Short interest for MGM Resorts Intl gives investors a sense of the degree to which investors are betting on the decline of MGM Resorts Intl's stock. Short interest data is updated every two weeks.

MGM Resorts Intl Stock (NYSE:MGM), Short Interest Report

MGM Resorts Intl

MGM Resorts is the largest resort operator on the Las Vegas Strip with 35,000 guest rooms and suites, representing about one fourth of all units in the market. The company's Vegas properties include MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, Park MGM, Luxor, New York-New York, and Bellagio. The Strip contributed approximately 62% of total EBITDAR in 2023. MGM also owns U.S. regional assets, which represented low-20s of 2023 EBITDAR (MGM's Macao EBITDAR was 17% of the total in 2023). MGM's U.S. sports and iGaming operations are currently a high-single-digit percentage of its total revenue. The company also operates the 56%-owned MGM China casinos with a new property that opened on the Cotai Strip in early 2018. Further, we estimate MGM will open a resort in Japan in 2030.

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MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is scheduled to report first-quarter 2024 results on May 1, 2024, after the closing bell.
In the last reported quarter, the company&#39;s earnings and revenues topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 58.2% and 6.9%, respectively.

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With the earnings season now halfway through, the percentage of S&amp;P 500 companies reporting positive earnings surprises and the magnitude of earnings surprises were above their 10-year averages.

Will Earnings Cheer Continue To Buoy Markets? Apple, Amazon, Pfizer, Coinbase Lead Flurry Of Q1 Reports This Week

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Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bearish approach towards MGM Resorts Intl (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MGM#NYSE">MGM</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in MGM usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 21 extraordinary options activities for MGM Resorts Intl. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 28% leaning bullish and 57% bearish. Among these notable options, 3 are puts, totaling $190,822, and 18 are calls, amounting to $570,045.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $30.0 and $44.0 for MGM Resorts Intl, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for MGM Resorts Intl options trades today is 290.83 with a total volume of 7,867.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for MGM Resorts Intl's big money trades within a strike price range of $30.0 to $44.0 over the last 30 days.
<h3>MGM Resorts Intl Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1714496473_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>MGM</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/03/24</td>
<td>$1.67</td>
<td>$1.58</td>
<td>$1.67</td>
<td>$41.50</td>
<td>$73.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">99</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MGM</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$2.21</td>
<td>$1.94</td>
<td>$2.1</td>
<td>$36.00</td>
<td>$63.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">300</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MGM</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$1.44</td>
<td>$1.36</td>
<td>$1.37</td>
<td>$36.00</td>
<td>$54.8K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">19</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">400</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MGM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/19/24</td>
<td>$1.31</td>
<td>$1.3</td>
<td>$1.3</td>
<td>$44.00</td>
<td>$45.5K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">47</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">550</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MGM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/19/24</td>
<td>$1.31</td>
<td>$1.3</td>
<td>$1.3</td>
<td>$44.00</td>
<td>$45.2K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">47</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">650</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About MGM Resorts Intl</h3>
MGM Resorts is the largest resort operator on the Las Vegas Strip with 35,000 guest rooms and suites, representing about one fourth of all units in the market. The company's Vegas properties include MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, Park MGM, Luxor, New York-New York, and Bellagio. The Strip contributed approximately 62% of total EBITDAR in 2023. MGM also owns U.S. regional assets, which represented low-20s of 2023 EBITDAR (MGM's Macao EBITDAR was 17% of the total in 2023). MGM's U.S. sports and iGaming operations are currently a high-single-digit percentage of its total revenue. The company also operates the 56%-owned MGM China casinos with a new property that opened on the Cotai Strip in early 2018. Further, we estimate MGM will open a resort in Japan in 2030.
<h3>MGM Resorts Intl's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 2,265,345, the price of MGM is down -3.73% at $40.06. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 1 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for MGM Resorts Intl</h3>
Over the past month, 2 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $51.0.
<ul>
<li>Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Morgan Stanley keeps a Equal-Weight rating on MGM Resorts Intl with a target price of $46. </li>
<li>Reflecting concerns, an analyst from Seaport Global lowers its rating to Buy with a new price target of $56.</li>
</ul>
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest MGM Resorts Intl options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Options

What the Options Market Tells Us About MGM Resorts Intl

Dutch entry follows the UK as BetMGM's second international market utilizing LeoVegas' platform &amp; technology
LAS VEGAS, April 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- MGM Resorts International (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MGM#NYSE">MGM</a>) ("MGM Resorts" or the "Company") announced today it is launching BetMGM – its wholly owned iGaming and online sports betting brand offering an authentic Vegas experience – in the Netherlands.
BetMGM is set to provide Dutch customers with exciting new product features, including large-scale jackpots, loyalty rewards, exclusive slots, as well as unique and compelling sports promotions. Utilizing LeoVegas Group's proprietary technology and platform, this expansion represents the second European launch, succeeding a well-received rollout in the United Kingdom.
Gary Fritz, President of MGM Resorts International Interactive said: "We are thrilled to launch BetMGM in the Netherlands and build on BetMGM's successful expansion into global markets. The Dutch market offers an exciting opportunity and will be an important part of our international expansion efforts and strategy to become a global gaming leader."
Gustaf Hagman, Group CEO at LeoVegas Group, said: "Our launch in the UK was tremendously successful, and we eagerly anticipate bringing the golden Vegas experience to the Netherlands. This launch in the Dutch market is an important step in our international expansion, but we have much more in store."

MGM Resorts Launches BetMGM In The Netherlands

MGM Resorts International (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mgm#NYSE">MGM</a>) is scheduled to report first-quarter 2024 results on May 1, 2024, after the closing bell. 
In the last reported quarter, the company&#39;s earnings and revenues topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 58.2% and 6.9%, respectively.
<h3>What Do the Estimates Say?</h3>
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter earnings per share is pegged at 60 cents, indicating an increase of 36.4% from 44 cents reported in the year-ago quarter. 
For revenues, the consensus mark is pegged at nearly $4.18 billion. The metric suggests an increase of 8% from the year-ago quarter&#39;s figure.
<div class="chart_embed">
<h3>MGM Resorts International Price and EPS Surprise</h3>
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/chart/MGM/price-eps-surprise?icid=chart-MGM-price-eps-surprise"><img alt="MGM Resorts International Price and EPS Surprise" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/charts/77/1714395816.png" style="height:263px; width:538px" title="" /> </a>
MGM Resorts International price-eps-surprise | MGM Resorts International Quote
</div>
Let&#39;s take a look at how things have shaped up in the quarter.
<h3>Factors to Note</h3>
MGM Resorts&#39; first-quarter top line is likely to have gained from pent-up consumer demand, high domestic casino spending and robust demand for sports betting. This and increased visitation in the Macau market are likely to have aided the company&#39;s performance in the to-be-reported quarter. 
The company&#39;s domestic performance is likely to have gained profit from major events, including the inaugural Formula 1 race and its first Super Bowl accompanied by the launch of its Marriott relationship. Also, enhancements in omnichannel marketing offerings and opportunities to increase its convention room nights and international mix, are likely to have aided the company&#39;s performance in the to-be-reported quarter. 
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter 2024 revenues at MGM China is pegged at $922 million compared with $618 million reported in the year-ago quarter. 
Solid contributions from rooms, food and beverage and casino are likely to have driven the company&#39;s first-quarter top line. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues at rooms and food and beverage is pegged at $908 million and $746 million, suggesting a year-over-year increase from $848 million and $722 million, respectively. The consensus mark for first-quarter casino revenues is pegged at $1.99 billion, indicating a rise from $1.88 billion reported in the year-ago period. 
Incremental expenses related to labor, incentive fees and other related expenses are concerns for the bottom line of the company. Nonetheless, its initiatives to improve productivity and reduce the cost of sales through leveraging procurement activities are likely to have more than offset these headwinds in the to-be-reported quarter.
<h3>What the Zacks Model Unveils</h3>
Our proven model predicts a likely earnings beat for MGM Resorts this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. 
Earnings ESP: MGM Resorts has an Earnings ESP of +24.65%. 
Zacks Rank: The company has a Zacks Rank of 3.
<h3>Stocks Poised to Beat Earnings Estimates</h3>
Here are some stocks from the Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector, which, according to our model, have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat: 
Interface, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tile#NASDAQ">TILE</a>) currently has an Earnings ESP of +16.67% and a Zacks Rank of 1. 
TILE&#39;s earnings for the to-be-reported quarter are expected to increase 71.4%. It reported better-than-expected earnings in three of the trailing four quarters and missed on the remaining one occasion, the average surprise being 29.9%. 
DraftKings Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dkng#NASDAQ">DKNG</a>) currently has an Earnings ESP of +12.65% and a Zacks Rank of 3. 
DKNG&#39;s earnings for the to-be-reported quarter are expected to increase 67.8%. It reported better-than-expected earnings in two of the trailing four quarters and missed on the other two occasions, the average surprise being negative 57.1%. 
AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/amc#NYSE">AMC</a>) currently has an Earnings ESP of +6.96% and a Zacks Rank of 3. 
AMC&#39;s earnings for the to-be-reported quarter are expected to increase 39.2%. It reported better-than-expected earnings in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 50.4%. 
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2264247/factors-setting-the-tone-for-mgm-resorts-mgm-q1-earnings?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|earnings_preview-2264247">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Factors Setting the Tone for MGM Resorts' Q1 Earnings

Corporate <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38471231/strong-quarterly-earnings-fuel-market-optimism-despite-inflation-concerns-slowing-economic-growt">earnings came to the market&#8217;s rescue in the past week,</a> helping to overcome rate fears. As we look ahead to the unfolding week, it remains to be seen whether the tech earnings deluge can keep the rally&#8217;s momentum going. 
The Week That Was: High-profile Magnificent Seven earnings panned out mostly positively for the market, with Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) the outlier. The social media giant&#8217;s stock fell sharply as traders fretted over the soft second-quarter revenue guidance and the company&#8217;s massive AI investment plans. 
Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) managed to appease the Street despite the double miss as it held out the promise of an expeditious launch of a more affordable EV. 
With the earnings season now halfway through, the percentage of S&amp;P 500 companies reporting positive earnings surprises and the magnitude of earnings surprises were above their 10-year averages, <a href="https://insight.factset.com/sp-500-earnings-season-update-april-26-2024?utm_source=Direct&amp;utm_medium=Email&amp;utm_campaign=FO-04-26-2024&amp;utm_content=httpsinsightfactsetcomsp500earningsseasonupdateapril262024">said </a>FactSet in a report.
The blended first-quarter earnings growth of S&amp;P 500 companies is estimated at 3.5%, up from the 0.6% growth estimated in the week ended April 19, the financial data analytics firm said. If the trend holds, the S&amp;P 500 companies are on track to report earnings growth for the third straight quarter.
Of the 11 S&amp;P sector classes, eight sectors reported year-over-year earnings growth, led by communication services, utilities, IT, and consumer discretionary sectors. On the other hand, healthcare, energy, and materials have reported year-over-year earnings declines.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-tech-stocks">Best Tech Stocks Right Now</a>
Look Ahead: The unfolding week will see 175 S&amp;P 500 companies and 6 Dow 30 components releasing their quarterly scorecards. The earnings roster includes two Magnificent Seven companies, namely Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and Amazon, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), e-commerce retailers, payment processors, restaurants, and energy and REIT companies.
Earnings from Apple and Amazon could be market-moving, given the weighting of these stocks in the S&amp;P 500 Index. Also, Apple is considered a bellwether, given its exposure to consumers. Morgan Stanley&#8217;s Erik Woodring expects Apple to report a slightly beat but guide June quarter revenue down. 
Investors are likely to keep a close eye on performance in China, Apple&#8217;s updated capital return framework, and capital expenditures, the analyst said.
That said, the analyst is positive on the stock ahead of its annual Worldwide Developers&#8217; Conference due on June 10th. &#8220;With Apple&#8217;s biggest WWDC event on June 10th, we&#8217;d buy post-earnings weakness,&#8221; he said.
Amazon will likely continue to report double-digit sales and profit growth in the first quarter, according to Telsey Advisory Group analyst Joseph Feldman. The analyst premised his optimism on the strength of online spending, gains from expanded merchandise and faster fulfillment, and stabilization (and growth) of AWS. 
&#8220;Importantly, we expect [a] greater focus on profits supported by the growth of higher margin categories and services, such as advertising, media, and AWS (partly helped by AI-related upgrades), the redesigned distribution network&#8230;.. and cost savings,&#8221; he said.
Notable among the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings">companies reporting earnings this week</a> are:
Monday 
<ul>
<li>Before the bell: JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JKS#NYSE">JKS</a>), ON Semiconductor Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ON#NASDAQ">ON</a>), Koninklijke Philips N.V. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PHG#NYSE">PHG</a>), SoFi Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOFI#NASDAQ">SOFI</a>)</li>
<li>After the close: F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FFIV#NASDAQ">FFIV</a>), Everest Group, Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EG#NYSE">EG</a>), NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NXPI#NASDAQ">NXPI</a>), Lattice Semiconductor Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LSCC#NASDAQ">LSCC</a>), MicroStrategy Incorporated (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>), Paramount Global (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PARA#NASDAQ">PARA</a>), Qiagen N.V. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QGEN#NYSE">QGEN</a>), Rambus Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RMBS#NASDAQ">RMBS</a>), Sanmina Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SANM#NASDAQ">SANM</a>), Yum China Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/YUMC#NYSE">YUMC</a>)</li>
</ul>
Tuesday 
<ul>
<li>Before the bell: 3M Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MMM#NYSE">MMM</a>), Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADM#NYSE">ADM</a>), The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>), Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>), GE HealthCare Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEHC#NASDAQ">GEHC</a>), McDonald&#8217;s Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>), Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TAP#NYSE">TAP</a>), PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYPL#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>), Tenet Healthcare Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/THC#NYSE">THC</a>)</li>
<li>After the close: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>), Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OKE#NYSE">OKE</a>), Pinterest, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PINS#NYSE">PINS</a>), Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>), Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SWKS#NASDAQ">SWKS</a>), Unum Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNM#NYSE">UNM</a>). Super Micro Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCI#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>), Stryker Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SYK#NYSE">SYK</a>), RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RNR#NYSE">RNR</a>), Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PRU#NYSE">PRU</a>), Diamondback Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FANG#NASDAQ">FANG</a>), The Clorox Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CLX#NYSE">CLX</a>), Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHK#NASDAQ">CHK</a>)</li>
</ul>

Wednesday 
<ul>
<li>Before the bell: Bausch + Lomb Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLCO#NYSE">BLCO</a>), CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>), DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DD#NYSE">DD</a>), The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EL#NYSE">EL</a>), Garmin Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GRMN#NYSE">GRMN</a>), GSK plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GSK#NYSE">GSK</a>), The Kraft Heinz Company (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KHC#NASDAQ">KHC</a>), KKR &amp; Co. Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KKR#NYSE">KKR</a>), Logitech International S.A. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LOGI#NASDAQ">LOGI</a>), Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>), Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NCLH#NYSE">NCLH</a>), Pfizer, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>), Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WING#NASDAQ">WING</a>), Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/YUM#NYSE">YUM</a>)</li>
<li>After the close: Albemarle Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>), The Allstate Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALL#NYSE">ALL</a>), Beazer Homes USA, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BZH#NYSE">BZH</a>), C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHRW#NASDAQ">CHRW</a>), Devon Energy Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DVN#NYSE">DVN</a>), eBay Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EBAY#NASDAQ">EBAY</a>), Etsy, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ETSY#NASDAQ">ETSY</a>), First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FSLR#NASDAQ">FSLR</a>), Freshworks Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FRSH#NASDAQ">FRSH</a>), Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLIC#NASDAQ">KLIC</a>), Marathon Oil Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRO#NYSE">MRO</a>), MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MET#NYSE">MET</a>), MGM Resorts International (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MGM#NYSE">MGM</a>), NETGEAR, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NTGR#NASDAQ">NTGR</a>), Qorvo, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QRVO#NASDAQ">QRVO</a>), Sunnova Energy International Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOVA#NYSE">NOVA</a>), Upwork Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UPWK#NASDAQ">UPWK</a>), Wolfspeed, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WOLF#NYSE">WOLF</a>), Zillow Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZG#NASDAQ">ZG</a>)</li>
</ul>
Thursday 
<ul>
<li>Before the bell: ArcelorMittal S.A. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MT#NYSE">MT</a>), ConocoPhillips (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COP#NYSE">COP</a>), CyberArk Software Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CYBR#NASDAQ">CYBR</a>), Ferrari N.V. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RACE#NYSE">RACE</a>), Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ICE#NYSE">ICE</a>), Kimco Realty Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KIM#NYSE">KIM</a>), Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRNA#NASDAQ">MRNA</a>), PENN Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PENN#NASDAQ">PENN</a>), Wayfair Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/W#NYSE">W</a>), Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZTS#NYSE">ZTS</a>)</li>
<li>After the close: Amgen, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMGN#NASDAQ">AMGN</a>), Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BBAI#NYSE">BBAI</a>), BJ&#8217;s Restaurants, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BJRI#NASDAQ">BJRI</a>), Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BKNG#NASDAQ">BKNG</a>), Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NET#NYSE">NET</a>), Coinbase Global, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>), Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ED#NYSE">ED</a>), DraftKings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DKNG#NASDAQ">DKNG</a>), Five9, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FIVN#NASDAQ">FIVN</a>), Expedia Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EXPE#NASDAQ">EXPE</a>), Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ILMN#NASDAQ">ILMN</a>), Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LYV#NYSE">LYV</a>), United States Steel Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/X#NYSE">X</a>), Regency Centers Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/REG#NASDAQ">REG</a>), Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RGA#NYSE">RGA</a>), Pioneer Natural Resources Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PXD#NYSE">PXD</a>), Opendoor Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OPEN#NASDAQ">OPEN</a>), Monster Beverage Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MNST#NASDAQ">MNST</a>)</li>
</ul>
Friday 
<ul>
<li>Before the bell: American Axle &amp; Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXL#NYSE">AXL</a>), Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (CBOE: CBOE), Fluor Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FLR#NYSE">FLR</a>), The Hershey Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>), Owens &amp; Minor, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OMI#NYSE">OMI</a>), XPO, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XPO#NYSE">XPO</a>)</li>
</ul>
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), an exchange-traded fund that tracks the performance of the broader S&amp;P 500 Index, ended Friday&#8217;s session up 0.95% at $508.26, according to <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/lxquj26b2sag">Benzinga Pro data. </a>The ETF has pulled back from its all-time high (intraday) of $524.61 hit on March 28. The Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), an ETF levered more to high-profile, non-financial tech stocks, rose 1.54% to $431.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/earnings-misses/24/04/38464570/us-energy-stocks-fall-following-oil-giants-subdued-earnings-reports">US Energy Stocks Fall Following Oil Giants&#8217; Subdued Earnings Reports</a>

During the last three months, 9 analysts shared their evaluations of MGM Resorts Intl (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MGM#NYSE">MGM</a>), revealing diverse outlooks from bullish to bearish.
The following table summarizes their recent ratings, shedding light on the changing sentiments within the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Indifferent</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">5</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">5</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Providing deeper insights, analysts have established 12-month price targets, indicating an average target of $54.33, along with a high estimate of $61.00 and a low estimate of $45.00. This upward trend is apparent, with the current average reflecting a 9.76% increase from the previous average price target of $49.50.
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1713196826_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Understanding Analyst Ratings: A Comprehensive Breakdown</h2>
An in-depth analysis of recent analyst actions unveils how financial experts perceive MGM Resorts Intl. The following summary outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Vitaly Umansky</td>
<td>Seaport Global</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$56.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Stephen Grambling</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$46.00</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ben Chaiken</td>
<td>Mizuho</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$61.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Stephen Grambling</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$44.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jordan Bender</td>
<td>JMP Securities</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Market Outperform</td>
<td>$57.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Chad Beynon</td>
<td>Macquarie</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$58.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Joseph Greff</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$54.00</td>
<td>$52.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brandt Montour</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$55.00</td>
<td>$57.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jordan Bender</td>
<td>JMP Securities</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Market Outperform</td>
<td>$57.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: In response to dynamic market conditions and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their reaction to recent developments related to MGM Resorts Intl. This insight gives a snapshot of analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Offering insights into predictions, analysts assign qualitative values, from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey expectations for the relative performance of MGM Resorts Intl compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Understanding forecasts, analysts offer estimates for MGM Resorts Intl's future value. Examining the current and prior targets provides insight into analysts' changing expectations.</li>
</ul>
Analyzing these analyst evaluations alongside relevant financial metrics can provide a comprehensive view of MGM Resorts Intl's market position. Stay informed and make data-driven decisions with the assistance of our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MGM/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on MGM Resorts Intl analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>All You Need to Know About MGM Resorts Intl</h2>
MGM Resorts is the largest resort operator on the Las Vegas Strip with 35,000 guest rooms and suites, representing about one fourth of all units in the market. The company's Vegas properties include MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, Park MGM, Luxor, New York-New York, and Bellagio. The Strip contributed approximately 62% of total EBITDAR in 2023. MGM also owns U.S. regional assets, which represented low-20s of 2023 EBITDAR (MGM's Macao EBITDAR was 17% of the total in 2023). MGM's U.S. sports and iGaming operations are currently a high-single-digit percentage of its total revenue. The company also operates the 56%-owned MGM China casinos with a new property that opened on the Cotai Strip in early 2018. Further, we estimate MGM will open a resort in Japan in 2030.
<h3>MGM Resorts Intl: A Financial Overview</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: With an elevated market capitalization, the company stands out above industry averages, showcasing substantial size and market acknowledgment.
Revenue Growth: MGM Resorts Intl's revenue growth over a period of 3 months has been noteworthy. As of 31 December, 2023, the company achieved a revenue growth rate of approximately 21.81%. This indicates a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. When compared to others in the Consumer Discretionary sector, the company excelled with a growth rate higher than the average among peers.
Net Margin: The company's net margin is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive net margin of 7.18%, the company showcases strong profitability and effective cost control.
Return on Equity (ROE): MGM Resorts Intl's ROE excels beyond industry benchmarks, reaching 8.08%. This signifies robust financial management and efficient use of shareholder equity capital.
Return on Assets (ROA): MGM Resorts Intl's ROA surpasses industry standards, highlighting the company's exceptional financial performance. With an impressive 0.74% ROA, the company effectively utilizes its assets for optimal returns.
Debt Management: MGM Resorts Intl's debt-to-equity ratio is notably higher than the industry average. With a ratio of 8.3, the company relies more heavily on borrowed funds, indicating a higher level of financial risk.
<h2>Analyst Ratings: What Are They?</h2>
Within the domain of banking and financial systems, analysts specialize in reporting for specific stocks or defined sectors. Their work involves attending company conference calls and meetings, researching company financial statements, and communicating with insiders to publish "analyst ratings" for stocks. Analysts typically assess and rate each stock once per quarter.
In addition to their assessments, some analysts extend their insights by offering predictions for key metrics such as earnings, revenue, and growth estimates. This supplementary information provides further guidance for traders. It is crucial to recognize that, despite their specialization, analysts are human and can only provide forecasts based on their beliefs.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Analyst Ratings

A Closer Look at 9 Analyst Recommendations For MGM Resorts Intl

Seaport Global analyst Vitaly Umansky initiates coverage on MGM Resorts Intl (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MGM#NYSE">MGM</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $56.

Price Target

Initiation

Seaport Global Initiates Coverage On MGM Resorts Intl with Buy Rating, Announces Price Target of $56

WIIM

ABNB

WYNN

Shares of companies in the broader travel sector are trading lower amid overall market uncertainty following mixed inflation data and bank earnings. Rate cut uncertainty could be weighing on discretionary sectors.

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Here's the list of options activity happening in today's session: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>VFC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$10.00</td>
<td>$48.6K</td>
<td>191</td>
<td>25.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVNA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/21/24</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$26.7K</td>
<td>741</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PLAY</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$25.2K</td>
<td>3.7K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DNUT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/16/24</td>
<td>$20.00</td>
<td>$35.1K</td>
<td>1.8K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CZR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$43.0K</td>
<td>7.6K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMZN</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$130.00</td>
<td>$43.0K</td>
<td>25.5K</td>
<td>662</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$35.5K</td>
<td>6.8K</td>
<td>584</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MGM</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$27.6K</td>
<td>139</td>
<td>560</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LULU</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$360.00</td>
<td>$36.0K</td>
<td>613</td>
<td>436</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$36.8K</td>
<td>4.1K</td>
<td>383</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding VFC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VFC#NYSE">VFC</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 343 day(s) on March 21, 2025. Parties traded 374 contract(s) at a $10.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 6 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $48.6K, with a price of $130.0 per contract. There were 191 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 25274 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding CVNA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVNA#NYSE">CVNA</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 70 day(s) on June 21, 2024. Parties traded 30 contract(s) at a $70.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 7 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $26.7K, with a price of $890.0 per contract. There were 741 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1665 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding PLAY (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLAY#NASDAQ">PLAY</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 644 day(s) on January 16, 2026. Parties traded 35 contract(s) at a $80.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 19 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.2K, with a price of $720.0 per contract. There were 3739 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1423 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding DNUT (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DNUT#NASDAQ">DNUT</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 126 day(s) on August 16, 2024. Parties traded 1000 contract(s) at a $20.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 9 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $35.1K, with a price of $35.0 per contract. There were 1823 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1217 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding CZR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CZR#NASDAQ">CZR</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 161 day(s) on September 20, 2024. Parties traded 123 contract(s) at a $45.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 17 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $43.0K, with a price of $350.0 per contract. There were 7609 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1099 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding AMZN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 280 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 146 contract(s) at a $130.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 15 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $43.0K, with a price of $295.0 per contract. There were 25563 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 662 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding SN (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SN#NYSE">SN</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 161 day(s) on September 20, 2024. Parties traded 50 contract(s) at a $60.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 13 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $35.5K, with a price of $710.0 per contract. There were 6822 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 584 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MGM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MGM#NYSE">MGM</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 35 day(s) on May 17, 2024. This event was a transfer of 85 contract(s) at a $45.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.6K, with a price of $325.0 per contract. There were 139 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 560 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding LULU (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LULU#NASDAQ">LULU</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 35 day(s) on May 17, 2024. Parties traded 70 contract(s) at a $360.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 6 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $36.0K, with a price of $515.0 per contract. There were 613 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 436 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding JD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JD#NASDAQ">JD</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 161 day(s) on September 20, 2024. Parties traded 200 contract(s) at a $30.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 16 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $36.8K, with a price of $184.0 per contract. There were 4144 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 383 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

CVNA

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LULU

PLAY

10 Consumer Discretionary Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

<a href="https://deadline.com/2024/04/chris-brearton-mgm-amazon-steps-down-1235880505/">https://deadline.com/2024/04/chris-brearton-mgm-amazon-steps-down-1235880505/</a>
<a href="https://deadline.com/tag/chris-brearton/">Chris Brearton</a> is stepping down from <a href="https://deadline.com/tag/amazon/">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://deadline.com/2022/11/amazon-studios-jennifer-salke-mgm-oversight-chris-brearton-mgm-plus-1235184502/">18 months after taking on a new role</a>.
Brearton has been VP, PVS Corporate Strategy, <a href="https://deadline.com/tag/mgm-2/">MGM+</a> and MGM Alternative Television since November 2022.
Brearton initially joined MGM as <a href="https://deadline.com/2018/02/mgm-chris-brearton-chief-operating-officer-1202286958/">Chief Operating Officer in February 2018</a>. He spent four years in that role before taking on a broader role following Amazon&#39;s $8.5 acquisition of the studio in 2022.
After shepherding MGM&#39;s integration into Prime Video and Amazon Studios, Brearton took on the new role, leading business planning and corporate strategy for Prime Video and Studios and also overseeing MGM+ and MGM Alternative.
Brearton&#39;s new role coincided with <a href="https://deadline.com/2022/11/amazon-studios-jennifer-salke-mgm-oversight-chris-brearton-mgm-plus-1235184502/">Amazon Studios boss Jennifer Salke taking over leadership of MGM</a>.
Deadline understands Brearton, who is also chair of the board of directors at USA Swimming, is pursuing a &quot;new opportunity outside of the company&quot;.
From April 15, Brearton&#39;s responsibilities will be divided among a number of senior execs.
MGM+, which is run by Michael Wright and Josh McIvor, and MGM Television, which is led by Lindsey Sloane, will now report to Head of Prime Video International Kelly Day.
Barry Poznik and the MGM Unscripted team will now report to Brad Beale, who is Head of Global Content Licensing and Distribution.
Ted Lim, who has been running corporate strategy at MGM, will now report to Salke in the newly-created role of&nbsp;Head of Global Strategy and Business Development, <a href="https://deadline.com/tag/amazon-mgm-studios/">Amazon MGM Studios</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;
This move gives more responsibilities to Day, who joined the company from then-titled ViacomCBS in November 2021 reporting to Mike Hopkins, and Beale, who has been with the company since 2016 and reports to Salke.
Hopkins called Brearton an &quot;invaluable leader&quot; (see internal memos below), while Brearton said it was a &quot;great honor&quot; to work at the company. Salke called him a &quot;wonderful colleague&quot; who was &quot;always the first to jump in to help solve an&nbsp;exciting business puzzle&quot;.
Mike Hopkins Note:
Team,
I&#39;m writing to share the news that Chris Brearton has decided to leave Amazon&nbsp;to pursue a new opportunity outside the company. &nbsp;Chris has been an invaluable leader throughout the MGM acquisition process, and his tireless work to integrate MGM into our Prime Video/Amazon MGM Studios family has been a vital piece of our work in building a unified business and &ndash; in doing so &ndash; create even more value for our creative partners, advertisers and &ndash; most important &ndash; our customers.&nbsp; I&#39;m so grateful to Chris for his partnership, and there&#39;s no doubt we all will miss him on both a personal and professional level.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Effective this coming Monday, 4/15, oversight of Chris&#39; portfolio will be divided among several of our senior leaders as follows:
MGM+ and MGM Television &ndash; led by Michael Wright and Josh McIvor; and Lindsey Sloane, respectively &ndash; will now report to Kelly Day.
Barry Poznik and the MGM Unscripted team will now report to Brad Beale.
Ted Lim, who has been running corporate strategy at MGM, will now report to Jen Salke in the newly-created role of&nbsp;Head of Global Strategy and Business Development, Amazon MGM Studios.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Kelly, Brad and Jen will soon be sharing more details with their teams, and under their leadership I know these integrations will be executed as seamlessly and effectively as possible.
Please join me in thanking Chris and wishing him the best on his next adventure &ndash; and in hoping our paths cross again!
Best, 
Mike&nbsp;
Chris Brearton Note:
To My MGM Family,
It has been my great honor to work alongside each of you these many years at MGM. This storied studio has been a central part of my career DNA ever since I first walked into the Filmland building in Culver City in 1992 as a young CPA. I had no idea on that day what MGM would come to mean to me over the next 30+ years.
But even before that day in 1992, MGM was a big part of my life. &nbsp;As a child, I vividly remember seeing Leo the MGM Lion roar for the first time on screen before watching&nbsp;The Good, The Bad and The Ugly&nbsp;with my father.&nbsp;&nbsp;Some years later, I&nbsp;was equally inspired by my introduction to the world of James Bond when I snuck into a screening of&nbsp;For Your Eyes Only. &nbsp;As I recall these moments from my youth, it feels truly surreal to now have the pleasure of working closely with&nbsp;pioneering producers and icons of the film industry such as Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson, as well as Irwin Winkler and so many others.&nbsp;
I want to thank Kevin Ulrich and the Board of Directors of MGM for their belief that I could transition from an advisor to a leader. I want to recognize the&nbsp;work of Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum and Jon Glickman, who came before me, and I will always be honored to have had the chance to lead MGM&nbsp;alongside Mark Burnett, Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy. &nbsp;
Despite unprecedented disruption in our industry, we built an incredible and dedicated team at MGM that simply would not be denied. Together, we re-invigorated this great studio as a home for story tellers. &nbsp;This success was demonstrated through the Lion&#39;s robust and compelling film slate, the re-launch of Orion Pictures, the expansive prowess of television group that is responsible for producing beloved and award programs across nearly every network and platform, and the recent launch of MGM+, creating a global home for Leo and over a century of great entertainment.&nbsp;
I want to thank Mike Hopkins and Amazon for recognizing our success and for seeing the potential of combining MGM with the passion and resources of Amazon. &nbsp;I owe a huge debt to&nbsp;the dedicated teams led by Matt Davidson, Lesley Freeman and Ted Lim, who helped us unify MGM with Amazon to ensure that the lion will roar for another hundred years. &nbsp;
Finally, over the past two years, I&nbsp;have been able to witness Amazon become the new and prosperous home to much of the MGM family. &nbsp;I feel incredibly fortunate to have acted as a steward of the brand, and to have been a part of the team that shepherded this historic acquisition.&nbsp;
Invigorated by our dynamic and evolving industry, it is time for me to look forward to my next challenge and to build once again. &nbsp;To that end, it&nbsp;is with immeasurable gratitude that I say farewell and wish you all the best. &nbsp;It has truly been the thrill of a lifetime.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Ars Gratia Artis
Cheers,&nbsp; 
Chris Brearton
Jen Salke Note:
Team,&nbsp;
As&nbsp;Mike just shared&nbsp;the&nbsp;bittersweet news about Chris Brearton&#39;s decision to leave the company,&nbsp;I wanted to follow up with more details for Amazon MGM Studios.
In the last few years, Chris has been a wonderful colleague,&nbsp;partner and friend and we wish him the best in his new endeavor. It&nbsp;has been&nbsp;a privilege to work with Chris and I will miss him as a thought partner and a cheerleader for&nbsp;Studios and&nbsp;Prime&nbsp;Video. &nbsp;He showed endless enthusiasm for our business and was always the first to jump in to help solve an&nbsp;exciting business puzzle &ndash; no matter how big the challenge. I&#39;m hopeful all our paths will continue to cross with his in the future.&nbsp;
As Mike&nbsp;mentioned,&nbsp;effective this&nbsp;coming Monday, April 15, Ted Lim will step into a new role as Head of Strategy and Business Development for Amazon MGM Studios reporting directly to me. Ted has been&nbsp;an&nbsp;incredible asset&nbsp;to PVS since the MGM acquisition, jumping in to help across our business in so many ways and has been a tremendous partner for me and senior leaders.&nbsp;In this new role, Ted will oversee Corporate and Business Strategy, Content Strategy for Film (streaming and theatrical) and International Originals, Creative Planning and Franchise Management, along with serving as the primary point of contact for business development and strategic partnerships with Corp Dev for Studios.&nbsp; The new consolidated leadership team under Ted will be comprised of Namita Waynee, Ryan Shuwarger, Marc Hausmaninger and Mariel Klein.&nbsp; Ted and team will continue to be key partners with Matt Davidson, Preetha Rajamani and our Studios Finance team, including Series Content Strategy.&nbsp;
Additionally, I am excited to&nbsp;welcome Barry Poznick and the&nbsp;MGM Alternative&nbsp;team to&nbsp;Amazon MGM Studios. Barry will be reporting directly to Brad Beale and will continue to develop, package and sell Unscripted titles externally. Barry and his talented team have done an&nbsp;incredible job building a best-in-class unscripted slate for MGM which includes some of the&nbsp;mega-hits in the genre, such as&nbsp;The Voice, Survivor&nbsp;and&nbsp;Shark Tank.&nbsp;
Moving forward,&nbsp;MGM+ and MGM Television will report into Kelly Day. It has been great to see the MGM+ growth over the past year under Michael Wright and Josh Mclvor&#39;s leadership, and I look forward to seeing it sit even closer to the business under Kelly. &nbsp;Lindsay Sloane&nbsp;and the&nbsp;MGM Scripted&nbsp;team will continue as usual working under Kelly with close ties and mechanisms to collaborate with Vernon Sanders, Dan Scharf and the rest of the&nbsp;Studio teams.&nbsp;
Please join me in thanking Chris for his many contributions and&nbsp;welcoming&nbsp;Ted, Barry and their teams to Amazon MGM Studios!
Jen

Management

"MGM+ & MGM Alternative Boss Chris Brearton To Leave Amazon" - Deadline

COOK

CTNT

EZGO

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PENN

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Shares of companies in the broader consumer discretionary sector are trading lower amid overall market weakness following hotter-than-expected March inflation data.

Morgan Stanley analyst Stephen Grambling maintains MGM Resorts Intl (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MGM#NYSE">MGM</a>) with a Equal-Weight and raises the price target from $45 to $46.

Morgan Stanley Maintains Equal-Weight on MGM Resorts Intl, Raises Price Target to $46

FanDuel parent company Flutter Entertainment Plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FLUT#NYSE">FLUT</a>) plans to switch its primary <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/new-york-stock-exchange">listing from London to New York</a>.
What Happened: Dublin-based Flutter asked shareholders on Monday to vote on May 1 to approve a shift in its primary listing to the U.S.
The goal is to capitalize on its fast-growing U.S. market by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports-betting">attracting new retail investors</a>.
The company, which acquired FanDuel in 2018, is the world&#8217;s largest online gambling group by market cap. It already has a secondary listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), where ordinary shares were listed in January.
FanDuel — part of a portfolio that includes Paddy Power, PokerStars, Sky Betting &amp; Gaming, and Sportsbet and Betfair — is considered the leading online sports betting brand in the U.S. 
It surpassed DraftKings Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DKNG#NASDAQ">DKNG</a>) as well as MGM Resorts International (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MGM#NYSE">MGM</a>) and Entain plc&#8216;s (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GMVHY#OTC">GMVHY</a>) BetMGM.
Jackson <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/5b4e0f79-591a-4b18-b157-c9e4dfdd1a24">boasted</a> to the Financial Times about the shareholder vote: &#8220;We have FanDuel, and we want to make sure that our customers are able to buy shares in the company that owns their favourite entertainment provider.&#8221;
Noting the importance of retail investors in the U.S., he added: &#8220;Once they see some reporting in US GAAP, these are the codes and the language they understand. We hope that will facilitate new investors into Flutter.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="750" height="650" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/01080017/newplot-2024-04-01T125957.343.png" alt="" class="wp-image-271637" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/01080017/newplot-2024-04-01T125957.343.png 750w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/01080017/newplot-2024-04-01T125957.343-300x260.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /></figure>
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports-betting/24/03/37996131/march-madness-sweet-16-10-teams-have-never-won-championships-here-are-the-betting-odds">March Madness Sweet 16: 10 Teams Have Never Won Championships, Here Are The Betting Odds</a>
&#8220;As anticipated, our number one position in the US has transformed the Group's earnings profile during 2023 as FanDuel delivered a positive U.S. full-year adjusted EBITDA for the first time,&#8221; Flutter CEO Peter Jackson said on March 28 after releasing an earnings report.
It then tantalized investors with a post on X on the same day: &#8220;FanDuel is the number-one online sportsbook and the number-one iGaming brand in the U.S. — and we've a plan to keep winning.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">FanDuel is the #1 online sportsbook &amp; the #1 iGaming brand in the US – and we've a plan to keep winning! On <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlutterResults?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FlutterResults</a> day this week, our CEO Peter Jackson spoke about the stellar performance of <a href="https://twitter.com/FanDuel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FanDuel</a> throughout 2023. Here's a clip &#x1f447; <a href="https://t.co/E6D6s8fdMu">pic.twitter.com/E6D6s8fdMu</a>
&mdash; Flutter plc (@FlutterPLC) <a href="https://twitter.com/FlutterPLC/status/1773357733036609811?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Why It Matters: Established online betting companies such as Flutter and Entain have capitalized well from the exponential growth of the U.S. market since the 2018 Supreme Court ruling that ended a federal ban on sports betting.
Since then, 29 U.S. states, including most recently North Carolina, allow online gambling. Grand View Research <a href="https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/us-online-gambling-market-report#:~:text=The%20U.S.%20online%20gambling%20market%20size%20was%20valued,internet%20is%20creating%20growth%20opportunities%20for%20online%20gambling.">shows</a> it has grown into a $12 billion-a-year industry. It is expected to grow by an annual rate of 12% between 2024-2030.
Flutter and DraftKings are the largest two holdings in the Roundhill Sports Betting &amp; iGaming (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BETZ#NYSE">BETZ</a>) exchange-traded fund (ETF), which has gained 3.3% so far in 2024. Flutter&#8217;s U.S.-listed shares are up 10.3% over the same period, while DraftKings is up 28.8%.
Flutter&#8217;s switch from the London Stock Exchange to the NYSE underscores a larger trend. More companies are seeking to tap capital from a greater array of potential investors with noticeably deeper pockets.
But mainly it is symptomatic of many U.K. companies finding lucrative trading opportunities in the U.S.
Building materials group CRH plc, which announced its primary listing switch from London to New York in June 2023, derives most of its revenue from North America.
&#8220;We see significant benefits by representing ourselves to be truly an American company — 75% of our earnings are in the U.S.,&#8221; CEO Albert Manifold said at the time.
Oil giant Shell plc was also contemplating a similar move. The valuation gap between the oil company and its U.S. rivals, Exxon Mobil and Chevron, grew.
Ultimately, Shell ditched its Netherlands listing and focused on its London headquarters, although it retains a U.S. secondary listing.
Now Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/03/37944153/draftkings-gains-new-bullish-analyst-we-believe-the-earnings-power-of-dkng-is-under">DraftKings Gains New Bullish Analyst: &#8216;We Believe The Earnings Power Of DKNG Is Underappreciated&#8217;</a>
Image: Shutterstock

Here at Zacks, our focus is on the proven Zacks Rank system, which emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find great stocks. Nevertheless, we are always paying attention to the latest value, growth, and momentum trends to underscore strong picks.
Considering these trends, value investing is clearly one of the most preferred ways to find strong stocks in any type of market. Value investors use tried-and-true metrics and fundamental analysis to find companies that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels.
Luckily, Zacks has developed its own Style Scores system in an effort to find stocks with specific traits. Value investors will be interested in the system&#39;s &quot;Value&quot; category. Stocks with both &quot;A&quot; grades in the Value category and high Zacks Ranks are among the strongest value stocks on the market right now.
One company to watch right now is MGM Resorts International (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mgm#NYSE">MGM</a>). MGM is currently holding a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) and a Value grade of A. The stock is trading with P/E ratio of 18.02 right now. For comparison, its industry sports an average P/E of 34.37. Over the past 52 weeks, MGM&#39;s Forward P/E has been as high as 98.54 and as low as 12.45, with a median of 18.05.
We also note that MGM holds a PEG ratio of 1.51. This popular figure is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also considers a company&#39;s expected EPS growth rate. MGM&#39;s PEG compares to its industry&#39;s average PEG of 2.11. MGM&#39;s PEG has been as high as 1.61 and as low as 1.40, with a median of 1.55, all within the past year.
Value investors also love the P/S ratio, which is calculated by simply dividing a stock&#39;s price with the company&#39;s sales. Some people prefer this metric because sales are harder to manipulate on an income statement. This means it could be a truer performance indicator. MGM has a P/S ratio of 0.91. This compares to its industry&#39;s average P/S of 1.02.
Finally, investors should note that MGM has a P/CF ratio of 7.96. This metric takes into account a company&#39;s operating cash flow and can be used to find stocks that are undervalued based on their solid cash outlook. MGM&#39;s current P/CF looks attractive when compared to its industry&#39;s average P/CF of 23.69. MGM&#39;s P/CF has been as high as 8.06 and as low as 2.75, with a median of 4.37, all within the past year.
These are only a few of the key metrics included in MGM Resorts International&#39;s strong Value grade, but they help show that the stock is likely undervalued right now. When factoring in the strength of its earnings outlook, MGM looks like an impressive value stock at the moment.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2247331/are-investors-undervaluing-mgm-resorts-international-mgm-right-now?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-tale_of_the_tape|yseop_template_2-2247331">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Are Investors Undervaluing MGM Resorts International (MGM) Right Now?

<a href="https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2024/3/15/draw-the-line-on-sports-betting.aspx?utm_source=ncaa&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=regionalsareset">https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2024/3/15/draw-the-line-on-sports-betting.aspx?utm_source=ncaa&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=regionalsareset</a>
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<img alt="Image" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GJrho_oXAAAp9P8?format=jpg&amp;name=900x900" />

NCAA President Charlie Baker Posted On X "It Is Time For Us To Draw The Line On Sports Betting To Protect Student-Athletes"

MGM Resorts International shares are trading higher after Mizuho initiated coverage on the stock with a Buy rating and a price target of $61.

7 analysts have expressed a variety of opinions on MGM Resorts Intl (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MGM#NYSE">MGM</a>) over the past quarter, offering a diverse set of opinions from bullish to bearish.
The table below provides a concise overview of recent ratings by analysts, offering insights into the changing sentiments over the past 30 days and drawing comparisons with the preceding months for a holistic perspective.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Indifferent</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">5</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">5</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Providing deeper insights, analysts have established 12-month price targets, indicating an average target of $55.29, along with a high estimate of $61.00 and a low estimate of $45.00. Marking an increase of 8.41%, the current average surpasses the previous average price target of $51.00. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1711458041_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Diving into Analyst Ratings: An In-Depth Exploration</h2>
The standing of MGM Resorts Intl among financial experts is revealed through an in-depth exploration of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Ben Chaiken</td>
<td>Mizuho</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$61.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Stephen Grambling</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$44.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jordan Bender</td>
<td>JMP Securities</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Market Outperform</td>
<td>$57.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Chad Beynon</td>
<td>Macquarie</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$58.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Joseph Greff</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$54.00</td>
<td>$52.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brandt Montour</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$55.00</td>
<td>$57.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jordan Bender</td>
<td>JMP Securities</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Market Outperform</td>
<td>$57.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: In response to dynamic market conditions and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their reaction to recent developments related to MGM Resorts Intl. This insight gives a snapshot of analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Unveiling insights, analysts deliver qualitative insights into stock performance, from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey expectations for the relative performance of MGM Resorts Intl compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts explore the dynamics of price targets, providing estimates for the future value of MGM Resorts Intl's stock. This examination reveals shifts in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
To gain a panoramic view of MGM Resorts Intl's market performance, explore these analyst evaluations alongside essential financial indicators. Stay informed and make judicious decisions using our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MGM/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on MGM Resorts Intl analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Discovering MGM Resorts Intl: A Closer Look</h2>
MGM Resorts is the largest resort operator on the Las Vegas Strip with 35,000 guest rooms and suites, representing about one fourth of all units in the market. The company's Vegas properties include MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, Park MGM, Luxor, New York-New York, and Bellagio. The Strip contributed approximately 62% of total EBITDAR in 2023. MGM also owns U.S. regional assets, which represented low-20s of 2023 EBITDAR (MGM's Macao EBITDAR was 17% of the total in 2023). MGM's U.S. sports and iGaming operations are currently a high-single-digit percentage of its total revenue. The company also operates the 56%-owned MGM China casinos with a new property that opened on the Cotai Strip in early 2018. Further, we estimate MGM will open a resort in Japan in 2030.
<h3>Breaking Down MGM Resorts Intl's Financial Performance</h3>
Market Capitalization: Exceeding industry standards, the company's market capitalization places it above industry average in size relative to peers. This emphasizes its significant scale and robust market position.
Positive Revenue Trend: Examining MGM Resorts Intl's financials over 3 months reveals a positive narrative. The company achieved a noteworthy revenue growth rate of 21.81% as of 31 December, 2023, showcasing a substantial increase in top-line earnings. When compared to others in the Consumer Discretionary sector, the company excelled with a growth rate higher than the average among peers.
Net Margin: MGM Resorts Intl's net margin excels beyond industry benchmarks, reaching 7.18%. This signifies efficient cost management and strong financial health.
Return on Equity (ROE): MGM Resorts Intl's financial strength is reflected in its exceptional ROE, which exceeds industry averages. With a remarkable ROE of 8.08%, the company showcases efficient use of equity capital and strong financial health.
Return on Assets (ROA): MGM Resorts Intl's ROA excels beyond industry benchmarks, reaching 0.74%. This signifies efficient management of assets and strong financial health.
Debt Management: MGM Resorts Intl's debt-to-equity ratio is notably higher than the industry average. With a ratio of 8.3, the company relies more heavily on borrowed funds, indicating a higher level of financial risk.
<h2>Analyst Ratings: Simplified</h2>
Experts in banking and financial systems, analysts specialize in reporting for specific stocks or defined sectors. Their comprehensive research involves attending company conference calls and meetings, analyzing financial statements, and engaging with insiders to generate what are known as analyst ratings for stocks. Typically, analysts assess and rate each stock once per quarter.
In addition to their assessments, some analysts extend their insights by offering predictions for key metrics such as earnings, revenue, and growth estimates. This supplementary information provides further guidance for traders. It is crucial to recognize that, despite their specialization, analysts are human and can only provide forecasts based on their beliefs.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Breaking Down MGM Resorts Intl: 7 Analysts Share Their Views

Mizuho analyst Ben Chaiken initiates coverage on MGM Resorts Intl (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MGM#NYSE">MGM</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $61.

Mizuho Initiates Coverage On MGM Resorts Intl with Buy Rating, Announces Price Target of $61

The transaction is expected to close on&nbsp;April 9, 2024, subject to customary closing conditions.

Offerings

MGM Resorts Prices Public Offering Of $750M In Aggregate Principal Amount Of 6.500% Senior Notes Due 2032 At Par

They don't call it March calmness. The annual tradition of March Madness sees teams compete in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/ncaa-mens-basketball-tournament">NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament</a>.
On the opening night of the first round of games, one Cinderella team punched its ticket to the second round and sent one of the most well-known college basketball programs of all time packing.
What Happened: The University of Kentucky entered the 2024 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament as a 3-seed and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/03/37801160/march-madness-2024-betting-odds-how-to-watch-ncaa-mens-basketball-tournament-use-data-to-pr">a favorite by many</a> to advance above their seeding, with a potential trip to the Final Four.
Kentucky lost to 14-seed Oakland University 80-76 Thursday night. The game was the biggest upset based on seeding of the first day of games.
Oakland's Jack Gohlke hit 10 3-pointers in the game, tying him for second place for the most made in a tournament game.
With the win by Oakland, the number of perfect brackets that remained in challenges shrank. Some brackets also took a hit losing one of their Final Four teams or in some cases a finalist.
Former President Barack Obama <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports-betting/24/03/37859769/barack-obamas-march-madness-bracket-revealed-flawless-final-four-selection-pays-out-32k-on">selected Kentucky to reach</a> the Final Four and to reach the championship game, losing to his top pick of Connecticut.
With the loss by Kentucky, Obama's bracket will likely fall in standings and rank among the bottom half by the end of the tournament and all 63 games are completed.
While the loss by Kentucky was bad for Obama, the Oakland win could prove to be beneficial to sportsbooks.
One sportsbook that could benefit is BetMGM, a joint venture from Entain and MGM Resorts International (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MGM#NYSE">MGM</a>).
"They're BetMGM's biggest liability on the national outright. It's nonstop action on Kentucky," BetMGM's Seamus McGee previously said of Kentucky, as <a href="https://twitter.com/ActionNetworkHQ/status/1770999896755028110">shared </a>by Action Network.
Sports betting reporter Ben Fawkes <a href="https://twitter.com/BFawkes22/status/1770998307495764234">said </a>that Kentucky was the betting favorite Thursday, getting 79% of bets at DraftKings Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DKNG#NASDAQ">DKNG</a>), 77% of bets at Fanatics, 74% of bets at Rush Street Interactive (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RSI#NYSE">RSI</a>) owned BetRivers and 66% of bets at BetMGM.
Action Network said 72% of betting tickets and 81% of the money for the game was on Kentucky covering the 13.5-point spread.
Only 10% of tickets were on the Oakland moneyline at +700 according to Action Network. Fawkes <a href="https://twitter.com/BFawkes22/status/1771217321316487294">reported </a>that one bettor placed several wagers on Oakland with BetRivers, winning six-figures.
Related Link: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports-betting/24/03/37870278/march-madness-perfection-the-incredibly-low-odds-of-correctly-nailing-63-ncaa-games">March Madness Perfection: The Incredibly Low Odds Of Correctly Nailing 63 NCAA Games</a>
What's Next: Whether they win another game or not, Oakland and Gohlke will be remembered for many years. There's also Oakland head coach Greg Kampe, who has been the coach at Oakland since 1984, marking one of the lonest tenures at one school.
Kampe gets paid $329,609 for this season, compared to $8.54 million for Kentucky head coach John Calipari. Kampe also makes less than at least one Kentucky assistant coach, <a href="https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/2024/03/21/greg-kampe-salary-oakland-basketball-coach-kentucky-march-madness-ncaa-tournament/73062588007/">according </a>to the Detroit Free Press.
Anyone who bet on Oakland to win the game enjoyed a huge profit, with Oakland a 13.5-point underdog and having odds of +700 to win the game. This means a $100 bet paid a profit of $700 for anyone backing Oakland.
The 14-seed Oakland will now face off against 11-seed North Carolina State at 7:10 p.m. ET Saturday.
North Carolina State also pulled a first-round upset, beating 6-seed Texas Tech.
The current odds at DraftKings show North Carolina State favored by 6 points. A bet on Oakland to win pays out at odds of +210 if they can once again pull off the upset and reach the Sweet Sixteen.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports-betting/24/03/37859032/march-madness-2024-betting-legend-stakes-1m-on-surprise-team-see-the-payout-on-a-100-bet">March Madness 2024 &#8211; Betting Legend Stakes $1M On Surprise Team — See The Payout On A $100 Bet</a>

Sports

Oakland Ruins Barack Obama's March Madness Bracket, Helps Sportsbooks With Huge Upset Of Kentucky

The 2024 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament will see millions of people tune into games and billions of dollars wagered with sportsbooks <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/march-madness">and bracket pools.</a>
Since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1985, no one has ever had a verified perfect bracket. The huge odds of this actually happening may surprise you.
Perfect March Madness Bracket: The 2024 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament has Connecticut as the betting favorite to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/03/37801160/march-madness-2024-betting-odds-how-to-watch-ncaa-mens-basketball-tournament-use-data-to-pr">win back-to-back championships</a> with odds of +360 at DraftKings Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DKNG#NASDAQ">DKNG</a>).
Those who select the champion correctly often have a chance to win bracket pools as points often double each round. The problem is that selecting a winner is only a part of the challenge, considering the tournament comprises 63 games, excluding the four initial play-in matches.
A verified perfect bracket has never happened and it might never happen. The <a href="https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/bracketiq/2023-03-17/longest-ncaa-bracket-has-ever-stayed-perfect">closest </a>a bracket came to acheiving the feat was in 2019, when an Ohio neuropsychologist picked games correctly through the first 49 games. The bracket from Gregg Nigl marked the first time someone correctly predicted the games through the Sweet 16 correctly and is the longest perfect bracket of all-time.
Prior to 2019, the longest a bracket has made it was 39 games in the 2017 tournament. Some tournaments see no perfect brackets surviving after the first two days of games, including the 2021 tournament. &nbsp;
The <a href="https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/bracketiq/2023-03-16/perfect-ncaa-bracket-absurd-odds-march-madness-dream">odds </a>to correctly predict the outcome of all 63 games during the tournament are 1 in 9.2 quintillion based on a 50-50 coin flip and all possible outcomes (that's 1 in 9,223,372,036,854,775,808 in numerical form).
Late DePaul professor Jeff Bergen <a href="https://resources.depaul.edu/newsroom/news/press-releases/Pages/march-madness-2018.aspx">projected </a>the odds could be 1 in 128 billion for those who know about basketball and follow seed trends.
Bergen estimated it could take 2,300 years for every person on the planet filling out a bracket every minute to fill out all 9.2 quintillion outcomes.
Based on 1 in 9.2 quintillion odds, here are some things that you have a better chance at:
<ul>
<li>Winning the Powerball and Mega Millions in the same week after buying one ticket in each lottery</li>
<li>Predicting the winning political party for each of the next 62 presidential elections</li>
<li>Picking six people at random on the street and they all have the same birthday as you</li>
<li>An NBA player making 414 free throws in a row (the current record is 97)</li>
<li>An MLB pitcher striking out 31 batters in a row (the current record is 10)</li>
</ul>
The NCAA used an analogy of an acorn hidden on one of the three trillion trees on the planet. A person would have a three million times greater chance of finding the acorn on the first guess than picking a perfect bracket.
Related Link: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports-betting/23/03/31534639/march-madness-indeed-heres-how-much-a-100-bet-on-2023-final-four-would-have-paid-out">March Madness Indeed: Here&#8217;s How Much A $100 Bet On 2023 Final Four Would Have Paid Out</a>
Big Payouts: With the odds of getting a perfect bracket being near impossible, several companies have taken advantage of playing the odds with huge promotional events.
BetMGM, a unit of Entain and MGM Resorts International (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MGM#NYSE">MGM</a>) offered a $10 million prize for anyone with a perfect bracket in 2023.
In 2022, a contest was hosted by Bally's Corp that offered to pay out $100 million for a perfect bracket.
Legendary investor and Berkshire Hathaway Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>)(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) CEO Warren Buffett got in on the March Madness fun in 2014. Buffett teamed up with Yahoo Sports and Quicken Loans on a $1-billion perfect bracket prize that was offered.
In 2024, PepsiCo (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PEP#NYSE">PEP</a>) is getting in on the fun with a "No Right" challenge <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/24/03/37792771/warren-buffett-once-offered-1b-for-a-perfect-march-madness-bracket-now-pepsi-is-offering-100k-for-">in partnership with DraftKings</a>. The company will pay out $100,000 to the person who gets the most games wrong in an attempt for someone to have the best overall imperfect bracket, and also promote Pepsi Zero along the way.
What's Next: The 2024 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament has shared rights between Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WBD#NASDAQ">WBD</a>) and Paramount Global (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PARA#NASDAQ">PARA</a>)(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PARAA#NASDAQ">PARAA</a>).
The games will be broadcast on Warner's TBS, TNT and truTV along with Paramount's CBS. Games will also be streamed on Warner's Max platform and Paramount's Paramount+.
The Final Four (April 6) and Championship (April 8) games will be aired on TBS.
This article was previously published by Benzinga and has been updated.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/03/26202993/6-biggest-upsets-in-ncaa-march-madness-history" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">6 Biggest Upsets In NCAA March Madness History </a>
Image created using artificial intelligence with Midjourney.

Education

PARA

PARAA

March Madness Perfection: The Incredibly Low Odds Of Correctly Nailing 63 NCAA Games

DraftKings Looks Appealing As TAM Expands Led By New Markets And Robust Tech Stack

<a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a>
There&rsquo;s a proverb that states <a href="https://www.grammar-monster.com/sayings_proverbs/idle_hands_are_the_devils_tools.htm">idle hands are the devil&rsquo;s workshop</a>, which makes sin stocks so compelling. Humans engage in certain practices, whether that involves imbibing or gambling as a means to let off some steam.



Yes, the concept undergirding sin stocks is controversial. I don&rsquo;t think there&rsquo;s any way of getting around this reality. Not surprisingly, many ethical portfolios avoid enterprises that cover areas such as alcohol, tobacco and gambling, among other &ldquo;vices.&rdquo;



Still, there&rsquo;s another argument that states knowledgeable, consenting adults can live their lives how they please. And in the world of progressive equality, it&rsquo;s not up to us how other consumers wish to spend their resources. On that note, below are sin stocks to consider.



<h2>Anheuser-Busch (BUD)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bud1600-300x169.jpg" alt="Corporate building with Anheuser Busch (BUD) logo on it"><div>Source: legacy1995 / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Despite the controversy surrounding Anheuser-Busch (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/bud-stock-quote/">BUD</a>), the beer and beverage producer and distributor represents one of the more compelling sin stocks to consider. Sure, a promotion featuring a social media influencer angered many people with conservative values. The concept centered on people not wanting to have corporations shove &ldquo;woke&rdquo; ideologies down their throats.



However, the reality is that Anheuser-Busch &ndash; particularly its now controversial Bud Light brand &ndash; is possibly more relevant than ever. Economically, a huge concern for everyday American households is inflation: it&rsquo;s stickier than experts previously anticipated. Further, with <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/cpi-shocker-why-are-gas-prices-going-up-again/">soaring energy prices</a> likely to continue rising due to the geopolitical backdrop, inflation may worsen.



I don&rsquo;t want to get political but that&rsquo;s probably bad news for anyone wanting to beat this expired horse. Analysts rate BUD a <a href="https://www.tipranks.com/stocks/bud/forecast">consensus moderate buy</a> with a $74.25 average price target, which implies over 23% upside potential. That makes sense because Anheuser-Busch specializes in cheap beer &ndash; and people could use exactly that under the circumstances.



Bottom line, it&rsquo;s one of the sin stocks to buy.



<h2>MGM Resorts (MGM)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/mgm-stock-1-300x169.jpg" alt="A photo of the MGM logo on the MGM casino building."><div>Source: Michael Neil Thomas / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Hospitality and entertainment giant MGM Resorts (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/mgm-stock-quote/">MGM</a>) presents an intriguing angle for sin stocks to buy. With the economic challenges facing consumers, MGM appears risky. Therefore, it&rsquo;s not particularly surprising that it&rsquo;s undervalued on paper. Shares <a href="https://www.gurufocus.com/stock/MGM/summary?search=mgm">trade for only 13.56X trailing-year earnings</a> and 0.95X trailing-year revenue. Both stats are below sector averages of 19.33X and 1.59X, respectively.



Still, one of the dangers of buying securities based simply on whether they appear undervalued or not centers on the valuation trap risk. It could be discounted but for a reason &ndash; typically not a good one. However, that might not be the case for MGM stock. Fundamentally, <a href="https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/us/Documents/consumer-business/us-travel-hospitality-industry-outlook-2024.pdf">consumers may prioritize experiential expenditures</a>. If so, that could be a boost for the broader travel industry.



Just as importantly, the most optimistic target for earnings per share lands at $3.41, well above last year&rsquo;s print of $2.67. Further, the high-side revenue forecast calls for $17.39 billion, up significantly from 2023&rsquo;s haul of $16.16 billion.



It&rsquo;s no guarantee, of course, that travel prioritization will materialize. If it does, though, MGM should be on your radar.



<h2>Philip Morris (PM)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/pm-1600-300x169.png" alt="Philip Morris factory offices in Lithuania. PM stock."><div>Source: Vytautas Kielaitis / Shutterstock</div></div>Tobacco companies like Philip Morris (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/pm-stock-quote/">PM</a>) present a tricky narrative. Yes, you can always talk about the fans of tobacco products, of which there are many. However, global smoking prevalence rates have declined. As well, multiple jurisdictions have placed restrictions on public smoking. It&rsquo;s just not an acceptable behavior today as it was decades ago.



Nevertheless, PM deserves to be on your radar for sin stocks to consider. Fundamentally, that&rsquo;s because Philip Morris (and others) have been pivoting to e-cigarettes and vaporizers. And this broad segment features myriad product subcategories, such as heat-not-burn devices. When you consider the &ldquo;digital&rdquo; alternatives, the tobacco industry appears very compelling.



Wall Street experts are aware of the burgeoning trend. For fiscal 2024, they&rsquo;re anticipating EPS of $6.35, an improvement over last year&rsquo;s print of $6.01. On the top line, they&rsquo;re projecting sales of $36.99 billion, up 4.9% from 2023&rsquo;s tally of $35.25 billion.



Finally, PM stock features a <a href="https://www.tipranks.com/stocks/pm/forecast">moderate buy consensus view</a> with a $102.50 price target. Don&rsquo;t forget the forward dividend yield of 5.32%, which makes for a holistically solid package.



On the date of publication, Josh Enomoto did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article.&nbsp;The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com&nbsp;<a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/" target="_blank">Publishing Guidelines</a>.
<div>A former senior business analyst for Sony Electronics, Josh Enomoto has helped broker major contracts with Fortune Global 500 companies. Over the past several years, he has delivered unique, critical insights for the investment markets, as well as various other industries including legal, construction management, and healthcare. Tweet him at @EnomotoMedia.</div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/3-sin-stocks-to-buy-as-consumers-crave-distraction/">3 Sin Stocks to Buy as Consumers Crave Distraction</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.

3 Sin Stocks to Buy as Consumers Crave Distraction

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Betting on the house: Five trends to watch in the casino sector

<a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a>
2023 was a record year for ransomware attacks, with companies like MGM Resorts International (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/mgm-stock-quote/">MGM</a>) suffering <a href="https://www.msspalert.com/news/top-10-cyberattacks-of-2023">largely publicized attacks</a>. Despite the efforts of companies and regulators, this trend isn&rsquo;t slowing in 2024. The only defense will be more investments in cybersecurity, which will benefit top <a href="https://investorplace.com/industries/technology/cybersecurity/">cybersecurity stocks</a>.



Although regulators are trying to crack down on ransomware attacks, hackers keep launching more severe attacks. Companies themselves cannot afford any complacency due to the risk of losses. Furthermore, with the <a href="https://dart.deloitte.com/USDART/home/publications/deloitte/heads-up/2023/sec-rule-cyber-disclosures">SEC disclosure regulations</a> in effect, they must boost their cyber threats.



As the recent UnitedHealth (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/unh-stock-quote/">UNH</a>) ransomware attack showed, threat levels are still prevalent. Due to compliance requirements and mitigating monetary losses, Chief Information Security Officers are investing heavily in security.



Today, companies are prioritizing all cyber areas, from firewalls to endpoint security to access management. This means that more dollars will go to these top cybersecurity stocks that have the best security products.



<h2>Palo Alto Networks (PANW)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/panw-stock-1-300x169.jpg" alt="Palo Alto Networks (PANW) logo on corporate building"><div>Source: Sundry Photography / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/panw-stock-quote/">PANW</a>) has grown from a firewall company to one of the top cybersecurity stocks. Today, it&rsquo;s a comprehensive cybersecurity platform that is a leader in over 21 cybersecurity categories.



It offers three main protection platforms: network security, cloud security and security operations. Each platform has several products with recognized industry leadership. For instance, under network security, it offers next-generation firewalls, Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), Security Services Edge (SSE) and six other products with category leadership.



Palo Alto offers a compelling case to enterprise customers who want to consolidate vendors. Moreover, its products are recognized for their leadership. For instance, Gartner has recognized Palo Alto as <a href="https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2024/01/palo-alto-networks-recognized-as-a-leader-in-the-2023-gartner-magic-quadrant-for-endpoint-protection-platforms-epp/#:~:text=In%20an%20era%20when%20cyberthreats,Endpoint%20Protection%20Platforms%20(EPP).">a leader in its Magic Quadrants</a> in single-vendor SASE, endpoint protection platforms, security service edge, network firewalls and SD-WAN.



In February, PANW stock sold off after its earnings report due to its <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/rscottraynovich/2024/02/22/palo-alto-fires-firewall-shot-heard-round-the-world/?sh=6d99ee295126">platformization efforts</a>. That being said, it was another solid report, with revenues up 19% year-over-year to $1.98 billion. And despite a shift of strategy to accelerated platformization, management expects 15% to 16% revenue growth in FY2024.



Palo Alto Networks will continue to profit from cyber spending and benefit from vendor consolidation. Buy the stock on this bout of weakness.



<h2>CrowdStrike (CRWD)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/crwd-1600-300x169.png" alt="CrowdStrike sign and logo at headquarters in Silicon Valley. CRWD stock."><div>Source: Michael Vi / Shutterstock</div></div>Endpoint security has been one of the areas enterprises have focused on to prevent ransomware attacks. As one of the best endpoint platforms, CrowdStrike (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/crwd-stock-quote/">CRWD</a>) is poised to profit from security investment dollars.



Over the years, industry research has rated CrowdStrike&rsquo;s Falcon platform as one of the best security platforms. In 2023, Gartner named it <a href="https://www.crowdstrike.com/blog/crowdstrike-named-leader-2023-gartner-magic-quadrant-for-epp/">a leader in endpoint security platforms</a> among the sixteen vendors it evaluated. Its extended detection and response (XDR) platform was rated best for its ability to execute and completeness of vision.



Leveraging its leadership and cloud-native platform, CrowdStrike has maintained industry-leading growth rates while delivering impressive free cash flow. Full-year FY2024 revenues increased by 36% to $3.06 billion. Meanwhile, free cash flow increased from $676.8 million in fiscal 2023 to $938.2 million.



Moreover, the company expects a solid FY2025 as customers adopt more of its Falcon modules. It expects total revenue between $3.924 and $3.989 billion, translating to at least 28% growth. That&rsquo;s why analysts are extremely bullish on CRWD stock.



Currently, CrowdStrike is a consensus buy among <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/crwd/analystestimates">analysts</a> with 38 buy and 7 overweight ratings. No analyst rates the stock a sell or underweight, making it one of the top cybersecurity stocks. Moreover, the average price target of $398 represents over 30% upside.



<h2>SentinelOne (S)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/sentinelone-1600-300x169.png" alt="The logo for SentinelOne (S) is seen on on an office building."><div>Source: Tada Images / Shutterstock.com</div></div>SentinelOne (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/s-stock-quote/">S</a>) offers one of the highest revenue growth rates among top cybersecurity stocks. Its AI-powered security solutions have enjoyed strong demand from large enterprises and mid-market companies. As a result, FY2023 and FY2024 revenues grew by 106% and 47%, respectively.



Despite these impressive growth rates, investors have been slow to embrace the stock due to its poor profitability. However, management has stated it will focus on profitability and margin improvement in FY2025. I believe S stock has substantial upside, especially after it sold off on <a href="https://investors.sentinelone.com/press-releases/news-details/2024/SentinelOne-Announces-Fourth-Quarter-Fiscal-Year-2024-Financial-Results/default.aspx">Q4 FY2024 results</a> due to conservative guidance.



SentinelOne&rsquo;s competitive position in endpoint security has allowed it to continue to win business. In Q4 FY2024, customers with annual recurring revenue of $100,000 or more grew 30% YOY to 1,133. Indeed, growth has never been an issue for SentinelOne; profitability has been the challenge.



Management has set a goal of achieving profitability by the end of FY2025. Q4 non-GAAP gross margins of 78% were in the long-term target range and management expects FY2025 margins between 77.5% and 78.5%. It will also deliver positive operating income and free cash flow by year-end.



SentinelOne&rsquo;s revenue guidance of $812-818 million in FY2025 represents 30% growth. Reaching profitability will be an inflection point for this growth stock.



On the date of publication, Charles Munyi did not hold (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com&nbsp;<a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/" target="_blank">Publishing Guidelines</a>.




<div>Charles Munyi has extensive writing experience in various industries, including personal finance, insurance, technology, wealth management and stock investing. He has written for a wide variety of financial websites including Benzinga, The Balance and Investopedia.</div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/the-top-3-cybersecurity-stocks-to-buy-in-april-2024/">The Top 3 Cybersecurity Stocks to Buy in April 2024</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.

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<a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a>
Guilty pleasures are <a href="https://www.dictionary.com/browse/guilty-pleasure">defined </a>as activities, habits, food and more that cause people to feel shame or guilt when they indulge in them, usually due to the fear that they will be judged by others. This means the category could extend to fast food, desserts, extravagant coffees, streaming services, gambling and many types of games. Currently, due to wages <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/3-stocks-to-buy-now-to-ride-the-wave-of-robust-wage-growth/">rising faster </a>than inflation, many Americans can devote more of their funds to non-essential activities, or guilty pleasures. For example, in March 2024, the average wage increased &ldquo;0.6% more than inflation&rdquo; versus March 2023. Similarly, in 2023 America&rsquo;s wages <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/strong-wage-growth-gave-americans-a-1000-spending-boost-in-2023-194703857.html">rose 0.8% more </a>than inflation. For investors who want to exploit the latter trend, here are three top-notch guilty pleasure stocks to buy.



<h2>Netflix (NFLX)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/nflx1600-300x169.png" alt="Netflix (NFLX) stock index is seen on a smartphone screen. It is an American subscription streaming service and production company"><div>Source: TY Lim / Shutterstock.com</div></div>I&rsquo;m sure we&rsquo;ve all stayed up later than we should have, watching the wide variety of great shows that Netflix (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/nflx-stock-quote/">NFLX</a>) offers &mdash; I know I have. These &ldquo;binge watching&rdquo; experiences often feels like guilty pleasures.



Thanks to its new advertising tier, Netflix is starting to benefit financially from its subscribers&rsquo; excessive streaming. Partly as a result of the latter phenomenon, the firm recently reported<a href="https://s22.q4cdn.com/959853165/files/doc_financials/2024/q1/FINAL-Q1-24-Shareholder-Letter.pdf"> very strong first-quarter</a> results. Specifically, its revenue jumped 15% in Q1 versus the same period a year earlier while its operating income soared 54% YOY and its operating margin increased by seven percentage points. Moreover, the firm&rsquo;s net subscriber <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/18/business/netflix-earnings-first-quarter/index.html">total climbed by</a> a significant 9 million in Q1.



Given the firm&rsquo;s impressive results, its enterprise value/EBITDA<a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/NFLX/key-statistics"> ratio of 10.9 times</a> is quite low and attractive.



<h2>MGM Resorts (MGM)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/mgm-stock-1-300x169.jpg" alt="A photo of the MGM logo on the MGM casino building."><div>Source: Michael Neil Thomas / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Of course, gambling is a guilty pleasure<a href="https://gamblershelp.com.au/lets-talk-gambling/how-to-deal-with-guilt-and-shame-from-gambling/"> because much of society l</a>ooks down on the activity and views it as potentially detrimental.



However, the popularity of gambling is rising in the U.S. due to consumers&rsquo; rising disposable income, along with the legalization of online gambling and sports gambling by many states in recent years. 



MGM Resorts (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/mgm-stock-quote/">MGM</a>) owns a multitude of casinos in the U.S. and has a 50% stake in one of the most popular online casinos, BetMGM. As a result, the company is well-positioned to benefit from the proliferation of gambling in America and MGM is one of the best guilty pleasure stocks to buy.



In a recent note to investors, Japanese bank Mizuho <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/news/4083925-mgm-resorts-rallies-after-mizuho-says-shares-are-undervalued">initiated coverage of </a>MGM with a &ldquo;Buy&rdquo; rating. Mizuho reported that its entire U.S. business only roughly 4.7 times its EBITDA, causing them to be significantly undervalued. Among the positive catalysts that are not being reflected in the stock are MGM&rsquo;s alliance with Marriott (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/mar-stock-quote/">MAR</a>), BetMGM&rsquo;s profitability and<a href="https://www.casino.org/news/mgm-osaka-financing-secured-loan-historic-in-japan/"> the casino in Japan </a>which the firm is preparing to build, in partnership with another company, Mizuho contended.



<h2>Restaurant Brands International (QSR)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/qsr-stock-300x169.jpg" alt="A photo of a Burger King light-up sign outside a Burger King restaurant representing QSR stock."><div>Source: Savvapanf Photo / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Restaurant Brands International (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/qsr-stock-quote/">QSR</a>) owns Burger King and Canada&rsquo;s famous cafe chain, Tim Hortons. Burgers and fries can feel like a guilty pleasure because they&rsquo;re so unhealthy, while eating donuts is definitely very decadent.



Restaurant Brands continues to generate very strong financial results, largely due to Burger King&rsquo;s strong performance outside of America. Recently, Tim Hortons has been sparkling as well.



In Q4 of last year, Burger King&rsquo;s comparable sales <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/news/4065934-restaurant-brands-reports-6-increase-in-comparable-sales-led-by-tim-hortons">jumped 6.3% YOY</a>, while those of Tim Hortons soared 8.4%. 



Successful investor Bill Ackman <a href="https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/billionaire-investor-bill-ackman-has-100-of-his-%2411-billion-portfolio-in-just-8-stocks">owns $1.7 billion</a> of QSR stock, providing the company with a ringing, meaningful endorsement.



The shares have<a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/QSR/key-statistics"> a low price-earnings ratio</a> of 15.5 times and a significant <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/QSR?.tsrc=fin-srch">forward dividend </a>yield of 3.1%. 



On the date of publication, Larry Ramer held a long position in MGM. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com&nbsp;<a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/" target="_blank">Publishing Guidelines</a>.&nbsp;
<div>Larry Ramer has conducted research and written articles on U.S. stocks for 15 years. He has been employed by The Fly and Israel&rsquo;s largest business newspaper, Globes. Larry began writing columns for InvestorPlace in 2015. Among his highly successful, contrarian picks have been SMCI, INTC, and MGM. You can reach him on Stocktwits at @larryramer.</div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/treat-yourself-to-profits-3-guilty-pleasure-stocks-to-boost-your-returns/">Treat Yourself to Profits: 3 &#8216;Guilty Pleasure&#8217; Stocks to Boost Your Returns</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.

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MGM Resorts Intl Stock (NYSE:MGM), Short Interest Report

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