WMG
Warner Music Group Corp.
Entertainment
Market Cap$15.85B
5Y Perf.+2.9%
Compare Stocks
2 / 10Try these comparisons:
Stock Comparison
WMG vs LYV
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
LYV
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.
Entertainment
Market Cap$39.00B
5Y Perf.+278.6%
WMG vs LYV — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | WMG | LYV |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment | Entertainment |
| Market Cap | $15.85B | $39.00B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $6.88B | $25.61B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $305M | $84M |
| Gross Margin | 44.4% | 40.3% |
| Operating Margin | 11.7% | 3.4% |
| Forward P/E | 22.9x | 116.8x |
| Total Debt | $4.61B | $12.44B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $532M | $7.11B |
WMG vs LYV — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
WMG
LYV
| Stock | Jun 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warner Music Group … (WMG) | 100 | 102.9 | +2.9% |
| Live Nation Enterta… (LYV) | 100 | 378.6 | +278.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: WMG vs LYV
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: WMG leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
WMG
Warner Music Group Corp.
The Income Pick
WMG carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 4 yrs, beta 0.65, yield 2.4%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.65, current ratio 0.66x
- Beta 0.65, yield 2.4%, current ratio 0.66x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
LYV
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.
The Growth Play
LYV is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 8.8%, EPS growth -108.8%, 3Y rev CAGR 14.7%
- 6.2% 10Y total return vs WMG's 13.0%
- 8.8% revenue growth vs WMG's 4.4%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | LYV | 8.8% revenue growth vs WMG's 4.4% |
| Value | WMG | Lower P/E (22.9x vs 116.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | WMG | 4.4% margin vs LYV's 0.3% |
| Stability / Safety | WMG | Beta 0.65 vs LYV's 0.80, lower leverage |
| Dividends | WMG | 2.4% yield; 4-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | LYV | +25.1% vs WMG's +1.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | WMG | 3.1% ROA vs LYV's 0.4%, ROIC 11.4% vs 19.7% |
WMG vs LYV — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
WMG vs LYV — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLWMGLAGGINGLYV
LYVLive Nation Entertain…
1leads
WMGWarner Music Group Co…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs LYVMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
WMG5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
WMG4/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
WMG5/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
LYV6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
WMG1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WMG leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LYV is the larger business by revenue, generating $25.6B annually — 3.7x WMG's $6.9B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 4.4% (WMG) to 0.3% (LYV).
| Metric | WMGWarner Music Grou… | LYVLive Nation Enter… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $6.9B | $25.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.3B | $1.6B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $305M | $84M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $522M | $1.2B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +44.4% | +40.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +11.7% | +3.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +4.4% | +0.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +7.6% | +4.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +10.4% | +12.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -24.4% | -4.8% |
WMG leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
WMG leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, WMG's 17.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than LYV's 20.0x.
| Metric | WMGWarner Music Grou… | LYVLive Nation Enter… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $15.9B | $39.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $19.9B | $44.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 43.36x | -699.25x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 22.93x | 116.85x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 17.24x | 20.05x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.36x | 1.55x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 20.81x | 21.39x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 29.41x | 116.89x |
WMG leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
WMG leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
WMG delivers a 38.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $38 in annual profit, vs $5 for LYV. WMG carries lower financial leverage with a 6.09x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to LYV's 6.84x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), LYV scores 5/9 vs WMG's 3/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | WMGWarner Music Grou… | LYVLive Nation Enter… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +38.3% | +5.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.1% | +0.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +11.4% | +19.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +12.8% | +13.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 6.09x | 6.84x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $4.1B | $5.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $532M | $7.1B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $4.6B | $12.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 3.45x | 3.68x |
WMG leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
LYV leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in LYV five years ago would be worth $22,340 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $9,498 for WMG. Over the past 12 months, LYV leads with a +25.1% total return vs WMG's +1.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LYV at 29.2% vs WMG's 4.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | WMGWarner Music Grou… | LYVLive Nation Enter… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +0.3% | +15.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +1.6% | +25.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +14.0% | +115.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -5.0% | +123.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +13.0% | +616.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +4.5% | +29.2% |
LYV leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — WMG and LYV each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
WMG is the less volatile stock with a 0.65 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than LYV's 0.80 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. LYV currently trades 95.8% from its 52-week high vs WMG's 87.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | WMGWarner Music Grou… | LYVLive Nation Enter… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.65x | 0.80x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $34.63 | $175.25 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $23.34 | $125.34 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +87.6% | +95.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 53.8 | 50.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.0M | 2.8M |
Evenly matched — WMG and LYV each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
WMG leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates WMG as "Buy" and LYV as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 17.0% upside for WMG (target: $36) vs 7.9% for LYV (target: $181). WMG is the only dividend payer here at 2.43% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | WMGWarner Music Grou… | LYVLive Nation Enter… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $35.50 | $181.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 24 | 44 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.4% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.74 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.1% | +0.1% |
WMG leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
WMG leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). LYV leads in 1 (Total Returns). 1 tied.
Best OverallWarner Music Group Corp. (WMG)Leads 4 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
WMG vs LYV: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is WMG or LYV a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.
(LYV) is the stronger pick with 8. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 4% for Warner Music Group Corp. (WMG). Warner Music Group Corp. (WMG) offers the better valuation at 43. 4x trailing P/E (22. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Warner Music Group Corp. (WMG) a "Buy" — based on 24 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 — WMG or LYV?
On forward P/E, Warner Music Group Corp.
is actually cheaper at 22. 9x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — WMG or LYV?
Over the past 5 years, Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.
(LYV) delivered a total return of +123. 4%, compared to -5. 0% for Warner Music Group Corp. (WMG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LYV returned +616. 3% versus WMG's +13. 0%. 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 — WMG or LYV?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Warner Music Group Corp.
(WMG) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 65β versus Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. 's 0. 80β — meaning LYV is approximately 22% more volatile than WMG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Warner Music Group Corp. (WMG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 6% versus 7% for Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — WMG or LYV?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.
(LYV) is pulling ahead at 8. 8% versus 4. 4% for Warner Music Group Corp. (WMG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Warner Music Group Corp. grew EPS -16. 7% year-over-year, compared to -108. 8% for Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, LYV leads at 14. 7% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — WMG or LYV?
Warner Music Group Corp.
(WMG) is the more profitable company, earning 5. 4% net margin versus 2. 0% for Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. — meaning it keeps 5. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WMG leads at 10. 3% versus 5. 9% for LYV. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WMG leads at 45. 8%, 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.
07Is WMG or LYV more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Warner Music Group Corp.
(WMG) trades at 22. 9x forward P/E versus 116. 8x for Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. — 93. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WMG: 17. 0% to $35. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — WMG or LYV?
In this comparison, WMG (2.
4% yield) pays a dividend. LYV does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is WMG or LYV better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Warner Music Group Corp.
(WMG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 65), 2. 4% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WMG: +13. 0%, LYV: +616. 3%), 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.
10What are the main differences between WMG and LYV?
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.
WMG pays a dividend while LYV 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that outperform both.
- Sector: Communication Services
- Market Cap > $100B
- Revenue Growth > 5%
- Gross Margin > 26%
- Sector: Communication Services
- Market Cap > $100B
- Revenue Growth > 6%
- Gross Margin > 24%
Revenue Growth>
%
(WMG: 10.4% · LYV: 12.1%)You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.