We looked at the relationship between gaming operator and supplier stocks over the past 10 years. As one would expect, the relationship was strong. Interestingly, the strongest relationship was gaming operator stocks driving supplier stocks on a six month lag.
Intuitively, this makes sense. When business is bad, cash flows decline, liquidity is a more pressing need, and suppliers cut back on slot capex. Operators do not immediately cut back on slot capex when their business turns down, nor do they immediately communicate to the suppliers that they are cutting back. Hence, the lag.
This relationship could be tested in the coming quarters. As discussed in my post “CAPEX, COVENANTS, AND CORPORATE CONTROL”, I expect corporate managements of the operators to direct slot capex lower in the first half of 2009 due to liquidity issues. Even if gaming trends improve sequentially, I anticipate slot purchases to be pushed back into the second half of the year.
Intuitively, this makes sense. When business is bad, cash flows decline, liquidity is a more pressing need, and suppliers cut back on slot capex. Operators do not immediately cut back on slot capex when their business turns down, nor do they immediately communicate to the suppliers that they are cutting back. Hence, the lag.
This relationship could be tested in the coming quarters. As discussed in my post “CAPEX, COVENANTS, AND CORPORATE CONTROL”, I expect corporate managements of the operators to direct slot capex lower in the first half of 2009 due to liquidity issues. Even if gaming trends improve sequentially, I anticipate slot purchases to be pushed back into the second half of the year.
Most significantl statistical relationship is a 6 month lag
