Wynn Resorts, Limited Reports First Quarter Results

Wynn Resorts, Limited (Nasdaq:WYNN) today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2008. Net revenues for the first quarter of 2008 were $778.7 million, compared to $635.3 million in the first quarter of 2007. The revenue increase was driven primarily by a 61.4% increase in revenues at Wynn Macau. Consolidated adjusted property EBITDA (1) increased 4.0% to $197.8 million for the first quarter of 2008, compared to $190.2 million in the first quarter of 2007. On a US GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) basis, net income for the quarter was $46.7 million, or $0.41 per diluted share, compared to net income of $58.4 million, or $0.54 per diluted share in 2007. Adjusted net income in the first quarter of 2008 was $78.2 million, or $0.69 per diluted share (adjusted EPS)(2) compared to an adjusted net income of $72.6 million, or $0.67 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2007. Wynn Las Vegas First Quarter Results For the quarter ended March 31, 2008, Wynn Las Vegas generated adjusted property EBITDA of $68.4 million, compared to $111.2 million in the first quarter of 2007, with a 23.8% EBITDA margin on net revenue. The EBITDA decline was primarily driven by lower table hold percentage of 19.9% in the first quarter of 2008 compared to 27.6% in the comparable period in 2007. Net casino revenues in the first quarter of 2008 were $125.1 million, compared to $173.1 million for the first quarter of 2007. Table games drop decreased 3.1% from the comparable period in 2007 to $533.3 million. Slot machine handle of $897 million was 2.8% below the comparable period of 2007 and win per unit per day was $227, compared to a win per unit per day of $256 in the first quarter of 2007. Gross non-casino revenues for the quarter were $201.6 million, a 3.3% increase from the first quarter of 2007, driven primarily by higher entertainment revenues. Hotel revenues were down 3.3% to $70.6 million during the quarter, versus $72.9 million in the first quarter of 2007. Wynn Las Vegas achieved an Average Daily Rate (ADR) of $298 for the quarter, compared to $310 in the first quarter of 2007. The property’s occupancy was 95.8%, compared to 96.2% during the prior year period, generating revenue per available room (REVPAR) of $285 in the 2008 period (4.3% below the first quarter of 2007). Food and beverage revenues decreased 0.2% to $77.2 million in the quarter, and retail revenues were $22.6 million in the quarter, compared to $21.4 million in the first quarter of 2007, an increase of 5.8%. Entertainment revenues were approximately $19.2 million compared to $10.9 million in the first quarter of 2007 as Monty Phyton’s Spamalot opened in March 2007 and Le Rêve was open for only two months in the first quarter of 2007 (remodeling of the theater). Spamalot will be closing in July 2008 and we will start the renovation of that theater into the Encore theater which will feature Danny Gans starting in February 2009. Encore at Wynn Las Vegas We are constructing Encore on approximately 20 acres on the Las Vegas Strip, immediately adjacent to Wynn Las Vegas. Encore includes a 2,034 all-suite hotel tower, an approximately 72,000 square foot casino, additional convention and meeting space, as well as restaurants, a nightclub, swimming pools, a spa and salon and retail outlets. Encore is expected to open in December 2008. Our project budget is approximately $2.2 billion for Encore and related capital improvements. As of March 31, 2008, we had incurred approximately $1.2 billion of project costs related to the development and construction of Encore and related capital improvements. Wynn Macau First Quarter Results In the first quarter of 2008, Wynn Macau generated Net Revenues of $491.5 million compared to $304.6 million for the first quarter of 2007. Adjusted property EBITDA increased 63.8% to $129.4 million (with a 26.3% EBITDA margin on net revenue) compared to $79.0 million in the first quarter of 2007. In December 2007, we completed the Wynn Macau expansion, adding approximately 75,000 square feet of gaming space and 20,000 square feet of retail space including 11 new boutiques. The following table games results are segregated into two distinct reporting categories, the VIP segment and the mass market segment. Table games turnover in the VIP segment increased 104.7% to $14.8 billion for the period, compared to $7.2 billion for the first quarter of 2007. VIP table games win as a percentage of turnover (calculated before discounts and commissions) was 3.0%, at the top end of the expected range of 2.7% to 3.0% and lower than the 3.3% in the comparable period of 2007. Table games drop in the mass market category was approximately $592.7 million during the period, a 16.9% increase from $506.9 million in the first quarter of 2007. Mass market table games win percentage (calculated before discounts) of 19.7% was within the property’s range of 18% to 20% and was higher than the 18.2% in the first quarter of 2007. Slot machine win increased 98.4% compared to the first quarter of 2007. Win per unit per day was $310, a 31.6% decline from the first quarter of 2007 due to the increase in the number of slot machines from 433 to 1,243 slots. Wynn Macau achieved an Average Daily Rate (ADR) of $276 for the quarter, compared to $245 in the first quarter of 2007. The property’s occupancy was 88.5%, compared to 84.8% during the prior year period, generating revenue per available room (REVPAR) of $244 in the 2008 period (17.3% higher than in 2007). Encore at Wynn Macau Wynn Macau currently features approximately 600 hotel rooms and suites, 380 table games and 1,240 slot machines in 205,000 square feet of casino gaming space, five restaurants, a spa and salon, lounges, meeting facilities and 46,000 square feet of retail space. Encore at Wynn Macau (previously known as Wynn Diamond) will add approximately 400 luxury suites and four villas along with restaurants, additional retail and gaming space. We commenced construction of Encore at Wynn Macau in 2007, and expect the property to open in the first half of 2010. As of March 31, 2008, we have incurred $75.8 million of an expected $600 million budget associated with the construction of Encore at Wynn Macau. Other Factors Affecting Earnings Interest expense, net of $16.9 million in capitalized interest, was $45.3 million for the first quarter of 2008. Depreciation and amortization expenses were $62.7 million and Encore at Wynn Las Vegas pre-opening expenses were $5.3 million during the quarter. Corporate expense and other was $14.1 million in the first quarter, including $3.4 million in stock based compensation. Property charges of $24.3 million are primarily related to write-offs associated with Spamalot at Wynn Las Vegas, which will close in July 2008. During the quarter, we recorded a $4.7 million tax benefit primarily resulting from pre-opening expenses associated with the development of Encore at Wynn Las Vegas and the higher earnings contribution of Wynn Macau, the earnings of which are neither taxable in the U.S. nor Macau. Balance Sheet and Capital Expenditures Our total cash balances at the end of the quarter were $1.5 billion, including unrestricted cash balances of $1.2 billion and cash balances restricted for construction and development and stock repurchases of $290.5 million. Total debt outstanding at the end of the quarter was $3.7 billion, including approximately $2.1 billion of Wynn Las Vegas debt, $551 million of Wynn Macau related debt and $1.0 billion at Wynn Resorts, Limited. Capital expenditures during the first quarter of 2008, net of changes in construction payables and retention, totaled approximately $280 million, primarily attributable to Encore at Wynn Las Vegas. Conference Call Information The Company will hold a conference call to discuss its results on Thursday, May 1st, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. PT (4:30 p.m. ET). Interested parties are invited to join the call by accessing a live audio webcast at http://www.wynnresorts.com (Investor Relations). Forward-looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements regarding operating trends and future results of operations. Such forward-looking information involves important risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect anticipated results in the future and, accordingly, such results may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by us. The risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, competition in the casino/hotel and resorts industries, the Company’s brief operating history, the Company’s dependence on existing management, levels of travel, leisure and casino spending, general domestic or international economic conditions, and changes in gaming laws or regulations. Additional information concerning potential factors that could affect the Company's financial results is included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and the Company's other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company is under no obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Non-GAAP financial measures (1) "Adjusted property EBITDA” is earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, pre-opening costs, property charges and other, corporate expenses, stock-based compensation, and other non-operating income and expenses. Adjusted property EBITDA is presented exclusively as a supplemental disclosure because management believes that it is widely used to measure the performance, and as a basis for valuation, of gaming companies. Management uses adjusted property EBITDA as a measure of the operating performance of its segments and to compare the operating performance of its properties with those of its competitors. The Company also presents adjusted property EBITDA because it is used by some investors as a way to measure a company’s ability to incur and service debt, make capital expenditures and meet working capital requirements. Gaming companies have historically reported EBITDA as a supplement to financial measures in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP”). In order to view the operations of their casinos on a more stand-alone basis, gaming companies, including Wynn Resorts, Limited, have historically excluded from their EBITDA calculations pre-opening expenses, property charges and corporate expenses, that do not relate to the management of specific casino properties. However, adjusted property EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to operating income as an indicator of the Company’s performance, as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities as a measure of liquidity, or as an alternative to any other measure determined in accordance with GAAP. Unlike net income, adjusted property EBITDA does not include depreciation or interest expense and therefore does not reflect current or future capital expenditures or the cost of capital. The Company compensates for these limitations by using adjusted property EBITDA as only one of several comparative tools, together with GAAP measurements, to assist in the evaluation of operating performance. Such GAAP measurements include operating income (loss), net income, cash flows from operations and cash flow data. The Company has significant uses of cash flows, including capital expenditures, interest payments, debt principal repayments, taxes and other non-recurring charges, which are not reflected in adjusted property EBITDA. Also, Wynn Resorts’ calculation of adjusted property EBITDA may be different from the calculation methods used by other companies and, therefore, comparability may be limited. The Company has included schedules in the tables that accompany this release that reconcile (i) net income to adjusted net income, and (ii) operating income (loss) to adjusted property EBITDA and adjusted property EBITDA to net income. (2) Adjusted net income is net income before pre-opening costs, property charges and other, and other non-cash non-operating income and expenses. Adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share ("EPS”) are presented as supplemental disclosures because management believes that these financial measures are widely used to measure the performance, and as a principal basis for valuation, of gaming companies. These measures are used by management and/or evaluated by some investors, in addition to income and EPS computed in accordance with GAAP, as an additional basis for assessing period-to-period results of our business. Adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share may be different from the calculation methods used by other companies and, therefore, comparability may be limited. WYNN RESORTS, LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (amounts in thousands, except per share data) (unaudited)     Three Months Ended March 31, 2008 2007   Operating revenues: Casino $ 591,771 $ 457,192 Rooms 85,262 85,291 Food and beverage 91,065 87,883 Entertainment, retail and other   68,154     52,205   Gross revenues 836,252 682,571 Less: promotional allowances   (57,546 )   (47,254 ) Net revenues   778,706     635,317     Operating costs and expenses: Casino 388,378 264,725 Rooms 20,331 20,976 Food and beverage 51,671 54,255 Entertainment, retail and other 44,617 35,101 General and administrative 79,262 78,166 Provision for doubtful accounts 11,522 7,741 Pre-opening costs 5,323 1,836 Depreciation and amortization 62,732 51,524 Property charges and other   24,267     13,269   Total operating costs and expenses 688,103 527,593   Equity in income from unconsolidated affiliates   808     455     Operating income   91,411     108,179     Other income (expense): Interest income and other 11,074 12,100 Interest expense (45,268 ) (37,673 ) Decrease in swap fair value (15,212 ) (475 ) Loss from extinguishment of debt   -     (157 ) Other income (expense), net   (49,406 )   (26,205 )   Income before income taxes 42,005 81,974   Benefit (provision) for income taxes   4,712     (23,569 )   Net income $ 46,717   $ 58,405       Basic and diluted income per common share: Net income: Basic $ 0.42 $ 0.58 Diluted(a) $ 0.41 $ 0.54 Weighted average common shares outstanding: Basic 112,413 101,402 Diluted 113,648 112,348   (a) Diluted earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2007 includes the assumption that the convertible subordinated debentures were converted into shares of common stock. Accordingly, net income used in the computation of diluted earnings per share is increased by approximately $2.3 million of net interest attributable to these debentures for the three months ended March 31, 2007.     WYNN RESORTS, LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO ADJUSTED NET INCOME (amounts in thousands) (unaudited)     Three Months Ended March 31, 2008 2007   Net income $ 46,717 $ 58,405 Pre-opening costs 5,323 1,836 Loss from extinguishment of debt - 157 Decrease in swap fair value 15,212 475 Property charges and other 24,267 13,269 Adjustment for income taxes   (13,325 )   (1,503 ) Adjusted net income (2) $ 78,194   $ 72,639       Adjusted net income per diluted share(a) $ 0.69   $ 0.67     (a) Diluted adjusted net income per share for the three months ended March 31, 2007 includes the assumption that the convertible subordinated debentures were converted into shares of common stock. Accordingly, adjusted net income used in the computation of diluted adjusted net income per share is increased by approximately $2.3 million, of net interest attributable to these debentures.     WYNN RESORTS, LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING INCOME (LOSS) TO ADJUSTED PROPERTY EBITDA AND ADJUSTED PROPERTY EBITDA TO NET INCOME (amounts in thousands) (unaudited)         Three Months Ended March 31, 2008 Wynn Las Vegas Wynn Macau Corporate and Other Total   Operating income (loss) $ (8,592 ) $ 80,328 $ 19,675 $ 91,411   Pre-opening costs 5,311 1 11 5,323 Depreciation and amortization 39,480 22,613 639 62,732 Property charges and other 20,513 3,648 106 24,267 Corporate expense, management fees, royalties and other 9,760 22,255 (21,333 ) 10,682 Stock-based compensation 1,966 550 902 3,418         Adjusted Property EBITDA (1) $ 68,438   $ 129,395 $ -   $ 197,833       Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 Wynn Las Vegas Wynn Macau Corporate and Other Total   Operating income $ 59,014 $ 41,060 $ 8,105 $ 108,179   Pre-opening costs 1,533 283 20 1,836 Depreciation and amortization 36,070 14,633 821 51,524 Property charges and other 1,104 11,665 500 13,269 Corporate expense, management fees, royalties and other 11,297 10,840 (11,168 ) 10,969 Stock-based compensation 2,209 529 1,722 4,460         Adjusted Property EBITDA (1) $ 111,227   $ 79,010 $ -   $ 190,237       Three Months Ended March 31, 2008 2007 Adjusted Property EBITDA (1) $ 197,833 $ 190,237   Pre-opening costs (5,323 ) (1,836 ) Depreciation and amortization (62,732 ) (51,524 ) Property charges and other (24,267 ) (13,269 ) Corporate expenses and other (10,682 ) (10,969 ) Stock-based compensation (3,418 ) (4,460 ) Interest income and other 11,074 12,100 Interest expense (45,268 ) (37,673 ) Decrease in swap fair value (15,212 ) (475 ) Loss from extinguishment of debt - (157 ) Benefit (provision) for income taxes 4,712 (23,569 )     Net income $ 46,717   $ 58,405       WYNN RESORTS, LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES SUPPLEMENTAL DATA SCHEDULE   Three Months Ended March 31, 2008   March 31, 2007 Room Statistics for Wynn Las Vegas: Occupancy % 95.8 % 96.2 % Average Daily Rate (ADR)1 $ 298 $ 310 Revenue per available room (REVPAR)2 $ 285 $ 298   Other information for Wynn Las Vegas: Table games win per unit per day3 $ 8,632 $ 12,762 Table Win % 19.9 % 27.6 % Slot machine win per unit per day4 $ 227 $ 256 Average number of table games 135 132 Average number of slot machines 1,925 1,936   Room Statistics for Wynn Macau: Occupancy % 88.5 % 84.8 % Average Daily Rate (ADR)1 $ 276 $ 245 Revenue per available room (REVPAR)2 $ 244 $ 208   Other information for Wynn Macau: Table games win per unit per day3 $ 16,194 $ 15,369 Slot machine win per unit per day4 $ 310 $ 453 Average number of table games 382 241 Average number of slot machines 1,243 433   1 ADR is Average Daily Rate and is calculated by dividing total room revenue (less service charges, if any) by total rooms occupied. 2 REVPAR is Revenue per Available Room and is calculated by dividing total room revenue by total rooms available. 3 Table games win per unit per day is shown before discounts and commissions. 4 Slot machine win per unit per day is net of participation fees and progressive accruals.