09:22 AM EDT, 05/24/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Live Nation Entertainment ( LYV ) shares are at risk amid the US Justice Department's attempt to separate it from Ticketmaster through an antitrust lawsuit, but the case currently does not have enough findings that would make the breakup scenario likely, Morgan Stanley said Friday in a note to clients.

"There remains uncertainty around the timing, but we expect a motion to dismiss some part of the complaint in [about] 60 days and for a trial to begin in 12 to 18 months," analysts from the investment bank wrote.

The lawsuit's request for Live Nation to divest Ticketmaster would be a worse outcome for the company's stock than if the case had focused on remedying anticompetitive behaviors, Morgan Stanley said.

However, the lawsuit has "limited evidence" regarding one of its claims that Live Nation violated conditions of the 2010 consent decree that allowed its merger with Ticketmaster to push through, Morgan Stanley said, adding that this should mitigate the risk of a breakup.

Morgan Stanley maintained its overweight rating on Live Nation's stock.

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