Core Insights - HG Vora Capital Management has fully exited its position in Boyd Gaming Corporation, liquidating 500,000 shares valued at approximately $39.1 million in the third quarter [2][6] - Boyd Gaming's stock price as of the latest report is $79.78, reflecting a 9% increase over the past year, but underperforming the S&P 500's 14% gain during the same period [3][4] - The company's revenue for the trailing twelve months (TTM) stands at $4.1 billion, with a net income of $1.9 billion [4] Company Performance - Boyd Gaming's revenue increased to $1 billion, but adjusted EBITDAR decreased to $321.8 million from $336.6 million, indicating mixed profitability [8] - The company experienced a one-time gain of $1.4 billion from the FanDuel sale, which boosted GAAP net income, but underlying trends show a decline in online and room revenues [8][9] - Despite the challenges, Boyd Gaming maintains a solid fundamental position with disciplined capital returns and strong regional momentum [9] Investment Strategy - The liquidation of Boyd Gaming shares, along with similar actions regarding other leisure companies, suggests that HG Vora Capital Management sees limited upside potential in these investments [6] - The fund's strategy focuses on discounted, cash-generative businesses, indicating a potential shift in capital allocation towards more promising opportunities [6]

Joining me now to discuss is Chad Banan who's the senior gaming, lodging, and theaters analyst at Mcquaryy. Uh this was expected because we knew they had partnered with CME Group. But the announcement that they're launching in December and have said we're all in on sports betting where we're not already operating legal sports book is maybe somewhat of a surprise because there's been some reticence.State uh regulators have said in Nevada for instance, if you do this, we're not going to give you a gaming lice ...

Core Insights - The announcement of launching sports betting in December by Flutter and DraftKings indicates a strong commitment to the market, despite previous hesitations from regulators in states like Nevada [1][3]. Industry Overview - The gaming and sports betting industry is facing challenges, with Flutter and DraftKings experiencing a decline of over 30% since their highs in August [2]. - Predictions in the market are viewed as a potential existential threat by traditional land-based companies like Caesars and MGM, leading to withdrawals from states like Nevada [3]. Company Strategies - Flutter aims to secure a top three position in the sports betting market and is looking to influence policymakers to legalize sports betting in states where it is currently not permitted, which accounts for about 40% of the U.S. [5]. - The company is also focusing on engaging with tribal entities to facilitate discussions on sports betting in California, which could have significant implications for the market [5]. Market Dynamics - The current market environment has seen favorable outcomes for fans, with the house losing in NFL betting this fall, but prediction markets are dominating the conversation [6]. - Despite the sell-off, the overall estimates for the next year have only shifted by about 5%, indicating stability in the market [7]. Future Outlook - The hold rate for sportsbooks is expected to improve, and upcoming events like the World Cup could provide additional opportunities for growth [8]. - Wage growth in sports leagues such as the NFL and NBA remains strong, which could positively impact betting activities [8].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - IAC reported a 9% digital revenue growth in Q3, marking the eighth consecutive quarter of growth, with strong performance in licensing and performance marketing [16][31] - Digital-adjusted EBITDA grew 9% pro forma to $72 million, with 27% margins, and overall adjusted EBITDA reached $75 million, exceeding previous guidance [31][32] - The company has a cash balance exceeding $1 billion, which will be enhanced by the sale of non-core assets [14][32] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - People Inc. achieved a 9% growth in digital revenue, driven by its iconic brands and diversified revenue sources [16][31] - The print division saw a 10% decline in adjusted EBITDA and a 15% revenue decline, which was considered acceptable by management [32] - Off-platform audience growth accelerated by 66% year-over-year, contributing significantly to revenue [24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Google Search traffic as a source for core brands dropped from 54% two years ago to 24% in the latest quarter, but overall audience scale was maintained [22] - Ad revenue declined by 3% due to volume-related issues, with expectations for recovery in Q4 [23] Company Strategy and Development Direction - IAC aims to streamline its assets, focusing on People Inc. and MGM, while divesting non-core holdings [5][7] - The strategy includes reimagining People Inc. from a defensive to an offensive position, leveraging its brands to create new business opportunities [6][9] - MGM is viewed as a hedge against disintermediation, with a strong position in Las Vegas and plans to increase ownership [10][14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the future, citing strong performance in digital revenue and audience engagement [16][29] - The macroeconomic environment is stable for higher-end consumers, while pressures exist in the lower-end market [66] - Management expects continued growth in digital revenue and profitability despite challenges from Google [23][32] Other Important Information - The company laid off about 6% of its workforce to free up capital for investments [29] - IAC has entered into a partnership with Microsoft for a publisher content marketplace, indicating a proactive approach to monetizing content in the AI landscape [25][26] Q&A Session Summary Question: Thoughts on MGM's valuation and investor interest - Management believes owning MGM through IAC offers additional value and optionality, despite the current market discount [39][44] Question: Update on one-time expenses - Management indicated that significant one-time expenses have been cleaned up, with a clear path forward for profitability [40][45] Question: State of the business and Google litigation update - Management expressed confidence in the business's future, highlighting the importance of recent deals and the potential for significant damages from the Google litigation [52][58] Question: Macro environment insights - The macro environment is stable for higher-end consumers, with some pressures noted in the corporate benefit sector [66] Question: Capital allocation strategy - Management emphasized a focus on opportunistic stock buybacks rather than pursuing high-priced acquisitions [72][74]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - IAC reported a 9% digital revenue growth in Q3, marking the eighth consecutive quarter of growth [16][31] - Digital-adjusted EBITDA grew 9% pro forma to $72 million, with margins at 27% [31][32] - The company expects digital revenue growth in the range of 7%-10% for Q4 and adjusted EBITDA guidance for the year has been slightly lowered to $325 million-$340 million [32][33] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - People Inc. achieved a 9% growth in digital revenue, driven by strong performance in licensing and performance marketing [16][31] - The print division saw a 10% decline in adjusted EBITDA and a 15% revenue decline, which was considered acceptable by management [31] - Off-platform audience growth accelerated by 66% year-over-year, contributing significantly to revenue [24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Google Search traffic as a source for core brands decreased from 54% two years ago to 24% in the latest quarter, indicating a shift in traffic sources [22] - Despite challenges from Google, overall audience growth has been maintained, with other traffic sources increasing [22][23] Company Strategy and Development Direction - IAC aims to focus on People Inc. and MGM, divesting non-core assets and reducing overhead [5][6] - The strategy includes reimagining People Inc. from a defensive to an offensive position, leveraging its strong brand portfolio [7][8] - MGM is viewed as a hedge against disintermediation, with a strong position in the Las Vegas market [10][11] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the future, citing strong audience engagement and the potential for new business ventures [16][29] - The macroeconomic environment is seen as stable for higher-end consumers, while pressures exist in lower-end markets [66][67] - Management is cautious about asset pricing and intends to focus on share repurchases rather than high-priced acquisitions [15][75] Other Important Information - The company laid off about 6% of its workforce to free up capital for investments [29] - IAC has a cash balance of over $1 billion, which will be enhanced by selling non-core assets [14] Q&A Session Summary Question: Thoughts on MGM's valuation and investor interest - Management believes owning MGM through IAC offers a better value proposition than buying MGM directly, highlighting the combined potential of both assets [39][44] Question: Update on one-time expenses - Management indicated that significant one-time expenses have been cleaned up, and they do not expect further large one-time charges going forward [40][45] Question: State of the business and future outlook - Management expressed confidence in the business's future, citing the Microsoft AI deal and the Feedfeed acquisition as positive indicators [52][56] Question: Macro environment insights - The macro environment is stable for higher-end consumers, with some pressures noted in the corporate benefit sector [66][67] Question: Capital allocation strategy - Management emphasized a focus on opportunistic share buybacks rather than pursuing high-priced acquisitions [75]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - IAC reported a 9% digital revenue growth in Q3 2025, marking the eighth consecutive quarter of growth, with strong performance in licensing and performance marketing offsetting a decline in advertising revenue [23][44] - Digital adjusted EBITDA grew 9% to $72 million, with margins at 27% and incremental margins at 26% [24][46] - The company expects digital revenue growth in the range of 7% to 10% for Q4 2025, with adjusted EBITDA guidance for the year slightly lowered to $325 million to $340 million [47] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - People Inc. is the core asset, with a focus on diversifying revenue sources and audience growth, achieving significant traction in off-platform audience growth, which accelerated by 66% year-over-year [35][24] - The print division saw a 10% decline in adjusted EBITDA and a 15% revenue decline, which was considered acceptable by management [46] - The emerging and other segments reported a negative $20 million EBITDA due to legal expenses, but the rest of the segment remains profitable [49] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Google search traffic as a source for core brands decreased from 54% two years ago to 24% in the latest quarter, but overall audience scale has been maintained [32] - Ad revenue declined by 3% in Q3, primarily due to volume-related issues rather than rate-related [33] - Off-platform revenue, which is the fastest-growing revenue stream, accounted for over a third of the quarter's revenue [35] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to streamline its assets and reduce overhead, focusing on People Inc. and MGM as core components of its strategy [6][5] - IAC plans to divest non-core holdings and increase share repurchases, with a total of $300 million in shares bought back year-to-date [20][50] - The management is optimistic about evolving People Inc. into a more proactive business model, leveraging its iconic brands and exploring new business opportunities [13][41] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate challenges posed by Google and the broader market, emphasizing a strong relationship with audiences and advertisers [70][72] - The macroeconomic environment is perceived as stable for middle and upper segments, while some pressures exist in lower segments, particularly in corporate spending [80][81] - The company is optimistic about future growth, particularly in off-platform revenue and new initiatives like the Microsoft AI deal [68][39] Other Important Information - The company laid off about 6% of its workforce to free up capital for investments and maintain profitability goals [42] - IAC's cash balances exceed $1 billion, which will be enhanced by selling non-core assets [20] Q&A Session Summary Question: Thoughts on MGM's valuation and investor interest - Management believes that owning MGM through IAC offers a cheaper entry point and that the combined assets provide additional value [53][60] Question: Onetime expense cleanup in Q3 - Management indicated that significant cleanup has occurred, with no expectation of large one-time charges continuing in the future [60][61] Question: Update on People Inc. and Google litigation - Management expressed confidence in the future of People Inc. and highlighted the ongoing litigation against Google, seeking significant damages [73][75] Question: Macro environment and capital allocation - The macro environment is stable, with a focus on stock buybacks and cautious approach to acquisitions due to high prices [80][87] Question: Corporate costs trajectory - Corporate costs are expected to decrease as the company continues to rationalize its operations [113]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - IAC reported a 9% digital revenue growth in Q3, marking the eighth consecutive quarter of growth, with strong performance in licensing and performance marketing [13][14] - Digital-adjusted EBITDA grew 9% pro forma to $72 million, with 27% margins, and the company expects digital revenue growth in the 7%-10% range for Q4 [30][31] - The company has a cash balance exceeding $1 billion, which will be enhanced by selling non-core assets [11][12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - People Inc. achieved a digital revenue growth of 9% in Q3, driven by its iconic portfolio of brands and strong audience engagement [14][15] - The print division saw a 15% revenue decline, but adjusted EBITDA only declined by 10%, indicating effective cost management [30] - Off-platform audience growth accelerated by 66% year-over-year, contributing significantly to revenue [22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Google Search traffic as a source for core brands dropped from 54% two years ago to 24% in the latest quarter, but overall audience scale has been maintained [19][20] - Ad revenue declined by 3% in Q3, primarily due to volume-related issues rather than rate-related [21] - The macro environment appears solid for middle and upper-end consumers, while pressures are noted in the lower-end market [46][47] Company Strategy and Development Direction - IAC aims to streamline its assets, focusing on People and MGM, while divesting non-core holdings and reducing overhead [4][5] - The company is reimagining People Inc. to transition from a defensive to an offensive strategy, leveraging its brands to create new business opportunities [5][6] - MGM is viewed as a hedge against disintermediation, with a strong position in Las Vegas and a focus on digital opportunities [8][9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the future of People Inc. and MGM, highlighting the potential for growth despite current challenges [13][41] - The company is optimistic about upcoming AI-related deals and the value of its content in the evolving digital landscape [23][24] - Management acknowledged the impact of Google litigation costs but views the spending as worthwhile given the potential for significant damages [40][45] Other Important Information - The company laid off about 6% of its workforce to free up capital for investments and maintain profitability goals [27] - IAC has repurchased $300 million worth of shares year-to-date, representing about 8% of its outstanding shares [33] Q&A Session All Questions and Answers Question: Current thinking on MGM's valuation and why invest through IAC - Management believes that investing in MGM through IAC offers a cheaper entry point and provides additional value from IAC's other assets [34][38] Question: One-time expense cleanup in Q3 - Management indicated that significant one-time expenses have been cleaned up and do not expect similar charges in the future [39] Question: Update on the state of the business and Google litigation - Management expressed confidence in the business's future, citing the Microsoft AI deal and the Feedfeed acquisition as positive indicators [41][42][45] Question: Macro environment observations - The macro environment is solid for middle and upper-end consumers, with some pressures noted in the lower-end market [46][47] Question: Capital allocation strategy moving forward - Management emphasized a focus on opportunistic share buybacks rather than pursuing high-priced acquisitions [49]

Financial Performance & Valuation - IAC's equity value is $2.5 billion[11] - IAC repurchased $100 million in shares in Q3, and $300 million, representing 8% of equity, year-to-date[9] - People Inc's digital revenue is $1.1 billion and adjusted EBITDA is $332 million[12] - People Inc's net debt is $1.2 billion, with leverage less than 4x[12] - IAC expects FY 2025 Adjusted EBITDA of $234 million to $258 million[52] Digital Segment Performance (People Inc.) - Digital revenue grew by 9% in Q3 2025, reaching $269 million[43] - Digital Adjusted EBITDA excl Certain Items grew by 9% to $72 million in Q3 2025[43] - Digital revenue has shown an 13% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2023 to 2025[17] - Off-Platform Views increased with a 43% CAGR from Q3 2023 to Q3 2025[38] Strategic & Operational Initiatives - The company recognized $15 million of severance expense in Q3 related to a reduction in force (RIF) impacting approximately 6% of employees[41] - The company is delivering $65 million of run rate savings to be invested in new growth initiatives and enhance profitability[41]

Core Insights - Amazon.com Inc. has evolved from a young e-commerce startup in 1997 to a global retail powerhouse, significantly expanding into various sectors including cloud computing, advertising, logistics, entertainment, and devices, while Barnes & Noble has focused on reviving its brick-and-mortar presence [2][3][5] Company Evolution - In 1997, skepticism surrounded Amazon's potential, with advice suggesting it should sell to Barnes & Noble, which was a dominant player at the time [2][3] - Amazon chose to invest in technology and infrastructure, launching key services like Amazon Prime in 2005 and Amazon Web Services in 2006, which transformed enterprise computing [5][6] - The acquisition of Whole Foods in 2017 and the MGM deal in 2022 further diversified Amazon's offerings, particularly in groceries and streaming content [5] Market Position - Amazon has established itself as a major operator across multiple industries, while Barnes & Noble is exploring an IPO after a decade of declining sales, indicating a shift in market dynamics [3][4]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q3 2025, total income from real estate increased by over $12 million compared to Q3 2024, primarily driven by a $20 million increase in cash rent [11] - Operating expenses decreased by $53.5 million due to non-cash adjustments in the provision for credit losses and a less pessimistic economic forecast [12] - The company raised its full-year 2025 AFFO guidance to a range of $3.86 to $3.88 per diluted share [12][13] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cash rent increases were attributed to several acquisitions, including Bally's Kansas City and Shreveport, which contributed an additional $8 million [11] - The Chicago land lease increased cash income by $3.9 million, while the recognition of escalators and percentage rent adjustments added about $4.2 million [11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Regional gaming has shown strong performance, with no significant threats observed despite broader economic concerns [18][19] - Foot traffic in regional markets remains steady, indicating resilience in demand [20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company announced three transactions in the last 60 days, deploying $875 million of capital at a blended cap rate of 9.3% [4][5] - The company is focusing on expanding partnerships with existing tenants and exploring opportunities in tribal gaming [5][36] - The company has a significant pipeline of announced transaction activity exceeding $3 billion [5] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the current liquidity position and the ability to fund future commitments solely through debt financing [17] - The company views the current valuation of its equity as unattractive for tapping the equity market [5] - Management remains optimistic about the Chicago development project, noting significant progress and a strong ROI framework [8][9] Other Important Information - The company extended its option to acquire Bally's Twin River Lincoln by two years, indicating a strategic approach to asset management [14] - The leverage ratio is currently at 4.4 times, below historical levels, providing flexibility for future funding [13] Q&A Session Summary Question: How comfortable is the company with its current liquidity profile and leverage? - Management indicated comfort with a leverage ratio of 5.1 times if funded entirely through debt, which is within their historical range [17] Question: What is the outlook for regional gaming performance? - Management noted that regional gaming has held up well, with strong coverage and no significant threats to the industry [18][19] Question: What changes occurred in the expected fourth-quarter development funding? - The company reduced Chicago development funding by $25 million, pushing it into 2026 due to timing adjustments [24] Question: How does the company view the New York City casinos? - The appetite for participation in New York remains strong, with management considering the potential for significant EBITDA from the projects [43] Question: What are the return hurdles for tribal deals? - The company is looking for increased coverage on tribal assets, with a focus on stronger coverage than typical commercial deals [46] Question: How does the company approach equity issuance? - The company looks at equity issuance opportunistically, with no current interest in funding with equity at the present share price levels [103][104]