Monarch Casino & Resort Reports Record First Quarter 2024 Financial Results
- Monarch Casino & Resort reported a 4.3% increase in net revenue to $121.7 million for the first quarter of 2024 compared to the prior year.
- Adjusted EBITDA rose by 5.7% to $38.5 million in the same period.
- The company declared a cash dividend of $0.30 per share, payable on June 15, 2024.
- CEO John Farahi emphasized revenue growth at Monarch Black Hawk and ongoing property enhancements at Atlantis.
- Monarch Casino & Resort remains focused on operational efficiency, capital investments, and potential M&A transactions to drive long-term value for stockholders.
- None.
Insights
Monarch Casino & Resort's disclosure of a 4.3% increase in net revenue coupled with a 3.4% rise in net income for Q1 2024 signifies a steady advancement in its business operations, possibly reflecting robust demand and effective market penetration strategies. The company's emphasis on its Black Hawk property's market share growth indicates a strategic focus that can yield a competitive edge in the greater Denver area. Additionally, the 5.7% growth in adjusted EBITDA demonstrates a commendable operational efficiency, which is often a positive indicator for investors seeking stability and growth potential.
However, investors should note the uptick in SG&A expenses by 1.8 percentage points as a fraction of net revenue and the increased casino operating expenses, which hint at possible pressures on profitability margins. This rise in costs, especially labor expenses, may require careful management to maintain profitability in the face of wage inflation or labor market tightness. The declaration of a $0.30 per share dividend reflects confidence in the company's liquidity and commitment to shareholder returns, which is reassuring but should be weighed against the importance of reinvesting in the business to sustain long-term growth. The stock repurchase activity could indicate management's belief that the stock is undervalued or a strategic move to increase earnings per share.
The hospitality and gaming sector, where Monarch Casino & Resort operates, is highly sensitive to broader economic conditions, including consumer discretionary spending. Monarch's successful quarter, with particular strength in the hotel segment (8.4% revenue growth), suggests the company is effectively capitalizing on current market conditions. The improvement in the hotel operating expense ratio from 41.3% to 35.6% is particularly noteworthy, as it indicates enhanced profitability from this segment, likely driven by a higher Average Daily Rate and improved cost management. Such data points are essential as they demonstrate Monarch's ability to manage expenses effectively, which is a critical element in the highly competitive hotel industry.
For retail investors, the continued investment in property enhancement, such as the redesign and upgrade of rooms, signals ongoing commitment to maintaining high standards and competitiveness. This can be a dual-edged sword; while it may lead to higher future income, it requires significant capital expenditure, which may impact the company’s cash reserves or lead to higher levels of debt if financed externally.
Declares Cash Dividend of
RENO, Nev., April 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. (Nasdaq: MCRI) (“Monarch,” “we,” “our,” or “the Company”) today reported operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024, as summarized below:
| ($ in thousands, except per share data and percentages) | |||||||||||
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | Increase | |||||||||
| Net revenue | $ | 121,657 | $ | 116,644 | |||||||
| Net income | 18,275 | 17,670 | |||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA (1) | $ | 38,548 | $ | 36,480 | |||||||
| Basic EPS | $ | 0.95 | $ | 0.92 | |||||||
| Diluted EPS (1) | $ | 0.93 | $ | 0.90 | |||||||
| (1) Definitions, disclosures and reconciliations of non-GAAP financial information are included later in the release. | |||||||||||
CEO Comment
John Farahi, Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Monarch, commented: “In the first quarter of 2024 net revenue and adjusted EBITDA grew to all-time first quarter records of
“Monarch Black Hawk generated revenue growth across all its business segments and expanded its adjusted EBITDA margin. The property continues to grow its market share, particularly among mid- and upper-tier players. The exceptional product quality, combined with our team’s operational excellence, is creating unparalleled guest experiences in the market and establishing the property as the leading casino resort in the greater Denver market.
“At Atlantis, our primary focus remains the ongoing enhancement of the property. While Reno remains a very competitive market, we believe our focus on operational efficiency and property enhancement through major capital investments will keep us competitive and will be financially rewarding over the long-term. We are on track to bring into operation another 125 redesigned and upgraded rooms by the end of the second quarter in 2024.
“With a strong balance sheet, we are favorably positioned to continue investing in our properties, paying cash dividends, and buying back stock under our existing stock repurchase authorization. We continue to diligently evaluate potential M&A transactions, which can drive additional attractive long-term value for our stockholders.”
Summary of 2024 First Quarter Operating Results
In the 2024 first quarter, the Company generated net revenue of
Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses for the first quarter of 2024 were
Income from operations for the first quarter of 2024 increased
Credit Facility and Liquidity
As of March 31, 2024, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of
Capital expenditures of
On March 15, 2024, the Company paid a cash dividend of
In the first quarter of 2024, the Company purchased 281,708 shares of its common stock on the open market for an aggregate amount of
Quarterly Dividend Declaration
The Company announced today a cash dividend of
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "plan," "believe," "expect," "seem," "look," "look forward," "positioning," "future," "will," "confident" and similar references to future periods. Example of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding: (i) the continuing strength of our balance sheet and our expected free cash flow; (ii) our expectations regarding continuing our dividend payments in the future; (iii) our expectations regarding the cash flow we expect generate to fund our one-time cash dividend to stockholders; (iv) our beliefs regarding the strengths of the local markets we serve in Reno and Black Hawk; (v) our expectations regarding the completion of room renovations at the Atlantis; and (vi) our beliefs regarding the impact of our capital investment strategy on our long term success. Actual results and future events and conditions may differ materially from those described in any forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in the forward-looking statements include, without limitation:
- adverse impacts of outbreaks of contagious diseases on our business, financial condition and operating results;
- actions taken by government officials at the federal, state and/or local level with respect to the containment of disease outbreaks, including, without limitation, temporary or extended shutdowns, travel restrictions, social distancing and shelter-in-place orders;
- our ability to manage guest safety concerns in connection with an outbreak of contagious diseases;
- our ability to maintain compliance with the terms and conditions of our credit facilities and other material contracts in the event of any unexpected or unplanned events, such as temporary or extended shutdowns;
- access to available and reasonable financing on a timely basis;
- our ability to maintain strong working relationships with our regulators, employees, lenders, suppliers, insurance carriers, customers, and other stakeholders;
- impacts of any uninsured losses;
- changes in guest visitation or spending patterns due to economic conditions, health or other concerns;
- construction factors, including delays, disruptions, availability of labor and materials, increased costs of labor and materials, contractor disagreements, zoning issues, environmental restrictions, soil and water conditions, weather and other hazards, site access matters, building permit issues and other regulatory approvals or issues;
- ongoing disagreements over costs of and responsibility for delays and other construction related matters with our general contractor at Monarch Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk, PCL Construction Services, Inc., including, as previously reported, the litigation against us by such contractor;
- claims for construction defects, breach of contract, breach of warranty, fraud, fraudulent inducement, negligence or other construction related claims that we may have in connection with construction and completion of Monarch Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk and any adverse impacts on operations required to correct the same;
- the outcome of our litigation against the general contractor of Monarch Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk, PCL Construction Services, Inc., in the above-mentioned litigation in which litigation the parties are currently awaiting the Court’s decision following the trial on the matter;
- our potential need to post bonds or other forms of surety to support our legal remedies;
- risks related to development and construction activities (including disputes with and defaults by contractors and subcontractors; construction, equipment or staffing problems and delays; shortages of materials or skilled labor; environmental, health and safety issues; weather and other hazards, site access matters, and unanticipated cost increases);
- our ability to generate sufficient operating cash flow to help finance our expansion plans and any subsequent debt reduction;
- changes in laws mandating increases in minimum wages and employee benefits;
- changes in laws and regulations permitting expanded and other forms of gaming in our key markets;
- the effects of local and national economic, credit and capital market conditions on the economy in general and on the gaming industry and our business in particular, including predictions for a potential recession;
- the effects of labor shortages on our market position, growth and financial results;
- the potential of increases in state and federal taxation;
- potential of increased regulatory and other burdens;
- guest acceptance of our expanded facilities once completed and the resulting impact on our market position, growth and financial results;
- competition in our target market areas;
- broad-based inflation, including wage inflation; and
- the impact of the conflicts taking place in Ukraine and Israel.
Additional information concerning potential factors that could adversely affect all forward-looking statements, including the Company's financial results, is included in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, which are available on our website at www.monarchcasino.com.
About Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc.
Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc., through its subsidiaries, owns and operates the Monarch Casino Resort Spa ("Monarch Black Hawk") in Black Hawk, Colorado, approximately 40 miles west of Denver and the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa ("Atlantis"), a hotel/casino facility in Reno, Nevada. For additional information on Monarch, visit the Company's website at www.monarchcasino.com.
Monarch Black Hawk features approximately 60,000 square feet of casino space; approximately 1,000 slot machines; 43 table games; a live poker room; a keno; and a sports book. The resort also includes 10 bars and lounges, as well as four dining options: a twenty-four-hour full-service restaurant, a buffet-style restaurant, the Monarch Chophouse (a fine-dining steakhouse), and Bistro Mariposa (elevated Southwest cuisine). The resort offers 516 guest rooms and suites, banquet and meeting room space, a retail store, a concierge lounge and an upscale spa and enclosed year-round pool facility located on the top floor of the tower. The resort is connected to a nine-story parking structure with approximately 1,350 parking spaces, and additional valet parking, with total property capacity of approximately 1,500 spaces.
Atlantis features approximately 61,000 square feet of casino space; 817 guest rooms and suites; eight food outlets; two gourmet coffee and pastry bars; a 30,000 square foot health spa and salon with an enclosed year-round pool; retail outlet offering clothing and traditional gift shop merchandise; an 8,000 square-foot family entertainment center; and approximately 52,000 square feet of banquet, convention and meeting room space. The casino features approximately 1,200 slot and video poker machines; approximately 33 table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, and others; a race and sports book; a 24-hour live keno lounge; and a poker room.
Contacts:
John Farahi
Chief Executive Officer
775/824-4401 or jfarahi@monarchcasino.com
Joseph Jaffoni, Richard Land, James Leahy
JCIR
212/835-8500 or mcri@jcir.com
- financial tables follow -
| MONARCH CASINO & RESORT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME | ||||||||
| (In thousands, except per share data) | ||||||||
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| (Unaudited) | (Unaudited) | |||||||
| Revenues | ||||||||
| Casino | $ | 69,436 | $ | 66,905 | ||||
| Food and beverage | 30,163 | 29,317 | ||||||
| Hotel | 16,774 | 15,471 | ||||||
| Other | 5,284 | 4,951 | ||||||
| Net revenues | 121,657 | 116,644 | ||||||
| Operating expenses | ||||||||
| Casino | 26,352 | 25,252 | ||||||
| Food and beverage | 22,575 | 21,937 | ||||||
| Hotel | 5,978 | 6,390 | ||||||
| Other | 2,908 | 2,943 | ||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | 27,074 | 25,116 | ||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 12,487 | 11,337 | ||||||
| Other operating items, net | 473 | 510 | ||||||
| Total operating expenses | 97,847 | 93,485 | ||||||
| Income from operations | 23,810 | 23,159 | ||||||
| Interest income (expense), net | 7 | (587) | ||||||
| Income before income taxes | 23,817 | 22,572 | ||||||
| Provision for income taxes | (5,542) | (4,902) | ||||||
| Net income | $ | 18,275 | $ | 17,670 | ||||
| Earnings per share of common stock | ||||||||
| Net income | ||||||||
| Basic | $ | 0.95 | $ | 0.92 | ||||
| Diluted | $ | 0.93 | $ | 0.90 | ||||
| Weighted average number of common shares and potential common shares outstanding | ||||||||
| Basic | 19,284 | 19,215 | ||||||
| Diluted | 19,659 | 19,654 | ||||||
| MONARCH CASINO & RESORT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET | ||||||||
| (In thousands, except per share data) | ||||||||
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||
| ASSETS | (unaudited) | |||||||
| Current assets | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 39,484 | $ | 43,361 | ||||
| Receivables, net | 10,265 | 11,990 | ||||||
| Income taxes receivable | - | 1,006 | ||||||
| Inventories | 7,366 | 7,614 | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses | 9,347 | 10,995 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 66,462 | 74,966 | ||||||
| Property and equipment, net | 585,434 | 580,497 | ||||||
| Goodwill | 25,111 | 25,111 | ||||||
| Intangible assets, net | 258 | 299 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 677,265 | $ | 680,873 | ||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||||||
| Current liabilities | ||||||||
| Current maturities of long-term debt | $ | 5,500 | $ | - | ||||
| Accounts payable | 21,448 | 23,092 | ||||||
| Construction accounts payable | 47,256 | 47,566 | ||||||
| Income taxes payable | 4,536 | - | ||||||
| Accrued expenses | 50,509 | 51,812 | ||||||
| Short-term lease liability | 919 | 897 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 130,168 | 123,367 | ||||||
| Deferred income taxes | 23,084 | 23,084 | ||||||
| Long-term lease liability | 13,779 | 14,021 | ||||||
| Long-term debt | - | 5,500 | ||||||
| Other long-term liabilities | 1,321 | 1,761 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | 168,352 | 167,733 | ||||||
| Stockholders' equity | ||||||||
| Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized; none issued | - | - | ||||||
| Common stock, $.01 par value, 30,000,000 shares authorized; 19,174,278 shares issued; 18,830,036 outstanding at March 31, 2024; 19,154,031 shares issued and 19,091,497 outstanding at December 31, 2023 | 192 | 191 | ||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 51,568 | 48,821 | ||||||
| Treasury stock, 344,242 shares at March 31, 2024; 62,534 shares at December 31, 2023 | (23,292) | (3,718) | ||||||
| Retained earnings | 480,445 | 467,846 | ||||||
| Total stockholders' equity | 508,913 | 513,140 | ||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 677,265 | $ | 680,873 | ||||
| MONARCH CASINO & RESORT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES | ||||||||
| RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED EBITDA TO NET INCOME | ||||||||
| (In thousands, unaudited) | ||||||||
| The following table sets forth a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, to net income, a GAAP financial measure: | ||||||||
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Net income | $ | 18,275 | $ | 17,670 | ||||
| Expenses: | ||||||||
| Stock based compensation | 1,778 | 1,474 | ||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 12,487 | 11,337 | ||||||
| Provision for income taxes | 5,542 | 4,902 | ||||||
| Interest income (expense), net | (7) | 587 | ||||||
| Construction litigation expenses (2) | 510 | 510 | ||||||
| Gain on disposition of assets (2) | (37) | - | ||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA (1) | $ | 38,548 | $ | 36,480 | ||||
| (1) Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, consists of net income plus loss on disposal of assets, provision for income taxes, stock-based compensation expense, other one-time charges, pre-opening expenses, construction litigation expenses, acquisition expenses, interest expense, depreciation and amortization less interest income, any benefit for income taxes and gain on disposal of assets. Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an alternative to operating income (as determined in accordance with US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles), as an indicator of Monarch's operating performance, as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities (as determined in accordance with US GAAP) or as a measure of liquidity. This measure enables comparison of Monarch's performance over multiple periods, as well as against the performance of other companies in our industry that report Adjusted EBITDA, although some companies do not calculate this measure in the same manner and, therefore, the measure as presented may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. Monarch defines Adjusted EBITDA margin as Adjusted EBITDA divided by Net revenue. | ||||||||
| (2) Amount included in the “Other operating items, net” on the Consolidated Statement of Income. | ||||||||
FAQ
What was Monarch Casino & Resort's net revenue for the first quarter of 2024?
What was the percentage increase in adjusted EBITDA for Monarch Casino & Resort in the first quarter of 2024?
When is the cash dividend declared by Monarch Casino & Resort payable?
What did CEO John Farahi highlight in the PR regarding Monarch Black Hawk?
What is Monarch Casino & Resort's focus for driving long-term value for stockholders?
