Macau has been the center of attention for all the casino resort players since it’s the biggest gambling destination and the only one in China. Each player is trying his hands in the region, making the competition quite stiff. However, due to economic slowdown and restricted spending by the customers, casino companies such as Wynn Resorts (WYNN, Financial) are having a tough time. Wynn’s first quarter results were hampered by its operations in Macau. Lower footfall in its casinos in Macau played a major role in dragging down revenue, which was luckily offset by the stellar performance of its Las Vegas operations.
On the other hand, Las Vegas Sands (LVS, Financial) has been witnessing great results from its Macau operations. Its results in the region are getting better with each passing day, leading to increasing market share. All thanks to its rigorous efforts to outperform its competitors. This was affirmed by its first quarter results posted last week. Though the results were not as expected, a prudent investor will be able to foresee significant opportunities to cash in on.
The quarter in details
Revenue grew 11.7% to $3.62 billion over last year, driven by increasing revenue from casino resorts in Macau, which constitutes 60% of Las Vegas Sands’ total profits. Though revenue from VIP tables shrunk, Las Vegas Sands’ new resort, which made its debut some time back, compensated easily. However, the key reason for the drop in revenue from VIP tables was because of restrictions on VIP gamblers and because of the football World Cup, which took away bettors’ attention.
Further, the new resort caters to the mass market, which includes the middle class tourists which boosted its performance. This was indeed a smart move by the casino resort operator since it diversifies its risk by catering to a large variety of populations.
Also, the company’s Singapore business was a bright spot, as revenue grew 8.8% over last year. Key reasons for the same were increase in revenue from casino and rooms as RevPAR increased 14%. Also, revenue from food and beverage were higher, which helped in driving results higher.
Las Vegas Sands was also very active on the marketing front, which is expected to gradually bear fruits. For example, its marketing strategies in Singapore, such as adding more shows and sales representatives to its casinos, will help boost its results further.
Opportunities Galore…
The casino chain operator is up for a number of moves that can prove to be beneficial. For example, along with increased marketing efforts in Singapore it plans to open a new mall in Macau. Macau is the largest and the most profitable market, and the company is trying to make the most of it.
It plans to expand further in the region by opening its fifth resort, called “The Parisian,” which will again cater to the huge middle class population. Expanding in this segment is better since the high-end segment is very small in size and highly dependent on the economy.
The company also plans to further expand its wings internationally, with a main focus on the Asian region. It intends to expand in countries such as Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, where it foresees great opportunities.
However, Las Vegas is not alone in its expansion moves. Its competitors, such as Wynn Resorts and MGM Resorts (MGM, Financial), are also planning to increase its footprint, especially in the popular Macau region. Not only Wynn Resorts but also MGM Resorts is planning to open another casino resort in Macau. Even MGM is facing difficult times because of weakness in the Asian region. It posted lackluster quarterly numbers owing to lower revenue from Las Vegas and Asian operations. However, it is doing well in China. Hence, it is intended to expand in the region.
The Bottom Line
Las Vegas Sands is the strongest player among its peers and is expected to continue to do well, given the strategic moves planned for the future. Its new Cotai resorts for the lower income group and greater promotional efforts will drive revenue and margins further. After the success achieved in the existing regions it plans to conquer the international markets further, which makes its future look brighter. I think investors should not ignore this growing gambler.
