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SPHR vs MSGE
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Entertainment
SPHR vs MSGE — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment | Entertainment |
| Market Cap | $4.92B | $3.15B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.33B | $1.16B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $120M | $42M |
| Gross Margin | 48.3% | 31.5% |
| Operating Margin | -10.6% | 10.1% |
| Forward P/E | — | 56.8x |
| Total Debt | $1.52B | $1.20B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $560M | $43M |
SPHR vs MSGE — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sphere Entertainmen… (SPHR) | 100 | 373.6 | +273.6% |
| Madison Square Gard… (MSGE) | 100 | 84.2 | -15.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: SPHR vs MSGE
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
SPHR carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 21.6%, EPS growth 0.0%, 3Y rev CAGR 19.0%
- 234.5% 10Y total return vs MSGE's -24.6%
- 21.6% revenue growth vs MSGE's -1.7%
MSGE is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- beta 0.94
- Lower volatility, beta 0.94, current ratio 0.47x
- Beta 0.94, current ratio 0.47x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 21.6% revenue growth vs MSGE's -1.7% | |
| Quality / Margins | 9.0% margin vs MSGE's 3.6% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.94 vs SPHR's 1.64 | |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | +359.1% vs MSGE's +83.6% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 2.9% ROA vs MSGE's 1.8%, ROIC -5.0% vs 8.5% |
SPHR vs MSGE — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
SPHR 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)
SPHR leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SPHR and MSGE operate at a comparable scale, with $1.3B and $1.2B in trailing revenue. SPHR is the more profitable business, keeping 9.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to MSGE's 3.6%. On growth, MSGE holds the edge at +59.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.3B | $1.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $196M | $245M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $120M | $42M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $333M | $289M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +48.3% | +31.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -10.6% | +10.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +9.0% | +3.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +25.2% | +25.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +37.7% | +59.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +98.0% | -123.5% |
Valuation Metrics
MSGE leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, MSGE's 24.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than SPHR's 175.6x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $4.9B | $3.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $5.9B | $4.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -24.07x | 86.64x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 56.83x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 175.64x | 23.97x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.79x | 3.35x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.03x | — |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 33.88x |
Profitability & Efficiency
MSGE leads this category, winning 6 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MSGE delivers a 7.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $8 in annual profit, vs $5 for SPHR. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), MSGE scores 6/9 vs SPHR's 1/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +5.4% | +7.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.9% | +1.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -5.0% | +8.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -6.5% | +11.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 1 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.63x | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $959M | $1.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $560M | $43M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.5B | $1.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 4.10x | 4.43x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
SPHR leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in SPHR five years ago would be worth $32,765 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,384 for MSGE. Over the past 12 months, SPHR leads with a +359.1% total return vs MSGE's +83.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SPHR at 63.5% vs MSGE's 24.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +45.0% | +22.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +359.1% | +83.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +336.7% | +94.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +227.7% | -26.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +234.5% | -24.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +63.5% | +24.9% |
Risk & Volatility
MSGE leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
MSGE is the less volatile stock with a 0.94 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SPHR's 1.64 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 | 1.64x | 0.94x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $147.40 | $69.86 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $29.25 | $35.31 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +92.8% | +95.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 64.7 | 67.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 729K | 312K |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SPHR as "Buy" and MSGE as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply -0.6% upside for MSGE (target: $66) vs -11.0% for SPHR (target: $122).
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $121.67 | $66.29 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 12 | 12 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.7% | +1.3% |
MSGE leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). SPHR leads in 2 (Income & Cash Flow, Total Returns).
SPHR vs MSGE: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SPHR or MSGE a better buy right now?
Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.
(MSGE) offers the better valuation at 86. 6x trailing P/E (56. 8x 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 is the better long-term investment — SPHR or MSGE?
Over the past 5 years, Sphere Entertainment Co.
(SPHR) delivered a total return of +227. 7%, compared to -26. 2% for Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (MSGE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SPHR returned +234. 5% versus MSGE's -24. 6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — SPHR or MSGE?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.
(MSGE) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 94β versus Sphere Entertainment Co. 's 1. 64β — meaning SPHR is approximately 75% more volatile than MSGE relative to the S&P 500.
04Which is growing faster — SPHR or MSGE?
On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Sphere Entertainment Co.
grew EPS 0. 0% year-over-year, compared to -74. 1% for Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SPHR leads at 19. 0% 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.
05Which has better profit margins — SPHR or MSGE?
Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.
(MSGE) is the more profitable company, earning 4. 0% net margin versus -19. 5% for Sphere Entertainment Co. — 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 -21. 7% for SPHR. 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.
06Is SPHR or MSGE more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MSGE: -0.
6% to $66. 29.
07Which pays a better dividend — SPHR 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.
08Is SPHR or MSGE better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.
(MSGE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 94)). Sphere Entertainment Co. (SPHR) carries a higher beta of 1. 64 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (MSGE: -24. 6%, SPHR: +234. 5%), 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 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.
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- Sector: Communication Services
- Market Cap > $100B
- Revenue Growth > 29%
- Gross Margin > 18%
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