Boyd Gaming Is Best of the Bunch Among Casino Stocks

Recently, we’ve explored strength among the hotel stocks. Some of the biggest names in that industry, like Marriott International (MAR)  and Hyatt Hotels (H) , are breaking out to all-time highs.

We also examined a series of bullish setups in the cruise industry. Strength in both of these areas bodes well for the U.S. economy. 

Another sector that tends to perform well when the economy is strong is the casino industry.

New Casinos on the Way 

Recently, three new casinos were approved for New York City. Two casinos, the Hard Rock Metropolitan Park and Resorts World New York City, will be located in Queens, while Bally’s Bronx will of course be located in the Bronx, 

Meanwhile, despite receiving fewer visitors, Las Vegas casino revenues rose this past summer. Despite the proliferation of online gambling, the casino industry is alive and well.

Let’s examine the price action of some casino stocks to see which names are likely to perform in 2026. 

Boyd Gaming (BYD)

Boyd  (BYD)  shares closed at an all-time high on Thursday, and if its chart is any indication, the stock has more upside ahead.

Boyd Gaming has formed an inverted head-and-shoulders continuation pattern (shaded yellow). That bullish formation projects Boyd to $102, which is our new price target for the stock. 

Five years ago, I wrote that Boyd Gaming was the best bet in the casino group. Since then, shares of the Las Vegas-based casino operator have climbed 85%. 

GRADE: A

Caesars Entertainment (CZR)

While Boyd Gaming has had a strong five-year period, Caesars Entertainment  (CZR)  shareholders have watched the stock lose over two-thirds of its value over the past five years.

Are better days ahead? Caesars is on the verge of closing above its 200-day moving average (red) for the first time in nearly a year. A close above $25.50 (point A) would place the stock above that key indicator for the first time since February 2025. 

However, Caesars faces nearby resistance at the prior highs of $28.26 (point B) and $31.58 (point C). Even if Caesars clears its 200-day MA, the stock faces a tough battle ahead. 

GRADE: C+

Las Vegas Sands (LVS)

After selling several U.S. properties, notably The Venetian Resort and The Palazzo, Las Vegas Sands  (LVS)  is now focused on its properties in Macao and Singapore. 

Shares of Las Vegas Sands have formed a series of higher highs and higher lows, and recently reached a six-year high (point HH). Now that the stock is at the lower end of its bullish channel (diagonal lines), LVS has received an oversold signal (arrow) from its RSI indicator. 

GRADE: B

Bottom Line 

Boyd Gaming remains the best of the bunch, and will continue to be a long-term holding. If Caesars can break through resistance points B and C, it might be worth a look. Las Vegas Sands looks interesting, but with earnings coming up on January 28, I’ll wait until the dust settles. 

At the time of publication, Ponsi was long BYD.