Century Casinos Stock Could Double, Poland Sale in Play, Says Analyst
Posted on: June 4, 2025, 02:21h.
Last updated on: June 4, 2025, 02:33h.
- Shares could double from current levels, says Stifel analyst
- Company still wants to divest Poland casino unit
Century Casinos (NASDAQ: CNTY) has a pathway back to $4, or roughly double where the stock currently resides, and the gaming company continues mulling the long-awaited sale of its Poland operations.
In a new report to clients, Stifel analyst Jeffrey Stantial, who recently met with Century co-CEO Peter Hoetzinger, said shares of the regional casino operator could return to $4 with the help of improved rampups at its namesake casino hotel in Caruthersville, Mo. and the Nugget in Sparks, Nev. Such catalysts could be in play as soon as the current quarter, according to the analyst.
Specifically, we continue to forecast sequential improvement in group and convention bookings for smaller-sized groups ramping through the remainder of CY25, though improving mid-to-large group bookings likely won’t impact occupied room nights until CY26 given the typical 2-3 year lead time,” said Stantial of the Sparks property.
Century bought the Nugget Sparks — its lone Nevada casino hotel — in 2022. That $195 million transaction included the buyer taking a 50% stake in the owner of the venue’s real estate.
Century Stock Doubling Will Take Work
To its credit, Century is up 37.67% over the past month, and while that’s an impressive showing, it doesn’t obfuscate the stock being down 38% year to date and nearly 25% over the past 12 months. Those could be indications that reaching $4 – Stantial’s price target – will be easier said than done.
Still, there are catalysts that could support further upside for the shares. Last month, Hoetzinger told investors Century will be buying back stock and while an exact amount of the operator’s repurchase plan wasn’t mentioned, the chief executive officer said it could be in the millions of dollars. That would be enough to noticeably reduce the company’s shares outstanding tally.
Century, which Stantial rates a “buy,” isn’t a risk-free bet, and like other regional operators, it could be pressured by the national economy. Even so, the stock is attractively valued.
“CNTY continues to face macro headwinds (labor and insurance cost inflation; softening low-income play), though valuation sits at the bottom end of peers with little credit in estimates for return on project capex or operational improvements to acquired assets,” notes the analyst.
Maybe Movement on Poland Sale
The issue of Century divesting its two-thirds interest in Casinos Poland has been discussed for several years and was delayed by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. There’s incremental momentum on a possible sale as Century is in early-stage talks with two interested parties, according to Stantial.
Poland Airports S.A., which owns the other 33% of the gaming venture, may be a more motivated seller than it was previously because it wants to raise cash to fund airport expansions. That could make it easier for Century to execute a deal in the country, which could clean up the outlook for the stock.
“We continue to forecast minimal balance sheet impact given the low-multiple nature of the Poland assets (likely <5x) and only 66.6% pro-rata ownership, though strategically we believe focusing on core North American markets should help simplify the thesis for U.S. investors and allow for streamlined operational focus,” concludes Stantial.
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