Gambling, Resorts & Casinos
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MGM vs MLCO
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Gambling, Resorts & Casinos
MGM vs MLCO — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Gambling, Resorts & Casinos | Gambling, Resorts & Casinos |
| Market Cap | $9.75B | $2.28B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $17.72B | $5.16B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $183M | $185M |
| Gross Margin | 44.2% | 36.8% |
| Operating Margin | 5.2% | 11.6% |
| Forward P/E | 22.1x | 11.0x |
| Total Debt | $56.16B | $7.02B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $2.06B | $1.02B |
MGM vs MLCO — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| MGM Resorts Interna… (MGM) | 100 | 221.8 | +121.8% |
| Melco Resorts & Ent… (MLCO) | 100 | 34.9 | -65.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: MGM vs MLCO
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
MGM is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 1.28
- 81.8% 10Y total return vs MLCO's -29.0%
- +20.1% vs MLCO's -0.7%
MLCO carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night.
- Rev growth 11.3%, EPS growth 350.0%, 3Y rev CAGR 56.4%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.11, current ratio 1.07x
- Beta 1.11, yield 0.0%, current ratio 1.07x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 11.3% revenue growth vs MGM's 1.7% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (11.0x vs 22.1x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 3.6% margin vs MGM's 1.0% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.11 vs MGM's 1.28 | |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | +20.1% vs MLCO's -0.7% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 2.4% ROA vs MGM's 0.4%, ROIC 8.6% vs 1.7% |
MGM vs MLCO — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
MGM vs MLCO — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MLCO leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MGM is the larger business by revenue, generating $17.7B annually — 3.4x MLCO's $5.2B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 3.6% (MLCO) to 1.0% (MGM). On growth, MLCO holds the edge at +8.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $17.7B | $5.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.0B | $1.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $183M | $185M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.7B | $0 |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +44.2% | +36.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +5.2% | +11.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +1.0% | +3.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +9.8% | +9.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +4.2% | +8.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -5.9% | +4.1% |
Valuation Metrics
MLCO leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 12.4x trailing earnings, MLCO trades at a 75% valuation discount to MGM's 50.1x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, MLCO's 7.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than MGM's 31.6x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $9.8B | $2.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $63.8B | $8.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 50.14x | 12.44x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 22.10x | 11.00x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 31.61x | 7.25x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.56x | 0.44x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.08x | — |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 5.85x | 4.78x |
Profitability & Efficiency
MLCO leads this category, winning 6 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), MLCO scores 8/9 vs MGM's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +5.3% | — |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.4% | +2.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +1.7% | +8.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.6% | +9.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 17.14x | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $54.1B | $6.0B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $2.1B | $1.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $56.2B | $7.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.52x | 1.30x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
MGM leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in MGM five years ago would be worth $9,551 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $3,075 for MLCO. Over the past 12 months, MGM leads with a +20.1% total return vs MLCO's -0.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors MGM at -4.3% vs MLCO's -23.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +4.4% | -25.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +20.1% | -0.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -12.3% | -55.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -4.5% | -69.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +81.8% | -29.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -4.3% | -23.9% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — MGM and MLCO each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
MLCO is the less volatile stock with a 1.11 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than MGM's 1.28 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. MGM currently trades 93.1% from its 52-week high vs MLCO's 55.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.28x | 1.11x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $40.94 | $10.15 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $29.19 | $5.22 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +93.1% | +55.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 50.0 | 43.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.4M | 1.6M |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates MGM as "Buy" and MLCO as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 69.6% upside for MLCO (target: $10) vs 4.2% for MGM (target: $40).
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $39.71 | $9.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 36 | 18 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.00 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +12.6% | +7.3% |
MLCO leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). MGM leads in 1 (Total Returns). 1 tied.
MGM vs MLCO: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is MGM or MLCO a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited (MLCO) is the stronger pick with 11.
3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 7% for MGM Resorts International (MGM). Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited (MLCO) offers the better valuation at 12. 4x trailing P/E (11. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate MGM Resorts International (MGM) a "Buy" — based on 36 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 — MGM or MLCO?
On trailing P/E, Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited (MLCO) is the cheapest at 12.
4x versus MGM Resorts International at 50. 1x. On forward P/E, Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited is actually cheaper at 11. 0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — MGM or MLCO?
Over the past 5 years, MGM Resorts International (MGM) delivered a total return of -4.
5%, compared to -69. 2% for Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited (MLCO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MGM returned +81. 8% versus MLCO's -29. 0%. 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 — MGM or MLCO?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited (MLCO) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
11β versus MGM Resorts International's 1. 28β — meaning MGM is approximately 15% more volatile than MLCO relative to the S&P 500.
05Which is growing faster — MGM or MLCO?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited (MLCO) is pulling ahead at 11.
3% versus 1. 7% for MGM Resorts International (MGM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited grew EPS 350. 0% year-over-year, compared to -68. 3% for MGM Resorts International. Over a 3-year CAGR, MLCO leads at 56. 4% 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 — MGM or MLCO?
Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited (MLCO) is the more profitable company, earning 3.
6% net margin versus 1. 2% for MGM Resorts International — meaning it keeps 3. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MLCO leads at 11. 6% versus 5. 7% for MGM. 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.
07Is MGM or MLCO more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited (MLCO) trades at 11.
0x forward P/E versus 22. 1x for MGM Resorts International — 11. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MLCO: 69. 6% to $9. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — MGM or MLCO?
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.
09Is MGM or MLCO better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited (MLCO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.
11)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MLCO: -29. 0%, MGM: +81. 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.
10What are the main differences between MGM and MLCO?
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: MGM is a small-cap quality compounder stock; MLCO is a small-cap deep-value 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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