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LYV vs MSGE
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Entertainment
LYV vs MSGE — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment | Entertainment |
| Market Cap | $39.00B | $2.71B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $25.61B | $1.01B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $84M | $52M |
| Gross Margin | 40.3% | 46.1% |
| Operating Margin | 3.4% | 13.5% |
| Forward P/E | 116.8x | 57.0x |
| Total Debt | $12.44B | $1.20B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $7.11B | $43M |
LYV vs MSGE — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Nation Enterta… (LYV) | 100 | 341.4 | +241.4% |
| Madison Square Gard… (MSGE) | 100 | 84.5 | -15.5% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: LYV vs MSGE
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
LYV is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 0.80
- Rev growth 8.8%, EPS growth -108.8%, 3Y rev CAGR 14.7%
- 6.2% 10Y total return vs MSGE's -24.4%
MSGE carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for value and quality.
- Lower P/E (57.0x vs 116.8x)
- 5.1% margin vs LYV's 0.3%
- +88.1% vs LYV's +25.1%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 8.8% revenue growth vs MSGE's -1.7% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (57.0x vs 116.8x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 5.1% margin vs LYV's 0.3% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.80 vs MSGE's 0.94 | |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | +88.1% vs LYV's +25.1% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 2.8% ROA vs LYV's 0.4%, ROIC 8.5% vs 19.7% |
LYV vs MSGE — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
LYV vs MSGE — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MSGE leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LYV is the larger business by revenue, generating $25.6B annually — 25.2x MSGE's $1.0B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 5.1% (MSGE) to 0.3% (LYV).
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $25.6B | $1.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.6B | $195M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $84M | $52M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.2B | $207M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +40.3% | +46.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +3.4% | +13.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +0.3% | +5.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +4.8% | +20.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +12.1% | +12.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -4.8% | +24.4% |
Valuation Metrics
LYV leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, LYV's 20.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than MSGE's 21.5x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $39.0B | $2.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $44.3B | $3.9B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -699.25x | 86.95x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 116.85x | 57.04x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 20.05x | 21.48x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.55x | 2.87x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 21.39x | — |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 116.89x | 29.06x |
Profitability & Efficiency
MSGE leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MSGE delivers a 144.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $144 in annual profit, vs $5 for LYV. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), MSGE scores 6/9 vs LYV's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +5.1% | +144.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.4% | +2.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +19.7% | +8.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +13.4% | +11.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 6.84x | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $5.3B | $1.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $7.1B | $43M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $12.4B | $1.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 3.68x | 3.08x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
LYV leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in LYV five years ago would be worth $22,340 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,718 for MSGE. Over the past 12 months, MSGE leads with a +88.1% total return vs LYV's +25.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LYV at 29.2% vs MSGE's 25.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +15.5% | +23.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +25.1% | +88.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +115.7% | +95.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +123.4% | -22.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +616.3% | -24.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +29.2% | +25.0% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — LYV and MSGE each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
LYV is the less volatile stock with a 0.80 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than MSGE's 0.94 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.80x | 0.94x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $175.25 | $68.51 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $125.34 | $33.38 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +95.8% | +97.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 50.9 | 64.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.8M | 304K |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates LYV as "Buy" and MSGE as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 7.9% upside for LYV (target: $181) vs -1.0% for MSGE (target: $66).
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $181.00 | $66.29 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 44 | 12 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.1% | +1.5% |
MSGE leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). LYV leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). 1 tied.
LYV vs MSGE: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LYV or MSGE a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.
(LYV) is the stronger pick with 8. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 7% for Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (MSGE). Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (MSGE) offers the better valuation at 86. 9x trailing P/E (57. 0x 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 MSGE?
On forward P/E, Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.
is actually cheaper at 57. 0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — LYV or MSGE?
Over the past 5 years, Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.
(LYV) delivered a total return of +123. 4%, compared to -22. 8% for Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (MSGE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LYV returned +616. 3% versus MSGE's -24. 4%. 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 MSGE?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.
(LYV) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 80β versus Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. 's 0. 94β — meaning MSGE is approximately 18% more volatile than LYV relative to the S&P 500.
05Which is growing faster — LYV or MSGE?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.
(LYV) is pulling ahead at 8. 8% versus -1. 7% for Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (MSGE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. grew EPS -74. 1% 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 MSGE?
Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.
(MSGE) is the more profitable company, earning 4. 0% net margin versus 2. 0% for Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. — meaning it keeps 4. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MSGE leads at 13. 0% versus 5. 9% for LYV. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MSGE leads at 43. 2%, 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 MSGE more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.
(MSGE) trades at 57. 0x forward P/E versus 116. 8x for Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. — 59. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LYV: 7. 9% to $181. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — LYV or MSGE?
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 MSGE 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), +616. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LYV: +616. 3%, MSGE: -24. 4%), 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 MSGE?
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
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%
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