Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Vivid Seats Inc. (SEAT) vs Autohome Inc. (ATHM) 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 ATHM's -2.0% |
| Value | SEAT | Lower P/E (5.3x vs 11.5x) |
| Quality / Margins | ATHM | 23.6% net margin vs SEAT's -24.1% |
| Stability / Safety | ATHM | Beta 0.64 vs SEAT's 1.54, lower leverage |
| Dividends | ATHM | 9.3% yield; 2-year raise streak; SEAT pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | ATHM | -27.2% vs SEAT's -92.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ATHM | 5.6% ROA vs SEAT's -14.0%, ROIC 3.4% 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.
Autohome operates China's leading online automotive content and transaction platform, connecting car buyers with automakers and dealers. It generates revenue primarily through media services — automaker advertising and regional marketing campaigns — and leads generation services — dealer subscriptions and advertising — with additional income from its Autohome Mall transaction platform and commissions on auto-financing and insurance products. The company's moat lies in its dominant market position as China's most visited automotive website, creating a powerful network effect where more consumers attract more dealers and automakers, which in turn draws more consumers.
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
ATHM leads in 5 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). SEAT leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
ATHM is the larger business by revenue, generating $6.8B annually — 10.5x SEAT's $644M. ATHM is the more profitable business, keeping 23.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to SEAT's -24.1%. On growth, ATHM holds the edge at -0.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | SEATVivid Seats Inc. | ATHMAutohome Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $644M | $6.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$304M | $906M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$155M | $1.6B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$30M | $0 |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +71.5% | +72.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -55.3% | +12.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -24.1% | +23.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -4.7% | +17.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -26.9% | -0.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -4.8% | -119.9% |
Valuation Metrics
At 5.3x trailing earnings, SEAT trades at a 46% valuation discount to ATHM's 9.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, SEAT's 2.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than ATHM's 49.3x.
| Metric | SEATVivid Seats Inc. | ATHMAutohome Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $23M | $9.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $187M | $9.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 5.32x | 9.89x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 11.49x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 2.12x | 49.25x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.03x | 8.96x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.10x | 0.64x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 0.46x | 51.14x |
Profitability & Efficiency
ATHM delivers a 6.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $6 in annual profit, vs $-46 for SEAT. ATHM carries lower financial leverage with a 0.00x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SEAT's 0.66x.
| Metric | SEATVivid Seats Inc. | ATHMAutohome Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -46.2% | +6.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -14.0% | +5.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +4.2% | +3.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +3.7% | +3.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.66x | 0.00x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $164M | -$1.6B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $243M | $1.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $408M | $97M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -8.46x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in ATHM five years ago would be worth $2,138 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $519 for SEAT. Over the past 12 months, ATHM leads with a -27.2% total return vs SEAT's -92.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ATHM at -7.2% vs SEAT's -66.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SEATVivid Seats Inc. | ATHMAutohome Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -14.9% | -15.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -92.8% | -27.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -96.1% | -20.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -94.8% | -78.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -94.6% | +11.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -66.1% | -7.2% |
Risk & Volatility
ATHM is the less volatile stock with a 0.64 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. ATHM currently trades 60.9% 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. | ATHMAutohome Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.54x | 0.64x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $85.60 | $31.50 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $5.50 | $19.08 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +7.0% | +60.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 41.6 | 30.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 102K | 368K |
Analyst Outlook
ATHM is the only dividend payer here at 9.25% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | SEATVivid Seats Inc. | ATHMAutohome Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $43.67 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 22 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +9.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $12.17 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +100.0% | +0.4% |
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% |
| Autohome Inc. (ATHM) | 100 | 22 | -78.0% |
Autohome Inc. (ATHM) returned -79% over 5 years vs Vivid Seats Inc. (SEAT)'s -95%.
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vivid Seats Inc. (SEAT) | $469M | $776M | +65.4% |
| Autohome Inc. (ATHM) | $3.5B | $7.0B | +103.2% |
Autohome Inc.'s revenue grew from $3.5B (2015) to $7.0B (2024) — a 8.2% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vivid Seats Inc. (SEAT) | -11.5% | 1.2% | +110.6% |
| Autohome Inc. (ATHM) | 28.6% | 25.5% | -11.0% |
Autohome Inc.'s net margin went from 29% (2015) to 25% (2024).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vivid Seats Inc. (SEAT) | 20.3 | 82.7 | +307.4% |
| Autohome Inc. (ATHM) | 3.8 | 1.9 | -50.0% |
Vivid Seats Inc. has traded in a 20x–83x P/E range over 3 years; current trailing P/E is ~5x. Autohome Inc. has traded in a 0x–4x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~10x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vivid Seats Inc. (SEAT) | -24.8 | 1.12 | +104.5% |
| Autohome Inc. (ATHM) | 8.57 | 13.31 | +55.3% |
Autohome Inc.'s EPS grew from $8.57 (2015) to $13.31 (2024) — a 5% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Vivid Seats Inc. generated $50M FCF in 2024 (-70% vs 2021). Autohome Inc. generated $1B FCF in 2024 (-63% vs 2021).
SEAT vs ATHM: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SEAT or ATHM 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 Autohome Inc. (ATHM) a "Buy" — based on 22 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 ATHM?
On trailing P/E, Vivid Seats Inc. (SEAT) is the cheapest at 5.3x versus Autohome Inc. at 9.9x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SEAT or ATHM?
Over the past 5 years, Autohome Inc. (ATHM) delivered a total return of -78.6%, compared to -94.8% for Vivid Seats Inc. (SEAT). A $10,000 investment in ATHM five years ago would be worth approximately $2K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ATHM returned +11.4% 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 ATHM?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Autohome Inc. (ATHM) is the lower-risk stock at 0.64β versus Vivid Seats Inc.'s 1.54β — meaning SEAT is approximately 142% more volatile than ATHM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Autohome Inc. (ATHM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 66% for Vivid Seats Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — SEAT or ATHM?
Autohome Inc. (ATHM) is the more profitable company, earning 25.5% net margin versus 1.2% for Vivid Seats Inc. — meaning it keeps 25.5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ATHM leads at 14.3% versus 5.4% for SEAT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ATHM leads at 78.9%, 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.
06Which pays a better dividend — SEAT or ATHM?
In this comparison, ATHM (9.3% yield) pays a dividend. SEAT does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
07Is SEAT or ATHM better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Autohome Inc. (ATHM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.64), 9.3% yield). 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 (ATHM: +11.4%, 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 ATHM?
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. ATHM pays a dividend while SEAT does 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.
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- Sector: Communication Services
- Market Cap > $100B
- Net Margin > 14%
- Dividend Yield > 3.7%