HSBC Research Maintains Buy Ratings on SANDS CHINA LTD, GALAXY ENT, and MGM CHINA; Spring Festival Visitor Numbers Show Strong Travel Spending Resilience
Macau's GGR Performance: Macau's gross gaming revenue (GGR) for the first 22 days of February reached MOP14.3 billion, averaging MOP786 million per day, with a notable increase during the Chinese New Year Golden Week.
Daily GGR Trends: The average daily GGR was initially sluggish but accelerated to MOP1.2-1.3 billion in the last three days of the period, reflecting a 10-15% increase compared to the same timeframe last year.
Citi's GGR Forecast Adjustment: Citi has lowered its GGR forecast for Macau in February to MOP19.5 billion, indicating a more cautious outlook.
Stock Performance Overview: The report includes stock performance data for major gaming companies in Macau, highlighting short selling ratios and price changes for companies like Galaxy Entertainment, MGM China, Sands China, SJM Holdings, and Wynn Macau.
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Macau's GGR Performance: Macau's gross gaming revenue (GGR) for the first eight days of March was MOP5.65 billion, showing a 33% week-over-week decline, but if the daily average GGR remains between MOP680 million and MOP730 million, March's total GGR could reach MOP21.3-22.4 billion, reflecting an 8-14% year-over-year growth.
HSBC's Ratings on Casino Stocks: HSBC Global Research maintained a "Buy" rating on SANDS CHINA LTD with a target price of $22.5, citing ongoing initiatives to sustain market share, while also expressing optimism for GALAXY ENT and MGM CHINA, with target prices of $49 and $17, respectively.
Stock Performance: Several casino stocks in Hong Kong showed positive gains, with Galaxy Entertainment up by 1.895% and MGM China by 1.751%.
Short Selling Data: Galaxy Entertainment had the highest short selling amount at $40.21M, while MGM China had the highest short selling ratio at 58.844%.
Analyst Ratings: UBS upgraded Sands China Ltd and Melco International Development to "Buy" while maintaining a 5% GGR growth forecast for the year.
Current Ratings: SJM Holdings and Wynn Macau are rated as "Hold," with target prices of 2.2 and 6.5 respectively.

Market Performance: The Hang Seng Index (HSI) fell by 656 points (2.5%) to 25,101, while the Hang Seng Tech Index (HSTI) and the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI) also experienced declines of 2.3% and 1.8%, respectively.
Notable Stock Movements: Major companies like PING AN, BABA, and TENCENT saw significant drops in their stock prices, with PING AN down 5% and BABA down 4%. Conversely, CNOOC experienced a notable increase of 7%, reaching a new high.
Short Selling Activity: High short selling ratios were observed across various stocks, with notable figures including SHK PPT at 47.783% and Meituan at 26.644%, indicating increased bearish sentiment among investors.
Sector Highlights: While many stocks faced declines, some, like YANCOAL AUS and YANKUANG ENERGY, reported gains, with YANCOAL AUS up 8.4%, reflecting a mixed performance across different sectors in the market.
Stock Ratings and Target Prices: Various companies in the gaming sector have received updated ratings and target prices, with Melco Resorts rated as "Buy" and Sands China downgraded from "Neutral" to "Buy".
Short Selling Data: Significant short selling activity is noted across several companies, with Sands China experiencing the highest short selling ratio at 52.992%.
Market Performance: Most companies listed, including Galaxy Entertainment and MGM China, have seen declines in their stock prices, with Galaxy down by 4.522%.
Analyst Recommendations: CLSA has highlighted Galaxy Entertainment and MGM China as top picks following a positive report on Macau's gaming revenue for February.

Market Performance: The Hang Seng Index (HSI) fell by 717 points (2.8%) to 25,051, while the Hang Seng Tech Index (HSTI) and the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI) also experienced declines of 2.0% and 2.4%, respectively.
Notable Stock Movements: Major companies like Ping An, Alibaba, and AIA saw significant drops in their stock prices, with Ping An down 4.6% and Alibaba down 4.2%.
Short Selling Activity: High short selling volumes were reported for several stocks, including Alibaba ($1.56B) and Tencent ($1.91B), indicating bearish sentiment among investors.
Gainers and Losers: While many stocks declined, XIAOMI showed a slight increase of 1.5%, and XXF surged by 22.8%, contrasting with significant losses from companies like DALIPAL HLDG and COSCO SHIP ENGY, which dropped over 10%.

Macau Gaming Revenue: Macau's GGR for February reached MOP20.6 billion, reflecting a 4% year-over-year increase and a 1% month-over-month increase, although it fell short of market estimates.
Broker Insights: Jefferies reported a preference for premium operators like GALAXY ENT and Wynn Resorts, despite the GGR data being below initial market expectations.
Visitor Activity: HSBC Research maintained a Buy rating on GALAXY ENT, citing strong visitor and commercial activity during the Lunar New Year, indicating resilience in travel spending.
Market Performance: The report noted short selling activity of $188.25 million with a ratio of 36.397%, highlighting ongoing market dynamics.







