Las Vegas-based Pinnacle looking to expand holdings
Pinnacle Entertainment Inc., a Las Vegas-based company that operates casinos in 10 states including rural Nevada, is looking to expand its portfolio, hinting to analysts Thursday that it would be a buyer if the right deal came along.
In a conference call with investors, company executives said they were encouraged with the results of their newest property, The Meadows Casino in Pennsylvania, and that they would look “at small or fairly large (properties) that could be transformational” to the company.
Carlos Ruisanchez, president and chief financial officer, said Pinnacle would continue to take a disciplined approach toward acquisitions.
“There have to be three key elements,” he said in response to a question from an analyst. “It’s got to be a business that has a competitive advantage in its market, it needs to be a positive fit within our portfolio and it has to be meaningful (with at least a 10 percent increase in operations.)”
Pinnacle on Thursday reported earnings of $106.5 million, 15 cents a share, on revenue of $653.6 million for the quarter that ended June 30.
The earnings failed to meet analysts’ expectations. Six analysts anticipated the company posting earnings of 22 cents a share.
The revenue was an increase of 15.4 percent and beat forecasts of four Wall Street analysts, who had predicted revenue of $645 million.
In the second quarter of 2016, the company reported a loss of $433.8 million, $8.04 a share, on revenue of $566.2 million. In that quarter, losses were attributed to Pinnacle accounting the spinoff of the sale of assets to a real estate company it formed, Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc., and a new 35-year lease agreement.
In the conference call, executives said they were encouraged by the $72.3 million revenue contribution from The Meadows, the strongest result in the three quarters the company has owned it. That could grow in the future when the company introduces its mychoice loyalty card program there next year.
Same-store revenue was up 2.7 percent, including a 5.1 percent bump in its West Region properties, the smallest of three regions, that includes Cactus Petes and the Horshu in Jackpot on the Nevada-Idaho border as well as the Ameristar Casino Resort in Black Hawk, Colorado.
The company also reported rated Asian gaming volume was up 9 percent for the quarter with the Ameristar East Chicago, Ameristar Kansas City and Ameristar St. Charles in Missouri, Boomtown New Orleans and L’Auberge Baton Rouge in Louisiana, and River City in St. Louis generating Asian gaming volume growth in excess of 20 percent.
Executives reported a new challenge at L’Auberge: The Baton Rouge City Council on Wednesday ordered a citywide indoor smoking ban beginning next summer. Company officials say competitors in the market will face the same challenge and Pinnacle is prepared to build an outdoor smoking terrace to accommodate smokers.
Executives noted they already operate smoke-free casinos in Black Hawk and its Belterra Park property in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Pinnacle shares closed down 55 cents, 2.8 percent, to $19.03 a share in heavy trading Thursday. The company’s stock price has climbed 35 percent since the beginning of the year and 73 percent over the past 12 months.
Contact Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Follow @RickVelotta on Twitter.
