RBC cuts Vivid Seats price target to $4, maintains rating

Published 13/03/2025, 16:20
RBC cuts Vivid Seats price target to $4, maintains rating

On Thursday, RBC Capital Markets adjusted its financial outlook on Vivid Seats Inc. (NASDAQ: SEAT), reducing the company’s price target from $6.00 to $4.00, while continuing to hold a Sector Perform rating on the stock. According to InvestingPro data, the stock currently trades at $2.80, significantly below analyst targets ranging from $3.50 to $8.00, suggesting potential upside despite recent challenges.

The adjustment comes in the wake of Vivid Seats’ challenging fourth-quarter performance, which has been affected by a slight deterioration in the general secondary ticket market volumes in the very recent period. The stock has experienced significant pressure, with InvestingPro data showing a steep 28.75% decline in the past week alone. The competitive landscape has been identified as particularly challenging, with the necessity for increased spending by Vivid Seats to maintain its market share.

Despite these pressures, the company has shown some positive signs. According to RBC Capital’s analyst, the firm’s profitability has been strong, with InvestingPro data revealing a robust 74% gross profit margin and positive net income over the last twelve months. There are encouraging developments in international markets. However, the need to revise estimates has led to a lower price target, now set at $4.00, which is based on a 7x enterprise value to estimated 2026 EBITDA ratio. InvestingPro subscribers have access to 10 additional key insights and comprehensive financial metrics for deeper analysis of SEAT’s potential.

The ongoing narrative from RBC Capital since Vivid Seats went public has been that the company, as a significant yet rational player in the secondary ticket market, faces a market environment where other major competitors need to adjust their advertising expenditures before Vivid Seats can fully capitalize on growth opportunities. The current market conditions, including increased marketing intensity and broader economic factors, present formidable challenges for the company, despite its appealing valuation following recent stock sell-offs. The company maintains a moderate debt level and operates with an overall "GOOD" financial health score, according to InvestingPro’s comprehensive analysis.

In other recent news, Vivid Seats Inc. released its fourth-quarter earnings report, which revealed mixed results. The company surpassed expectations in revenue and EBITDA, although government orders did not meet projections. Analysts have responded by adjusting their financial outlooks, with DA Davidson reducing its price target to $3.50 while maintaining a Buy rating, and Benchmark lowering its target to $6.00, also keeping a Buy rating. Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) has set a new price target of $3.75, maintaining an Equalweight rating, while Raymond (NSE:RYMD) James downgraded the stock to Market Perform with a $5.00 price target.

Despite the mixed financial results, Vivid Seats faces an increasingly competitive ticketing market, with rivals intensifying marketing efforts. The company’s 2025 guidance suggests a broad range of potential outcomes, reflecting uncertainties in consumer demand and economic conditions. Analysts from firms like Canaccord Genuity have noted the company’s strategic focus on margins over growth, acknowledging the challenges posed by increased marketing expenditures from competitors. Vivid Seats remains optimistic about a potential return to growth in the latter half of 2025, driven by a strong live events calendar and strategic adjustments in marketing and technology.

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