Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE:LYV) Announces Earnings Results, Misses Estimates By $0.06 EPS

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE:LYV) issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday. The company reported ($1.06) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($1.00) by ($0.06), Zacks reports. Live Nation Entertainment had a return on equity of 97.90% and a net margin of 3.66%.The business had revenue of $6.31 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.12 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.58 earnings per share. Live Nation Entertainment’s revenue was up 11.1% compared to the same quarter last year.

Here are the key takeaways from Live Nation Entertainment’s conference call:

• Guidance: Management reiterated a target of double‑digit AOI growth in 2026, citing double‑digit sponsorship momentum (over 70% booked) and expected double‑digit concerts growth while ticketing is only expected to deliver mid‑single‑digit underlying growth with some one‑time headwinds.
• Venue Nation pre‑opening costs are ramping (from about $25M last year to ~$50M in 2026), which will pressure near‑term AOI even though management expects venues to reach steady‑state profitability over a 2–3 year maturation period as international expansion continues.
• DOJ ruling: A judge dismissed key monopoly claims around promotion and booking—reducing breakup risk and narrowing the government’s case—although venue‑facing ticketing claims will still proceed to trial.
• Ticketmaster has tightened broker access and increased identity verification and face‑value exchange, cutting broker concert listings roughly in half, which management says shrinks scalping but may shift secondary activity to other platforms and invites evolving state‑level regulation.
• Demand and supply dynamics remain strong globally: management reports robust fan demand, roughly 80% of shows booked, and double‑digit increases in arenas, stadiums and amphitheaters—supporting their optimistic outlook for 2026.

Live Nation Entertainment Stock Up 6.7%

LYV traded up $10.62 on Friday, reaching $168.08. 1,532,859 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,694,611. The company has a market cap of $39.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 121.52, a PEG ratio of 11.20 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.41, a current ratio of 0.92 and a quick ratio of 0.92. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $145.72 and its 200-day moving average price is $150.18. Live Nation Entertainment has a 52-week low of $112.88 and a 52-week high of $175.25.

Trending Headlines about Live Nation Entertainment

Here are the key news stories impacting Live Nation Entertainment this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Company beat revenue expectations and reported strong concert demand — Q4 revenue rose ~11% to $6.31B, topping Street estimates as concert sales, sponsorships and international growth strengthened; management signaled a record 2026 driven by global demand. Article Title
• Positive Sentiment: Rising attendance and upsell opportunities are backing top-line momentum — management and press note growing annual concert attendance, bigger shows (e.g., blockbuster tours) and expanded international markets that boost ticketing and per-capita spend. Article Title
• Neutral Sentiment: Solid gross-profit improvement and a large cash balance provide cushion even as the company invests for growth — gross profit expanded materially and cash & equivalents rose year-over-year, supporting capex and international expansion. Article Title
• Negative Sentiment: Profitability and cash-flow weaknesses temper the beat — LYV reported a wider net loss and an EPS miss (Q4 EPS -$1.06 vs. estimates ~-1.00), operating cash flow was negative and operating loss widened, while capital spending rose materially. These metrics raise near-term margin and cash-flow questions. Article Title
• Negative Sentiment: Antitrust lawsuit remains a material overhang — a federal judge refused to dismiss major DOJ/state claims, so parts of the May 2024 antitrust case (against Ticketmaster/Live Nation) will proceed to trial next month; the ruling was narrowed but the prospect of trial and potential remedies keeps regulatory risk high. Article Title
• Negative Sentiment: Market reaction and volatility risk — the antitrust ruling and the company’s mixed quarter prompted trading halts and intraday swings; investors should expect continued headline-driven volatility until legal outcomes and margin/cash trends clarify. Article Title

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms recently commented on LYV. Citigroup reduced their target price on shares of Live Nation Entertainment from $195.00 to $181.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. Oppenheimer reiterated an “outperform” rating on shares of Live Nation Entertainment in a research report on Friday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on Live Nation Entertainment from $172.00 to $170.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 16th. Rothschild & Co Redburn cut their target price on Live Nation Entertainment from $170.00 to $166.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Finally, Roth Mkm reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Live Nation Entertainment in a research report on Friday. Seventeen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $174.30.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Live Nation Entertainment

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. DV Equities LLC acquired a new stake in Live Nation Entertainment during the fourth quarter valued at $31,000. Advisory Services Network LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Live Nation Entertainment during the 3rd quarter valued at about $51,000. Arax Advisory Partners bought a new stake in shares of Live Nation Entertainment in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $64,000. MUFG Securities EMEA plc acquired a new position in Live Nation Entertainment in the second quarter worth approximately $70,000. Finally, Los Angeles Capital Management LLC bought a new position in Live Nation Entertainment during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $104,000. 74.52% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Live Nation Entertainment Company Profile

Live Nation Entertainment is a global live entertainment company that promotes, operates and sells tickets for live events. The company’s core activities include concert promotion and production, venue operations and management, ticketing services through its Ticketmaster platform, artist management and development, and sponsorship and advertising services tied to live events. These integrated businesses are designed to connect artists, fans and commercial partners across the live event ecosystem.

The company in its current form was created following the 2010 merger of Live Nation and Ticketmaster, combining a promoter and venue operator with one of the industry’s largest ticketing platforms.