Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS), MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM) and Wynn Resorts (NASDAQ:WYNN) are the domestic gaming companies with Macau footprints and to say that trait has been problematic in 2020 is underplaying the matter.
With the calendar soon turning to 2021 and green shoots emerging in the world’s largest casino hub, analysts are increasingly bullish on operators with significant Macau exposure, noting slack 2020 performances coupled with muted investor expectations could set the stage for rallies next year.
While the recovery timeline around Macau remains an unknown, we continue to believe in the long-term resiliency of the market and believe it’s a matter of when, not if, the market returns to normal/accelerated levels,” said Stifel analyst Steven Wieczynski in a note to clients.
Owing to Beijing’s efforts to quash cross-border money transfers, VIP visitation to the special administrative region (SAR) remains low, a scenario that’s expected to linger into the new year, but market observers believe mass and premium mass gamblers can power a Macau rebound.
There’s some evidence that’s already happening. Macau’s November gross gaming revenue (GGR) of $844 million, though glum on a year-over-year basis, represents a dramatic sequential improvement following months of declines of at least 90 percent.
Plenty of Room for Upside
Recently, the broader complex of gaming equities is rallying as the first coronavirus vaccines come to market, potentially setting the stage for some semblance of travel and leisure normalcy in the back half of 2021.
Still, shares of LVS, MGM and Wynn are lower by an average of almost 13 percent year-to-date while the S&P 500 is higher by 14.70%. That scenario could imply the US-based Macau operators have room to run in 2021 and Stifel’s Wieczynski sees several tailwinds driving that potential upside.
“First, investor expectations around Macau remain muted; however, we believe consensus estimates are reasonable and this in turn should allow investors to get more comfortable with Macau-centric names as they won’t have to endure multiple negative estimate reductions moving forward,” said the analyst. “Second, from here we expect to witness sequential improvements in the Macau market which should drive investor interest higher in the near-term.”
He adds new money could flow into the likes of MGM, Sands and Wynn as more investors buy into the notion that the darkest clouds are no longer hovering over these names.
Nice Price Target Increases
One positive to emerge from the pandemic is that it’s forcing gaming companies to operate leaner business models where cost controls and margins are prioritized and that’s to the benefit of long-term investors.
On that note, Wieczynski sees the aforementioned trio of casino equities offering stout upside potential in 2021. The analyst boosted his price forecast on LVS, the largest Macau operator, to $73 from $60, well above last Friday’s close at $57.43.
He took his projection on MGM, which runs two Macau integrated resorts, to $34 from $23 while lifting his target on Wynn to $130 from $100. MGM and Wynn trade around $30 and $110, respectively, at this writing.
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