Casino Operator Stocks Q4 Results: Benchmarking Boyd Gaming (NYSE:BYD)

Casino Operator Stocks Q4 Results: Benchmarking Boyd Gaming (NYSE:BYD)

As the Q4 earnings season comes to a close, it’s time to take stock of this quarter’s best and worst performers in the casino operator industry, including Boyd Gaming (NYSE:BYD) and its peers.

Casino operators enjoy limited competition because gambling is a highly regulated industry. These companies can also enjoy healthy margins and profits. Have you ever heard the phrase ‘the house always wins’? Regulation cuts both ways, however, and casinos may face stroke-of-the-pen risk that suddenly limits what they can or can't do and where they can do it. Furthermore, digitization is changing the game, pun intended. Whether it’s online poker or sports betting on your smartphone, innovation is forcing these players to adapt to changing consumer preferences, such as being able to wager anywhere on demand.

The 9 casino operator stocks we track reported a mixed Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 0.9%.

Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 12.6% since the latest earnings results.

Boyd Gaming (NYSE:BYD)

Run by the Boyd family, Boyd Gaming (NYSE:BYD) is a diversified operator of gaming entertainment properties across the United States, offering casino games, hotel accommodations, and dining.

Boyd Gaming reported revenues of $1.04 billion, up 9.1% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 4%. Overall, it was a strong quarter for the company with a decent beat of analysts’ EPS and EBITDA estimates.

Keith Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boyd Gaming, said: "Our Company continued to deliver solid results in the fourth quarter, consistent with our strong full-year performance. Our diversified business model, strong operating efficiencies and contributions from our recent property investments drove revenue and EBITDAR growth on a Companywide basis during the fourth quarter, as we maintained property-level operating margins of over 40%. We also continued our balanced approach to capital allocation throughout 2024, investing in our properties nationwide, returning nearly $750 million to shareholders, and maintaining the strongest balance sheet in our Company's history. As we mark the conclusion of another successful year, we are proud of the strong foundation we have built and are confident in our strategy to deliver long-term value for our shareholders."

Casino Operator Stocks Q4 Results: Benchmarking Boyd Gaming (NYSE:BYD)

The stock is down 16% since reporting and currently trades at $66.02.

Is now the time to buy Boyd Gaming? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free .

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