We recently compiled a list of the Billionaire Mason Hawkins’ Top 15 Long-Term Stock Picks. In this article, we are going to take a look at where MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM) stands against the other stocks.
Mason Hawkins is a prominent figure in the world of value investing, best known as the founder and chairman of Southeastern Asset Management, an investment firm established in 1975. The firm began with a modest pool of assets but grew to manage approximately $20 billion within a few years. With decades of experience and a reputation for disciplined investment strategies, Hawkins has earned widespread respect among investors and financial professionals for his long-term approach to wealth creation. His firm specializes in managing concentrated portfolios based on in-depth research, fundamental analysis, and a value-oriented philosophy. Hawkins believes that patience and a contrarian mindset are critical to success, often holding onto investments for years to allow their true value to emerge.
Read Also 10 Best AI Data Center Stocks and 10 Buzzing AI Stocks According to Goldman Sachs.
This strategy has been central to the success of the flagship Longleaf Partners Funds run by Southeastern Asset Management. For example, during the 20 years leading up to the mid-2000s, the fund achieved an annualized return of approximately 12%, compared to around 10% for the S&P 500. A native of Tennessee, Hawkins graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Finance and later earned his MBA from the University of Georgia. His early career included roles at Atlantic National Bank and First Tennessee Investment Management before he decided to establish Southeastern Asset Management. Under his leadership, the firm grew from managing a small pool of assets to overseeing billions of dollars across various funds.
One hallmark of the investment style made popular by Hawkins is his emphasis on what he calls a “margin of safety.” This concept, pioneered by Benjamin Graham, involves purchasing stocks at a significant discount to their estimated intrinsic value. By doing so, Hawkins aims to minimize downside risk while maximizing potential returns. This disciplined approach has helped Southeastern Asset Management weather multiple market cycles, including challenging periods like the dot-com bubble and the 2008 financial crisis. Hawkins focuses on quality rather than quantity, reflected in the 13F portfolio of his fund that typically holds positions in twenty to thirty stocks, highlighting a preference for concentration rather than diversification. This approach allows the firm to take significant positions in companies it believes in, leading to outsized returns when these investments succeed.
Read Also 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock and Beyond the Tech Giants: 35 Non-Tech AI Opportunities.
For this article, we selected stocks by combing through the 13F portfolio of Southeastern Asset Management at the end of the third quarter of 2024. Only the companies that have been in the 13F portfolio of the fund consistently for the past three years were selected. These stocks are also popular among other hedge funds. 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 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 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)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 46
MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM) is a Las Vegas-based hospitality and entertainment firm that runs several destination resorts. The hedge fund’s end-of-quarter filings for Q3 2024 showed ownership of 2.1 million shares in MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM), worth more than $85.9 million and equating to 4.05% of its 13F portfolio. In the third quarter of 2024, MGM Resorts reported a 4% increase in net revenues for its Las Vegas Strip Resorts compared to the same period in 2023, driven by higher catering and banquet revenues. Regional Operations also saw a 3% increase in net revenues, primarily due to increased casino revenue. MGM Resorts is also planning to develop Dubai Sphere, an entertainment venue as compelling as the Las Vegas Sphere, in the Middle East.
Overall MGM ranks 6th on our list of Billionaire Mason Hawkins’ top long-term stock picks. While we acknowledge the potential of MGM as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for a stock that is more promising than MGM but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock
Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.