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Vivid Seats Inc(SEAT)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
1-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$3.21
10/09/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
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  • 1Y
  • 1M
  • 1W
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
  • Loss
  • PASS (Skip)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for SEAT

10/09/2026: SEAT (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

Vivid Seats Inc is a publicly traded company specializing in the secondary ticketing marketplace for live sports, concerts, and theater. Its business model thrives on a scalable digital platform and a loyalty-focused strategy that encourages repeat purchases. The company’s primary investment story centers on its ability to capture market share through improved user experience and strategic partnerships within the entertainment ecosystem. However, it faces significant risks from intense competition with industry-integrated giants, potential regulatory pressure on fees, and sensitivity to macroeconomic trends. Vivid Seats is best suited for growth-oriented investors who can tolerate volatility and are closely monitoring the company's ability to maintain take rates against strong competitive headwinds.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitThe company offers growth potential in the ticketing space, though it faces stiff competition from entrenched market leaders.
Momentum investorMixed fitMomentum is conditional on positive market sentiment toward live event recovery and company-specific earnings surprises.
Value investorWeak fitValuation is often tied to growth projections rather than established earnings multiples characteristic of value stocks.
Dividend investorWeak fitThe company does not pay a dividend and prioritizes capital reinvestment.
Low-risk investorWeak fitThe stock exhibits significant volatility linked to the cyclical nature of live events.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityHighThe stock price is susceptible to shifts in consumer demand and market sentiment.
Valuation riskMedium / highMarket pricing often fluctuates based on future growth expectations which may not materialize.
Competition risk (Live Nation)HighIntense competition from Ticketmaster creates constant pressure on market share and margins.
Business qualityMediumWhile the platform model is scalable, the business lacks the defensive moat of primary ticket issuers.
Dividend incomeLow / noneInvestors should not rely on this stock for regular income.
Execution riskMediumThe company must continuously innovate its platform to remain competitive.

Price Behavior

Downtrend
PRICE PATH

Downtrend

The stock has experienced a sustained decline in price over recent periods.

Highly Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Highly Choppy

The stock has experienced frequent, large price swings that make its near-term movement less predictable.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit -63.44%
Avg. Invested days 15
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 1.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 1.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 10/09/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
SEAT receives a 3-star rating based on the available scored pillars. The rating is constrained by weak unit economics, soft quantitative characteristics, and weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
SEAT has moderate overall fundamentals (3 stars), with soft financial health, weak growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, growth and ownership metrics are mixed: negative earnings growth (-4654.9%), weak cash generation (FCF margin -19.4%), negative revenue growth (-26.4%).

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
SEAT's financial health is soft, with the relatively strongest area being moderate efficiency, including operating-expense and cost-of-revenue discipline (opex 79.5% of revenue). Cash strength is soft (2 stars), which helps explain the 2-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
SEAT's growth profile is soft, with the least-weak measure being revenue growth at -26.4% FY2025 versus FY2024. By comparison, while earnings growth (-4654.9%, negative) and free-cash-flow growth (-323.1%, negative) hold the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 80.5% and approximately 32.6% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 14.92% supports management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

GTCR LLC 33.53%
Security Benefit Life Insurance Co 19.50%
BlackBarn Capital Partners LP 4.45%
Sun Life Financial Inc 3.70%
Emeth Value Capital, LLC 2.17%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
SEAT generates approximately $696 of gross profit, $-99 of operating income, and $-194 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Operating losses and cash burn explain the 1-star rating, with weak cash conversion and weak capital efficiency.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 34.17%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
SEAT has a Value-Oriented profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Value-OrientedSmall / Mid Cap RiskShort Squeeze Risk

Key Highlights

Company Size Small-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 36.08M USD
Price to earnings Ratio -
1Y Target Price 11.68
Price to earnings Ratio -
1Y Target Price 11.68
Volume (30-day avg) 98.3K shares
Beta 1.19
52 Weeks Range 2.85 - 13.98
Updated Date 10/10/2026
52 Weeks Range 2.85 - 13.98
Updated Date 10/10/2026
Dividends yield (FY) -
Basic EPS (TTM) -45.51

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Marketplace ServicesService fees and processing fees charged on each ticket transaction.The company earns a commission every time a buyer purchases a ticket on their platform.
Resale OperationsRevenue from the direct sale of tickets held in inventory.The company also acts as a seller in some instances to ensure ticket availability.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

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Valuation

Trailing PE -
Forward PE 22.73
Enterprise Value 308.42M
Price to Sales(TTM) 0.07
Enterprise Value 308.42M
Price to Sales(TTM) 0.07
Enterprise Value to Revenue 0.59
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 5.84
Shares Outstanding 11.24M
Shares Floating 3.66M
Shares Outstanding 11.24M
Shares Floating 3.66M
Percent Insiders 14.92
Percent Institutions 80.45

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

Form CRS provides a relationship summary of our automated advisory services, flat subscription fees, and conflicts of interest. Form ADV Part 2A brochure contains complete details on services, billing, and disclosures. If any summary differs from our current regulatory filings, the filed Form ADV controls.