Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Sphere Entertainment Co. (SPHR) vs Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (LYV) vs TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (TKO) vs Formula One Group (FWONK) vs Liberty Live Group (LLYVK) 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 | TKO | 68.9% revenue growth vs FWONK's -100.0% |
| Value | TKO | Lower P/E (37.2x vs 52.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | FWONK | 43.8% net margin vs SPHR's -9.5% |
| Stability / Safety | FWONK | Beta 0.51 vs SPHR's 1.65 |
| Dividends | TKO | 0.4% yield; 1-year raise streak; SPHR, LYV, FWONK, LLYVK pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | SPHR | +172.8% vs FWONK's -5.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | FWONK | 42.6% ROA vs LLYVK's -19.2% |
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
Sphere Entertainment Co. is a live entertainment company that produces concerts, sporting events, and theatrical shows across iconic venues like Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall. It generates revenue primarily from ticket sales and event hosting at its venues — roughly 70% from live events — supplemented by its global network of dining and nightlife venues under brands like Tao and Hakkasan. The company's moat lies in its ownership of legendary, irreplaceable entertainment venues in prime locations and its portfolio of exclusive content like the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular.
Live Nation Entertainment is the world's largest live entertainment company, operating concerts, festivals, and venue management globally. It generates revenue primarily through concert promotion and production (~60%), ticketing services via Ticketmaster (~30%), and sponsorship/advertising deals (~10%). Its key competitive advantage is its vertically integrated ecosystem—controlling artists, venues, ticketing, and sponsorships—which creates powerful network effects and barriers to entry.
TKO Group Holdings is a sports and entertainment company that operates major professional wrestling promotions including WWE and UFC. It generates revenue primarily from media rights deals and content distribution (~60%), live event ticket sales and merchandise (~25%), and sponsorships and advertising (~15%). The company's moat lies in its ownership of iconic, globally recognized wrestling and mixed martial arts brands with decades of fan loyalty and extensive content libraries.
Formula One Group is the commercial rights holder for the global Formula 1 motorsport championship. It generates revenue primarily from race promotion fees (about 30%), media rights sales (about 35%), and sponsorship deals (about 20%), with the remainder from hospitality and other sources. Its key moat is the exclusive, long-term commercial rights to the world's premier motorsport series — a globally recognized brand with high barriers to entry.
Liberty Live Group is a live entertainment company that produces and promotes concerts, festivals, and other live events. It generates revenue primarily from ticket sales, venue operations, and sponsorship deals — with ticket sales typically representing the largest portion. The company's competitive advantage lies in its established relationships with major artists, exclusive venue partnerships, and expertise in large-scale event production.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 5 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
FWONK leads in 1 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics). LYV leads in 1 (Profitability & Efficiency). 3 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
LYV and LLYVK operate at a comparable scale, with $24.6B and -$2.7B in trailing revenue. FWONK is the more profitable business, keeping 43.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to SPHR's -9.5%. On growth, TKO holds the edge at +61.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | SPHRSphere Entertainm… | LYVLive Nation Enter… | TKOTKO Group Holding… | FWONKFormula One Group | LLYVKLiberty Live Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.1B | $24.6B | $4.7B | $1.0B | -$2.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $24M | $1.8B | $1.3B | $231M | $179M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$101M | $899M | $195M | $449M | -$203M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $173M | $1.6B | $1.2B | $279M | $403M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +24.5% | +46.2% | -43.0% | -18.4% | — |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -22.1% | +4.7% | +17.6% | -3.4% | — |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -9.5% | +3.7% | +4.1% | +43.8% | — |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +16.3% | +6.6% | +26.2% | +27.3% | — |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +15.2% | +11.1% | +61.6% | -2.6% | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.1% | -56.0% | -144.4% | +100.0% | +83.8% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, LYV's 17.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than SPHR's 53.0x.
| Metric | SPHRSphere Entertainm… | LYVLive Nation Enter… | TKOTKO Group Holding… | FWONKFormula One Group | LLYVKLiberty Live Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $817M | $38.2B | $26.0B | $20.4B | $6.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.8B | $33.7B | $29.2B | $19.4B | $5.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -20.95x | -675.58x | 99.06x | — | — |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 101.03x | 37.18x | 52.13x | 50.33x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — | 83.11x | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 53.03x | 17.83x | 22.15x | — | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.80x | 1.51x | 5.49x | — | — |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.77x | 42.03x | 4.71x | — | — |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 114.42x | 20.23x | 22.48x | 7.00x |
Profitability & Efficiency
LYV delivers a 45.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $45 in annual profit, vs $-5 for SPHR. TKO carries lower financial leverage with a 0.44x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to LYV's 2.93x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), LYV scores 6/9 vs SPHR's 2/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | SPHRSphere Entertainm… | LYVLive Nation Enter… | TKOTKO Group Holding… | FWONKFormula One Group | LLYVKLiberty Live Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -4.7% | +45.4% | +2.1% | — | — |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -2.4% | +3.9% | +1.3% | +42.6% | -19.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -5.0% | +3.4% | +5.3% | — | -29.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -6.3% | +11.3% | +6.5% | -0.5% | -3.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.63x | 2.93x | 0.44x | — | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $959M | -$4.5B | $3.2B | -$1.1B | -$1.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $560M | $7.1B | $831M | $1.1B | $1.1B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.5B | $2.6B | $4.1B | $0 | $0 |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -2.48x | 3.95x | 8.95x | 3.35x | -0.83x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in TKO five years ago would be worth $44,052 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $17,461 for LYV. Over the past 12 months, SPHR leads with a +172.8% total return vs FWONK's -5.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SPHR at 62.1% vs FWONK's 11.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SPHRSphere Entertainm… | LYVLive Nation Enter… | TKOTKO Group Holding… | FWONKFormula One Group | LLYVKLiberty Live Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +26.2% | +11.6% | +8.2% | -6.6% | +18.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +172.8% | +13.1% | +50.1% | -5.0% | +35.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +325.6% | +125.0% | +174.1% | +39.1% | +194.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +134.7% | +74.6% | +340.5% | +107.7% | +194.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +191.1% | +637.3% | +1297.3% | +269.5% | +194.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +62.1% | +31.0% | +40.0% | +11.6% | +43.4% |
Risk & Volatility
FWONK is the less volatile stock with a 0.51 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SPHR's 1.65 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. SPHR currently trades 99.0% from its 52-week high vs FWONK's 83.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | SPHRSphere Entertainm… | LYVLive Nation Enter… | TKOTKO Group Holding… | FWONKFormula One Group | LLYVKLiberty Live Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.65x | 0.90x | 0.75x | 0.51x | 0.94x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $120.27 | $175.25 | $226.92 | $109.36 | $102.62 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $23.89 | $112.88 | $133.07 | $75.26 | $60.55 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.0% | +92.5% | +98.7% | +83.8% | +97.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 69.5 | 59.9 | 63.4 | 44.7 | 70.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 639K | 2.2M | 717K | 1.5M | 355K |
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: SPHR as "Buy", LYV as "Buy", TKO as "Buy", FWONK as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 30.2% upside for FWONK (target: $119) vs 2.2% for SPHR (target: $122). TKO is the only dividend payer here at 0.43% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | SPHRSphere Entertainm… | LYVLive Nation Enter… | TKOTKO Group Holding… | FWONKFormula One Group | LLYVKLiberty Live Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy | Buy | Buy | — |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $121.67 | $181.20 | $233.90 | $119.25 | — |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 12 | 43 | 18 | 24 | — |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — | +0.4% | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — | $0.95 | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +4.2% | +0.1% | +3.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Sep 23 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sphere Entertainmen… (SPHR) | 100 | 258.95 | +158.9% |
| Live Nation Enterta… (LYV) | 100 | 171.26 | +71.3% |
| TKO Group Holdings,… (TKO) | 100 | 191.74 | +91.7% |
| Formula One Group (FWONK) | 100 | 123.86 | +23.9% |
| Liberty Live Group (LLYVK) | 101.33 | 245.16 | +141.9% |
TKO Group Holdings,… (TKO) returned +341% over 5 years vs Liberty Live Group (LLYVK)'s +75%. A $10,000 investment in TKO 5 years ago would be worth $44,052 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sphere Entertainmen… (SPHR) | $1.1B | $1.0B | -7.9% |
| Live Nation Enterta… (LYV) | $7.8B | $25.2B | +222.0% |
| TKO Group Holdings,… (TKO) | $729M | $4.7B | +549.3% |
| Formula One Group (FWONK) | $0.00 | $0.00 | — |
| Liberty Live Group (LLYVK) | $0.00 | $0.00 | — |
Sphere Entertainment Co.'s revenue grew from $1.1B (2016) to $1.0B (2025) — a -0.9% CAGR. Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.'s revenue grew from $7.8B (2016) to $25.2B (2025) — a 13.9% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sphere Entertainmen… (SPHR) | -6.9% | -19.5% | -182.0% |
| Live Nation Enterta… (LYV) | 0.0% | 2.0% | +5134.0% |
| TKO Group Holdings,… (TKO) | 4.6% | 11.3% | +142.5% |
| Formula One Group (FWONK) | 14.3% | -0.8% | -105.7% |
Sphere Entertainment Co.'s net margin went from -7% (2016) to -20% (2025). Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.'s net margin went from 0% (2016) to 2% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Nation Enterta… (LYV) | 109 | 47.3 | -56.6% |
| TKO Group Holdings,… (TKO) | 72.8 | 92.5 | +27.1% |
| Formula One Group (FWONK) | 27.8 | 101.8 | +266.2% |
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. has traded in a 47x–109x P/E range over 3 years; current trailing P/E is ~-676x. TKO Group Holdings, Inc. has traded in a 15x–93x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~99x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sphere Entertainmen… (SPHR) | -3.12 | -5.68 | -82.1% |
| Live Nation Enterta… (LYV) | -0.23 | -0.24 | -4.3% |
| TKO Group Holdings,… (TKO) | 0.44 | 2.26 | +413.6% |
| Formula One Group (FWONK) | 1.02 | 0 | -100.0% |
| Liberty Live Group (LLYVK) | -0 | 0 | +100.0% |
Sphere Entertainment Co.'s EPS grew from $-3.12 (2016) to $-5.68 (2025). Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-0.23 (2016) to $-0.24 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Sphere Entertainment Co. generated $-309M FCF in 2025 (+40% vs 2021). Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. generated $334M FCF in 2025 (-79% vs 2021).
SPHR vs LYV vs TKO vs FWONK vs LLYVK: Key Questions Answered
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SPHR or LYV or TKO or FWONK or LLYVK a better buy right now?
TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (TKO) offers the better valuation at 99.1x trailing P/E (37.2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Sphere Entertainment Co. (SPHR) a "Buy" — based on 12 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 — SPHR or LYV or TKO or FWONK or LLYVK?
On forward P/E, TKO Group Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 37.2x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SPHR or LYV or TKO or FWONK or LLYVK?
Over the past 5 years, TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (TKO) delivered a total return of +340.5%, compared to +74.6% for Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (LYV). A $10,000 investment in TKO five years ago would be worth approximately $44K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: TKO returned +1297% versus SPHR's +191.1%. 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 — SPHR or LYV or TKO or FWONK or LLYVK?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Formula One Group (FWONK) is the lower-risk stock at 0.51β versus Sphere Entertainment Co.'s 1.65β — meaning SPHR is approximately 225% more volatile than FWONK relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (TKO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 44% versus 3% for Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — SPHR or LYV or TKO or FWONK or LLYVK?
Formula One Group (FWONK) is the more profitable company, earning 43.8% net margin versus -19.5% for Sphere Entertainment Co. — meaning it keeps 43.8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TKO leads at 17.6% versus -21.7% for SPHR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LYV leads at 46.2%, 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.
06Is SPHR or LYV or TKO or FWONK or LLYVK more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (TKO) trades at 37.2x forward P/E versus 101.0x for Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. — 63.9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FWONK: 30.2% to $119.25.
07Which pays a better dividend — SPHR or LYV or TKO or FWONK or LLYVK?
In this comparison, TKO (0.4% yield) pays a dividend. SPHR, LYV, FWONK, LLYVK do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is SPHR or LYV or TKO or FWONK or LLYVK better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (TKO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.75), +1297% 10Y return). Sphere Entertainment Co. (SPHR) carries a higher beta of 1.65 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (TKO: +1297%, SPHR: +191.1%), 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.
09What are the main differences between SPHR and LYV and TKO and FWONK and LLYVK?
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.
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