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Light & Wonder(LNW) - 2025 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-08-06 21:30
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for the quarter was $809 million, including partial contributions from Grover and record revenue at iGaming, offset by modest declines at gaming and SciPlay [22] - Net income increased 16% to $95 million, driven by lower cost of revenue and operating expenses [22] - Consolidated AEBITDA for the quarter was $352 million, an increase of 7% year over year, with a margin of 44%, a 400 basis point increase compared to the prior year [23] - Adjusted NPATA per share increased 11% to $1.58 compared to $1.42 in the prior year period [24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Gaming revenue was $528 million, with partial contributions of $21 million from Grover, and AEBITDA was $280 million, an increase of 3% with a margin of 53% [25] - SciPlay revenue was $200 million, with AEBITDA of $74 million, a 6% increase year over year, representing a margin of 37% [28] - iGaming delivered record revenue of $81 million, a 9% increase over the prior year, with AEBITDA increasing 17% to $28 million [31] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Global game sales in the quarter were $191 million, primarily due to macroeconomic uncertainty impacting the timing of game sales [26] - North American unit sales were down moderately year over year, with operator apprehension affecting swap purchases early in the quarter [11] - iGaming in the U.S. and Canada continued its strong growth trajectory with over 25% growth in GGR year over year [19] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company announced a transition to a sole ASX listing by November 2025, aiming to consolidate liquidity and maximize shareholder value [7][41] - Continued investments in R&D and expansion plans into Indiana, with expectations to deploy first units in the state this fall [7][12] - Focus on enhancing recurring revenue streams and operational efficiency across all business segments [24][33] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the ability to execute with discipline and deliver a stronger growth trajectory in the second half of the year [12] - Positive feedback from operator partners indicates strong performance and value of Light and Wonder games amidst a competitive landscape [11] - The company expects third quarter year-over-year consolidated EBITDA growth to be in the low double digits, with momentum building into the fourth quarter [36] Other Important Information - The company has repurchased approximately $100 million of shares during the quarter, with a total of $1.3 billion returned to shareholders since the program's inception [35] - The Grover acquisition is performing ahead of expectations, contributing positively to the company's growth [62] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you walk us through the investor engagement process regarding the sole ASX listing? - The decision followed extensive consultation with investors, with strong feedback received, and aims to optimize shareholder value by consolidating liquidity in a deep market [41][42] Question: Can you provide updates on the litigation? - Both Nevada and Australian Federal Court cases are expected to head to trial in 2026, with recent rulings moving in the company's favor [46][47] Question: Can you explain the new guidance range and its components? - The guidance includes $65 million from Grover, with the base business still targeting $1.4 billion, and investments planned for the second half to support long-term growth [50][52] Question: How is the integration with Grover progressing? - Integration is off to a fantastic start, with the business performing well and cultural alignment noted as a positive factor [62][63] Question: How does the company plan to address the impact of sweepstakes gaming on SciPlay? - The company is focusing on internal initiatives to stabilize and grow its social casino business, while also monitoring external market dynamics [80][82] Question: What are the expectations for free cash flow improvement? - Normalized free cash flow saw a considerable year-over-year increase, and the company remains focused on improving cash conversion moving forward [88][90]
'Sweepstakes gaming' faces bans in states: Here's what you need to know
CNBC Television· 2025-07-10 12:30
In a world with no sure bets, uh it seems safe to say that the interest in gambling will keep growing. Uh Contessa, the sweep stakes is back. What.Well, you know, look, we are watching the growth in the gambling landcape just morph and change around the United States. It's a it's happening at a dramatic pace with ways to wager that go way beyond a sports book or a slot machine. For instance, you have Joe these sweep stakes gaming where players use virtual coins, but they can also buy in with real money to p ...