ESCA
Escalade, Incorporated
Leisure
Market Cap$256M
5Y Perf.+33.5%
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Side-by-side financial analysisESCA
MCRI
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Stock Comparison
ESCA vs MCRI
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
MCRI
Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc.
Gambling, Resorts & Casinos
Market Cap$2.31B
5Y Perf.+278.6%
ESCA vs MCRI — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot |  ESCA |  MCRI |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Leisure | Gambling, Resorts & Casinos |
| Market Cap | $256M | $2.31B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $240M | $545M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $15M | $101M |
| Gross Margin | 27.1% | 53.0% |
| Operating Margin | 8.7% | 23.4% |
| Forward P/E | 17.3x | 19.5x |
| Total Debt | $20M | $26M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $12M | $96M |
ESCA vs MCRI — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
ESCA
MCRI
| Stock | Jun 20 | Jun 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Escalade, Incorpora… (ESCA) | 100 | 133.5 | +33.5% |
| Monarch Casino & Re… (MCRI) | 100 | 378.6 | +278.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ESCA vs MCRI
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: MCRI leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Escalade, Incorporated is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
🥇MCRI emerged as the overall leader. Track its performance:
ESCA
Escalade, Incorporated
The Income Pick
ESCA is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and defensive.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.87, yield 3.2%
- Beta 0.87, yield 3.2%, current ratio 4.28x
- Lower P/E (17.3x vs 19.5x)
Best for: income & stability and defensive
MCRI
Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc.
The Growth Play
MCRI carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 4.4%, EPS growth 41.4%, 3Y rev CAGR 4.5%
- 5.2% 10Y total return vs ESCA's 136.9%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.55, Low D/E 4.8%, current ratio 0.86x
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth |  MCRI | 4.4% revenue growth vs ESCA's -4.5% |
| Value |  ESCA | Lower P/E (17.3x vs 19.5x) |
| Quality / Margins | MCRI | 18.6% margin vs ESCA's 6.4% |
| Stability / Safety | MCRI | Beta 0.55 vs ESCA's 0.87, lower leverage |
| Dividends | ESCA | 3.2% yield, vs MCRI's 0.9% |
| Momentum (1Y) | MCRI | +53.9% vs ESCA's +33.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | MCRI | 14.2% ROA vs ESCA's 6.9%, ROIC 21.8% vs 7.5% |
ESCA vs MCRI — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
ESCA vs MCRI — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLMCRILAGGINGESCA
ESCAEscalade, Incorporated
2leads
MCRIMonarch Casino & Reso…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs ESCAMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
MCRI5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
ESCA6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
MCRI7/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
MCRI5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
MCRI2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
ESCA1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MCRI leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MCRI is the larger business by revenue, generating $545M annually — 2.3x ESCA's $240M. MCRI is the more profitable business, keeping 18.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ESCA's 6.4%. On growth, MCRI holds the edge at +4.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ESCAEscalade, Incorpo… | MCRIMonarch Casino & … |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $240M | $545M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $25M | $182M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $15M | $101M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $31M | $128M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +27.1% | +53.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +8.7% | +23.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +6.4% | +18.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +12.7% | +23.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +0.6% | +4.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +63.2% | -8.1% |
MCRI leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
ESCA leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 18.8x trailing earnings, ESCA trades at a 21% valuation discount to MCRI's 23.8x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, ESCA's 11.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than MCRI's 11.7x.
| Metric | ESCAEscalade, Incorpo… | MCRIMonarch Casino & … |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $256M | $2.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $264M | $2.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 18.82x | 23.76x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 17.25x | 19.52x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.70x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 11.11x | 11.70x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.07x | 4.23x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.49x | 4.50x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 9.00x | 17.97x |
ESCA leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MCRI leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MCRI delivers a 18.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $19 in annual profit, vs $9 for ESCA. MCRI carries lower financial leverage with a 0.05x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ESCA's 0.11x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ESCA scores 8/9 vs MCRI's 7/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ESCAEscalade, Incorpo… | MCRIMonarch Casino & … |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +9.0% | +18.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.9% | +14.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +7.5% | +21.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +9.8% | +24.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.11x | 0.05x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $8M | -$71M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $12M | $96M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $20M | $26M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 37.31x | 225.55x |
MCRI leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
MCRI leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in MCRI five years ago would be worth $19,808 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $9,137 for ESCA. Over the past 12 months, MCRI leads with a +53.9% total return vs ESCA's +33.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors MCRI at 24.2% vs ESCA's 14.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ESCAEscalade, Incorpo… | MCRIMonarch Casino & … |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +38.3% | +35.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +33.2% | +53.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +49.9% | +91.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -8.6% | +98.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +136.9% | +515.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +14.4% | +24.2% |
MCRI leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
MCRI leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
MCRI is the less volatile stock with a 0.55 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ESCA's 0.87 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. MCRI currently trades 98.6% from its 52-week high vs ESCA's 87.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ESCAEscalade, Incorpo… | MCRIMonarch Casino & … |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.87x | 0.55x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $21.32 | $130.85 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $11.41 | $82.18 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +87.4% | +98.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 50.5 | 74.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 35K | 136K |
MCRI leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
ESCA leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ESCA as "Buy" and MCRI as "Hold". For income investors, ESCA offers the higher dividend yield at 3.21% vs MCRI's 0.91%.
| Metric | ESCAEscalade, Incorpo… | MCRIMonarch Casino & … |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $104.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 5 | 9 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.2% | +0.9% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.60 | $1.17 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.2% | +3.2% |
ESCA leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
MCRI leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). ESCA leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Analyst Outlook).
Best OverallMonarch Casino & Resort, In… (MCRI)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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ESCA vs MCRI: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ESCA or MCRI a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc.
(MCRI) is the stronger pick with 4. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -4. 5% for Escalade, Incorporated (ESCA). Escalade, Incorporated (ESCA) offers the better valuation at 18. 8x trailing P/E (17. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Escalade, Incorporated (ESCA) a "Buy" — based on 5 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.
02Which has the better valuation — ESCA or MCRI?
On trailing P/E, Escalade, Incorporated (ESCA) is the cheapest at 18.
8x versus Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. at 23. 8x. On forward P/E, Escalade, Incorporated is actually cheaper at 17. 3x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ESCA or MCRI?
Over the past 5 years, Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc.
(MCRI) delivered a total return of +98. 1%, compared to -8. 6% for Escalade, Incorporated (ESCA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MCRI returned +515. 7% versus ESCA's +136. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — ESCA or MCRI?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc.
(MCRI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 55β versus Escalade, Incorporated's 0. 87β — meaning ESCA is approximately 59% more volatile than MCRI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. (MCRI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 5% versus 11% for Escalade, Incorporated — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ESCA or MCRI?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc.
(MCRI) is pulling ahead at 4. 4% versus -4. 5% for Escalade, Incorporated (ESCA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. grew EPS 41. 4% year-over-year, compared to 7. 6% for Escalade, Incorporated. Over a 3-year CAGR, MCRI leads at 4. 5% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — ESCA or MCRI?
Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc.
(MCRI) is the more profitable company, earning 18. 6% net margin versus 5. 7% for Escalade, Incorporated — meaning it keeps 18. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MCRI leads at 25. 1% versus 7. 8% for ESCA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MCRI leads at 45. 1%, 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.
07Is ESCA or MCRI more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Escalade, Incorporated (ESCA) trades at 17.
3x forward P/E versus 19. 5x for Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. — 2. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
08Which pays a better dividend — ESCA or MCRI?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Escalade, Incorporated (ESCA) offers the highest yield at 3. 2%, versus 0. 9% for Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. (MCRI).
09Is ESCA or MCRI better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc.
(MCRI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 55), 0. 9% yield, +515. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MCRI: +515. 7%, ESCA: +136. 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.
10What are the main differences between ESCA and MCRI?
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.
In terms of investment character: ESCA is a small-cap income-oriented stock; MCRI is a small-cap quality compounder stock. 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.
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