Deutsche Bank analyst Steven Pizzella upgraded Boyd Gaming and Penn Entertainment to buy from hold, according to a client report. He raised Boyd’s price target to $99 from $98 and Penn’s to $25 from $23, citing operational momentum and company-specific growth factors.
The rating changes and revised price targets may inform investor assessments of both casino operators.
Quarter ended 30 September 2026
Quarter ended 30 September 2026
The day’s most important stories, free. One email a day.
Boyd Gaming sold the former Eastside Cannery site in Las Vegas for $28.8 million on 10 September, reportedly after Clark County approved plans for a 279-lot housing development. The buyer granted Lennar an option to acquire the property; the report says Boyd’s sale followed its earlier $45 million purchase of the land.
J.P. Morgan analyst Daniel Politzer said gaming stocks fell 7% in August, while the S&P 500 rose 3%. He cited several possible factors, including the Iran conflict, higher rates and sector uncertainty; Churchill Downs gained 3%, while Penn Entertainment fell 17%.
Jefferies analyst David Katz said Boyd Gaming was reportedly considering a partnership with Bally’s for the former Tropicana Las Vegas site. The companies had not commented, and Katz said the project appeared unlikely for Boyd given its scale and risk profile. Other analyst notes cited positive second-quarter results across gaming companies, with regional and online firms averaging beats of 1% and 3%.
Reportedly, Bally’s completed its purchase of Sam’s Town Shreveport from Boyd Gaming. The transaction expands its regional casino portfolio with a Louisiana gaming and hospitality property.
Analysts issued views on Boyd, DoubleDown Interactive, Brightstar Lottery and Wynn Resorts in notes dated 12 and 13 July. Their assessments covered company forecasts, valuation, Italy lottery headwinds, UK remote gaming duty and Wynn’s planned UAE property; these were analyst views, not company results.