TIckers: LVS, MPEL, PENN, GLPI, H
EVENTS
- Nov 10
- CZR Q3 earnings 4:30 pm , pin 20797507
- SNOW FYQ1 earnings 5pm
- Nov 11
- Galaxy Entertainment Q3 earnings: 3:15am
- Genting Singapore Q3 earnings: 5am
- Stations Casino Q3 earnings: 4:30pm
- Nov 13-16
- Macau Grand Prix
- Hedgeye Cruise Pricing Survey
- Nov 16-18
- Quantum of the Seas investor event
- Nov 18
-
- 2nd Philly License decision
COMPANY NEWS
LVS/GENTING – Singapore Casinos Impacted by VIP Fall – Sheldon Adelson has accused Genting's RWS of relying on overly generous incentives and credit to entice big money players. Around half of that VIP business comes from customers from China, which is in the midst of an economic slowdown, while a crackdown on graft now in its second year is making it harder for wealthy Chinese to take money out of the country and discouraging conspicuous consumption. Visitors from China were down 30% to 871,000 in the first half of 2014, according to Singapore's tourism board.
http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSL3N0SJ4IF20141109?irpc=932
Takeaway: Whether they are or are not buying the business, we believe Genting's VIP business remains in better shape than MBS's.
CWN:AU – James Packer announced London banker Robert Rankin, currently Deutsche Bank’s co-head of corporate banking and securities and head of corporate finance, will become co-chairman of the publicly-listed Crown Resorts and chief executive of Mr Packer’s private investment company, Consolidated Press Holdings.
Takeaway: Mr. Packer hiring a key banker. Could a bigger strategic move be in Mr. Packer's future?
MCP:PM & MPEL – Melco Crown Resorts Corp (Philippines), which in December will soft open City of Dreams Manila, hired nearly 2,200 workers in the third quarter of 2014. The increase in pre-opening costs was mainly attributable to increase in staff costs by PHP1.3 billion, “which was in line with the increase in headcount,” said Melco Crown Philippines.
http://www.ggrasia.com/melco-crown-philippines-costs-spike-on-recruitment/
Takeaway: Labor costs will be scrutinized once the property soft opens in December
PENN & GLPI – Judge Eliza Ovrom ruled Friday the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission acted within its authority when it granted a state gaming license to the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City. In her 25-page ruling Friday, Ovrom dismissed all of Belle's claims, saying the company failed to prove the IRGC made errors or abused its broad discretionary powers to regulate legalized gaming in the state.
Takeaway: While this would appear to be the end of the judicial process, something tells me PENN is not finished appealing their case.
H – announced it acquired its partners’ 92% interest in the 491-room Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa in Austin/Bastrop, Texas, for approximately $143 million. The Company also assumed approximately $65 million of property-level debt. The total price, inclusive of debt, implies a valuation of approximately $450,000 per key. The transaction closed on November 6.
Takeaway: Would appear a fair price, We believe near 14x EBITDA, given hotel's quoted ADRs of $260-$380/night and 491 guest rooms, more than 60,000 square feet of indoor meeting space and over 240,000 square feet of outdoor function space with pavilions and an amphitheater.
Insider Transactions:
BEE – CFO Diane M. Morefield sold 100,000 shares of the company’s stock on Friday, November 7 at an average price of $12.59 and now directly owns 83,074 shares.
BEE – COO Richard J. Moreau sold 76,424 shares of the company's stock on Thursday, November 6 at an average price of $12.64 and now directly owns 125,866 shares.
Takeaway: Despite telling us and other shareholders their equity is undervalued during meeting at NAREIT, insiders are selling.
HT – President Neil Shah sold 500,000 shares of stock on November 6 and 7, at at an average price of $7.34 and now directly owns 1,988,742 shares.
LVS – EVP Ira H. Raphaelson sold 8,815 shares of the stock on Monday, November 3 at an average price of $62.35 and now directly owns 12,185 shares
Takeaway: It’s purely a tax sale. Shares sold to pay taxes in connection with the vesting of restricted stock units (21k shares) granted under the Issuer's 2004 Equity Award Plan
INDUSTRY NEWS
Japan Tables Gaming Legislation – Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party dropped plans to pass a bill to legalize the principle of casinos in the country in the current parliamentary session. The decision was mainly due to lack of time for deliberation as the current session of the Diet ends on November 30 due in also in part to the resignation of two Cabinet ministers in October.
http://www.ggrasia.com/japans-ruling-parties-shelve-vote-on-casino-enabling-bill/
Takeaway: Already well telegraphed
Macau Junket Operators Selling Their Flats – Property agents have noted a recent cooling down in property investment sentiment in Macau with cases of VIP gaming promoters offloading their luxury flats at discounted prices to cash up. Ricacorp Properties Ltd and Greatest Properties Ltd indicated they have observed “a few” cases of VIP gaming promoters offloading their luxury flats – mostly secondhand unfurnished flats in Cotai and the northern Macau Peninsula - with some offering up to 10% discount on the sale price.
http://macaubusinessdaily.com/Property/Cash-king
Takeaway: Possibly a signal that the tough times have legs
Macau International Airport Traffic – handled over 460,000 passengers in October, +12% YoY. The growth in airport passengers in October was partly boosted by the traffic brought by China’s National Day holiday in the first week of the month, for which CAM noted that the airport handled a total of 74,000 passengers from October 1-5, an increase of 17% compared to the same period last year. Macau International Airport Co Ltd says the number of takeoffs and landings the airport handled also rose by 12%, to about 4,600.
http://macaubusinessdaily.com/Business/and-away
Takeaway: At least the airport is doing well
Cyprus Set to Submit Casino Legislation – A draft law that seeks to open Cyprus’ first integrated casino resort is due to be submitted to the Cabinet before the end of November. Minister of Energy George Lakkotrypis confirmed that a discussion launched last month with political parties and government bodies over the creation of a casino has been completed. The main casino is required to house at least 500 rooms, 100 gaming tables and 1,000 slot machines, and the operator will be able to select the district to build the resort. The annual fee to the state is €2.5m for the first four years, increasing to €5m for years four to eight, after which the rate may be reviewed by the Cyprus Gaming and Casino Supervision Authority. In addition, the operator will be taxed a further 15pc of gross gaming revenue every month.
http://www.innovategaming.com/cyprus-casino-law
Takeaway: Not likely to draw interest from U.S. based gaming operators due to the islands unstable political environment.
Atlantic City to Lose United AIrlines – United Airlines has announced it will end flights to Atlantic City from its Chicago and Houston hubs effective Dec. 3.
Takeaway: Could Spirit Airlines move to increase service to Atlantic City with United Airlines departure?
Revel's $32 Million Real Estate Tax Bill – Judge Gloria Burns ruled Atlantic City could pursue a $32 million unpaid 2014 tax debt. The most likely manner for it to be paid is when Toronto-based Brookfield Asset Management completes its $110 million purchase of the casino from bankruptcy court. City Attorney Jason Holt said a portion of the proceeds from the sale would be set aside in an escrow account to settle the tax debt. If the deal does not close before early December, the city could sell a tax sale certificate, in which an investor in effect buys a lien against the property and pays the taxes due on it. The investor gets paid when the property owner pays off the tax debt; if that doesn't happen, the investor can foreclose in two years.
http://www.newsday.com/news/region-state/judge-lets-atlantic-city-seek-32m-revel-tax-bill-1.9595952
Takeaway: The true cost of ownership is quickly rising beyond the $110 million purchase price.
Mohegan Sun Considers Expansion – Kevin Brown, Chairman of the Mohegan Tribal Council, the tribal management board that oversees the Mohegan Sun Casino in Montville said he welcomes an overture made by the Deputy Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives about expanding casino gaming operations in Connecticut. While Brown said it would be premature to identify any sites that the Mohegan Tribal Council might be interested in considering, he acknowledged that with one of the three casino gaming locations in Massachusetts being built in Springfield, it would make sense to consider a location in the northern part of Connecticut.
Takeaway: Increased competition and further cannibalization - when will gaming operators learn more boxes isn't the answer?
Port of Vancouver – Port Metro Vancouver’s 2014 Alaska cruise season ended in October with strong numbers on par with the 2013 season. The 2014 season saw 812,095 passengers on 243 calls by 29 cruise ships. In Vancouver, the cruise business generates approximately 283,000 hotel night stays, and over 440,000 in British Columbia, generating some 6,000 direct and indirect jobs. Predictions for the 2015 cruise season estimate ship call and passenger numbers to be similar to 2014.
http://en.portnews.ru/news/190143/
Takeaway: Alaska has made a nice recovery after a subpar start to 2014 summer. Early indications show 2015 Alaskan business should grow as well.
MACRO
China Economic Data
Trade balance $45.41B vs $42.5B consensus and $31B in September
Exports +11.6% y/y vs +10.5% consensus and +15.3% in September
Imports +4.6% y/y vs +5.0% consensus and +7.0% in September
CPI +1.6% y/y vs +1.6% consensus and +1.8% in September
PPI (2.2%) y/y vs (2.0%) consensus and (1.8%) in September
Hedgeye Macro Team remains negative Europe, their bottom-up, qualitative analysis (Growth/Inflation/Policy framework) indicates that the Eurozone is setting up to enter the ugly Quad4 in Q4 (equating to growth decelerates and inflation decelerates) = Europe Slowing.
Takeaway: We're seeing bottoms up slowing in Europe cruise pricing in our monthly survey. Europe has been a tailwind for CCL and RCL but a negative pivot here looks increasingly likely. Following CCL's earnings release, we recently turned negative on those stocks based on the negative European thesis.
Hedgeye Macro Team remains negative on consumer spending and believes in muted inflation, a Quad4 set-up. Following a great call on rising housing prices, the Hedgeye Macro/Financials team is decidedly less positive.
Takeaway: We’ve found housing prices to be the single most significant factor in driving gaming revenues over the past 20 years in virtually all gaming markets across the US.
