GOLDEN ENTERTAINMENT, INC. (GDEN) Stock Analysis — April 2026 Rating, Price, and Forecast
Company Overview — What Does GOLDEN ENTERTAINMENT, INC. Do?
Golden Entertainment, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the ownership and operation of a diversified entertainment platform in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Nevada Casino Resorts, Nevada Locals Casinos, Maryland Casino Resort, and Distributed Gaming. The Nevada Casino Resorts segment comprises of destination casino resort properties that include various food and beverage outlets, entertainment venues, and other amenities. The Nevada Locals Casinos segment consists of casino properties that cater to local customers. The Maryland Casino Resort segment operates Rocky Gap casino resort, including various food and beverage outlets, signature golf course, spa, and pool. The Distributed Gaming segment operates slot machines and amusement devices in non-casino locations, such as restaurants, bars, taverns, convenience stores, liquor stores, and grocery stores. As of February 17, 2022, the company operated approximately 16,900 slots, 120 table games, and 6,200 hotel rooms; 10 casinos; and video gaming devices at 1,100 locations, as well as owned 60 traditional taverns. The company was formerly known as Lakes Entertainment, Inc. and changed its name to Golden Entertainment, Inc. in July 2015. Golden Entertainment, Inc. was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. GOLDEN ENTERTAINMENT, INC. (GDEN) is classified as a small-cap stock in the Communication Services sector, specifically within the Entertainment industry. The company is led by CEO Blake L. Sartini and employs approximately 6,300 people, headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. With a market capitalization of $705M, GDEN is one of the notable companies in the Communication Services sector.
GOLDEN ENTERTAINMENT, INC. (GDEN) Stock Rating — Hold (April 2026)
As of April 2026, GOLDEN ENTERTAINMENT, INC. receives a Hold rating with a composite score of 46.4/100 and 3 out of 5 stars from the Blank Capital Research quantitative model.GDEN ranks #1,416 out of 4,446 stocks in our coverage universe. Within the Communication Services sector, GOLDEN ENTERTAINMENT, INC. ranks #41 of 134 stocks, placing it in the upper half of its Communication Services peers. The rating is generated by a multi-factor model that weighs quality (30%), momentum (25%), value (15%), investment (10%), stability (10%), and short interest (10%).
GDEN Stock Price and 52-Week Range
GOLDEN ENTERTAINMENT, INC. (GDEN) currently trades at $27.95. The stock gained $0.04 (0.1%) in the most recent trading session. The 52-week high for GDEN is $32.74, which means the stock is currently trading -14.6% from its annual peak. The 52-week low is $19.57, putting the stock 42.8% above its annual trough. Recent trading volume was 154K shares, suggesting relatively thin trading activity.
Is GDEN Overvalued or Undervalued? — Valuation Analysis
GOLDEN ENTERTAINMENT, INC. (GDEN) carries a value factor score of 58/100 in the Blank Capital model, indicating fair valuation relative to historical norms. The trailing price-to-earnings ratio is 95.47x, compared to the Communication Services sector average of 26.08x — a premium of 266%. The price-to-book ratio stands at 1.73x, versus the sector average of 1.87x. The price-to-sales ratio is 1.14x, compared to 0.55x for the average Communication Services stock. On an enterprise value basis, GDEN trades at 6.03x EV/EBITDA, versus 4.98x for the sector.
Overall, GDEN's valuation appears roughly in line with sector benchmarks, suggesting the market is pricing the stock fairly given its current fundamentals and growth trajectory. Neither deep value nor significantly overpriced, the stock occupies a middle ground on valuation.
GOLDEN ENTERTAINMENT, INC. Profitability — ROE, Margins, and Quality Score
GOLDEN ENTERTAINMENT, INC. (GDEN) earns a quality factor score of 50/100, indicating solid business quality with consistent operational execution. The return on equity (ROE) is 1.8%, compared to the Communication Services sector average of 1.0%, which is below typical expectations for high-quality companies. Return on assets (ROA) comes in at 0.8% versus the sector average of -0.0%.
On a margin basis, GOLDEN ENTERTAINMENT, INC. reports gross margins of 92.9%, compared to 56.4% for the sector. The operating margin is 4.7% (sector: 0.4%). Net profit margin stands at 1.1%, versus -0.9% for the average Communication Services stock. Revenue growth is running at -7.5% on a trailing basis, compared to 3.0% for the sector. The overall profitability profile is adequate, though there may be room for margin expansion.
GDEN Debt, Balance Sheet, and Financial Health
GOLDEN ENTERTAINMENT, INC. has a debt-to-equity ratio of 142.0%, compared to the Communication Services sector average of 82.0%. Leverage is within a manageable range for the industry, though investors should monitor debt trends over time. The current ratio is 1.17x, suggesting adequate working capital coverage. Total debt on the balance sheet is $424M. Cash and equivalents stand at $58M.
GDEN has a beta of 0.59, meaning it is less volatile than the S&P 500, making it a relatively defensive holding. The stability factor score for GOLDEN ENTERTAINMENT, INC. is 64/100, reflecting average volatility within the normal range for its sector.
GOLDEN ENTERTAINMENT, INC. Revenue and Earnings History — Quarterly Trend
In TTM 2026, GOLDEN ENTERTAINMENT, INC. reported revenue of $641M and earnings per share (EPS) of $-0.23. Net income for the quarter was $8M. Gross margin was 92.9%. Operating income came in at $31M.
In FY 2025, GOLDEN ENTERTAINMENT, INC. reported revenue of $635M and earnings per share (EPS) of $-0.23. Net income for the quarter was $-6M. Gross margin was 92.8%. Revenue grew -4.8% year-over-year compared to FY 2024. Operating income came in at $22M.
In Q3 2025, GOLDEN ENTERTAINMENT, INC. reported revenue of $155M and earnings per share (EPS) of $-0.18. Net income for the quarter was $-5M. Gross margin was 92.8%. Revenue grew -4.0% year-over-year compared to Q3 2024. Operating income came in at $882,000.
In Q2 2025, GOLDEN ENTERTAINMENT, INC. reported revenue of $164M and earnings per share (EPS) of $0.18. Net income for the quarter was $5M. Gross margin was 93.0%. Revenue grew -2.2% year-over-year compared to Q2 2024. Operating income came in at $12M.
Over the past 8 quarters, GOLDEN ENTERTAINMENT, INC. has demonstrated a growth trajectory, with revenue expanding from $167M to $641M. Investors analyzing GDEN stock should weigh these quarterly trends alongside the valuation and quality metrics discussed above.
GDEN Dividend Yield and Income Analysis
GOLDEN ENTERTAINMENT, INC. (GDEN) currently pays a dividend yield of 4.2%. At this yield, a $10,000 investment in GDEN stock would generate approximately $$424.00 in annual dividend income.
GDEN Momentum and Technical Analysis Profile
GOLDEN ENTERTAINMENT, INC. (GDEN) has a momentum factor score of 47/100, reflecting neutral trend characteristics. The stock is neither significantly outperforming nor underperforming the broader market on a momentum basis. The investment factor score is 36/100, which measures capital allocation efficiency and asset growth patterns. The short interest score of 11/100 signals elevated short interest, which can indicate bearish sentiment among institutional investors.
GDEN vs Competitors — Communication Services Sector Ranking and Peer Comparison
Within the Communication Services sector, GOLDEN ENTERTAINMENT, INC. (GDEN) ranks #41 out of 134 stocks based on the Blank Capital composite score. This places GDEN in the upper half of all Communication Services stocks in our coverage universe. Key competitors and sector peers include MILLICOM INTERNATIONAL CELLULAR SA (TIGO) with a score of 61.6/100, TEGNA INC (TGNA) with a score of 49.6/100, VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC (VZ) with a score of 54.2/100, DELUXE CORP (DLX) with a score of 53.8/100, and NEW YORK TIMES CO (NYT) with a score of 53.2/100.
Comparing GDEN against the S&P 500 benchmark is also instructive for understanding relative performance. Investors can view the full GDEN vs S&P 500 (SPY) comparison to assess how GOLDEN ENTERTAINMENT, INC. stacks up against the broader market across all factor dimensions.
GDEN Next Earnings Date
No upcoming earnings date has been announced for GOLDEN ENTERTAINMENT, INC. (GDEN) at this time. Check the earnings calendar for the latest scheduling updates across all stocks in our coverage universe.
Should You Buy GDEN? — Investment Thesis Summary
GOLDEN ENTERTAINMENT, INC. presents a balanced picture with arguments on both sides. Low volatility (stability score 64/100) reduces downside risk.
In summary, GOLDEN ENTERTAINMENT, INC. (GDEN) earns a Hold rating with a composite score of 46.4/100 as of April 2026. The rating is derived from the Blank Capital Research methodology, which combines six factor dimensions into a single quantitative ranking. Investors should consider these quantitative signals alongside their own fundamental research, risk tolerance, and investment time horizon before making buy or sell decisions on GDEN stock.
Related Resources for GDEN Investors
Explore more research and tools: GDEN vs S&P 500 comparison, top Communication Services stocks, stock screener, our methodology, quality factor explained, value factor explained, momentum factor explained. Compare GDEN head-to-head with peers: GDEN vs TIGO, GDEN vs TGNA, GDEN vs VZ.