We recently published a list of the 12 Best Hotel Stocks To Buy According to Analysts. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Wynn Resorts, Limited (NASDAQ:WYNN) stands against other best hotel stocks to buy according to analysts.
Overview of the Hospitality Industry
The hospitality industry is undergoing a significant transformation after the post-Covid travel rebound. According to a report by Zion Market Research, the global hotel market is valued at $1.37 trillion as of 2023. It is expected to reach $2.99 trillion by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 9.14% between 2024 and 2032. This growth is attributed to the surging travel demand post-Covid, resurgence in leisure and business activities, and increased disposable incomes.
Released in January 2025, the “State of the Hospitality Market Report 2024” provides a deeper view of the global hospitality industry. The report showed a significant rise from $3.44 trillion in 2023 to $3.98 trillion in 2024, translating to a compound annual growth rate of 15.5%. This notable growth highlights positive trends across transportation and infrastructure improvements, the increasing influence of international hotel chains, and the growing popularity of experiential travel. In addition, the rising economic influence of the middle class in emerging markets and ballooning demand for unique experiences is further boosting this expansion. According to the report, North America is the most significant force in the hospitality market as of 2023. However, the Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to grow fastest in the coming years.
The US hospitality industry reflects similar trends. According to a report by Mordor Intelligence, the industry is estimated to have a market size of around $247.45 billion as of 2025. It is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4.87% between 2025 and 2030, reaching $313.87 billion by the end of the forecast period.
Increased Optimism Among US Hotel Investors
A survey regarding US hotel investors’ sentiment conducted by the CBRE Group and released on January 28 showed increased positive optimism among hotel investors. Around 94% of those surveyed expressed intentions to maintain or increase their hotel investments in 2025, a rise from 85% last year. The most prominent reason behind this growth was an optimistic outlook for total returns and distressed investment opportunities. The central business districts (CBDs) and resorts were the most commonly favored location types for 2025 among investors. The most popular chain scales were the higher-priced options.
Our Methodology
We sifted through stock screeners, online rankings, and ETFs to compile a list of 30 hotel stocks. We checked their upside potential, according to analysts, and then selected the top 12 most popular stocks among elite hedge funds as of Q3 2024. We sourced the hedge fund sentiment data from Insider Monkey’s database. The list is sorted in ascending order of analysts’ average upside potential. Please note that the analyst upside potential data is as of February 12, 2025.
Why do we care about what hedge funds do? 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 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
Aerial view of a luxury hotel tower surrounded by lush green landscaping.
Wynn Resorts, Limited (NASDAQ:WYNN)
Analyst Upside Potential: 50.27%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 52
Wynn Resorts, Limited (NASDAQ:WYNN) designs, develops and operates integrated resorts that feature luxury hotel rooms, dining and entertainment options, high-end retail space, convention and meeting facilities, and gaming. Its segments include Wynn Macau, Wynn Palace, Las Vegas Operations, Wynn Interactive, and Encore Boston Harbor.
Wynn Resorts, Limited (NASDAQ:WYNN) is strategically focused on investing in its existing properties and expanding its operations, particularly with the development of Wynn Al Marjan Island in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Reporting on the construction progress of Wynn Al Marjan Island, the company said that the project is proceeding as planned, with 55% of the structural concrete completed.
The first integrated resort in the UAE is currently expected to open in 2027. Wynn Resorts, Limited (NASDAQ:WYNN) estimates that the UAE will be a gaming market worth $3 billion to $5 billion and one of the most exciting new markets in the industry. The company also has a strong liquidity position, with a global cash and revolver availability of $3.5 billion as of September 30. This comprises $1.7 billion of total cash and available liquidity in Macau and $1.8 billion in the U.S.
Baron Real Estate Fund stated the following regarding Wynn Resorts, Limited (NASDAQ:WYNN) in its fourth quarter 2023 investor letter:
“The shares of Wynn Resorts, Limited (NASDAQ:WYNN), an owner and operator of hotels and casino resorts, declined modestly in the most recent quarter, in part due to concerns about economic weakness in China.
We remain optimistic about the multi-year prospects for the company. We believe the ongoing re-emergence of business activity in Macau will drive additional shareholder value. If cash flow returns to the level achieved in 2019 prior to COVID-19, we believe Wynn’s shares will increase 30% to 50% higher than where they have recently traded.
We believe additional drivers for future value creation beyond a re-emergence in Macau business activity include: (i) our expectation for long-term growth opportunities in the company’s U.S.-centric markets of Las Vegas and Boston, including an expansion of Wynn’s Encore Boston Harbor resort; (ii) Wynn’s plans to develop an integrated resort in the United Arab Emirates with 1,500 hotel rooms and a casino that is similar in size to that of Encore Boston Harbor; (iii) opportunities to improve cash-flow margins by rightsizing labor and achieving lower staff costs in Macau; (iv) the possibility that Wynn is granted a New York casino license; and (v) an expansion in the company’s valuation multiple to levels achieved prior to the pandemic.”
Overall, WYNN ranks second on our list of best hotel stocks to buy according to analysts. While we acknowledge the potential of WYNN, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than WYNN but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
