Boyd Gaming (US:BYD)2025-10-23 22:00Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported revenues exceeding $1,000,000,000 for the third quarter, with EBITDAR at $322,000,000, maintaining a margin of 37% consistent with the prior year [4][17] - The total leverage ratio improved from 2.8 times to 1.5 times following the sale of a stake in FanDuel, with lease adjusted leverage declining from 3.2 times to 2.0 times [24][100] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Las Vegas Local segment generated revenues of $211,000,000 and EBITDAR of $92,000,000, with year-over-year growth of 2% in both revenues and EBITDAR when excluding the Orleans [5][6] - The Midwest and South segment achieved a 3% revenue increase to $539,000,000, with EBITDAR growing by over 2% [9][10] - The online segment is projected to achieve $60,000,000 in EBITDAR for the year, with expectations of approximately $30,000,000 for 2026 [10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The broader Las Vegas locals market saw gaming revenue growth of over 3% year-over-year, supported by solid wage growth exceeding 6% [6][7] - The Downtown Las Vegas segment's revenues and EBITDA remained stable, driven by strong play from Hawaiian customers despite lower hotel revenues [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on capital investments to enhance guest experiences, with a budget of $100,000,000 annually for growth capital projects [13][21] - Ongoing renovations at properties like Suncoast and Orleans are aimed at maintaining competitiveness in the market [12][46] - The company is pursuing significant growth opportunities, including a $750,000,000 resort development in Norfolk, Virginia, scheduled to open in November 2027 [16] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted continued strength in play from core customers and improving trends from retail customers, indicating a positive outlook for the fourth quarter [12][25] - The Southern Nevada economy is described as resilient and diversified, positioning the company well for future growth [8] Other Important Information - The company repurchased $160,000,000 in stock during the quarter and paid $15,000,000 in dividends, returning a total of $637,000,000 to shareholders year-to-date [17][22] - The company is maintaining a disciplined approach to capital allocation, with plans for ongoing share repurchases and dividends [23] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the main drivers of weakness in the destination business? - Management indicated that the weakness is primarily in the destination business, while core and local customers continue to perform well, with improvements in forward bookings noted [27][28] Question: Thoughts on the M&A pipeline? - The company is monitoring M&A opportunities but remains disciplined in its approach, focusing on the right assets at the right price [34][35] Question: Trends in the Midwest and South properties? - Results were broadly strong across the Midwest and South, with Treasure Chest noted for its continued growth [39][41] Question: How are the Vegas locals assets positioned from a CapEx perspective? - The company is confident in its Vegas locals assets, with ongoing renovations at Suncoast and plans for updates at Orleans to remain competitive [43][46] Question: Expectations for the impact of the tax bill? - Management expects incremental benefits from the tax bill but has not quantified the overall impact on revenue and EBITDAR [72][73] Question: How did the quarter play out month to month? - The quarter was steady, with some fluctuations due to holiday timing, but core trends remained consistent [77] Question: Any impact from the cybersecurity incident? - The cybersecurity incident did not impact business operations, and the company has cyber insurance to mitigate risks [90] Question: How is the balance sheet being optimized? - The company is maintaining a leverage target of around 2.5 times, with current leverage at 1.5 times, and is open to adjusting based on future opportunities [99][100]