Caesars Entertainment (NASDAQ: CZR) delivered consensus-beating third-quarter results late Tuesday, telling investors its Caesars Digital unit posted an earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) profit of $2 million following a year-earlier loss of $38 million. The casino giant also continued whittling its debt burden.
Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas Strip. The operator continued reducing debt, but analysts are tepid on the stock. (Image: Getty Images)
Helped by record adjusted EBITDA of $1.04 billion, up from $1.01 billion in the year ago period, the Horseshoe operator slashed its outstanding liabilities to $12.45 billion, as of Sept. 30, from $13.08 billion at the end of 2022. Those ongoing debt-reduction efforts are likely to the delight of investors that have long viewed Caesars’ balance sheet as more headwind than tailwind.
We see the $7.2 billion in free cash flow (operating cash flow minus capital expenditures) that we expect in 2023-27, along with the $3.2 billion in liquid cash and available credit as of June 30, 2023, to be focused on reducing debt levels and investing in the digital sports and iGaming markets,” wrote Morningstar analyst Dan Wasiolek in a note.
While Caesars has no significant debt maturities coming until 2025 when $4.3 billion worth of its corporate debt matures, Wasiolek added the operator is likely to engage in only modest stock buybacks next year and dividends are unlikely prior to 2026. Of the four largest US-listed casino stocks by market capitalization, Caesars is the only one that doesn’t pay a dividend.
Analysts Still Supportive of Caesars…Sort Of
Entering this year, Caesars was one of the gaming equities Wall Street was most bullish on. Fast-forward 10 months and the stock has been a dud, shedding 5%.
Following the third-quarter earnings report, analysts remain mostly constructive on the Harrah’s operator, but at least six cut price targets on the name today. CFRA Research analyst Zachary Warring was part of that group, though he did upgrade Caesars to “hold” from “sell.”
“We believe the recent sell-off in shares (+30%) was warranted due to the company’s debt burden, but now believe shares trade near fair value as the company has only $247M in debt maturing in 2024 and has plenty of assets to sell if necessary,” wrote Warring in a note to clients. “We would like to see continued progress on the balance sheet before expecting multiple expansion.”
Some analysts believe that Caesars property-level margins should receive a boost in the current quarter. That’s because the Rio Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, a low-margin venue, is out of the Caesars portfolio.
Catalysts in Place for Caesars Rebound
The Las Vegas events calendar, including Formula One’s (F1) Las Vegas Grand Prix later this month, could be conducive to upside for Caesars stock.
“And we also have, obviously, F1 coming to Vegas, feel very, very good and no change in what we’re expecting in terms of lift in the quarter in the neighborhood of 5%,” said CEO Tom Reeg on a conference call with analysts.
Reeg added the amount of credit play in Las Vegas during F1 week could be on par with or exceed New Year’s Eve and things are shaping up in similar fashion for the Super Bowl next February, which Las Vegas is hosting.
In terms of potential property-level catalysts, Caesars will complete construction on permanent casinos in Columbus, Neb. and Danville, Va. next year as well as an overhaul of Caesars Palace New Orleans. That’s pivotal because New Orleans hosts the Super Bowl in 2025.
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