Live Nation Entertainment (LYV +0.84%) is the world’s largest live entertainment company, operating across concert promotion, ticketing, and sponsorships. The company was formed in 2010 through the merger of Live Nation and Ticketmaster, a deal that received regulatory approval under strict conditions.
After revenue collapsed during the pandemic, Live Nation has staged a strong comeback. In 2024 alone, the company connected more than 151 million fans to over 50,000 events, reflecting pent-up demand for live experiences.
However, regulatory scrutiny remains a key risk. In May 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice sued Live Nation and Ticketmaster, alleging anti-competitive practices in ticketing and venue contracts. The case is ongoing, and its outcome could affect the company’s long-term prospects.
How to buy Live Nation Entertainment
Because Live Nation is publicly traded, you can buy shares through any standard brokerage account.
- Open your brokerage account: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments. If you don't have one yet, take a look at our favorite brokers and trading platforms to find the right one for you.
- Search for Live Nation Entertainment: Enter the ticker "LYV" into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
- Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
- Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
- Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
- Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.
Should you invest in Live Nation Entertainment?
Whether or not you should invest in Live Nation Entertainment will depend on your investing style, risk tolerance, and the type of stock that you are looking to add to your portfolio.
In fiscal year 2024, the company reported $23.16 billion in revenue, up modestly year over year.
Here’s how its business breaks down:
- Concerts (about 82% of revenue): Event promotion, venue operations, festivals, and related services.
- Ticketing (about 13%): Ticket sales and service fees for Live Nation and third-party events.
- Sponsorship and advertising (about 5%): Brand partnerships and custom marketing programs.
The company benefits from scale and global reach, but investors should weigh those strengths against risks tied to seasonality, consumer spending, and ongoing litigation.
If you want to invest in the potential of the live entertainment industry and its long-term growth runway, Live Nation is arguably one of the top contenders you ought to consider, given the size and scale at which it operates in this highly lucrative market.
On the other hand, the seasonality of the industry that Live Nation operates in presents a certain level of risk, as do its ongoing litigation issues.
NYSE: LYV
Key Data Points
The sponsorship and advertising segment makes money by providing services such as creating marketing programs to connect brands with fans and artists and developing custom events. The sponsorship and advertising business totaled about 5% of Live Nation Entertainment's revenue in 2024.
If you want to invest in the potential of the live entertainment industry and its long-term growth runway, Live Nation is arguably one of the top contenders you ought to consider, given the size and scale at which it operates in this highly lucrative market.
On the other hand, the seasonality of the industry that Live Nation operates in presents a certain level of risk, as do its ongoing litigation issues. Although these are headwinds that Live Nation could be well poised to overcome, potential investors should weigh these factors alongside their preferred risk appetite to determine whether buying shares is a sound next move.
Is Live Nation Entertainment profitable?
Live Nation Entertainment is profitable. In fiscal year 2024, Live Nation reported net income of $1.1 billion. That was compared to the $703.8 million it reported in 2023. Over the trailing 12 months, the company has also brought in operating cash flow of approximately $1.7 billion.
Does Live Nation Entertainment pay a dividend?
Live Nation Entertainment does not pay a dividend. There haven't been any announcements that management plans to initiate a dividend.
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Will Live Nation Entertainment stock split?
Live Nation Entertainment stock has never split. Usually, a company splits its stock when shares have become inaccessible for many investors due to successive share price gains. The stock's all-time high is still below $200 per share, so a stock split seems unlikely any time soon. Management has not mentioned any plans to split the stock either.
The bottom line
Live Nation Entertainment stock is a market leader in the concert, live events, and ticketing spaces. The company has dealt with its fair share of headwinds the last few years, from pandemic-induced shutdowns to regulatory upheaval, but its financials are showing promising recovery, it remains profitable, and core business growth is solid.
While Live Nation might not be the right fit for every portfolio, its global footprint and strengthening financials may be attractive to investors. Growth-oriented investors with the risk appetite to invest in a company that is affected by factors like seasonality and consumer spending patterns may find that even a modest position in Live Nation could pay off in the long run.
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