--> --> Key Points StubHub (STUB) priced its IPO at $23.50 per share yesterday, valuing the company at $8.6 billion. The offering raised $800 million through the sale of 34 million shares. Delays from market volatility preceded STUB’s debut, but it faces competitive and regulatory headwinds. Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset’s free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Don’t waste another minute; learn more here.(Sponsor) --> --> In a long-awaited move, StubHub (NYSE:STUB), the leading online ticket resale marketplace, priced its initial public offering (IPO) yesterday at $23.50 per share, valuing the company at $8.6 billion. The offering raised $800 million through the sale of approximately 34 million shares, with an option for underwriters to purchase up to 5.1 million more. This debut on the New York Stock Exchange caps years of delays, including pauses in 2024 amid market volatility from tariffs and earlier in 2025 due to economic uncertainty. Founded in 2000 and acquired by eBay (NASDAQ:EBAY )before its $4.05 billion sale to viagogo in 2020, StubHub operates in over 200 countries, facilitating secondary sales for concerts, sports, and theater. The pricing hit the midpoint of an expected $22 to $25 per share range, reflecting cautious investor appetite in a reviving IPO market buoyed by tech and crypto listings. As shares begin trading today, the focus shifts to whether this valuation captures StubHub’s growth potential in the booming live events sector. Revenue Surge Meets Profit Challenges StubHub’s financials paint a picture of robust top-line growth but persistent bottom-line pressures. In 2024, revenue soared 29.5% to $1.77 billion, driven by gross merchandise sales (GMS) climbing 27% to $8.7 billion and over 40 million tickets sold across 1 million unique sellers. This momentum continued into the first half of 2025, with revenue up 3% year-over-year to $827.9 million, even as GMS rose 11% to $4.38 billion. The company’s expansion into primary ticketing — generating over $100 million in GMS last year — signals diversification beyond resale. However, profitability remains elusive. StubHub swung to a net loss of $2.8 million in 2024 from a $405.2 million profit in 2023, as expenses ballooned to $1.63 billion amid investments in technology and marketing. Losses widened further in the first half of 2025 to $111.8 million, more than double the prior year’s figure, due to rising costs of $776 million. Adjusted EBITDA dipped to $298.7 million in 2024, highlighting the drag from $2.85 billion in debt (with interest rates around 9%). While free cash flow margins hover at 14%, these figures suggest investors betting on StubHub should prioritize long-term scalability over immediate earnings. Navigating a Crowded and Contentious Arena The ticket resale space is fiercely competitive, with StubHub vying against giants like Ticketmaster parent Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE:LYV) and emerging players such as SeatGeek and Vivid Seats (NASDAQ:SEAT). Live Nation dominates primary ticketing but faces antitrust scrutiny, including a Justice Dept. lawsuit seeking a breakup over monopolistic practices. Its stock has performed solidly, up about 31% year-to-date, bolstered by a second-quarter revenue beat and projected EBITDA growth to $2.4 billion for the year. Vivid Seats, another reseller, has seen volatile trading since its 2021 SPAC debut, with shares down over 82% from its 52-week high, but showing resilience in secondary markets. StubHub’s edge lies in its global reach via the viagogo brand and fan-focused features like price guarantees. Yet, competition intensifies STUB’s risks. Primary platforms like Ticketmaster increasingly integrate resale, potentially eroding StubHub’s more than 40% market share in secondary sales. The performance of rivals” stocks underscore this — while LYV thrives on live events recovery, SEAT struggles with fee pressures and bot-related lawsuits, and trades at a discount to its peers. Regulatory Shadows and IPO Pitfalls As a resale pioneer, StubHub operates in a controversial industry plagued by scalping accusations and regulatory heat. The secondary market, valued at $3.4 billion globally in 2024, faces a patchwork of U.S. laws: 15 states ban or restrict reselling above face value, while others mandate licenses or cap markups. Federally, the 2016 BOTS Act targets bot-driven bulk buying, but enforcement is ramping up — a March executive order by President Trump directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to crack down on unfair practices, including speculative listings where tickets aren’t yet held. Recent FTC suits against resellers for bypassing limits (such as on Taylor Swift concert tours) highlight risks of fines, lawsuits, and reputational damage. State-level pushes for “all-in” pricing and transfer rights could squeeze margins, especially with StubHub’s more than $800 million in annual fees. Broader IPO data urges additional caution. While first-day pops average 15% to 23% in strong years like 2020 and 2023, long-term returns falter. Studies from Jay Ritter and Dimensional Fund Advisors show U.S. IPOs underperform benchmarks by 20% to 30% in their first year post-debut, as hype fades and valuations normalize. High-profile flops abound, with many firms trading below IPO prices after 12 months due to lock-up expirations and market shifts. Regardless of today’s open, StubHub’s $8.6 billion tag — down from an initial $16.5 billion target — may still prove lofty amid these headwinds. Key Takeaway Investors should hold off on buying StubHub stock for now until the markets can make sense of its opportunity and whether the regulatory risks will dissipate. It’s easy to get caught up in the euphoria of an IPO, but your portfolio will thank you for taking a wait-and-see approach.The post StubHub (STUB) Just Started Trading. Should You Buy The IPO? appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..