News

Macau GGR Growth: Macau experienced significant growth in gross gaming revenue (GGR) at the beginning of 2026, averaging MOP693 million per day for the week ending January 11, marking an 18% year-over-year increase, with expectations of 15-21% growth for the entire month.
Investor Preferences: Despite the positive GGR data, investors have shifted their focus towards US regional gaming stocks, although Jefferies believes that Macau-based stocks have stronger fundamentals compared to their counterparts.
Broker Recommendations: Jefferies continues to favor stocks such as Wynn (WYNN.US) and Las Vegas Sands (LVS.US) in the US market, along with Galaxy Entertainment (00027.HK) and Sands China Ltd (01928.HK) in Hong Kong.
Short Selling Data: Recent short selling data indicates significant activity in Hong Kong stocks, with Galaxy Entertainment and Sands China Ltd experiencing notable short selling ratios and amounts.

Salary Increases: SANDS CHINA LTD will raise salaries for 99% of its employees starting in March, with full-time staff earning up to MOP16,000 receiving a MOP500 increase, and those earning more than MOP16,000 getting a 2% raise.
Performance Bonuses: Eligible full-time employees will receive performance bonuses on February 6, with non-management staff getting one month's salary and management bonuses based on company performance and individual appraisals.

Macau Gaming Industry Growth: The Macau gaming industry's EBITDA is projected to grow by 14% year-over-year in Q4 2025, while Sands China Ltd is expected to see only an 8% increase due to higher operational expenses from recent events.
Impact on Sands China Stock: Citi's report suggests that Sands China's lower-than-average EBITDA growth could result in a short-term decline in its stock price, despite maintaining a "Buy" rating with a target price of HKD 24.25.

Citi's EBITDA Forecast: Citi projects a 13% year-over-year increase in industry EBITDA for casino stocks, reaching USD2.246 billion, driven by a 15% rise in quarterly GGR and a slight increase in EBITDA margin to 27.5%.
Market Share Changes: GALAXY ENT and MGM CHINA are expected to show the largest quarter-over-quarter market share improvements, while SJM HOLDINGS is likely to experience the most significant market share loss due to satellite casino closures.
Investment Ratings: Citi has provided updated investment ratings and target prices for various casino stocks, with GALAXY ENT rated as a "Buy" with a target price of HKD54, while SJM HOLDINGS is rated as a "Sell" with a target price of HKD2.23.
Short Selling Data: The report includes short selling data for the stocks mentioned, indicating varying levels of short interest, with SANDS CHINA LTD having the highest short selling ratio at 14.120%.

Macau Gaming Industry Growth: Macau's gaming industry experienced a 15% growth in GGR, with CLSA projecting a 16% YoY increase in industry EBITDA for 4Q25, reaching USD2.2 billion.
Revenue Shares and Short Selling: CLSA estimates revenue shares for major companies like GALAXY ENT, SANDS CHINA, and MGM CHINA to increase YoY, while also noting significant short selling activity for these stocks.
Earnings Forecast Adjustments: CLSA revised its earnings forecasts based on actual GGR data, lowering WYNN MACAU's target price while raising GALAXY ENT's, both still rated as Outperform.
Top Picks: GALAXY ENT and MGM CHINA are highlighted as CLSA's top picks in the industry, with investor focus shifting towards EBITDA profit margins and dividends ahead of results releases.
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