Wynn Resorts jumps on MGM Resorts merger speculation

Wynn's first-quarter earnings, released in late April, included earnings per share of 70 cents, falling short of the consensus estimate. Revenue slumped almost 28% year over year to $1.09 billion. 

Revenue from Wynn's Macau properties, a major casino hub in China, dropped nearly 38% from the same quarter last year,  but on Thursday Barron's reported on a note from analysts at Credit Suisse who say Macau is starting to show strength. 

As for MGM Resorts, the casino operator's first-quarter earnings per share eclipsed estimates by 13 cents and jumped 50% year over year, according to a report released in early May. Though revenue fell 11.3% over the past year and fell short of analysts' estimates. 

Trading volume was particularly heavy for Wynn on Thursday. Some 5.6 million shares traded hands, significantly higher than its average trading volume of  2.6 million. MGM Resorts saw some 14.4 million shares traded, compared to its daily average of 12.3 million. 

At $109.22 per share, Wynn trades at almost 20 times more than its pre-share earnings from last year, compared to MGM Resorts' multiple of nearly 40, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. 

The analysts at Argus Research Group maintain a hold rating on shares of Wynn Resorts, while JPMorgan holds an overweight rating. Analysts from Morningstar hold a buy rating. As for MGM Resorts, the analysts at Union Gaming Research and Stifel hold a buy rating while Morningstar maintains a hold rating.