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VENU logo
VENU
PLAY logo
PLAY
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Stock Comparison

VENU vs PLAY

Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.

Live fundamentals10-year financials5-year price chart
VENU
Venu Holding Corporation

Restaurants

Consumer CyclicalAMEX • US
Market Cap$146M
5Y Perf.-68.3%
PLAY
Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc.

Entertainment

Communication ServicesNASDAQ • US
Market Cap$820M
5Y Perf.-67.1%

VENU vs PLAY — Key Financials

Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.

Company Snapshot
VENU logoVENU
PLAY logoPLAY
IndustryRestaurantsEntertainment
Market Cap$146M$820M
Revenue (TTM)$15M$2.11B
Net Income (TTM)$-40M$300K
Gross Margin-6.4%30.7%
Operating Margin-302.8%7.1%
Forward P/E102.4x
Total Debt$107M$3.14B
Cash & Equiv.$41M$7M

VENU vs PLAYLong-Term Stock Performance

Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.

VENU
PLAY
StockNov 24Jun 26Return
Venu Holding Corpor… (VENU)10031.7-68.3%
Dave & Buster's Ent… (PLAY)10032.9-67.1%

Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.

Quick Verdict: VENU vs PLAY

Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.

Bottom line: PLAY leads in 3 of 6 categories, making it the strongest pick for profitability and margin quality and recent price momentum and sentiment. Venu Holding Corporation is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and capital preservation and lower volatility. This set spans 2 sectors — these stocks serve different portfolio roles, not just different price points.
🥇PLAY emerged as the overall leader. Track its performance:
VENU
Venu Holding Corporation
The Income Pick

VENU is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and growth exposure.

  • Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 1.79
  • Rev growth 0.4%, EPS growth -35.8%, 3Y rev CAGR 27.4%
  • -66.2% 10Y total return vs PLAY's -70.4%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
PLAY
Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc.
The Quality Compounder

PLAY carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for quality and momentum.

  • 0.0% margin vs VENU's -262.7%
  • -57.9% vs VENU's -68.1%
  • 0.0% ROA vs VENU's -11.5%, ROIC 5.1% vs -20.7%
Best for: quality and momentum
See the full category breakdown
CategoryWinnerWhy
GrowthVENU logoVENU0.4% revenue growth vs PLAY's -3.3%
Quality / MarginsPLAY logoPLAY0.0% margin vs VENU's -262.7%
Stability / SafetyVENU logoVENUBeta 1.79 vs PLAY's 1.84, lower leverage
DividendsTieNeither stock pays a meaningful dividend
Momentum (1Y)PLAY logoPLAY-57.9% vs VENU's -68.1%
Efficiency (ROA)PLAY logoPLAY0.0% ROA vs VENU's -11.5%, ROIC 5.1% vs -20.7%

VENU vs PLAY — Revenue Breakdown by Segment

How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units

VENUVenu Holding Corporation
FY 2025
Food and Beverage
54.6%$10M
Event Center Ticket And Fees Revenue
33.8%$6M
Rental and Sponsorship Revenue
11.6%$2M
PLAYDave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc.
FY 2024
Entertainment
65.2%$1.4B
Food and Beverage
34.8%$742M

VENU vs PLAY — Financial Metrics

Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.

BEST OVERALLVENULAGGINGPLAY

Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)

PLAY leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.

PLAY is the larger business by revenue, generating $2.1B annually — 138.8x VENU's $15M. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 0.0% (PLAY) to -2.6% (VENU). On growth, VENU holds the edge at +11.5% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.

MetricVENU logoVENUVenu Holding Corp…PLAY logoPLAYDave & Buster's E…
RevenueTrailing 12 months$15M$2.1B
EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax-$39M$405M
Net IncomeAfter-tax profit-$40M$300,000
Free Cash FlowCash after capex-$177M-$175M
Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue-6.4%+30.7%
Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue-3.0%+7.1%
Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue-2.6%+0.0%
FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue-11.7%-8.3%
Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year+11.5%-1.1%
EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year+39.6%-45.2%
PLAY leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.

Valuation Metrics

VENU leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
MetricVENU logoVENUVenu Holding Corp…PLAY logoPLAYDave & Buster's E…
Market CapShares × price$146M$820M
Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash$212M$4.0B
Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS-3.11x8.86x
Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est.102.38x
PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate
EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple8.62x
Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue8.17x0.38x
Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share0.63x3.55x
Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF
VENU leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.

Profitability & Efficiency

PLAY leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.

PLAY delivers a 0.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $0 in annual profit, vs $-19 for VENU. VENU carries lower financial leverage with a 0.54x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to PLAY's 21.53x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), PLAY scores 6/9 vs VENU's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.

MetricVENU logoVENUVenu Holding Corp…PLAY logoPLAYDave & Buster's E…
ROE (TTM)Return on equity-18.7%+0.2%
ROA (TTM)Return on assets-11.5%+0.0%
ROICReturn on invested capital-20.7%+5.1%
ROCEReturn on capital employed-22.7%+6.4%
Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–946
Debt / EquityFinancial leverage0.54x21.53x
Net DebtTotal debt minus cash$66M$3.1B
Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets$41M$7M
Total DebtShort + long-term debt$107M$3.1B
Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense-4.98x1.06x
PLAY leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.

Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)

VENU leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.

A $10,000 investment in VENU five years ago would be worth $3,379 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $3,058 for PLAY. Over the past 12 months, PLAY leads with a -57.9% total return vs VENU's -68.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors VENU at -30.3% vs PLAY's -30.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.

MetricVENU logoVENUVenu Holding Corp…PLAY logoPLAYDave & Buster's E…
YTD ReturnYear-to-date-57.1%-24.1%
1-Year ReturnPast 12 months-68.1%-57.9%
3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends-66.2%-66.6%
5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends-66.2%-69.4%
10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends-66.2%-70.4%
CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return-30.3%-30.6%
VENU leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.

Risk & Volatility

Evenly matched — VENU and PLAY each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.

VENU is the less volatile stock with a 1.79 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than PLAY's 1.84 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. PLAY currently trades 36.4% from its 52-week high vs VENU's 18.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.

MetricVENU logoVENUVenu Holding Corp…PLAY logoPLAYDave & Buster's E…
Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 5001.79x1.84x
52-Week HighHighest price in past year$18.17$35.53
52-Week LowLowest price in past year$3.06$9.65
% of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak+18.8%+36.4%
RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–10048.261.2
Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded296K1.6M
Evenly matched — VENU and PLAY each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.

Analyst Outlook

VENU leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
MetricVENU logoVENUVenu Holding Corp…PLAY logoPLAYDave & Buster's E…
Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sellBuy
Price TargetConsensus 12-month target$15.50
# AnalystsCovering analysts19
Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price
Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises10
Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS
Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap0.0%+21.2%
VENU leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway

VENU leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). PLAY leads in 2 (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). 1 tied.

Best OverallVenu Holding Corporation (VENU)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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VENU vs PLAY: Frequently Asked Questions

8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily

01

Is VENU or PLAY a better buy right now?

For growth investors, Venu Holding Corporation (VENU) is the stronger pick with 0.

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 3% for Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. (PLAY). Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. (PLAY) offers the better valuation at 8. 9x trailing P/E (102. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. (PLAY) a "Buy" — based on 19 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.

02

Which is the better long-term investment — VENU or PLAY?

Over the past 5 years, Venu Holding Corporation (VENU) delivered a total return of -66.

2%, compared to -69. 4% for Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. (PLAY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: VENU returned -66. 2% versus PLAY's -70. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

03

Which is safer — VENU or PLAY?

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Venu Holding Corporation (VENU) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

79β versus Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. 's 1. 84β — meaning PLAY is approximately 3% more volatile than VENU relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Venu Holding Corporation (VENU) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 54% versus 22% for Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

04

Which is growing faster — VENU or PLAY?

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Venu Holding Corporation (VENU) is pulling ahead at 0.

4% versus -3. 3% for Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. (PLAY). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Venu Holding Corporation grew EPS -35. 8% year-over-year, compared to -49. 3% for Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, VENU leads at 27. 4% 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.

05

Which has better profit margins — VENU or PLAY?

Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc.

(PLAY) is the more profitable company, earning 2. 7% net margin versus -246. 4% for Venu Holding Corporation — meaning it keeps 2. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PLAY leads at 10. 3% versus -296. 3% for VENU. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PLAY leads at 85. 3%, 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.

06

Which pays a better dividend — VENU or PLAY?

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.

07

Is VENU or PLAY better for a retirement portfolio?

For long-horizon retirement investors, Venu Holding Corporation (VENU) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding.

Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. (PLAY) carries a higher beta of 1. 84 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (VENU: -66. 2%, PLAY: -70. 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.

08

What are the main differences between VENU and PLAY?

These companies operate in different sectors (VENU (Consumer Cyclical) and PLAY (Communication Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: VENU is a small-cap quality compounder stock; PLAY is a small-cap deep-value 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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