The investment bank Maxim Group is continuing to rate shares of Live Nation stock as a “buy,” despite the stock’s recent dips.
Live Nation stock, which trades under the symbol LYV, closed at $8.52 today, September 27, up $0.09 from the previous day’s close of $8.43, but down from today’s high of $8.85.
The stock’s 52-week high was $12.44, and Maxim now has a target price for the stock at $14 per share.
Maxim’s rating of the company’s stock is in line with other analysts, including that of Stifel Nicolaus & Company’s Ben Mogil, who raised his rating from “hold” to “buy” earlier this year and has kept it there.
In recent weeks, Live Nation executives have given presentations at investor conferences hosted by Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs where they talked up the company’s prospects for the near and long term.
The company has moved aggressively this year to avoid a repeat of its rough 2010, moves that have included a discount ticketing deal with Groupon; booking fewer shows into its amphitheaters; launching seat mapping technology with Facebook; and negotiating more favorable terms with the artists for the tours Live Nation promotes.
Live Nation also recently signed an artist management partnership deal with Universal Music Group that could expand its ticketing and marketing opportunities with more acts.
While the stock price has dropped, the moves appear to have paid off, at least in the short term, where revenues and profits are up this year.