MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM) may be one of the more conspicuous real-time indicators of the economy's bifurcated nature. While many investors are praising the stunning rise of the equities market overall — thanks mostly to artificial intelligence and similar innovations — consumers on the ground are clearly facing steep challenges. That may be one of the reasons why MGM stock responded disappointingly to the latest earnings report. Still, there may be a silver lining to consider.
To be fair, MGM's third-quarter disclosure wasn't universally stellar, with the company delivering adjusted earnings per share of 24 cents, thereby missing Wall Street analysts' consensus target of 40 cents. However, the key metric that arguably should have been the focus was the top line, where revenue of $4.25 billion beat expectations calling for $4.23 billion. Moreover, this figure represented a 2% lift against the year-ago quarter.
