GDEN vs GPOR vs AR vs MCRI

For growth investors, Gulfport Energy Corporation (GPOR) is the stronger pick with 42.

5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -4. 8% for Golden Entertainment, Inc. (GDEN). Gulfport Energy Corporation (GPOR) offers the better valuation at 8. 3x trailing P/E (7. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Golden Entertainment, Inc. (GDEN) a "Buy" — based on 12 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 trailing P/E, Gulfport Energy Corporation (GPOR) is the cheapest at 8.

3x versus Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. at 21. 6x. On forward P/E, Gulfport Energy Corporation is actually cheaper at 7. 0x.

Over the past 5 years, Antero Resources Corporation (AR) delivered a total return of +236.

4%, compared to -21. 7% for Golden Entertainment, Inc. (GDEN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MCRI returned +535. 8% versus AR's +44. 8%. 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), Gulfport Energy Corporation (GPOR) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

14β versus Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. 's 0. 70β — meaning MCRI is approximately 390% more volatile than GPOR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. (MCRI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 5% versus 140% for Golden Entertainment, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Gulfport Energy Corporation (GPOR) is pulling ahead at 42.

5% versus -4. 8% for Golden Entertainment, Inc. (GDEN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Antero Resources Corporation grew EPS 1028% year-over-year, compared to -113. 5% for Golden Entertainment, Inc.. 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.

Gulfport Energy Corporation (GPOR) is the more profitable company, earning 32.

3% net margin versus -1. 0% for Golden Entertainment, Inc. — meaning it keeps 32. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GPOR leads at 37. 9% versus 5. 5% for GDEN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GPOR leads at 70. 7%, 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, Gulfport Energy Corporation (GPOR) trades at 7.

0x forward P/E versus 50. 5x for Golden Entertainment, Inc. — 43. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for GPOR: 35. 3% to $242. 00.

In this comparison, GDEN (3.

5% yield), MCRI (1. 0% yield) pay a dividend. GPOR, AR do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Golden Entertainment, Inc.

(GDEN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 43), 3. 5% yield, +172. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (GDEN: +172. 6%, AR: +44. 8%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (GDEN (Consumer Cyclical) and GPOR (Energy) and AR (Energy) and MCRI (Consumer Cyclical)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: GDEN is a small-cap income-oriented stock; GPOR is a small-cap high-growth stock; AR is a mid-cap high-growth stock; MCRI is a small-cap quality compounder stock. GDEN, MCRI pay a dividend while GPOR, AR do not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.