Global Gaming and Casinos Industry Specialist, Casino Business Review LLC

Howard J Klein

Global Gaming and Casinos Industry Specialist

Casino Business Review LLC

Extensive experience in marketing and development in the Asian gaming market

Global Gaming and Casinos Industry

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>SJM has lagged other sector peers in price recovery since the end of the Beijing zero covid ban policy last Janaury 6th.</li>
<li>The company last year underwent a significant reordering of its business model which is not yet reflected in its ongoing momentum towards regaining positive EBITDA.</li>
<li>Trading volume indicates ongoing interest but stock in our view has not yet reflected the continuation of positive sales growth leading to EBIDA turning positive in forward quarters.</li>
</ul>


SJM has lagged other sector peers in price recovery since the end of the Beijing zero covid ban policy last Janaury 6th.
The company last year underwent a significant reordering of its business model which is not yet reflected in its ongoing momentum towards regaining positive EBITDA.
Trading volume indicates ongoing interest but stock in our view has not yet reflected the continuation of positive sales growth leading to EBIDA turning positive in forward quarters.


SJM Holdings Ltd: H1 Results Foretell Recovery Momentum for the Stock Beginning to Build

Senior Credit Analyst, Lucror Analytics

Leonard Law, CFA

Senior Credit Analyst

High Yield Experts

Lucror Analytics

Lucror Analytics is a leading credit and ESG research specialist and a provider of technology solutions for differentiated fixed income strategies. Our roots are in bottom-up fundamental credit analysis with a specialization in high yield corporate credits from Europe, Asia and Latin America. We are one of few research specialists integrating ESG considerations with fundamental credit research through a dedicated ESG platform. Our ESG assessment covers five key criteria: Disclosure, E,S, & G Pillars, Controversies, ESG Impact on Credit and ESG Momentum.

Recognizing the importance and value-add of Factor Investing in fixed income, Lucror developed the Smart Quant Navigator (SQN), an intuitive platform that helps clients devise and implement factor-based strategies ranging from pure quant to active fundamental, with integrated ESG.

Our company has been at the forefront of developments in the fixed income markets, identifying opportunities and consistently delivering new products and value-adding solutions to clients. Lucror has close relationships with the largest and most reputable asset managers, family offices, hedge funds, investment and wealth managers globally.

Credit

SJM Holdings' H1/23 results were acceptable, as earnings improved in Q2 after a disappointing first quarter. Crucially, Grand Lisboa Palace continues to ramp up its operations gradually and the asset has achieved EBITDA break-even since June. That said, the company’s overall GGR market share remains meaningfully below its FY 2019 level.​ SJM reported slight positive EBITDA in H1, albeit we believe FCF was slightly negative after interest payments. The company’s profitability is likely to lag that of peers for the next 1-2 years. We note that some investors are concerned about the economic slowdown in China, which could impact discretionary consumer spending (e.g. gaming and travel to Macau). That said, we believe the Chinese consumer market is large enough to sustain a continued recovery of Macau’s gaming sector.

  SJM Holdings' H1/23 results were acceptable, as earnings improved in Q2 after a disappointing first quarter. Crucially, Grand Lisboa Palace continues to ramp up its operations gradually and the asset has achieved EBITDA break-even since June. That said, the company’s overall GGR market share remains meaningfully below its FY 2019 level.​ SJM reported slight positive EBITDA in H1, albeit we believe FCF was slightly negative after interest payments. The company’s profitability is likely to lag that of peers for the next 1-2 years.   We note that some investors are concerned about the economic slowdown in China, which could impact discretionary consumer spending (e.g. gaming and travel to Macau). That said, we believe the Chinese consumer market is large enough to sustain a continued recovery of Macau’s gaming sector.  

SJM Holdings - Earnings Flash - H1 FY 2023 Results - Lucror Analytics

Forensic Analyst

Jason Yap, CFA

Forensic Accounting

Macau's top gaming stocks <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/macau-casinos-see-188-billion-wipeout-as-china-tightens-control" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lost</a> a record USD18 billion in combined market value on 15 September 2021 after the Macau administration <a href="https://www.ggrasia.com/public-consultation-re-gaming-law-review-from-sept-15/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a><a href="https://www.ggrasia.com/macau-may-end-casino-sub-concessions-directly-monitor-ops/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a> a 45 day public consultation period to discuss revisions to Gaming Laws, which comes as the June 2022 expiration deadline for existing gaming concessions loomed. Amongst others, the abolishment of the sub-concession framework (which could reduce current 6 operators to 3 operators), restriction on distribution of dividend, and Macau government's direct supervision of casino operations drew the most consternation from investors and analysts. The sweeping revisions compound the woes of Macau's casino operators, such as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/wynn-macau-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:473:1" rel="noopener">Wynn Macau Ltd (1128 HK) </a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sands-china-ltd-088dbd12-a0e9-4516-a68f-6a3cf8aa065d" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28515:1" rel="noopener">Sands China Ltd (SCHYY US)</a>, which had already been badly affected by pandemic driven travel restrictions, and which obliterated their gaming revenues.While there were some improvements due to easing of travel restrictions for Mainland travelers in September 2020, gross gaming revenues (GGR) remain a shadow of its past.  The daily average of visitors to Macau during October's Golden Week was <a href="https://www.ggrasia.com/macau-oct-golden-week-daily-average-visits-dip-93pct-y-o-y/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">down 93.7%</a> on daily average in 2020. The decline coincided with new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Macau around the same period. Amongst its peers, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/wynn-macau-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:473:1" rel="noopener">Wynn Macau Ltd (1128 HK)</a>  is the most highly levered and had already dodged a bullet by securing covenant waivers in April 2020 at the peak of the pandemic.In this Insight, we discuss the impact of the proposed revisions and subdued GGR recovery on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/wynn-macau-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:473:1" rel="noopener">Wynn Macau Ltd (1128 HK)</a>'s cash reserves, debt servicing ability, and whether there may be potential breaches of its financial covenants.

Macau's top gaming stocks lost a record USD18 billion in combined market value on 15 September 2021 after the Macau administration announced a 45 day public consultation period to discuss revisions to Gaming Laws, which comes as the June 2022 expiration deadline for existing gaming concessions loomed. Amongst others, the abolishment of the sub-concession framework (which could reduce current 6 operators to 3 operators), restriction on distribution of dividend, and Macau government's direct supervision of casino operations drew the most consternation from investors and analysts. The sweeping revisions compound the woes of Macau's casino operators, such as Wynn Macau Ltd (1128 HK)  and Sands China Ltd (SCHYY US), which had already been badly affected by pandemic driven travel restrictions, and which obliterated their gaming revenues.While there were some improvements due to easing of travel restrictions for Mainland travelers in September 2020, gross gaming revenues (GGR) remain a shadow of its past.  The daily average of visitors to Macau during October's Golden Week was down 93.7% on daily average in 2020. The decline coincided with new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Macau around the same period. Amongst its peers, Wynn Macau Ltd (1128 HK)  is the most highly levered and had already dodged a bullet by securing covenant waivers in April 2020 at the peak of the pandemic.In this Insight, we discuss the impact of the proposed revisions and subdued GGR recovery on Wynn Macau Ltd (1128 HK)'s cash reserves, debt servicing ability, and whether there may be potential breaches of its financial covenants.

Wynn Macau (1128 HK) - Gaming Law Revisions and Impact on Financial Covenants

Lucror Analytics Morning Views comprise our fundamental credit analysis, opinions and trade recommendations on high yield issuers in the region, based on key company-specific developments in the past 24 hours. Our Morning Views include a section with a brief market commentary, key market indicators and a macroeconomic and corporate event calendar.<ul><li><a href='#lucror-entity-1457'>China Oil And Gas</a></li><li><a href='#lucror-entity-3121'>Lippo Karawaci</a></li><li><a href='#lucror-entity-805'>SJM Holdings</a></li><li><a href='#lucror-entity-315'>Softbank Group</a></li></ul>

Lucror Analytics Morning Views comprise our fundamental credit analysis, opinions and trade recommendations on high yield issuers in the region, based on key company-specific developments in the past 24 hours. Our Morning Views include a section with a brief market commentary, key market indicators and a macroeconomic and corporate event calendar.China Oil And GasLippo KarawaciSJM HoldingsSoftbank Group

Morning Views Asia: China Oil And Gas, Lippo Karawaci, SJM Holdings, Softbank Group

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
Tax-Loss Selling's a subject of interest in Australia. Retail investors will take gains on stocks which run up in price, or get taken over, then look for losses to offset.</li>
<li>Investors are caught out as the Aussie government "approves" <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hanwha-ocean-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12531:1" rel="noopener">Hanwha Ocean (042660 KS)</a> buyng <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/austal-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14420:1" rel="noopener">Austal Ltd (ASB AU)</a>. There is evidently a lot more going on in the background. </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/west-japan-railway-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12077:1" rel="noopener">West Japan Railway Co (9021 JP)</a> announces a biggish buyback. One could buy dips, but one should probably not chase. For that, suggest this acts as a range trade.</li>
</ul>



Tax-Loss Selling's a subject of interest in Australia. Retail investors will take gains on stocks which run up in price, or get taken over, then look for losses to offset.
Investors are caught out as the Aussie government "approves" Hanwha Ocean (042660 KS) buyng Austal Ltd (ASB AU). There is evidently a lot more going on in the background. 

West Japan Railway Co (9021 JP) announces a biggish buyback. One could buy dips, but one should probably not chase. For that, suggest this acts as a range trade.


Last Week in Event SPACE: Aussie Tax-Loss Selling, Austal, West Japan Railway, PICC/PICC P&C

Hong Kong

SJM Holdings Limited offers amusement and recreation services.  The Company operates casinos, hotels, and other tourism-related facilities in Macau.

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SJM Holdings (880 HK)

SJM Holdings Ltd: H1 Results Foretell Recovery Momentum for the Stock Beginning to Build

SJM has lagged peers in price recovery in early post covid era but for H1 reported substantial gains in revenue and reduction of losses. It is...

Howard J Klein

SJM Holdings - Earnings Flash - H1 FY 2023 Results - Lucror Analytics

SJM Holdings' H1/23 results were acceptable, as earnings improved in Q2 after a disappointing first quarter. Crucially, Grand Lisboa...

Lucror Analytics

Wynn Macau (1128 HK) - Gaming Law Revisions and Impact on Financial Covenants

Macau's gaming stocks lost USD18 billion in market value after the Macau administration announced proposed revisions to Gaming Laws. We discuss the...

Jason Yap, CFA

Morning Views Asia: China Oil And Gas, Lippo Karawaci, SJM Holdings, Softbank Group

Lucror Analytics Morning Views comprise our fundamental credit analysis, opinions and trade recommendations on high yield issuers in the region,...

Lucror Analytics

Last Week in Event SPACE: Aussie Tax-Loss Selling, Austal, West Japan Railway, PICC/PICC P&C

The weekend is here! Pour yourself a coffee, grab a comfortable seat, and sift through a brief summary of insights on various events discussed...

David Blennerhassett

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