Another year of double-digit gaming revenue forecast for Macau

Susquehanna International Group, LLP gaming analyst Rachael Rothman said 2014 is expected to produce another year of double-digit gaming revenue growth in Macau. “We view Las Vegas Sands and Wynn to be best positioned among global gaming operators to capture development opportunities wherever they arise, and to continue to return capital to shareholders given solid balance sheets and strong management teams,” Rothman said.

Stifel Nicolaus Capital Markets gaming analyst Steven Wieczynski said MGM Resorts will become attractive to the investment community as additional value is given to its us$2.6 billion project on Cotai, which is expected to open in 2016.

MGM Resorts operates just one casino in Macau. Las Vegas, where MGM has 10 resorts including Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and CityCenter, is the company’s ace in the hole. “In the interim, we expect our favorable first half of 2014 Strip outlook to disproportionately benefit MGM given its outsized presence along the Strip,” Wieczynski said.

One gaming company is flying under the radar and stands out, according to Janney Montgomery Scott gaming analyst Brian McGill. Slot machine maker Multimedia Games, Inc., which grew its net income 19 percent, or us$1.14 per share, in fiscal 2013, could see even larger returns in 2014. The manufacturer, which is based in Austin, Texas, but has sales and marketing offices in Las Vegas, rolled out its slot machines in Las Vegas last year.

McGill, who visited the Strip recently and saw customers playing Multimedia products on casino floors, said the company should catch the eyes of investors this year. “The success in Las Vegas, combined with several other new markets, will lead to strong growth in fiscal 2014 and into fiscal 2015,” McGill said. “We believe the company is seeing strong play levels with its core video product, its award-winning TournEvent game, and its daily fee High Rise games.”