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Published Monday, Oct. 25, 2010 | 6:47 a.m.
Updated Monday, Oct. 25, 2010 | 12:46 p.m.
Boyd Gaming Financial Information
| 3Q 2010 | 3Q 2009 | % Change | 2Q 2010 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $595.4 million | $620.8 million | -4.1% | $578.5 million |
| Net income | $5.6 million | $6.3 million | - 11 percent | $3.4 million |
| Net income per share | 6 cents | 7 cents | - 14 percent | 4 cents |
Sun Coverage
Boyd Gaming Corp. of Las Vegas today reported continued declines in revenue in the Las Vegas area, hard hit by the recession, and also said it's turning down an offer to buy the 50 percent of the Borgata resort in Atlantic City it does not already own.
"Given other opportunities and our current focus on deleveraging our balance sheet, the current offer would not provide a sufficient return on investment for our shareholders. Despite this decision, we are confident in the future of Borgata. The property represents a major investment by Boyd Gaming, and it has delivered substantial value for our shareholders. We remain comfortable with our current position as managing member and 50 percent owner of Borgata, the region's premier destination resort," Boyd said of the Borgata decision.
MGM Resorts International of Las Vegas has received an offer for its share of Borgata and Boyd had the right of first refusal. Bloomberg has reported the offer yielding $250 million for MGM Resorts came from buyout firm Leonard Green & Partners.
For its part, MGM Resorts said in a statement today it now intends to pursue negotiations with the original bidder.
Also, for the third quarter, Boyd reported net income of $5.6 million, or 6 cents per share, compared to net income of $6.3 million, or 7 cents per share, in the same period last year.
Net revenue companywide of $595.4 million fell 4.1 percent.
Investors seemed encouraged by the developments, including year-to-year comparisons improving in the third quarter and projections that results in the fourth quarter would show the best year-to-year comparisons of 2010.
Boyd stock traded at $8.42 in midday trading, up 43 cents or 5.38 percent.
In the Las Vegas locals market, third quarter 2010 net revenue of $145.6 million was down from $150.7 million. Adjusted EBITDA was $26.1 million, versus $31.4 million in the same quarter of 2009 for the locals casinos including Sam's Town, the Orleans, Gold Coast, Suncoast, El Dorado and Joker's Wild, which combined have some 10,390 slot machines. EBITDA is a profitability measure meaning earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.
"Although spend-per-visit was lower, visitation to our Las Vegas locals properties remained strong," Boyd said in today's report.
Unemployment has been running at 15 percent in the Las Vegas area.
Downtown Las Vegas properties, with a big base of Hawaiian visitors, generated net revenue of $51.9 million for the third quarter, compared to $54.9 million in the third quarter of 2009. Boyd said it increased market share downtown by better than 3 percentage points, but adjusted EBITDA there was $5.7 million, down from $8.7 million in the third quarter of 2009.
"Results reflect lower spend-per-visit, combined with lower ticket prices and increased fuel costs associated with our Hawaiian charter business. There is evidence of a strengthening recovery in Hawaii's tourism economy, which bodes well for our Hawaiian visitation," Boyd said.
Despite the locals market difficulties in Las Vegas, Boyd said it increased its Las Vegas locals' market share by a percentage point in the three months ending in August.
CEO Keith Smith said during a conference call with analysts that it's a misperception that the housing and employment situations must significantly improve before the Las Vegas locals market shows meaningful improvement.
Rather, a boost in consumer confidence would lead to increases in spending at Boyd's casinos and just an incremental increase in spending would boost profits as Boyd keeps costs in check, executives said.
In addition, despite high employment locally, there are signs of improvement in Las Vegas including improvements in gaming win and convention attendance, Smith said.
These signs have Boyd bullish on Las Vegas in the long run and the company -- which gave up on efforts to acquire competitor Station Casinos Inc. out of bankruptcy -- would be interested in a Las Vegas acquisition should the right deal come along, Smith said.
While noting "it's clear this recovery will be a slow process," Smith said: "It appears Las Vegas is beginning its own recovery."
Elsewhere around the country for Boyd, its Midwest and southern casinos posted $188.7 million in net revenue for the third quarter of 2010, down from $190.9 million for the same period in 2009.
Borgata's net revenue for the third quarter was $207.7 million, versus $222.6 million in the third quarter of 2009, as the casino played unlucky during the most recent third quarter when table games players won about $9 million more than usual.
This seems like a wise decision by Boyd Gaming. Keeping themselves afloat while the recession runs its course is paramount, whereas purchasing new ventures would be foolhardy. They were lucky in my opinion that they lost out in their bid to buy the bulk of Stations Casinos.
Too bad they could not find a buyer with deep pockets who would do something about the Echelon skeleton, which vies with the Fountainebleu for recognition as the biggest eyesore on the Strip.
Boyd should sell their interest because Atlantic City is not coming back with competition from PA and Conn!
Wise decision by Boyd Gaming to decline the 50% purchase. This is an opportunity for another gaming company, or investor, to purchase MGM's 50% interest which will greatly reduce Boyd's risk and allow a new investor to infuse cash into the Atlantic City gaming market. This will help Boyd Gaming to share the risk, and allow a new partner to take advantage of Boyd's expertise and management.
Good move by Boyd Gaming. This will creat additional capital investment for Borgata Resort and Atlantic City.
I agree as well that this is a good move by Boyd. Chazbean is also right, Boyd should try and sell out of AC and focus on Vegas.
Au contrare, RobRBarron and Chazbean. I think gaming companies should diversify and become better explosed to new and growing venues. Las Vegas and Atlantic City will continue to see declining revenues due to this expansion. Boyd should remain in Atlantic City and minimize its exposure in Las Vegas. Boyd is over exposed to the locals gaming market and the Las Vegas locals market will continue to see depressed numbers until the unemployment figure moves down significantly. A move not forecast in the immediate future.
I got some weird emailed survey from Boyd, even though I haven't been there for 4 years. The survey asked my about my latest visit. Then I got an email saying to disregard the survey from the survey company.
Looks like they are a clown college out there. Why don't they finish the Echelon or what ever it is called.
"Only Trusted Comments are displayed on this page"
Yet all the commentators are unverified, you do not see their real name posted. Nice to see LV Sun has already adopted a double standard.
Agreed. A good move by Boyd.
Could these mean they will be re-starting the Echelon sooner than expected?
For perspective ... I'm halfway between NYC and Atlantic City. The Borgata has been our casino of choice the last several years. (We'll be staying comped at Aria, Wynn & Bellagio early next month.)
For better or worse, the Borg is the class of AC right now. Has been since it opened. I'm sorry the MGM Grand decided to chase the Chinese market, and from our time over in China would have to say this is far riskier than most people realize. (To put it simply: there will not be a casino within 500 miles of Beijing or Shanghai in our lifetimes. Macao is it. 'Nuff said.)
So: is it right for Boyd Gaming to pass on the first-refusal opportunity? Gee, I think they could at least sell that to someone of their own liking. This outside, inexperienced group is looking to come in, "clean house", and make things so unpleasant that a management LBO is by far the most likely scenario ... after the economy recovers and after they empty the till. Dig up some old stories about the fall of the AC Tropicana if you want to be spooked for Halloween. :)
I don't think prospects for all of AC are good; I see 4-5 properties closing in the next 5 years. But those are mostly the ones leveraged to the hilt which haven't gotten more than a coat of paint since opening in 1980. Borgata, and the Bank of China-financed Revell (which has yet to open), are the strong players there. (Both Trump and Harrah's organizations remain in free-fall, like a glacier calving from the Antarctic subcontinent.)
But we've seen most of the competition in PA and NY. It takes more than throwing up a shell and turning the power on to a few thousand video slots to make a gaming destination.
Atlantic City is a Dump. They never cleaned up more than two blocks from the beach and you drive through an unsafe looking area on the way to the Marina. They send out free play like cotton candy, however who wants to play at a place that is Dirty, Overpriced and Boring.
The coment that AC is a dump is really not a complete description.There is sections of AC that is not safe, Just like Vegas. AC ha a great number of bus visitors evey day that is a good source of Income. Ac has a top rated beach. and Boardwalk. There comps are very much greater then Vegas. The shows in Vegas are to costly. Plane fares to Vegas are outrageous.The easy drive from NY City is a advantage that surpasses Vegas nearby Cities.
No one is bullish on Atlantic City. It comes as no great surprise that Boyd is looking to hedge its bet on the Borgata. The slots in Pennsylvania appear to be too much to overcome for Atlantic City