Vivid Seats up amid report of co exploring potential sale

Investing.com — Vivid Seats Inc (NASDAQ:SEAT) shares are up more than 20% at $4.56.

The company is reportedly exploring a potential sale after receiving unsolicited interest from private equity firms.

Raymond (NS:RYMD) James analysts noted that financial buyers are more likely to pursue Vivid than strategic players, citing limited resources among competitors like StubHub and Seatgeek, who have focused heavily on marketing. They also pointed out that regulatory scrutiny on the ticketing industry, though currently focused on primary markets, could be spurred by a deal of this scale.

The ticketing platform has faced a challenging 2024, with a decline in Gross Order Value as the live events market cooled after a blockbuster 2023 dominated by high-profile tours like Taylor Swift’s Eras. Vivid’s shares have fallen roughly 40% this year amid a shift toward smaller venues and less prominent artists. Analysts anticipate a more stable 2025, with early tour announcements signaling a return to normalcy.

While the Vivid Seats process is in its early stages, analysts caution that it may not result in a finalized deal.