Fitch Affirms BB- Credit Rating for MGM Resorts, Signaling Stability
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 19 2026
0mins
Should l Buy MGM?
Source: seekingalpha
- Credit Rating Affirmation: Fitch Ratings has affirmed a BB- default credit rating for MGM Resorts International (MGM), indicating a constructive long-term outlook on the casino operator's credit quality and financial flexibility, reflecting its strong scale and geographic diversification.
- Strong Liquidity Policy: The ratings agency highlighted MGM's geographic diversification across Las Vegas, U.S. regionals, Macau, and digital operations, along with its robust liquidity policy, which enables the company to fund capital expenditures and shareholder returns without stressing its balance sheet.
- Significant Growth Potential: Fitch pointed out that Macau and digital operations are bright spots for MGM's future growth, capable of offsetting flat or slightly weaker trends in Las Vegas and some regional markets, thereby enhancing the overall earnings profile and demonstrating resilience compared to a pure-Vegas operator.
- Expected Capital Deployment: The rating affirmation signals that Fitch expects MGM to continue significant capital deployment into share repurchases and international development projects, which will help reduce perceived default risk and keep borrowing costs manageable, further supporting investor confidence.
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Analyst Views on MGM
Wall Street analysts forecast MGM stock price to rise
14 Analyst Rating
5 Buy
7 Hold
2 Sell
Hold
Current: 36.320
Low
29.00
Averages
40.31
High
56.00
Current: 36.320
Low
29.00
Averages
40.31
High
56.00
About MGM
MGM Resorts International is a global gaming and entertainment company with national and international locations featuring hotels and casinos, meetings and conference spaces, live and theatrical entertainment experiences, and a range of restaurant, nightlife and retail offerings. The Company’s segments include Las Vegas Strip Resorts, Regional Operations, MGM China, and MGM Digital. The Las Vegas Strip Resorts segment consists of Aria, Bellagio, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, MGM Grand Las Vegas, Mandalay Bay, Luxor, New York-New York, Excalibur, and Park MGM. The Regional Operations segment consists of MGM Grand Detroit in Detroit, Michigan; Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Mississippi; Gold Strike Tunica in Tunica; Borgata in Atlantic City, New Jersey; MGM National Harbor in Prince George’s County, Maryland; MGM Springfield in Springfield, Massachusetts; Empire City in Yonkers, New York, and others. MGM Digital is its online gaming portfolio which is primarily comprised of LeoVegas.
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.
MGM Resorts to Release Q1 2026 Financial Results
- Earnings Release Schedule: MGM Resorts will release its Q1 2026 financial results after market close on April 29, 2026, expected to provide critical financial data and operational performance insights, aiding investors in assessing the company's financial health.
- Conference Call Details: The company will host a conference call at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the same day, which will include a brief discussion of the financial results followed by a Q&A session, enhancing investor engagement and transparency.
- Replay Service: A replay of the conference call will be available until May 6, 2026, allowing investors who cannot participate live to access important information by dialing the specified numbers, ensuring comprehensive communication.
- Global Business Overview: MGM Resorts is a leading global gaming and entertainment company with 31 unique hotel and gaming destinations, actively pursuing expansion in Asia, particularly through an integrated resort development in Japan, demonstrating its commitment to international growth strategies.
See More
MGM Resorts to Release Q1 2026 Financial Results
- Earnings Release Schedule: MGM Resorts will release its financial results for Q1 2026 after market close on April 29, 2026, reflecting the company's performance and financial health in the global entertainment sector.
- Conference Call Details: The company will host a conference call on the same day at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, which will include a brief discussion of the financial results followed by a Q&A session, enhancing investor engagement.
- Supplemental Materials Release: Prior to the call, MGM will post supplemental slides on its Investor Relations website, ensuring investors have a comprehensive understanding of the company's financial status and future outlook.
- Global Business Overview: MGM Resorts is a leading global entertainment company with 31 unique hotel and gaming destinations, committed to enhancing customer experiences through sustainability and innovation while actively pursuing integrated resort development in Japan.
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- Increased Auto Loan Defaults: The study found that auto loan delinquencies rose by 5.6% post-legalization, further reflecting the potential threat to household financial health, particularly pronounced among younger borrowers who are more likely to engage in betting activities.
- Declining Credit Scores: In counties where sports betting is legal, overall delinquency rates increased by approximately 0.3 percentage points, while median credit scores slightly declined, indicating a broader adverse effect of gambling on household credit conditions.
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See More
MGM Resorts to Release Q1 2026 Financial Results
- Earnings Release Schedule: MGM Resorts will release its Q1 2026 financial results after market close on April 29, 2026, expected to provide critical financial data and operational performance insights, aiding investors in assessing the company's financial health.
- Conference Call Details: The company will host a conference call at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the same day, which will include a brief discussion of the financial results followed by a Q&A session, enhancing investor engagement and transparency.
- Replay Service: A replay of the conference call will be available until May 6, 2026, allowing investors who cannot participate live to access important information by dialing the specified numbers, ensuring comprehensive communication.
- Global Business Overview: MGM Resorts is a leading global gaming and entertainment company with 31 unique hotel and gaming destinations, actively pursuing expansion in Asia, particularly through an integrated resort development in Japan, demonstrating its commitment to international growth strategies.
See More
MGM Resorts to Release Q1 2026 Financial Results
- Earnings Release Schedule: MGM Resorts will release its financial results for Q1 2026 after market close on April 29, 2026, reflecting the company's performance and financial health in the global entertainment sector.
- Conference Call Details: The company will host a conference call on the same day at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, which will include a brief discussion of the financial results followed by a Q&A session, enhancing investor engagement.
- Supplemental Materials Release: Prior to the call, MGM will post supplemental slides on its Investor Relations website, ensuring investors have a comprehensive understanding of the company's financial status and future outlook.
- Global Business Overview: MGM Resorts is a leading global entertainment company with 31 unique hotel and gaming destinations, committed to enhancing customer experiences through sustainability and innovation while actively pursuing integrated resort development in Japan.
See More
Las Vegas Gaming Win Sees Modest Increase
- Gaming Win Recovery: Las Vegas gaming win rose 0.9% year-over-year in February to $696.3 million, breaking a three-month decline streak and indicating a slight market recovery.
- Statewide Performance: Nevada's gaming win increased 1.5% year-over-year in February to $1.24 billion, reflecting positive impacts from tourism and convention activities despite overall slow growth.
- Downtown Casino Challenges: Downtown Las Vegas casinos experienced a 4.2% decline in gaming win to $69.8 million during the month, indicating greater competitive pressures and risks of customer attrition in the area.
- Diverse Game Performance: While overall gaming revenue grew, slot machine revenue increased by 1.7%, and table game revenue rose by 1.1%, with Pai Gow gaming win surging 158% and baccarat up 44%, highlighting shifts in consumer preferences.
See More
Legalization of Sports Betting Deteriorates Household Credit Health
- Rising Delinquency Rates: Research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York indicates that following the legalization of sports betting, the delinquency rate for credit card payments among individuals under 40 increased by 7.9%, highlighting significant negative impacts on financial stability for younger households.
- Increased Auto Loan Defaults: The study found that auto loan delinquencies rose by 5.6% post-legalization, further reflecting the potential threat to household financial health, particularly pronounced among younger borrowers who are more likely to engage in betting activities.
- Declining Credit Scores: In counties where sports betting is legal, overall delinquency rates increased by approximately 0.3 percentage points, while median credit scores slightly declined, indicating a broader adverse effect of gambling on household credit conditions.
- Heightened Risks for Active Bettors: The study estimates that delinquency rates among active bettors surged by around 10 percentage points, with younger borrowers facing even greater financial pressure, potentially leading to a higher likelihood of bankruptcy as a result of increased gambling access.
See More
Las Vegas Poised to Host 2029 Super Bowl, Boosting Tourism
- Tourism Value Boost: Las Vegas is considered a strong contender for hosting the 2029 Super Bowl, which is expected to bring high-value tourism to the city and the Strip, further driving economic recovery.
- Significant Economic Impact: During the 2024 Super Bowl, Las Vegas attracted approximately 330,000 visitors, generating around $606 million in net visitor spending, leading to nearly $1 billion in total economic impact, showcasing the event's strong demand for hotels and tourism.
- Strong Hotel Performance: Major resorts saw average nightly rates approaching four figures during the Super Bowl weekend, with record or near-record average daily rates (ADR) and revenue per available room (RevPAR), reflecting robust market demand.
- Gaming Revenue Growth: Nevada sportsbooks handled approximately $185.6 million in bets during the game, while high-end guests in Las Vegas significantly increased their spending on table games, nightlife, and dining, further boosting both gaming and non-gaming revenues.
See More
Legislation Introduced to Ban Election Prediction Market Bets
- Legislative Proposal: Senators Jeff Merkley and Elizabeth Warren, along with Rep. Jamie Raskin, have introduced the STOP Corrupt Bets Act, aimed at banning prediction market bets on elections, government actions, and sports, highlighting increasing scrutiny on these platforms.
- Corruption Risks: Merkley emphasized that allowing individuals to place well-timed bets on congressional bills or military actions creates ripe conditions for corruption and undermines public trust, potentially affecting the integrity of democratic institutions.
- Market Regulation: The new bill imposes broader restrictions on prediction markets than previous measures, clarifying that these markets contradict the intent of federal trading laws and returning regulatory power over gambling to the states, addressing existing legal loopholes.
- Industry Response: Prediction market platform Kalshi criticized the legislation, claiming it is driven by casino interests threatened by competition, reflecting strong opposition within the industry and concerns about the future of prediction markets.
See More
