MUFG Securities EMEA plc Invests $65.49 Million in Caesars Entertainment, Inc. $CZR

MUFG Securities EMEA plc acquired a new position in shares of Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:CZR) in the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor acquired 2,800,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $65,492,000. Caesars Entertainment accounts for approximately 0.8% of MUFG Securities EMEA plc’s portfolio, making the stock its 24th largest holding.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. CoreCap Advisors LLC raised its stake in Caesars Entertainment by 44.6% in the 4th quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC now owns 1,581 shares of the company’s stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 488 shares during the last quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky raised its stake in Caesars Entertainment by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 52,133 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,220,000 after purchasing an additional 493 shares during the last quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. raised its stake in Caesars Entertainment by 110.6% in the 3rd quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 971 shares of the company’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 510 shares during the last quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC raised its stake in Caesars Entertainment by 3.5% in the 2nd quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 16,155 shares of the company’s stock valued at $459,000 after purchasing an additional 549 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank raised its stake in Caesars Entertainment by 1.4% in the 4th quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 41,008 shares of the company’s stock valued at $959,000 after purchasing an additional 562 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.79% of the company’s stock.

Key Stories Impacting Caesars Entertainment

Here are the key news stories impacting Caesars Entertainment this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Caesars agreed to be acquired by Fertitta Entertainment for $31 per share in cash, a major premium that supports the stock and explains the sharp investor interest. Reuters: Caesars Entertainment to be bought by Fertitta Entertainment for $17.6 billion
• Positive Sentiment: The deal could boost broader casino consolidation and signals continued strategic value in Caesars’ assets, which may help sentiment around the company. Proactive Investors: Caesars Entertainment buyout potential catalyst for broader casino consolidation
• Neutral Sentiment: JPMorgan and Susquehanna reaffirmed neutral-style views while trimming price targets to $31, essentially matching the offer price and suggesting limited upside from here. Benzinga analyst updates
• Negative Sentiment: Truist downgraded Caesars from buy to hold, while Raymond James cut the stock to market perform, reflecting reduced upside now that a buyout is in place. Benzinga analyst updates
• Negative Sentiment: Law firms have opened shareholder investigations into whether the $31 per-share deal is fair, which could create some legal overhang. Business Wire: shareholder investigation

Caesars Entertainment Trading Down 0.1%

NASDAQ CZR opened at $29.05 on Friday. Caesars Entertainment, Inc. has a 12 month low of $17.86 and a 12 month high of $31.58. The company has a 50-day moving average of $27.32 and a 200-day moving average of $24.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.25, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.83. The company has a market cap of $5.92 billion, a P/E ratio of -12.26 and a beta of 1.77.

Caesars Entertainment (NASDAQ:CZR) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 28th. The company reported ($0.48) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.24) by ($0.24). Caesars Entertainment had a negative net margin of 4.19% and a negative return on equity of 7.88%. The company had revenue of $2.87 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.85 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned ($0.54) EPS. The company’s revenue was up 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that Caesars Entertainment, Inc. will post -0.5 earnings per share for the current year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts recently weighed in on CZR shares. Stifel Nicolaus cut their target price on shares of Caesars Entertainment from $36.00 to $35.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 29th. Barclays cut their target price on shares of Caesars Entertainment from $39.00 to $35.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 18th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Caesars Entertainment from $24.00 to $26.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 29th. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Caesars Entertainment from $23.00 to $30.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 16th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $31.00 target price (down from $35.00) on shares of Caesars Entertainment in a research note on Friday. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Caesars Entertainment presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $32.73.

About Caesars Entertainment

Caesars Entertainment Corporation is a leading integrated gaming and hospitality company headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. The company owns and operates a global portfolio of resorts, casinos, and entertainment venues designed to deliver comprehensive hospitality experiences. Its business activities span hotel accommodations, gaming operations, food and beverage services, live events, and convention services, with a focus on delivering luxury and entertainment to both leisure and business travelers.

The company traces its lineage to the founding of Harrah’s by William F.