Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Vivid Seats Inc. (SEAT) vs Apple Inc. (AAPL) 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 | SEAT | 8.8% revenue growth vs AAPL's 6.4% |
| Value | SEAT | Lower P/E (5.3x vs 31.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | AAPL | 27.0% net margin vs SEAT's -24.1% |
| Stability / Safety | AAPL | Beta 1.28 vs SEAT's 1.54 |
| Dividends | AAPL | 0.4% yield; 14-year raise streak; SEAT pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | AAPL | +9.7% vs SEAT's -92.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs SEAT's -14.0%, ROIC 64.5% vs 4.2% |
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
Vivid Seats operates an online secondary ticket marketplace connecting buyers and sellers for live events like sports, concerts, and theater shows. It makes money primarily through marketplace fees — taking a commission from both buyers and sellers on each transaction — with additional revenue from its proprietary Skybox software that helps sellers manage inventory across platforms. The company's moat lies in its established marketplace network and proprietary seller tools that create switching costs for ticket resellers.
Apple is a technology giant that designs and sells premium consumer electronics — most famously the iPhone — along with related software and services. It generates revenue primarily from hardware sales (roughly 80% of total) and a fast-growing services segment (around 20%) that includes the App Store, subscriptions, and licensing. Its key competitive advantage is a powerful ecosystem that locks users into its hardware, software, and services through seamless integration and high switching costs.
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
AAPL leads in 5 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). SEAT leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $435.6B annually — 676.7x SEAT's $644M. AAPL is the more profitable business, keeping 27.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to SEAT's -24.1%. On growth, AAPL holds the edge at +15.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | SEATVivid Seats Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $644M | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$304M | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$155M | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$30M | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +71.5% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -55.3% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -24.1% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -4.7% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -26.9% | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -4.8% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 5.3x trailing earnings, SEAT trades at a 85% valuation discount to AAPL's 35.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, SEAT's 2.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than AAPL's 27.5x.
| Metric | SEATVivid Seats Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $23M | $3.88T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $187M | $3.97T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 5.32x | 35.41x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 31.15x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 2.12x | 27.45x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.03x | 9.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.10x | 53.76x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 0.46x | 39.33x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AAPL delivers a 133.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $134 in annual profit, vs $-46 for SEAT. SEAT carries lower financial leverage with a 0.66x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AAPL's 1.67x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AAPL scores 7/9 vs SEAT's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | SEATVivid Seats Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -46.2% | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -14.0% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +4.2% | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +3.7% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.66x | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $164M | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $243M | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $408M | $123.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -8.46x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in AAPL five years ago would be worth $21,049 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $519 for SEAT. Over the past 12 months, AAPL leads with a +9.7% total return vs SEAT's -92.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AAPL at 21.9% vs SEAT's -66.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SEATVivid Seats Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -14.9% | -2.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -92.8% | +9.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -96.1% | +81.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -94.8% | +110.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -94.6% | +1027.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -66.1% | +21.9% |
Risk & Volatility
AAPL is the less volatile stock with a 1.28 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SEAT's 1.54 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. AAPL currently trades 91.5% from its 52-week high vs SEAT's 7.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | SEATVivid Seats Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.54x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $85.60 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $5.50 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +7.0% | +91.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 41.6 | 57.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 102K | 40.9M |
Analyst Outlook
AAPL is the only dividend payer here at 0.39% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | SEATVivid Seats Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $1.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +100.0% | +2.3% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Oct 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vivid Seats Inc. (SEAT) | 100 | 3.58 | -96.4% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 248.24 | +148.2% |
Apple Inc. (AAPL) returned +110% over 5 years vs Vivid Seats Inc. (SEAT)'s -95%. A $10,000 investment in AAPL 5 years ago would be worth $21,049 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vivid Seats Inc. (SEAT) | $469M | $776M | +65.4% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | $215.6B | $416.2B | +93.0% |
Apple Inc.'s revenue grew from $215.6B (2016) to $416.2B (2025) — a 7.6% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vivid Seats Inc. (SEAT) | -11.5% | 1.2% | +110.6% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 21.2% | 26.9% | +27.0% |
Apple Inc.'s net margin went from 21% (2016) to 27% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vivid Seats Inc. (SEAT) | 20.3 | 82.7 | +307.4% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
Vivid Seats Inc. has traded in a 20x–83x P/E range over 3 years; current trailing P/E is ~5x. Apple Inc. has traded in a 13x–41x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~35x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vivid Seats Inc. (SEAT) | -24.8 | 1.12 | +104.5% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 2.08 | 7.46 | +258.7% |
Apple Inc.'s EPS grew from $2.08 (2016) to $7.46 (2025) — a 15% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Vivid Seats Inc. generated $50M FCF in 2024 (-70% vs 2021). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
SEAT vs AAPL: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SEAT or AAPL a better buy right now?
Vivid Seats Inc. (SEAT) offers the better valuation at 5.3x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Apple Inc. (AAPL) a "Buy" — based on 109 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 — SEAT or AAPL?
On trailing P/E, Vivid Seats Inc. (SEAT) is the cheapest at 5.3x versus Apple Inc. at 35.4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SEAT or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, Apple Inc. (AAPL) delivered a total return of +110.5%, compared to -94.8% for Vivid Seats Inc. (SEAT). A $10,000 investment in AAPL five years ago would be worth approximately $21K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AAPL returned +1027% versus SEAT's -94.6%. 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 — SEAT or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the lower-risk stock at 1.28β versus Vivid Seats Inc.'s 1.54β — meaning SEAT is approximately 20% more volatile than AAPL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Vivid Seats Inc. (SEAT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 66% versus 167% for Apple Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — SEAT or AAPL?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the more profitable company, earning 26.9% net margin versus 1.2% for Vivid Seats Inc. — meaning it keeps 26.9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AAPL leads at 32.0% versus 5.4% for SEAT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SEAT leads at 74.0%, 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.
06Which pays a better dividend — SEAT or AAPL?
In this comparison, AAPL (0.4% yield) pays a dividend. SEAT does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
07Is SEAT or AAPL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.28), +1027% 10Y return). Vivid Seats Inc. (SEAT) carries a higher beta of 1.54 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (AAPL: +1027%, SEAT: -94.6%), 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.
08What are the main differences between SEAT and AAPL?
These companies operate in different sectors (SEAT (Communication Services) and AAPL (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced. In terms of investment character: SEAT is a small-cap deep-value stock; AAPL is a mega-cap quality compounder 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.
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