPR Properties (EPR) is the more profitable company, earning 38.

3% net margin versus 2. 0% for Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. — meaning it keeps 38. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: EPR leads at 52. 5% 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.

On forward earnings alone, Cinemark Holdings, Inc.

(CNK) trades at 13. 0x forward P/E versus 115. 8x for Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. — 102. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for IMAX: 20. 7% to $43. 00.

In this comparison, EPR (6.

6% yield), CNK (1. 1% yield) pay a dividend. LYV, IMAX do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Cinemark Holdings, Inc.

(CNK) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 22), 1. 1% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CNK: -6. 6%, 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (LYV (Communication Services) and IMAX (Communication Services) and CNK (Communication Services) and EPR (Real Estate)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: LYV is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; IMAX is a small-cap high-growth stock; CNK is a small-cap quality compounder stock; EPR is a small-cap deep-value stock. CNK, EPR pay a dividend while LYV, IMAX do not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.