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    Mike Hickey

    Research Analyst at The Benchmark Company LLC

    Mike Hickey is an Equity Research Analyst at The Benchmark Company, specializing in the Entertainment, Digital Media, and Cannabis industries, with additional coverage across Communication Services, Consumer Cyclical, and Technology sectors. He has covered companies such as DraftKings, Roblox, Take-Two Interactive, Flutter Entertainment, Light & Wonder, Super Group, and Genius Sports, achieving a documented price target met ratio of over 61% and an average return of 18.21% on recommendations, with standout performance on stocks like Roblox. Hickey began his career as a research analyst at Janco Partners and National Alliance Securities before joining Benchmark, accumulating over sixteen years of industry experience. He holds an MBA from the University of Denver, a bachelor's degree in Finance from Colorado State University, and maintains FINRA registration with appropriate securities licenses.

    Mike Hickey's questions to Gambling.com Group (GAMB) leadership

    Mike Hickey's questions to Gambling.com Group (GAMB) leadership • Q2 2025

    Question

    Mike Hickey from The Benchmark Company LLC questioned the expected pace of traffic decay from AI's impact on search and the company's ability to offset it. He also asked if there were cost optimization synergies to be realized across the growing portfolio.

    Answer

    Co-Founder and CEO Charles Gillespie stated that much of the effect from AI on search has already been seen and that the company is successfully ramping up traffic from other channels to compensate. Regarding costs, he asserted that now is not the time for optimization. Instead, the company is in "investment mode," hiring and allocating capital to build new capabilities and capture growth opportunities.

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    Mike Hickey's questions to TAKE TWO INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE (TTWO) leadership

    Mike Hickey's questions to TAKE TWO INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE (TTWO) leadership • Q1 2026

    Question

    Mike Hickey from The Benchmark Company expressed concern about a potential economic slowdown and asked how it could impact Take-Two's business.

    Answer

    Chairman and CEO Strauss Zelnick shared his view of a likely 'soft landing' for the economy. He acknowledged that in tougher economic times, consumers become more selective, leading to a 'flight to quality.' He positioned Take-Two's long-standing strategy of focusing on creating the highest-quality entertainment as a key strength that should allow the company to perform well even in a more challenging macro environment.

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    Mike Hickey's questions to Super Group (SGHC) (SGHC) leadership

    Mike Hickey's questions to Super Group (SGHC) (SGHC) leadership • Q2 2025

    Question

    Mike Hickey of The Benchmark Company LLC commented on the impressive EBITDA margins and asked if a 30% margin is achievable long-term. He also requested a comparison of the company's success in Botswana versus its challenges in Nigeria, and whether Nigeria could become a growth driver by 2026.

    Answer

    CEO Neal Menashe stated that a 30% margin is possible with scale, but guided toward a 25-26% range as a more stable expectation. He attributed Botswana's success to having the right product and regulatory tailwinds, while acknowledging Nigeria is underperforming due to product issues. He expressed hope that with focused efforts, Nigeria could become a significant growth market for the company.

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    Mike Hickey's questions to Genius Sports (GENI) leadership

    Mike Hickey's questions to Genius Sports (GENI) leadership • Q2 2025

    Question

    Mike Hickey from The Benchmark Company LLC asked about the skill set sought in the new CFO, Brian Castellani, and how his background will benefit Genius. He also requested an update on in-game betting growth expectations for the upcoming NFL season and the potential for upside driven by BetVision.

    Answer

    Mark Locke (Co-Founder, CEO & Director) highlighted the new CFO's extensive media background at Warner, Disney, and ESPN, which aligns with the company's strategic focus and shift towards the US. Nicholas Taylor (CFO) addressed the in-game betting question, stating that while BetVision is at the vanguard of this product-led evolution, the current guidance remains relatively conservative, acknowledging that significant acceleration in adoption this season could present an upside to their forecast.

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    Mike Hickey's questions to National CineMedia (NCMI) leadership

    Mike Hickey's questions to National CineMedia (NCMI) leadership • Q2 2025

    Question

    Mike Hickey from The Benchmark Company LLC inquired if the strong Q3 guidance was driven by spillover from Q2 or new business, the reasons for recent traction in programmatic advertising, and how NCM plans to improve revenue visibility in a scatter-heavy market.

    Answer

    CFO Ronnie Ng clarified that the Q3 strength is primarily from new business, not Q2 spillover. CEO Thomas Lesinski added that programmatic is gaining traction because it taps into a large portion of ad budgets, attracting a significant number of new-to-NCM advertisers. To improve visibility, Lesinski highlighted the creation of a dedicated new business sales team and increased industry engagement through events like Cannes Lions.

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    Mike Hickey's questions to Sportradar Group (SRAD) leadership

    Mike Hickey's questions to Sportradar Group (SRAD) leadership • Q2 2025

    Question

    Mike Hickey asked for an update on the iGaming platform in Brazil and its scalability, and also sought a perspective on the overall health of the U.S. gaming market in Q2 and early Q3.

    Answer

    CEO Carsten Koerl detailed strong progress in Brazil, with integrations covering 50 of 70 licensed operators. He described Brazil as a test market for their "360-degree flywheel" connecting sports betting with iGaming. Regarding the U.S., he noted a continued strong adaptation and growth trend, and while careful about Q3 predictions, he suggested that early-season surprises could lead to stronger hold numbers for operators.

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    Mike Hickey's questions to PLAYSTUDIOS (MYPS) leadership

    Mike Hickey's questions to PLAYSTUDIOS (MYPS) leadership • Q2 2025

    Question

    Mike Hickey asked about management's view on state-level regulatory pressures against sweepstakes and how the company gets comfortable investing amid this risk. He also questioned the potential impact of user acquisition spending on near-term EBITDA and whether the company's balance sheet is strong enough to manage the transition.

    Answer

    Andrew Pascal, Co-Founder, Chairman, & CEO, stated that the company manages regulatory risk by assessing it on a state-by-state basis and dynamically allocating capital. He explained that while UA spending for sweepstakes will impact near-term EBITDA during its growth phase, it is a necessary investment to capture market share, targeting a 4-6 month return horizon. He affirmed that the company's strong cash position and debt-free balance sheet provide ample capital to aggressively fund both the sweepstakes and Tetris growth initiatives.

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    Mike Hickey's questions to ELECTRONIC ARTS (EA) leadership

    Mike Hickey's questions to ELECTRONIC ARTS (EA) leadership • Q1 2026

    Question

    Mike Hickey of The Benchmark Company asked for EA's perspective on the competitive landscape for Battlefield versus Call of Duty and whether a new casual soccer game poses a threat to EA SPORTS FC.

    Answer

    CEO Andrew Wilson expressed strong confidence in Battlefield's competitive positioning, stating it aligns with fan expectations. Regarding soccer competition, he welcomed it, saying it makes EA better, but feels very secure in FC's market position due to its extensive licenses, global reach, and development team strength.

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    Mike Hickey's questions to IMAX (IMAX) leadership

    Mike Hickey's questions to IMAX (IMAX) leadership • Q2 2025

    Question

    Mike Hickey of The Benchmark Company LLC asked about confidence in growing the global box office (GBO) in 2026 given the strong film slate visibility, and questioned if the current installation momentum is sustainable or merely pulling forward demand.

    Answer

    CEO Richard Gelfond expressed "incredible confidence" in 2026 growth, citing a nearly full slate of blockbusters. On installations, he stated it is both: exhibitors are accelerating installs for the upcoming slate, while a record pace of new signings is simultaneously replenishing the backlog, ensuring continued momentum.

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    Mike Hickey's questions to Cinemark Holdings (CNK) leadership

    Mike Hickey's questions to Cinemark Holdings (CNK) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Mike Hickey asked for the performance outlook for Latin America over the next few years and how the company plans to maximize the value of its Movie Club loyalty program.

    Answer

    CEO Sean Gamble expressed a positive outlook for Latin America, noting its recovery is pacing ahead of the U.S. due to strong consumer moviegoing behavior. Regarding Movie Club, he described it as a critical tool that drives loyalty, increases moviegoing frequency and concession spend, and enhances guest satisfaction through value and personalization. He confirmed the program continues to grow at a healthy pace, now representing 25% of domestic box office.

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    Mike Hickey's questions to ESPORTS ENTERTAINMENT GROUP (GMBL) leadership

    Mike Hickey's questions to ESPORTS ENTERTAINMENT GROUP (GMBL) leadership • Q1 2022

    Question

    Mike Hickey of The Benchmark Company questioned the revenue level required to achieve the company's target of positive adjusted EBITDA in Q4. He also sought more details on the market opportunity for the LANduel product and the user acquisition and LTV dynamics of cross-selling sportsbook offerings to the Lucky Dino casino player base.

    Answer

    CFO Dan Marks estimated that a quarterly revenue run-rate in the low-to-mid $30 million range would be needed to reach positive adjusted EBITDA in Q4. CEO Grant Johnson described LANduel as a skill-based betting product with strong interest from traditional casinos. Regarding cross-selling, Johnson and Marks highlighted the minimal acquisition cost and the potential for a cross-sold customer to be worth up to two times more in ARPU, citing the successful conversion of 40-45% of SportNation sportsbook players to casino.

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    Mike Hickey's questions to ESPORTS ENTERTAINMENT GROUP (GMBL) leadership • Q4 2021

    Question

    Mike Hickey from Benchmark Company asked for an update on the total addressable market (TAM) for U.S. esports, the company's perspective on the opportunity, and the status of the LANduel platform.

    Answer

    CEO & Chairman Grant Johnson estimated the company's total addressable market across iGaming and esports to be approximately $170-$180 billion. He noted that partnerships with pro sports teams allow them to target the broader gamer demographic, not just esports fans. He also confirmed that the LANduel software is complete and awaiting final approval for an inaugural launch event in Atlantic City.

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