Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE:LYV) and IMAX (NYSE:IMAX) Head to Head Survey

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE:LYV) and IMAX (NYSE:IMAX) are both consumer discretionary companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, valuation, dividends, profitability, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and risk.

Profitability

This table compares Live Nation Entertainment and IMAX’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Live Nation Entertainment	4.28%	125.77%	4.77%
IMAX	6.98%	7.79%	3.42%

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Live Nation Entertainment and IMAX”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Live Nation Entertainment	$23.16 billion	1.46	$896.29 million	$2.93	49.67
IMAX	$352.21 million	4.45	$26.06 million	$0.47	62.02

Live Nation Entertainment has higher revenue and earnings than IMAX. Live Nation Entertainment is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than IMAX, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Risk & Volatility

Live Nation Entertainment has a beta of 1.44, meaning that its stock price is 44% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, IMAX has a beta of 0.81, meaning that its stock price is 19% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

74.5% of Live Nation Entertainment shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 93.5% of IMAX shares are held by institutional investors. 2.7% of Live Nation Entertainment shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 24.1% of IMAX shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current ratings and price targets for Live Nation Entertainment and IMAX, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Live Nation Entertainment	0	0	17	0	3.00
IMAX	0	1	8	2	3.09

Live Nation Entertainment currently has a consensus target price of $164.35, suggesting a potential upside of 12.94%. IMAX has a consensus target price of $31.70, suggesting a potential upside of 8.75%. Given Live Nation Entertainment’s higher possible upside, equities analysts plainly believe Live Nation Entertainment is more favorable than IMAX.

Summary

Live Nation Entertainment beats IMAX on 8 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Live Nation Entertainment

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. operates as a live entertainment company worldwide. It operates through Concerts, Ticketing, and Sponsorship & Advertising segments. The Concerts segment promotes live music events in its owned or operated venues, and in rented third-party venues. This segment operates and manages music venues; produces music festivals; creates and streams associated content; and offers management and other services to artists. The Ticketing segment manages the ticketing operations, including the provision of ticketing software and services to clients and consumers with marketplace for tickets and event information through mobile apps, other websites, retail outlets, and its primary websites, such as livenation.com and ticketmaster.com; and provides ticket resale services. This segment sells tickets for its events and third-party clients in various live event categories. This segment offers ticketing services for arenas, stadiums, amphitheaters, music clubs, concert promoters, professional sports franchises and leagues, college sports teams, performing arts venues, museums, and theaters. The Sponsorship & Advertising segment sells international, national, and local sponsorships and placement of advertising, including signage, online, and promotional programs; rich media offering that comprises advertising related with live streaming and music-related content; and ads across its distribution network of venues, events, and websites. This segment also manages the development of strategic sponsorship programs, as well as develops, books, and produces custom events or programs for specific brands. It owns, operates, or leases entertainment venues. The company was formerly known as Live Nation, Inc. and changed its name to Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. in January 2010. Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California.

About IMAX

IMAX Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a technology platform for entertainment and events worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Content Solutions and Technology Products and Services. The company offers IMAX DMR, a proprietary technology that digitally remasters films and other content into IMAX formats for distribution to the IMAX network; IMAX Enhanced that provides end-to-end technology across streaming content and entertainment devices at home; and SSIMWAVE, an AI-driven video quality solutions for media and entertainment companies. It also offers preventative and emergency maintenance services and quality monitoring to the IMAX network; film post-production services; and IMAX film and digital cameras to content creators. In addition, the company engages in the distribution of large-format documentary films to institutional theaters, as well as live performances and interactive events with artists and creators; after-market sales of IMAX System parts and 3D glasses; sale or lease of IMAX theater systems; provision of management services to three other theaters, as well as production advice and technical assistance to documentary and Hollywood filmmakers; and rental of company’s proprietary 2D and 3D large-format film cameras. The company markets its theater systems through a direct sales force and marketing staff to science and natural history museums, zoos, aquaria, and other educational and cultural centers, as well as theme parks, private home theaters, tourist destination sites, fairs, and expositions. It offers its services under the IMAX, IMAX 3D, Experience It In IMAX, The IMAX Experience, DMR, Filmed For IMAXTM, IMAX Live, IMAX Enhanced, and SSIMWAVE. The company operates a network of IMAX systems comprising commercial multiplexes, commercial destinations, and institutional locations in 90 countries and territories. IMAX Corporation was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in Mississauga, Canada.