Market Overview - Wall Street has experienced a rally over the past two months, with investors remaining optimistic despite concerns over the Federal Reserve's monetary policy and tariffs [1] - Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's hints at a potential rate cut next month have further fueled this rally, leading to a record closing high for the Dow at 45,631.74 points [3][8] Rate Cut Expectations - Investors are anticipating a 25-basis-point interest rate cut in September, with the current range held steady at 4.25-4.5% since December [4] - Inflation data showed a slower growth rate, with the consumer price index (CPI) increasing by 0.2% in July, lower than the expected 0.3% [5] - The market is now pricing in a 90% chance of a quarter percentage point rate cut in September, up from 75% prior to Powell's speech [5] Consumer Discretionary Stocks - Investing in consumer discretionary stocks is recommended due to the optimism surrounding rate cuts, with five highlighted stocks: Boyd Gaming Corporation, Carnival Corporation, The Walt Disney Company, Netflix, Inc., and Ralph Lauren Corporation [2][8] Boyd Gaming Corporation - Boyd Gaming operates gaming entertainment properties across multiple states and has an expected earnings growth rate of 5.2% for the current year, with a Zacks Rank of 1 [6] Carnival Corporation - Carnival Corporation is the largest cruise operator globally, with an expected earnings growth rate of 40.9% for the current year and a Zacks Rank of 2 [7][9] The Walt Disney Company - Disney's revenues reached $91.4 billion in fiscal 2024, with an expected earnings growth rate of 17.7% for the current year and a Zacks Rank of 2 [10][11] Netflix, Inc. - Netflix is a leader in the streaming industry, with an expected earnings growth rate of 31.4% for the current year and a Zacks Rank of 2 [12][13] Ralph Lauren Corporation - Ralph Lauren is a major designer and distributor of premium lifestyle products, with an expected earnings growth rate of 19.8% for the current year and a Zacks Rank of 2 [14]

Group 1 - Fanatics Betting and Gaming is partnering with Boyd Gaming Corporation to launch online and retail sports betting in Missouri, with plans to debut in December 2025 [1][2]. - The agreement allows Fanatics Sportsbook to operate mobile sports betting under Boyd's license and to open retail sportsbooks at two Ameristar Casino locations [2][5]. - Fanatics Sportsbook will offer various betting markets for major sports, including professional and college football, basketball, hockey, and more, with all market development handled in-house [5][7]. Group 2 - Fanatics Betting and Gaming, launched in 2021, is the fastest growing sportsbook in America, reaching 95% of the addressable online sports bettor market in the U.S. [7]. - The company operates 22 retail sports betting locations, including the only sportsbook inside an NFL stadium [7]. - Boyd Gaming Corporation, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025, operates 28 gaming properties across 10 states and manages a tribal casino [8].

Group 1 - The article discusses the potential benefits of a 5% stake sale in Boyd Gaming for long-term holders, suggesting it could open up new opportunities for the company [1] - The author expresses a personal opinion on the matter without any financial interest in Boyd Gaming or plans to initiate positions in the near future [1]

Core Viewpoint - Boyd Gaming (BYD) is currently viewed as a superior value option compared to Red Rock Resorts (RRR) based on various valuation metrics and earnings outlook [3][7]. Valuation Metrics - BYD has a forward P/E ratio of 12.00, significantly lower than RRR's forward P/E of 33.45 [5]. - The PEG ratio for BYD is 2.34, while RRR's PEG ratio is slightly higher at 2.38, indicating BYD's better valuation relative to its expected earnings growth [5]. - BYD's P/B ratio stands at 4.75, compared to RRR's much higher P/B of 20.96, further supporting BYD's valuation advantage [6]. Earnings Outlook - BYD is currently experiencing an improving earnings outlook, which is a positive indicator in the Zacks Rank model, contributing to its higher ranking [3][7]. - The Zacks Rank for BYD is 2 (Buy), while RRR holds a 3 (Hold) ranking, reflecting the stronger earnings estimate revisions for BYD [3].

Core Insights - Boyd Gaming (NYSE: BYD) operates four divisions: US, International, UK, and Ireland, with the US brand contributing 40% to total 2024 revenue and 37% from iGaming [1] Group 1: Company Overview - Boyd Gaming has a diversified operational structure with significant revenue contributions from its US division [1] - The skepticism surrounding Boyd Gaming's strategic decisions is noted on platforms like Seeking Alpha [1] Group 2: Leadership and Expertise - Howard Jay Klein, with 30 years of experience in major casino operations, leads the investing group The House Edge, focusing on actionable research in the casino and online betting sectors [1] - Klein's background includes roles at notable casinos such as Ballys, Trump Taj Mahal, Mohegan Sun, and Caesars Palace [1] - The House Edge leverages an extensive intelligence network across the US gambling and entertainment sectors, providing insights from various levels of management [1]

Core Viewpoint - Boyd Gaming (BYD) is currently positioned as a more attractive investment option compared to Red Rock Resorts (RRR) based on valuation metrics and earnings outlook [1][3][7]. Valuation Metrics - Boyd Gaming has a forward P/E ratio of 12.34, significantly lower than Red Rock Resorts' forward P/E of 35.50 [5]. - The PEG ratio for Boyd Gaming is 2.88, while Red Rock Resorts has a PEG ratio of 3.64, indicating that BYD is more favorably valued in relation to its expected earnings growth [5]. - Boyd Gaming's P/B ratio stands at 4.95, compared to Red Rock Resorts' P/B ratio of 17.6, further highlighting BYD's relative undervaluation [6]. Earnings Outlook - Boyd Gaming holds a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), reflecting positive revisions to its earnings estimates, while Red Rock Resorts has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [3][7]. - The stronger estimate revision activity for Boyd Gaming suggests a more favorable earnings outlook compared to Red Rock Resorts [7].

Group 1 - Boyd Gaming (BYD) is a notable stock in the Consumer Discretionary sector, which consists of 255 individual stocks and holds a Zacks Sector Rank of 9 [2] - Boyd Gaming currently has a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), indicating strong potential for outperforming the market in the near term [3] - Year-to-date, Boyd Gaming has gained approximately 17%, outperforming the average gain of 7.3% in the Consumer Discretionary group [4] Group 2 - Boyd Gaming is part of the Gaming industry, which includes 39 companies and is currently ranked 92 in the Zacks Industry Rank [6] - The Gaming industry has seen an average gain of about 22.8% year-to-date, indicating that Boyd Gaming is slightly underperforming its industry peers [6] - Another stock in the Consumer Discretionary sector, Adtalem Global Education (ATGE), has outperformed with a year-to-date increase of 25.8% and holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [5][7]

Core Viewpoint - Value investing remains a preferred strategy for identifying strong stocks in various market conditions, focusing on undervalued stocks for potential profits [2][3] Company Analysis: Boyd Gaming (BYD) - Boyd Gaming is currently rated as Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) and has an "A" grade for Value, indicating strong investment potential [4] - The stock is trading at a P/E ratio of 12.81, significantly lower than the industry average P/E of 33.29, suggesting it may be undervalued [4] - Boyd Gaming's Forward P/E has fluctuated between 8.50 and 12.90 over the past year, with a median of 10.91, indicating stable valuation metrics [4] - The P/B ratio for Boyd Gaming is 5.22, which is favorable compared to the industry's average P/B of 13.78, further supporting the undervaluation thesis [5] - Over the past 52 weeks, BYD's P/B has ranged from 2.90 to 5.22, with a median of 4.00, reflecting its solid market position [5] - Overall, Boyd Gaming appears to be undervalued based on key financial metrics and has a strong earnings outlook, making it an attractive value stock at this time [6]

Core Insights - Wall Street is experiencing a strong rally, driven by solid corporate earnings, resilient economic data, the AI boom, and retail investor enthusiasm, despite concerns over trade policy and Federal Reserve actions [1] Dividend Growth Strategy - Dividend investing is gaining traction as it provides consistent income, especially in uncertain markets, with a focus on stocks that have a strong history of year-over-year dividend growth leading to higher returns [2][4] - Stocks with a solid dividend growth history are typically mature companies, offering downside protection and acting as a hedge against market volatility [4][5] - Selected dividend growth stocks include Boyd Gaming Corporation, TE Connectivity, UGI Corporation, NetEase Inc., and Garmin Ltd., which show strong earnings revisions and growth potential [3][9] Stock Selection Criteria - Stocks selected for dividend growth should have a 5-Year Historical Dividend Growth greater than zero, indicating a solid dividend growth history [6] - Additional criteria include 5-Year Historical Sales Growth and EPS Growth greater than zero, ensuring a strong record of revenue and earnings growth [7] - Valuation metrics such as Price/Cash Flow less than the industry average and a 52-Week Price Change greater than the S&P 500 are also important for stock selection [8] Company Profiles - **Boyd Gaming Corporation (BYD)**: A multi-jurisdictional gaming company with a positive earnings estimate revision of $0.31 and an earnings surprise of 9.12% over the past four quarters, holding a Zacks Rank 1 and a Growth Score of A [10][11] - **TE Connectivity (TEL)**: A global technology company with a solid earnings estimate revision of $0.22 and an estimated growth of 12.30%, also holding a Zacks Rank 1 and a Growth Score of B [11][12] - **UGI Corporation (UGI)**: A holding company for energy products with an estimated earnings growth rate of 2.29% and an average earnings surprise of 75.67%, holding a Zacks Rank 2 and a Growth Score of B [13] - **NetEase Inc. (NTES)**: An Internet technology company with a positive earnings estimate revision and an estimated earnings growth rate of 20.14%, holding a Zacks Rank 2 and a Growth Score of A [14] - **Garmin Ltd. (GRMN)**: An OEM of navigation equipment with a positive earnings estimate revision of $0.03 and an estimated earnings growth rate of 7.85%, holding a Zacks Rank 2 and a Growth Score of B [15]

Core Insights - Boyd Gaming Corporation has completed the sale of its 5% equity interest in FanDuel Group to Flutter Entertainment for cash proceeds of $1.758 billion [1][2] - The company plans to use the proceeds to repay existing debt and continue its strategy of investing in properties, pursuing growth opportunities, and returning capital to shareholders while maintaining a strong balance sheet [2] Company Overview - Boyd Gaming Corporation, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025, operates 28 gaming entertainment properties across 10 states and manages a tribal casino in northern California [4] - The company also owns and operates Boyd Interactive, a B2B and B2C online casino gaming business, and prides itself on providing outstanding entertainment experiences and customer service [4]