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VICI(VICI) - 2025 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript
VICIVICI(US:VICI)2025-05-01 14:00

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported an AFFO per share of $0.58 for Q1 2025, representing a 4.3% increase from $0.56 in Q1 2024 [20] - The net debt to annualized first quarter adjusted EBITDA is approximately 5.3 times, within the target leverage range of 5 to 5.5 [19] - The company raised its AFFO guidance for 2025 to between $2.47 billion and $2.50 billion, or between $2.33 and $2.36 per diluted common share, indicating a year-over-year growth of 3.8% [21][22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company successfully closed a $510 million delayed draw term loan facility for the development of the North Fork Mono Casino and Resort in partnership with Red Rock Resorts [12] - The casino is expected to feature 2,400 slot machines and 40 table games, indicating a significant investment in the gaming sector [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Las Vegas continues to show strong demand, with events like WWE's WrestleMania drawing nearly 125,000 fans, highlighting the city's appeal [15] - The company believes that Las Vegas may benefit from a domestic trade-down effect if Americans forgo international travel, as only 12% of Las Vegas visitation in 2024 was from international travelers [15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company emphasizes maintaining and growing cash income distributed to stockholders in the form of dividends, which is a key focus for REIT investors [5] - The partnership with Red Rock Resorts represents a strategic move into tribal land investments, showcasing the company's ability to identify high-quality opportunities in the gaming sector [13] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the resilience of property performance during periods of market volatility, focusing on strong relationships with tenants [16] - The management team highlighted the importance of dividends in total returns, especially in the current economic environment [10] Other Important Information - The company has approximately $3.2 billion in total liquidity, which includes $334 million in cash and $2.3 billion of availability under its revolving credit facility [19] - The company has a weighted average interest rate of 4.47% and a weighted average maturity of 6.7 years, reflecting proactive risk management [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide more details on the new property deal and its market draw? - Management highlighted the large catchment area for the North Fork project, emphasizing the operator's experience and the potential to attract new customers [26][30] Question: Has the view on tribal sale leasebacks changed? - Management acknowledged the complexities of tribal sale leasebacks but expressed confidence in the current deal due to the operator's experience [34][35] Question: Are tariffs impacting construction budgets or timelines? - Management noted that experienced development partners are managing tariff-related challenges effectively [38][39] Question: What is the current pipeline outlook amid macro volatility? - Management indicated that while volatility affects growth ambitions, they continue to engage with operators to explore opportunities [44][46] Question: Can you elaborate on the capital structure of the Red Rock deal? - The total facility for the project is $725 million, with a blended yield around 7%, reflecting a strong partnership with Red Rock [84][85] Question: Is there an appetite for more construction lending? - Management clarified that while there is no general strategy for construction lending, they are open to opportunities that align with their relationship-based approach [92][93]