Consider ACEL Over IGT Stock
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 20 2025
0mins
Should l Buy ACEL?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
Accel Entertainment Overview: Accel Entertainment (NYSE: ACEL) is a small-cap gaming stock that operates as a distributed gaming or route operator, placing video gaming terminals (VGTs) in non-casino locations, which makes it less volatile compared to traditional casino stocks.
Market Position and Growth Potential: The company controls approximately 28,000 VGTs across 10 states, with significant revenue from Illinois. Analysts suggest that potential gaming expansion in various jurisdictions could further enhance Accel's market position.
Financial Strength and Strategy: Accel boasts a strong balance sheet and is expected to generate substantial free cash flow. The company is pursuing a prudent mergers and acquisitions strategy to mitigate risks associated with competition in its primary market.
Investment Considerations: While Accel is viewed as a hidden gem with growth potential, it was not included in the Motley Fool Stock Advisor's list of top investment recommendations, which highlights the importance of thorough research before investing.
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Analyst Views on ACEL
Wall Street analysts forecast ACEL stock price to rise
2 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 11.480
Low
13.00
Averages
13.00
High
13.00
Current: 11.480
Low
13.00
Averages
13.00
High
13.00
About ACEL
Accel Entertainment, Inc. is a distributed gaming operator in the United States and a partner for local business owners in the markets it serves. The Company offers turnkey full-service gaming solutions to authorized non-casino locations such as bars, restaurants, convenience stores, truck stops, and fraternal and veteran establishments across the country. It installs, maintains, operates and services gaming terminals and related equipment for its location partners as well as redemption devices, stand-alone automated teller machines (ATMs) and amusement devices, including jukeboxes, dartboards, pool tables, and other entertainment-related equipment. It also designs and manufactures gaming terminals and related equipment. Its segments include distributed gaming and casinos and racing. The Company offers amusement devices, including jukeboxes, dartboards, pool tables, and other entertainment-related equipment that enhance customer experience and engagement.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Accel Entertainment Director Plans to Sell $6.58 Million in Common Stock via Form 144
- Stock Sale Announcement: Director Gordon Rubenstein plans to sell 540,000 shares of its common stock on March 6.
- Market Value: The total market value of the shares being sold is approximately $6.58 million.
See More
Accel Entertainment Reports Record Revenue, Stock Surges
- Record Revenue: Accel Entertainment reported a nearly 8% year-over-year revenue increase in Q4 2025, exceeding $341 million, surpassing analyst expectations of $336 million, which underscores the company's strong performance in the distributed gaming market and solidifies its market position.
- Significant Net Income Growth: Under GAAP, net income surged by almost 92% to $16.2 million, beating the consensus estimate of $0.15 per share, reflecting the effectiveness of the company's capital deployment and business resilience.
- Expanded Market Footprint: The company's products are now live in over 4,500 locations, operating nearly 28,000 gaming terminals, which significantly enhances its competitive edge and lays a foundation for future growth.
- Increased Investor Confidence: Following the earnings beat, the stock surged 18% on Wednesday to $13.06, with a market cap of $921 million, indicating strong investor confidence in the company's future prospects.
See More
Accel Entertainment Reports Strong Q4 Earnings, Stock Surges
- Revenue and Profit Growth: Accel Entertainment reported over $341 million in revenue for Q4 2025, marking an almost 8% year-over-year increase that surpassed analyst expectations of $336 million, demonstrating the company's robust performance in distributed gaming operations and solidifying its market position.
- Significant Net Income Increase: The company's net income surged nearly 92% to $16.2 million under GAAP, exceeding the market forecast of $15 million, indicating a substantial enhancement in profitability and reflecting effective capital deployment strategies by management.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following the earnings beat, Accel's stock surged 18% on Wednesday, showcasing strong investor confidence in the company's future growth potential and further driving its market valuation upward.
- Expanded Product Reach: Accel's products are now live in over 4,500 locations with nearly 28,000 gaming terminals, indicating a continuous expansion of its business scale and laying a solid foundation for future revenue growth.
See More
Sporting Goods Stocks Surge on Strong Performance
- Sector Performance: Sporting goods and activities stocks rose approximately 3.2% collectively, indicating strong market confidence in the sector, which may attract more investor interest.
- Accel Entertainment Leads: Accel Entertainment's stock surged about 19.4%, positioning it as a leader in the industry, reflecting its competitive advantage and positive investor sentiment.
- Xponential Fitness Growth: Xponential Fitness saw its stock increase by approximately 17.9%, showcasing the success of its business model and strong market demand, potentially driving further expansion plans.
- Market Trend Analysis: The robust performance of the sporting goods sector may signal ongoing consumer interest in health and fitness, prompting companies to capitalize on this trend to enhance market share.
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Accel Entertainment Surpasses Q4 Revenue and EBITDA Estimates
- Strong Performance: Accel Entertainment's Q4 results exceeded revenue and adjusted EBITDA estimates, leading to a 19.5% stock price increase and a new 52-week high of $13.29, reflecting robust market performance and investor confidence.
- Video Gaming Terminal Prospects: With Chicago's plan to introduce video gaming terminals (VGTs), analysts believe this could significantly contribute to Accel's future earnings, with projected revenues exceeding $100 million by 2027, enhancing the company's profitability.
- Market Expansion Potential: CBRE Research analysts noted that while uncertainty remains regarding Illinois prospects, the likelihood of Chicago launching VGTs is high, providing Accel with new growth opportunities, particularly in bars and restaurants.
- Investment Rating Maintained: Texas Capital Securities maintained a Buy rating on Accel, highlighting that its EV/EBITDA multiple is at a 23% discount to regional casino peers, indicating strong investment value and future growth potential.
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Latham Group Shares Surge After Strong Q4 Results
- Strong Earnings Report: Latham Group reported a fourth-quarter loss of 6 cents per share, outperforming analyst expectations of a 10-cent loss, indicating improvements in cost control and operational efficiency.
- Sales Exceed Expectations: The company achieved quarterly sales of $99.950 million, surpassing the analyst consensus estimate of $96.786 million, reflecting strong market demand and robust product performance, which bolstered investor confidence.
- Significant Stock Surge: Following the positive earnings report, Latham Group's shares jumped 25.7% to $8.10 on Wednesday, reflecting market optimism regarding the company's future growth potential.
- Positive Future Outlook: Latham Group issued FY26 sales guidance above estimates, further solidifying investor confidence in the company's long-term growth trajectory.
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Accel Entertainment Director Plans to Sell $6.58 Million in Common Stock via Form 144
- Stock Sale Announcement: Director Gordon Rubenstein plans to sell 540,000 shares of its common stock on March 6.
- Market Value: The total market value of the shares being sold is approximately $6.58 million.
See More
Accel Entertainment Reports Record Revenue, Stock Surges
- Record Revenue: Accel Entertainment reported a nearly 8% year-over-year revenue increase in Q4 2025, exceeding $341 million, surpassing analyst expectations of $336 million, which underscores the company's strong performance in the distributed gaming market and solidifies its market position.
- Significant Net Income Growth: Under GAAP, net income surged by almost 92% to $16.2 million, beating the consensus estimate of $0.15 per share, reflecting the effectiveness of the company's capital deployment and business resilience.
- Expanded Market Footprint: The company's products are now live in over 4,500 locations, operating nearly 28,000 gaming terminals, which significantly enhances its competitive edge and lays a foundation for future growth.
- Increased Investor Confidence: Following the earnings beat, the stock surged 18% on Wednesday to $13.06, with a market cap of $921 million, indicating strong investor confidence in the company's future prospects.
See More
Accel Entertainment Reports Strong Q4 Earnings, Stock Surges
- Revenue and Profit Growth: Accel Entertainment reported over $341 million in revenue for Q4 2025, marking an almost 8% year-over-year increase that surpassed analyst expectations of $336 million, demonstrating the company's robust performance in distributed gaming operations and solidifying its market position.
- Significant Net Income Increase: The company's net income surged nearly 92% to $16.2 million under GAAP, exceeding the market forecast of $15 million, indicating a substantial enhancement in profitability and reflecting effective capital deployment strategies by management.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following the earnings beat, Accel's stock surged 18% on Wednesday, showcasing strong investor confidence in the company's future growth potential and further driving its market valuation upward.
- Expanded Product Reach: Accel's products are now live in over 4,500 locations with nearly 28,000 gaming terminals, indicating a continuous expansion of its business scale and laying a solid foundation for future revenue growth.
See More
Sporting Goods Stocks Surge on Strong Performance
- Sector Performance: Sporting goods and activities stocks rose approximately 3.2% collectively, indicating strong market confidence in the sector, which may attract more investor interest.
- Accel Entertainment Leads: Accel Entertainment's stock surged about 19.4%, positioning it as a leader in the industry, reflecting its competitive advantage and positive investor sentiment.
- Xponential Fitness Growth: Xponential Fitness saw its stock increase by approximately 17.9%, showcasing the success of its business model and strong market demand, potentially driving further expansion plans.
- Market Trend Analysis: The robust performance of the sporting goods sector may signal ongoing consumer interest in health and fitness, prompting companies to capitalize on this trend to enhance market share.
See More
Accel Entertainment Surpasses Q4 Revenue and EBITDA Estimates
- Strong Performance: Accel Entertainment's Q4 results exceeded revenue and adjusted EBITDA estimates, leading to a 19.5% stock price increase and a new 52-week high of $13.29, reflecting robust market performance and investor confidence.
- Video Gaming Terminal Prospects: With Chicago's plan to introduce video gaming terminals (VGTs), analysts believe this could significantly contribute to Accel's future earnings, with projected revenues exceeding $100 million by 2027, enhancing the company's profitability.
- Market Expansion Potential: CBRE Research analysts noted that while uncertainty remains regarding Illinois prospects, the likelihood of Chicago launching VGTs is high, providing Accel with new growth opportunities, particularly in bars and restaurants.
- Investment Rating Maintained: Texas Capital Securities maintained a Buy rating on Accel, highlighting that its EV/EBITDA multiple is at a 23% discount to regional casino peers, indicating strong investment value and future growth potential.
See More
Latham Group Shares Surge After Strong Q4 Results
- Strong Earnings Report: Latham Group reported a fourth-quarter loss of 6 cents per share, outperforming analyst expectations of a 10-cent loss, indicating improvements in cost control and operational efficiency.
- Sales Exceed Expectations: The company achieved quarterly sales of $99.950 million, surpassing the analyst consensus estimate of $96.786 million, reflecting strong market demand and robust product performance, which bolstered investor confidence.
- Significant Stock Surge: Following the positive earnings report, Latham Group's shares jumped 25.7% to $8.10 on Wednesday, reflecting market optimism regarding the company's future growth potential.
- Positive Future Outlook: Latham Group issued FY26 sales guidance above estimates, further solidifying investor confidence in the company's long-term growth trajectory.
See More
