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Side-by-side financial analysisStock Comparison
VENU vs PLAY
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Entertainment
VENU vs PLAY — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurants | Entertainment |
| 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/E | — | 102.4x |
| Total Debt | $107M | $3.14B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $41M | $7M |
VENU vs PLAY — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Nov 24 | Jun 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venu Holding Corpor… (VENU) | 100 | 31.7 | -68.3% |
| Dave & Buster's Ent… (PLAY) | 100 | 32.9 | -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.
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%
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%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 0.4% revenue growth vs PLAY's -3.3% | |
| Quality / Margins | 0.0% margin vs VENU's -262.7% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.79 vs PLAY's 1.84, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | -57.9% vs VENU's -68.1% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 0.0% 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
VENU vs PLAY — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PLAY leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
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.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
Valuation Metrics
VENU leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $146M | $820M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $212M | $4.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -3.11x | 8.86x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 102.38x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 8.62x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 8.17x | 0.38x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.63x | 3.55x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
PLAY leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
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.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| 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 0–9 | 4 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.54x | 21.53x |
| 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 | -4.98x | 1.06x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
VENU leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
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.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — VENU and PLAY each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
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.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.79x | 1.84x |
| 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 0–100 | 48.2 | 61.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 296K | 1.6M |
Analyst Outlook
VENU leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $15.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 19 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +21.2% |
VENU leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). PLAY leads in 2 (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). 1 tied.
VENU vs PLAY: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is 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.
02Which 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.
03Which 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.
04Which 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.
05Which 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.
06Which 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.
07Is 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.
08What 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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