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Wynn Resorts Catches a Winning Hand

By Travis Hoium – Updated Apr 6, 2017 at 11:27PM

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Wynn Macau helps drive results well past expectations.

Unlike Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS), high expectations proved to be an easy hurdle for Wynn Resorts (Nasdaq: WYNN) this quarter, as gamblers continued to pour into its Macau casino.

Revenue was up 52.9% in the fourth quarter to $1.24 billion, and as expected, Macau led the way. Wynn Macau's revenue increased an incredible 79.4%, and operations from Encore at Wynn Macau helped drive gaming growth. Adjusted earnings per share of $0.91 easily passed Wall Street's expectations of $0.71, and shares have responded by surging 6% today.

As usual at a casino, a little luck usually plays a role in beating expectations. On one particularly lucky day in Macau, Wynn racked up a gaming win of $46 million in just 24 hours. Someone had to be leaving Macau in a bad mood after that!

Las Vegas continues to disappoint, with Wynn's property EBITDA of just $68.3 million -- growth of 8% -- but as long as the property stays afloat, that's all investors can really ask for. The real focus has turned to Macau.

Moving to Cotai
Speaking of which, Wynn announced that it would begin construction in March or April on a long-anticipated project on the Cotai Strip. The project will cost around $2.5 billion, and Steve Wynn, who isn't one to boast (just kidding), said everyone who sees it says, "Wow."

Ironically, the property is now the site of a landfill, so Wynn is turning garbage into gold in his own way. Since it's just a pile-o-junk right now, the site will need lots of work before real construction begins, and the project isn't likely to be completed until late 2014 or early 2015. Investors have a long wait to see how Wynn can perform on the Cotai Strip, but that wait should be worth it.

Las Vegas Sands and Melco Crown (Nasdaq: MPEL) have both had lots of success on the Cotai Strip. With MGM Resorts (NYSE: MGM) and Wynn opening properties there over the next few years, the area will become an even more attractive destination and the pulse of gaming in Macau.

Interested in reading more about Wynn Resorts? Click here to add it to My Watchlist, which will find all of our Foolish analysis on this stock.

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Fool contributor Travis Hoium is short put options on Melco Crown. You can follow Travis on Twitter at @FlushDrawFool, check out his personal stock holdings or follow his CAPS picks at TMFFlushDraw.

Melco Crown Entertainment is a Motley Fool Global Gains selection. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Stocks Mentioned

Melco Crown Entertainment Limited Stock Quote
Melco Crown Entertainment Limited
MLCO
$5.30 (1.73%) $0.09
Las Vegas Sands Stock Quote
Las Vegas Sands
LVS
$35.47 (0.51%) $0.18
MGM Resorts International Stock Quote
MGM Resorts International
MGM
$30.05 (-1.83%) $0.56
Wynn Resorts, Limited Stock Quote
Wynn Resorts, Limited
WYNN
$59.65 (-0.90%) $0.54

*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.

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