LYV vs. WMG: Live Nation Entertainment vs. Warner Music Stock Comparison
How do Live Nation Entertainment (LYV) and Warner Music (WMG) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Live Nation Entertainment (LYV) and Warner Music (WMG) are both classified in the Movies & Entertainment sub-industry within the broader Entertainment industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
Live Nation Entertainment (LYV) has more than two decades of public-market history since December 21, 2005, whereas Warner Music (WMG) listed on June 3, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.
| Profile Item | LYV | WMG |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. | Warner Music Group Corp. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Communication Services | Communication Services |
| GICS Industry Group | Media & Entertainment | Media & Entertainment |
| GICS Industry | Entertainment | Entertainment |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Movies & Entertainment | Movies & Entertainment |
| Market Capitalization | 41.31 billion USD | 16.37 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | December 21, 2005 | June 3, 2020 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | LYV | WMG |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 23.66% | 6.98% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 26.35% | 1.34% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 8.30% | -6.02% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | LYV | WMG |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 29.09% | 35.24% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.16 | 1.31 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -48.16% | -53.17% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.02M | 2.05M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | LYV | WMG |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.67 | 0.08 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.04 | 0.11 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but Warner Music (WMG) at 70.07% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Live Nation Entertainment (LYV) at 21.01% also sits in the top quartile.
LYV
Media & Entertainment industry group
21.01%
- Max
- 49.92%
- LYV
- 21.01%
- Q3
- 17.95%
- Median
- 7.20%
- Q1
- -4.53%
- Min
- -26.31%
WMG
Media & Entertainment industry group
70.07%
- WMG
- 70.07%
- Max
- 49.92%
- Q3
- 17.95%
- Median
- 7.20%
- Q1
- -4.53%
- Min
- -26.31%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Live Nation Entertainment (LYV) at 0.54% and Warner Music (WMG) at 9.20% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
LYV
Media & Entertainment industry group
0.54%
- Max
- 32.91%
- Q3
- 11.75%
- Median
- 5.04%
- LYV
- 0.54%
- Q1
- -4.17%
- Min
- -25.14%
WMG
Media & Entertainment industry group
9.20%
- Max
- 32.91%
- Q3
- 11.75%
- WMG
- 9.20%
- Median
- 5.04%
- Q1
- -4.17%
- Min
- -25.14%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Live Nation Entertainment (LYV) at 8.90% and Warner Music (WMG) at 16.74% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
LYV
Media & Entertainment industry group
8.90%
- Max
- 40.16%
- Q3
- 18.72%
- LYV
- 8.90%
- Median
- 8.63%
- Q1
- 1.90%
- Min
- -22.08%
WMG
Media & Entertainment industry group
16.74%
- Max
- 40.16%
- Q3
- 18.72%
- WMG
- 16.74%
- Median
- 8.63%
- Q1
- 1.90%
- Min
- -22.08%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | LYV | WMG |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 21.01% | 70.07% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.53% | 7.65% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 0.54% | 9.20% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 8.90% | 16.74% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 25.36% | 45.77% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Live Nation Entertainment (LYV) at 8.83% and Warner Music (WMG) at 4.37% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Warner Music (WMG) at -16.87% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Live Nation Entertainment (LYV) at -108.76% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | LYV | WMG |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 8.83% | 4.37% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 14.74% | 4.25% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -108.76% | -16.87% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -13.33% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Live Nation Entertainment (LYV) at 0.95 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Warner Music (WMG) at 0.73 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for WMG.
LYV
Media & Entertainment industry group
0.95
- Max
- 4.69
- Q3
- 2.53
- Median
- 1.52
- LYV
- 0.95
- Q1
- 0.95
- Min
- 0.28
WMG
Media & Entertainment industry group
0.73
- Max
- 4.69
- Q3
- 2.53
- Median
- 1.52
- Q1
- 0.95
- WMG
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.28
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Debt sits unusually high against shareholders’ equity for both Live Nation Entertainment (LYV) at 5.10 and Warner Music (WMG) at 4.53 — each debt-to-equity ratio is above its industry benchmark range.
LYV
Media & Entertainment industry group
5.10
- LYV
- 5.10
- Max
- 3.65
- Q3
- 1.69
- Median
- 0.46
- Q1
- 0.17
- Min
- 0.00
WMG
Media & Entertainment industry group
4.53
- WMG
- 4.53
- Max
- 3.65
- Q3
- 1.69
- Median
- 0.46
- Q1
- 0.17
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | LYV | WMG |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.95 | 0.73 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 5.10 | 4.53 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.70 | 2.57 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Live Nation Entertainment (LYV) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Warner Music (WMG) reports a yield of 2.38%, ranking against industry peers normally.
LYV
Media & Entertainment industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 1.33%
- Q3
- 0.65%
- LYV
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
WMG
Media & Entertainment industry group
2.38%
- WMG
- 2.38%
- Max
- 1.33%
- Q3
- 0.65%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Live Nation Entertainment (LYV) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Warner Music (WMG) reports a payout of 60.80%, ranking against industry peers normally.
LYV
Media & Entertainment industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 71.43%
- Q3
- 28.98%
- LYV
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
WMG
Media & Entertainment industry group
60.80%
- Max
- 71.43%
- WMG
- 60.80%
- Q3
- 28.98%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | LYV | WMG |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 2.38% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 60.80% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Warner Music (WMG) trades at 25.04 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Live Nation Entertainment (LYV) has no P/E ratio this period.
LYV
Media & Entertainment industry group
--
- Max
- 51.21
- Q3
- 28.90
- Median
- 17.98
- Q1
- 11.53
- Min
- 1.64
- LYV
- --
WMG
Media & Entertainment industry group
25.04
- Max
- 51.21
- Q3
- 28.90
- WMG
- 25.04
- Median
- 17.98
- Q1
- 11.53
- Min
- 1.64
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Live Nation Entertainment (LYV) at 1.48 and Warner Music (WMG) at 2.24 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
LYV
Media & Entertainment industry group
1.48
- Max
- 7.43
- Q3
- 3.82
- LYV
- 1.48
- Median
- 1.40
- Q1
- 0.70
- Min
- 0.00
WMG
Media & Entertainment industry group
2.24
- Max
- 7.43
- Q3
- 3.82
- WMG
- 2.24
- Median
- 1.40
- Q1
- 0.70
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Measured against book value, both Live Nation Entertainment (LYV) at 88.69 and Warner Music (WMG) at 19.17 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.
LYV
Media & Entertainment industry group
88.69
- LYV
- 88.69
- Max
- 11.45
- Q3
- 5.30
- Median
- 1.84
- Q1
- 0.77
- Min
- -2.61
WMG
Media & Entertainment industry group
19.17
- WMG
- 19.17
- Max
- 11.45
- Q3
- 5.30
- Median
- 1.84
- Q1
- 0.77
- Min
- -2.61
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | LYV | WMG |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | -- | 25.04 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.48 | 2.24 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 88.69 | 19.17 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.10% | 2.33% |