Longleaf Partners Comments on Wynn Resorts
- By Holly LaFon
Wynn Resorts (WYNN) (+28%; +2.29%), the luxury gaming and hotel operator with prime real estate in Las Vegas, Macau, and Boston, was another significant contributor during the year, despite a slight retreat in the fourth quarter. The total Macau market reported higher gross gaming revenues year-over-year in most months of the second half, indicating stabilization and a return to growth. In August, the company opened the Wynn Palace in Cotai (Macau). The property has ramped up more slowly than some analysts had hoped, but Wynn has a history of careful openings and eventual success. During the fourth quarter, sentiment shifted up and down, as some positive industry level data points were offset by concerns over Chinese policy changes that could potentially impact Macau indirectly. In the U.S., Las Vegas had solid results, and the company received the final licenses necessary to begin construction of Wynn Boston Harbor, which is expected to open in 2019. Wynn also announced plans to develop part of its Las Vegas golf course property into a hotel, restaurants, and other attractions. In December, the company sold 49% of its retail assets in Las Vegas for over twenty times EBITDA, which was accretive to our value and well above where the stock trades. The sale was also further evidence of how our heavily-aligned partner, Steve Wynn, continues to build value per share and pursue value recognition for shareholders.
Warning! GuruFocus has detected 5 Warning Signs with WYNN. Click here to check it out.
The intrinsic value of WYNN
From Longleaf Partners' fourth quarter 2016 commentary.
This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
Warning! GuruFocus has detected 5 Warning Signs with WYNN. Click here to check it out.
The intrinsic value of WYNN
