Vivid Seats (NASDAQ:SEAT) Posts Quarterly Earnings Results, Misses Estimates By $0.30 EPS

Key Points

• Vivid Seats reported a quarterly EPS loss of ($1.35), missing the consensus by $0.30, though the stock traded up about 4.7% on the day.
• Operationally, Q1 marketplace GOV was $612 million (up 5.5% Q/Q) with consolidated revenue of ~$126 million, adjusted EBITDA of $9.5 million and cash of $144 million, and management reaffirmed FY26 guidance of $2.2–2.6B GOV and $30–40M adjusted EBITDA while citing cost cuts that support a path to positive cash flow.
• The company highlighted product momentum: app GOV rose 20% YoY to over 40% of property GOV with a goal of a majority-app run rate by 2027, and private‑label revenue grew 20% Q/Q after adding a large new partner.

Vivid Seats (NASDAQ:SEAT - Get Free Report) posted its earnings results on Tuesday. The company reported ($1.35) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($1.05) by ($0.30), Zacks reports. Vivid Seats had a negative net margin of 75.21% and a positive return on equity of 31.44%.

Here are the key takeaways from Vivid Seats' conference call:

• Q1 results beat or hit the high end of guidance with marketplace GOV of $612 million (up 5.5% Q/Q), consolidated revenue of ~$126 million, adjusted EBITDA of $9.5 million (vs. $1M in Q4), cash up >$40M to $144 million, and management reaffirmed FY26 guidance of $2.2–2.6B GOV and $30–40M adjusted EBITDA.
• The Vivid Seats app is gaining traction—app GOV was up 20% YoY and exceeded 40% of Vivid Seats property GOV in Q1—driven by checkout upgrades, rewards and a lowest-price guarantee, with a target of a majority-app run rate by 2027 to improve acquisition efficiency and retention.
• Private label showed sequential strength: revenue grew 20% Q/Q after adding a large new partner (performance above expectations) and extending an existing agreement, which management says supports a return to year‑over‑year growth in H2 2026.
• Management cites a material reduction in operating costs as a key driver of the adjusted EBITDA improvement and says cost cuts are real with maintained productivity, supporting operating leverage and the path to cash‑flow positive performance if guidance is met.
• Competitive dynamics are mixed—paid‑search spend from one rival has moderated but pricing competition, especially in sports, persists; management views AI/LLMs as currently more of an operational efficiency opportunity than an imminent disintermediation risk, but they remain vigilant.

Vivid Seats Stock Up 4.7%

NASDAQ:SEAT traded up $0.30 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $6.73. 151,721 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 116,405. The firm has a market cap of $72.48 million, a P/E ratio of -0.10 and a beta of 0.98. Vivid Seats has a twelve month low of $5.06 and a twelve month high of $45.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.41, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 0.59. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $6.41 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $7.57.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on SEAT shares. Craig Hallum raised Vivid Seats from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $15.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Friday, March 13th. Benchmark reduced their price objective on Vivid Seats from $18.00 to $10.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, March 13th. Canaccord Genuity Group set a $10.00 price objective on Vivid Seats and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, March 13th. Bank of America reaffirmed an "underperform" rating and issued a $5.65 target price on shares of Vivid Seats in a research report on Thursday, March 12th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "sell (d-)" rating on shares of Vivid Seats in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $14.27.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Veradace Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Vivid Seats during the fourth quarter valued at $507,000. Occudo Quantitative Strategies LP acquired a new position in shares of Vivid Seats in the fourth quarter worth $135,000. Bridgeway Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Vivid Seats in the fourth quarter worth $205,000. Windward Management LP acquired a new position in shares of Vivid Seats in the fourth quarter worth $410,000. Finally, Jain Global LLC acquired a new position in shares of Vivid Seats in the fourth quarter worth $97,000. 39.92% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Vivid Seats

Vivid Seats, traded on NASDAQ under the ticker SEAT, operates an online ticket marketplace that connects buyers and sellers of live event tickets. The company specializes in facilitating purchases for sports games, concerts, theater productions and other entertainment experiences. Through its digital platform and mobile application, Vivid Seats offers real-time access to available tickets, transparent pricing and a 100% Buyer Guarantee, which ensures ticket authenticity and timely delivery.

Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Vivid Seats has grown from a regional reseller into one of North America's leading ticket marketplaces.

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