Nevada Gold & Casinos Reports First Quarter 2018 Financial Results


LAS VEGAS, Sept. 14, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nevada Gold & Casinos, Inc. (NYSE MKT:UWN) today announced financial results for the first quarter ended July 31, 2017.

For the first quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company reported net revenues of $18.5 million compared to $18.2 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2017. Operating expenses were $18.2 million in both periods.  Operating income was $0.3 million compared to $0.1 million and net income was $0.1 million, or $0.01 per share, compared to a net loss of $0.1 million, or $0.01 loss per share, in the prior year period.

Net revenues from the Washington state gaming operations increased to $13.2 million from $13.1 million in the prior year period.  Business volumes were down approximately 2%, or $0.2 million, but a higher table games hold percentage, although normal, was responsible for approximately $0.3 million in additional revenue for the quarter.  Higher operating expenses, primarily payroll, caused adjusted EBITDA to decrease to $1.2 million compared to $1.4 million in the prior year. 

Club Fortune revenues increased to $3.4 million from $3.2 million in the prior year while EBITDA improved significantly to $0.5 million compared to $0.1 million.  South Dakota route revenues were $1.9 million in both periods, and adjusted EBITDA was $0.1 million in both periods.  Corporate adjusted EBITDA was negative $0.6 million in both periods and on a consolidated basis, adjusted EBITDA was $1.1 million in both periods.

“Our Washington operations faced 44 consecutive days without rain in Seattle during the quarter, on the way to an all time record of 55 days. Our customers were busy enjoying the beautiful outdoors,” said Michael P. Shaunnessy, President and CEO.  “At Club Fortune our operating and marketing initiatives continue to yield improved margins and incremental EBITDA.”

The Company’s outstanding bank debt was $12.3 million as of July 31, 2017, and unrestricted cash on hand was $8.3 million.

On July 12, 2017 the Company purchased 755,644 shares of its stock at a price of $2.15 per share which completed the initial $2.0 million authorization.  The Board has approved an additional $2.0 million share buyback.  

Conference Call and Webcast  
The Company will host a conference call at 4:30 PM ET (1:30 PM PT), today, September 14, 2017 to discuss the financial results and to provide a corporate update.   The call can be accessed live by dialing (877) 591-4953. International callers can access the call by dialing (719) 457-2628. 

A telephone replay of the conference call will be available after 7:30 PM ET and can be accessed by dialing (844) 512-2921. International callers can access the replay by dialing (412) 317-6671; the pin number is 8900356. The replay will be available through September 21, 2017.

(1) Non-GAAP Information
The term "adjusted EBITDA" is used by us in presentations, quarterly earnings calls, and other instances as appropriate.  Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, non-cash goodwill and other long-lived asset impairment charges, write-offs of project development costs, litigation charges, non-cash stock grants, non-cash employee stock purchase plan discounts, exclusion of net income or loss from operations held for sale, and net losses/gains from asset dispositions. Adjusted EBITDA does not take into account greater or less than expected hold percentages in the gaming operations. Adjusted EBITDA is presented because it is a required component of financial ratios reported by us to our lenders, and it is also frequently used by securities analysts, investors, and other interested parties, in addition to and not in lieu of, U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") results to compare to the performance of other companies that also publicize this information.  Adjusted EBITDA is not a measurement of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income as an indicator of our operating performance or any other measure of performance derived in accordance with GAAP.

The following table reconciles net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended July 31, 2017 and 2016:

 
                          For the three months ended
  July 31, 2017 July 31, 2016
       
Net income (loss) $124,002 $(99,573)
Adjustments:      
Net interest expense and change in swap fair value     152,015  217,730 
Income tax expense (benefit)  60,332  (47,988)
Depreciation and amortization  711,436  776,512 
Acquisition expenses  -     113,900 
Stock compensation  62,290  72,463 
Loss on sale of assets  -     8,371 
Amortization of deferred rent  724  12,498 
Adjusted EBITDA $1,110,799 $1,053,913 
       

Forward-Looking Statements  
This release contains forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We use words such as "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "future," "intend," "plan," and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, our ability to increase income streams, to grow revenue and earnings, and to obtain additional gaming and other projects. These statements are only predictions and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which are identified and described in the Company's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Nevada Gold & Casinos  
Nevada Gold & Casinos, Inc. (NYSE MKT:UWN) of Las Vegas, Nevada is a developer, owner and operator of nine gaming operations in Washington (wagoldcasinos.com), a local casino in Henderson, Nevada (clubfortune.com) and a slot route operation in Deadwood, South Dakota (dakotaplayersclub.com). For more information, visit www.nevadagold.com.

  

Contacts:

Nevada Gold & Casinos, Inc.
Michael P. Shaunnessy / James Meier
(702) 685-1000 

Stonegate Capital Partners
Preston Graham
(972) 850-2001


Nevada Gold & Casinos, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
     
  July 31, April 30,
  2017 2017
     
   (unaudited)
   
       
ASSETS 
Current assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents $  8,286,433  $ 10,631,903 
Restricted cash    2,043,453     1,994,312 
Accounts receivable, net of allowances    837,167     808,484 
Prepaid expenses    1,875,192     1,209,507 
Notes receivable, current portion    307,120     383,093 
Inventory and other current assets    428,789     423,113 
Total current assets  13,778,154    15,450,412 
       
Real estate held for sale    750,000     750,000 
Goodwill   16,923,588    16,923,588 
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization    3,893,793     4,107,328 
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation  13,718,422    13,958,715 
Deferred tax asset    1,497,138     1,557,470 
Other assets    70,000     70,000 
Total assets $ 50,631,095   $ 52,817,513  
       
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY 
Current liabilities:      
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $1,289,222  $1,303,571 
Accrued payroll and related    1,207,431     1,925,592 
Accrued player's club points and progressive jackpots    2,354,055     2,348,068 
Total current liabilities  4,850,708   5,577,231 
Long-term debt   12,085,771    12,061,411 
Other long-term liabilities    671,797     667,110 
Total liabilities  17,608,276   18,305,752 
       
       
Stockholders' equity:      
Common stock, $0.12 par value per share; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 18,671,355 and 18,627,167 shares issued and 16,836,209 and 17,547,665 shares outstanding at July 31, 2017, and April 30, 2017, respectively  2,240,571   2,235,269 
Additional paid-in capital  27,455,708   27,449,319 
Retained earnings  12,444,816   12,320,814 
Treasury stock, 1,835,146 and 1,079,502 shares at July 31, 2017 and April 30, 2017, respectively, at cost   (9,118,276)   (7,493,641)
Total stockholders' equity  33,022,819   34,511,761 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $50,631,095  $52,817,513 
       

 

Nevada Gold & Casinos, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(unaudited)
 
   Three Months Ended
  July 31, July 31,
  2017 2016
Revenues:      
Casino $16,406,606  $16,170,503 
Food and beverage  3,159,224   3,301,393 
Other  515,404   540,716 
Gross revenues  20,081,234   20,012,612 
Less promotional allowances    (1,592,710)    (1,782,833)
Net revenues  18,488,524   18,229,779 
 Expenses:       
Casino  9,415,375   9,187,592 
Food and beverage  1,579,992   1,531,837 
Other  53,452   54,951 
Marketing and administrative  5,286,722   5,270,278 
Facility  465,814   533,336 
Corporate  639,384   796,733 
Depreciation and amortization    711,436     776,512 
Loss on disposal of assets    -      8,371 
Total operating expenses    18,152,175     18,159,610 
Operating income    336,349     70,169 
Non-operating income (expenses):      
Interest income    12,465     22,968 
Interest expense and amortization of loan issue costs    (160,515)    (189,984)
Change in swap fair value    (3,965)    (50,714)
Income (loss) before income tax expense    184,334     (147,561)
Income tax (expense) benefit    (60,332)    47,988 
Net income (loss) $  124,002  $  (99,573)
Per share information:      
Net income (loss) per common share - basic and diluted $  0.01  $  (0.01)