PENN vs MGM

For growth investors, PENN Entertainment, Inc.

(PENN) is the stronger pick with 5. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 7% for MGM Resorts International (MGM). MGM Resorts International (MGM) offers the better valuation at 50. 1x trailing P/E (22. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate PENN Entertainment, Inc. (PENN) a "Buy" — based on 47 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On forward P/E, MGM Resorts International is actually cheaper at 22.

1x.

Over the past 5 years, MGM Resorts International (MGM) delivered a total return of -4.

5%, compared to -80. 6% for PENN Entertainment, Inc. (PENN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MGM returned +81. 8% versus PENN's +11. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), MGM Resorts International (MGM) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

28β versus PENN Entertainment, Inc. 's 1. 34β — meaning PENN is approximately 5% more volatile than MGM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, PENN Entertainment, Inc. (PENN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 5% versus 17% for MGM Resorts International — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), PENN Entertainment, Inc.

(PENN) is pulling ahead at 5. 8% versus 1. 7% for MGM Resorts International (MGM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: MGM Resorts International grew EPS -68. 3% year-over-year, compared to -184. 4% for PENN Entertainment, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, MGM leads at 10. 1% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

MGM Resorts International (MGM) is the more profitable company, earning 1.

2% net margin versus -12. 1% for PENN Entertainment, Inc. — meaning it keeps 1. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MGM leads at 5. 7% versus 3. 9% for PENN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MGM leads at 44. 4%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, MGM Resorts International (MGM) trades at 22.

1x forward P/E versus 23. 0x for PENN Entertainment, Inc. — 0. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PENN: 18. 5% to $19. 88.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, MGM Resorts International (MGM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

28)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MGM: +81. 8%, PENN: +11. 9%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Consumer Cyclical sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.