Full year 2018 operating income increased 8.3% to $3.75 billion

Las Vegas Sands reports Q4 2018 results

"We are pleased to have delivered strong financial results in the quarter, led by record mass revenues and continued growth in every market segment in Macao," said Sheldon G. Adelson, chairman and chief executive officer.
2019-01-25
Reading time 4:59 min
The firm's net revenue for the fourth quarter of 2018 increased 2.5% to $3.48 billion, compared to $3.39 billion in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Las Vegas Sands Corp. has reported financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2018.

Fourth Quarter Overview

Sheldon G. Adelson, chairman and chief executive officer, said, "We are pleased to have delivered strong financial results in the quarter, led by record mass revenues and continued growth in every market segment in Macao. Our Integrated Resort property portfolio in Macao delivered adjusted property EBITDA of $786 million, an increase of 7.7% compared to the fourth quarter of 2017. At Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, our hotel, retail, convention and mass gaming segments all exhibited growth, contributing to $362 million of adjusted property EBITDA for the quarter.

We also continued to invest in growth initiatives in each of our markets. We remain confident in the future opportunity in Macao and are progressing with our investments in the Four Seasons Tower Suites Macao, St. Regis Tower Suites Macao and The Londoner Macao. We believe our market-leading interconnected Integrated Resort portfolio in Macao, including the additional destination retail, luxurious hotel suite offerings and world-class entertainment attractions created by these investments, will provide an ideal platform for growth in Macao in the years ahead."

The company paid a recurring quarterly dividend of $0.75 per common share and increased its return of capital through share repurchases of $430 million during the quarter. The company increased the annual dividend for the 2019 calendar year to $3.08, or $0.77 per common share per quarter, and announced its next quarterly dividend of $0.77 per common share will be paid on March 28, 2019, to Las Vegas Sands shareholders of record on March 20, 2019.

Company-Wide Operating Results

Net revenue for the fourth quarter of 2018 increased 2.5% to $3.48 billion, compared to $3.39 billion in the fourth quarter of 2017. Net loss was $40 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 due to non-recurring non-cash income tax expense of $727 million for U.S. tax reform discussed below, compared to net income of $1.36 billion in the year-ago quarter, which included a non-recurring non-cash income tax benefit of $526 million also related to U.S. tax reform.

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the new revenue recognition standard on a full retrospective basis. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company's financial condition or net income. All 2017 financial results have been revised to conform to the current presentation.

On a GAAP (accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America) basis, operating income in the fourth quarter of 2018 decreased to $874 million, compared to $1.03 billion in the fourth quarter of 2017. The decrease in operating income was due to depreciation acceleration and asset impairments associated with our development projects in Macao. We also had softer Rolling Chip volume in Singapore, partially offset by stronger operating performance in Macao due to a 10% increase in revenues. Consolidated adjusted property EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure) of $1.27 billion decreased 4.7% in the fourth quarter of 2018, compared to the year-ago quarter. On a hold-normalized basis, consolidated adjusted property EBITDA increased to $1.30 billion in the fourth quarter of 2018.

On a GAAP basis, net loss attributable to Las Vegas Sands in the fourth quarter of 2018 was $170 million, compared to net income attributable to Las Vegas Sands of $1.21 billion in the fourth quarter of 2017, while diluted loss per share in the fourth quarter of 2018 was $0.22, compared to diluted earnings per share of $1.53 in the prior-year quarter. The decrease was primarily a result of nonrecurring, non-cash income tax items due to the implementation of U.S. tax reform indicated above.

Adjusted net income attributable to Las Vegas Sands (a non-GAAP measure) was $598 million, or $0.77 per diluted share, compared to $700 million, or $0.88 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2017. Hold-normalized adjusted earnings per diluted share decreased 6.0% to $0.79.

On a GAAP basis, full year 2018 operating income increased 8.3% to $3.75 billion, compared to $3.46 billion in 2017. The increase in operating income was principally due to stronger operating performance in our Macao business due to a 14% increase in revenues. Net income attributable to Las Vegas Sands decreased 14.1% to $2.41 billion, or $3.07 per diluted share, in 2018, compared to $2.81 billion, or $3.55 per diluted share, in 2017. The decrease in net income attributable to Las Vegas Sands reflected increases in income tax expense, interest expense and loss on modification or early retirement of debt.

Sands China Ltd. Consolidated Financial Results

On a GAAP basis, total net revenues for SCL increased 9% to $2.25 billion in the fourth quarter of 2018, compared to $2.06 billion in the fourth quarter of 2017. Net income for SCL decreased 11% to $465 million in the fourth quarter of 2018, compared to $519 million in the fourth quarter of 2017.

On a GAAP basis, full year 2018 total net revenues for SCL increased 14% to $8.67 billion, compared to $7.59 billion in 2017. Net income for SCL increased 19% to $1.90 billion in 2018, compared to $1.60 billion in 2017.

Other Factors Affecting Earnings

Depreciation and amortization expense was $289 million in the fourth quarter of 2018, compared to $258 million in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized, was $138 million for the fourth quarter of 2018, compared to $87 million in the prior-year quarter. Our weighted average borrowing cost in the fourth quarter of 2018 was approximately 4.5%, compared to 3.4% during the fourth quarter of 2017. The increase in net weighted average borrowing cost relates to the issuance of unsecured notes by SCL in the third quarter of 2018 and increases in interest rates globally. Outstanding debt also increased in connection with the unsecured notes issued by SCL in the third quarter of 2018 and additional borrowings in the U.S. in the second quarter of 2018.

Income tax expense for the fourth quarter of 2018 was $782 million, compared to a benefit of $429 million in the prior year quarter. The tax expense for the fourth quarter of 2018 is primarily due to nonrecurring non-cash expense of $727 million resulting from recently issued guidance by the Internal Revenue Service related to the international provision of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This guidance clarified the implementation of the Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income and other provisions which impact the foreign tax credit utilization and required an increase of a valuation allowance related to our historical foreign tax credits. Effective income tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2018 would have been 7.4% without the discrete expense associated with the Act.

The net income attributable to noncontrolling interests during the fourth quarter of 2018 decreased to $130 million and was principally related to SCL.

Balance Sheet Items

Unrestricted cash balances as of December 31, 2018 were $4.65 billion.

As of December 31, 2018, total debt outstanding, including the current portion, net of deferred financing costs and original issue discount and excluding capital leases, was $11.97 billion.

Capital Expenditures

Capital expenditures during the fourth quarter totaled $326 million, including construction, development and maintenance activities of $184 million in Macao, $70 million in Las Vegas, $66 million at Marina Bay Sands and $6 million at Sands Bethlehem.

Conference Call Information

The company will host a conference call to discuss the company's results on Wednesday, January 23, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time. Interested parties may listen to the conference call through a webcast available on the company's website..

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