We recently published a list of Billionaire Mason Hawkins’ 10 Small-Cap Stocks with Huge Upside Potential. In this article, we are going to take a look at where MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM) stands against other billionaire Mason Hawkins’ small-cap stocks with huge upside potential.
Mason Hawkins’s Value Investment Strategy
Mason Hawkins is a prominent American investor, known for being the founder and chairman of Southeastern Asset Management. Hawkins holds a Bachelor of Arts in Finance from the University of Florida and later did his MBA in Finance from the University of Georgia. Before founding Southeastern Asset Management, the billionaire gained experience as a Director of Research at Atlantic National Bank and First Tennessee Investment Management. There he developed his value investment strategy and has since been known for his discipline in value investing. His fund Southeastern Asset Management also holds the same reputation, which can be witnessed through his concentrated portfolio of around 40 to 50 stocks. Southeastern Asset Management services 47 clients at the moment, with $5,271,901,660 as assets under management as of March 2024.
Value investment is an investment strategy that employs buying stocks of well-managed and quality companies at prices significantly below their intrinsic value. The core of Hawkins’ strategy is to purchase equities when their market price is no more than 60% of the firm’s appraisal of their intrinsic value. Value investors believe that the market overreacts to economic news, which leads to movement in stock prices, however, this news does not affect the long-term fundamentals of a company. Therefore, investors like Mason Hawkins do not follow the herd and use financial research and analysis to find quality companies. Value investors are also known for holding companies for a long term, but also actively ferret out stock that the market is underestimating.
Hawkins’ disciplined and research-based investment strategy has earned him widespread recognition. He achieved Investor’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005 and was also named Domestic Equity Fund Manager of the Year by Morningstar in 2006.
Under the current market condition, Hawkins’ value investment strategy has led Southeastern Asset Management’s attention towards small-cap stocks. While the small-cap stocks have largely underperformed the market when compared to their large-cap counterparts. However, according to Francis Gannon, Co-Chief Investment Officer at Royce Investment Partners, small-caps are attractively priced for long-term investment opportunities. Gannon’s investment advice aligns with Hawkins’s strategy, as he suggests investing in quality small-cap companies with strong fundamentals, low debt, established long-term earnings, and significant upside potential.
Our Methodology
To compile the list of billionaire Mason Hawkins’ 10 small-cap stocks with huge upside potential, we sifted through 13F filings of Southeastern Asset Management, from Insider Monkey. From these filings, we checked each stock’s upside potential from CNN and ranked the stocks in ascending order of the upside potential. We have also added the stake Southeastern Asset Management holds in each company and the hedge fund sentiment around each stock. Please note that the data was recorded on April 28, 2025. Also note that for this article we have defined small-cap companies as those with a market capitalization between $1 billion to $10 billion.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
Aerial shot of an entertainment resort, its buildings and gaming amenities sprawling along the seafront.
MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM)
Market Capitalization: $8.96 billion
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 47
Southeastern Asset Management Stake: $83,476,943
Analyst Upside Potential: 51.56%
MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM) is an international gaming, hospitality, and entertainment company that offers a wide range of hotels and casinos. The company operates through four main business segments including the Las Vegas Strip Resort, Regional Operations, MGM China, and MGM Digital.
On April 28, Jefferies analyst David Katz kept a Buy rating on the stock with a price target of $53. The analyst noted that the company’s BetMGM joint Venture delivered a robust 34% year-over-year growth, driven by a 68% growth in online sports betting revenue. Katz highlighted that this growth represents a significant upside for MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM) considering the uncertain macroeconomic environment.
Moreover, earlier the company released its full-year results for 2024, reflecting a 7% year-over-year growth in net revenues, which reached $17.2 billion. MGM China contributed to the profitability with a record EBITDAR of $1.1 billion, indicating a 25% increase year-over-year. Nightview Capital mentioned MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM) in its Q4 2024 investor letter stating that the company is expanding beyond its gaming operations into the hospitality segment. The company’s non-gaming revenue mix now accounts for more than 70% of its revenue. Here’s what the fund said about the company.
“Travel and entertainment are transforming as consumers prioritize experiences over material goods. This isn’t a return to pre pandemic norms—it’s a reinvention of how we connect, explore, and enjoy life. Travelers seek uniqueness and personalization, while entertainment blends digital and physical realms to create new experiences. The companies leading this evolution are redefining tradition through innovation, delivering unforgettable moments to a new generation. These businesses are not just adapting—they’re shaping the future of the experience economy.
MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM): Core Opportunity: MGM is evolving beyond gaming, focusing on luxury experiences, strategic partnerships, and international expansion to redefine hospitality.
Competitive Advantage: Revenue Mix: Non-gaming sources now account for 70% of revenue at flagship properties like the Bellagio.
Global Expansion: Projects include a $10 billion integrated resort in Osaka and ventures in Brazil, Thailand, and the UAE.
Digital Innovation: The BetMGM platform integrates digital engagement with physical resorts, appealing to millennial and Gen Z travelers.
Investment Case: MGM’s focus on blending physical and digital experiences positions it as a global leader in hospitality. Its innovative strategy aligns with shifting consumer preferences, and we believe its long history of operational success will continue.”
Overall, MGM ranks 3rd on our list of billionaire Mason Hawkins’ small-cap stocks with huge upside potential. While we acknowledge the potential of MGM as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than MGM but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.