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MGM Resorts International (MGM) |


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WIKI ANALYSISMGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) runs hotels and casinos throughout the world, most notably in Las Vegas and burgeoning Macau. The company generates slightly less than half of its operating income from casino activities with lodging, dining, entertainment and retail services comprising most of the rest. MGM also hosts major conventions and operates gambling facilities for third parties.
MGM is well-established in Las Vegas, where it owns half of all the gambling mecca's rooms and approximately 39% of its gaming facilities.[1] But the company's prospects for growth may be most closely tied to Macau, the fastest growing gaming market in the world. MGM, through MGM Grand Paradise Limited, owns 50% of MGM Grand Macau, a large, multi-purpose casino and resort.[2] The other 50% stake is held by Pansy Ho, the daughter of Stanley Ho, who owns an additional 8 hotels in Macau and has been nicknamed "The King of Gambling."
MGM Mirage is not affiliated with MGM Studios, a privately-held movie studio whose owners include Sony (SNE) and Comcast (CMCSA).
Company Overview MGM Resorts executes its strategy through a portfolio approach. MGM selectively acquires, invests in and develops resorts in markets with a stable regulatory history and environment. The majority of MGM’s income comes from Las Vegas, where it owns major hotels totaling 50% of the city’s hotel rooms and about 39% of all gambling facilities[3]. In addition, MGM owns domestic operations in Nevada, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Illinois, as well as international properties and operations primarily in Macau.
MGM's Las Vegas resorts include CityCenter, Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Luxor, Excalibur, New York-New York, Monte Carlo, and Circus Circus. MGM owns other properties in Reno, Jean, and Henderson (Nevada), Detroit (Michigan), Biloxi and Tunica (Mississippi), Macau, Atlantic City (New Jersey), and Elgin (Illinois).
MGM’s revenue and operating income have grown at a steady progression in the past three years. However, due to current large-scale projects that require significant upfront capital, the company retains $13 billion of debt.
Business and Financial MetricsFirst Quarter 2010 Results[4]
MGM reported net revenue decreased 4% to $1.4 billion, compared to a 6% year-over-year decrease in the fourth quarter of 2009. Casino revenue decreased 5%, partially offset by strong baccarat results during the quarter with baccarat volume up 17%. Las Vegas Strip revenue decreased 8% compared to the prior year quarter versus a 16% year-over-year decrease in the fourth quarter of 2009.
Trends and Forces
Tourism in Las VegasMGM depends on the sustained growth of tourism in Las Vegas and, increasingly, Macau. With 72% of the company's [5] guestrooms already located in the city, and its CityCenter project scheduled to open by the end of 2009, MGM is betting on the historic growth of tourism in Las Vegas of about 5% a year.[6] A disruption in this trend may lower hotel and casino occupancy, and decrease future revenues.
Airline TravelThe majority of MGM’s customers travel by air. Therefore, MGM’s future profitability and success is contingent on the overall health of air travel. As an example, MGM saw a precipitous drop in the number of customers after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The company did not see a recovery to pre-9/11 for the next 9 to 18 months.
Extending into the Housing MarketMGM’s current project, Citycenter, involves the selling of 2,700 condominiums, which will contribute $2.5 billion dollars to the project cost of $7 billion[7]. The success of this operation is partly contingent on the overall health of the U.S. housing market. Although MGM is currently reporting healthy progress [8]
Macau May be the Next Great FrontierMacau is the fastest growing gaming market in the world, with gaming revenue compounding at 23% annually since 2001. The burgeoning Chinese economy, which is close in proximity, is sending large contingents of increasingly wealthy tourists to the gambling region. While MGM is one of only 6 companies licensed to operate in Macau, the company is subject to the local foreign regulatory framework and potential political or economic instability in the area. [9] Furthermore, Chinese travel policy may significantly affect the number of customers to its hotels and casinos.
Large ownership position held by Tracinda CorporationKirk Kerkorian, through Tracinda Corporation, owns approximately 22.8% of MGM's outstanding common stocks. [10]
Competition
Las VegasMGM’s primary competitors are situated in Las Vegas. While these companies have similar operations, MGM’s primary distinction is that its revenue breakdown is more diverse, and less dependent on casino income. It is important to note that MGM dominates in terms of the size of its holdings in Las Vegas, with 9 of the most prominent resorts.
Harrah's Entertainment owns and operates 72 locations comprising nearly 3 million square feet of casino space as well as over 38,000 hotel rooms and suites across countries such as the U.S. Canada, the U.K., Egypt, and South America. In Las Vegas, the company owns 629,000 square feet of casino space and 20,300 rooms and suites at locations such as Bally’s, Caesar's Palace, Harrah’s, The Flamingo, and Paris. [12]
Wynn Resorts owns the hotel “Wynn”, which has 2,716 suites and approximately 111,000 square feet of gaming space. The company will build “Encore”, which is planned to have just over 2,000 rooms and 72,000 square feet of casino space.[13]
MacauIn Macau, MGM faces many old competitors, as well as some new ones.
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