Wynn Resorts has received a major vote of confidence from Wall Street, with investment bank UBS upgrading its stock to a "Buy" rating and raising its price
Wynn Resorts has received a major vote of confidence from Wall Street, with investment bank UBS upgrading its stock to a “Buy” rating and raising its price target by nearly 46% to $147 per share. The bullish call is almost entirely predicated on the massive and currently under-appreciated potential of Wynn’s landmark integrated resort in the United Arab Emirates.
The analyst note suggests that investors have not yet fully grasped the scale of the opportunity presented by the UAE project, which will be the first of its kind in the wealthy Gulf region.
At the heart of the optimism is the $3.9 billion Wynn Al Marjan Island, currently under construction in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah and slated to open in early 2027. The resort is planned as a large-scale luxury destination with over 1,500 rooms, private villas, and extensive entertainment and retail offerings.
Crucially, it will house the UAE’s first-ever regulated casino. UBS is forecasting that the property could generate approximately $730 million in annual adjusted property earnings ( EBITDAM), a figure at the high end of Wynn’s own guidance and one that would significantly boost the company’s overall financial performance.
The core of the investment thesis is Wynn’s unique competitive advantage. “ We anticipate that WYNN being the only gaming operator in the UAE should provide a meaningful head start in capturing loyalty among ultra-high net worth international customers,” wrote UBS analyst Robin Farley.
This effective monopoly in a wealthy, high-traffic region, which is a hub for international tourism and business, presents a rare opportunity for a major operator to establish a powerful and highly profitable new market from a standing start.
UBS’s positive outlook isn’t limited to the Middle East. The bank also raised its valuation of Wynn’s Macau division, citing the continued post-pandemic recovery in the world’s largest gambling market. This combination of a strengthening core business in Asia and a transformative new growth project in the UAE underpins the bank’s bullish stance.
The upgrade is a powerful validation of Wynn Resorts’ bold strategy to be the first mover in the Gulf. While regulatory and economic challenges always exist, the prospect of a monopoly in the UAE has convinced a major Wall Street bank that the company is significantly undervalued.
