NEW YORK, Feb 27, 2026, 05:45 EST — Premarket
- MGM shares edged lower before the bell after a sharp gain in the prior session.
- Casino stocks rallied on fresh takeover speculation around Caesars Entertainment.
- Traders are bracing for U.S. producer-price data later Friday and next week’s jobs report.
MGM Resorts International (MGM) shares slipped about 0.6% in premarket trade on Friday to $37.41, after jumping nearly 6% in the previous session. 1
Thursday’s rally across casino stocks followed a report that Caesars Entertainment was weighing takeover interest, including an approach from Texas billionaire Tilman Fertitta through Fertitta Entertainment, the Financial Times reported. Caesars also considered a management-led buyout, and declined to comment. 2
MGM closed up 5.79% at $37.62 on Thursday. The stock was indicated lower after hours at $37.47, down about 0.4%, WSJ market data showed. 3
Peers also pushed higher in the regular session. Wynn Resorts rose 2.48% and Las Vegas Sands gained 1.60%, MarketWatch data showed. 4
Away from the tape, MGM and its BetMGM joint venture said on Thursday they would commit more than $1 million to responsible-gaming initiatives tied to Problem Gambling Awareness Month. “As sports betting continues to grow so must our understanding of its impact,” Stephen Martino, MGM’s chief compliance officer, said. 5
BetMGM chief compliance officer Rhea Loney called the campaign “an important reminder” of “our year-round responsibility,” as the company steps up messaging and support resources. 6
MGM’s shares often trade with shifts in sentiment on U.S. consumer spending and travel demand, and with the market’s appetite for deal-driven moves in leisure and gaming.
But takeover talk can cool fast. Caesars’ heavy debt load and the lack of any confirmation from the company leave plenty of room for the story to fizzle, even after Thursday’s jump. 7
The next near-term test comes at 8:30 a.m. ET, when the Labor Department releases January producer price data — a wholesale inflation report investors use to gauge pressure on interest rates. 8
Next week, attention turns to the February U.S. employment report due March 6, another release that can swing rate expectations and, by extension, travel-and-leisure stocks such as MGM. 9
