PENN Entertainment Reports Fourth Quarter Results

PENN Entertainment, Inc. (“PENN” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: PENN) today reported financial results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2022.

2022 Fourth Quarter Highlights:

• Revenues of $1.6 billion, an increase of 0.8% year-over-year;
• Net income of $20.8 million and net income margin of 1.3%, as compared to net income of $44.8 million and net income margin of 2.8% in the prior year;
• Adjusted EBITDAR of $468.3 million, a decrease of 2.5% year-over-year;
• Adjusted EBITDA of $438.3 million an increase of 18.8% year-over-year; and
• Adjusted EBITDAR margins of 29.5%, a decline of 110bps year-over-year.
• Omni-Channel, Tech-Forward Engagement Delivering Tangible Benefits
• Strong Conclusion to Fourth Quarter Retail Operations; Momentum Continues Into January
• Interactive Segment Achieves Profitable Quarter
• Repurchased $91.0 million of Common Stock at an Average Price of $31.69 Under the February 2022 Share Repurchase Authorization
• Initiates 2023 Guidance – Full Year Revenue Range of $6.15 billion to $6.58 billion and Adjusted EBITDAR Range of $1.875 billion to $2.0 billion

For further information, the Company has posted a presentation to its website regarding the fourth quarter highlights and accomplishments, which can be found here.

Jay Snowden, Chief Executive Officer and President, commented: “2022 was a solid year for PENN despite ongoing macroeconomic headwinds. I’m proud of PENN’s numerous financial and operational achievements in the past year as well as our continued progress on the ESG front. We remained focused on executing our leading omni-channel strategy, which drove database growth and further engagement with our expanding 21-44 year old cohort. Fourth quarter revenues of $1.6 billion and Adjusted EBITDAR of $468.3 million were impacted by severe weather in certain parts of the country in December. Importantly, we also achieved profitability in our Interactive segment notwithstanding an unfavorable sports betting outcome in the World Series. The quarter ended on a high note with strong performance between Christmas and New Year’s across the portfolio, which has continued through January. In 2023, we have numerous near-term growth opportunities, including the transition of the Barstool Sportsbook to our own proprietary technology platform in the U.S. this summer. For 2023, we are guiding to a revenue range of $6.15 billion to $6.58 billion and an Adjusted EBITDAR range of $1.875 billion to $2.0 billion¹. This outlook reflects our momentum in both our Retail and Interactive segments and the potential for further economic headwinds as well as increased supply in a few of our markets.

Omni-Channel, Tech-Forward Engagement Delivering Tangible Benefits

Property level highlights²:

• Revenues of $1.4 billion;
• Adjusted EBITDAR of $487.1 million; and
• Adjusted EBITDAR margins of 35.2%.

“Our focused marketing strategy, diverse product offerings and technology enhancements generated approximately 1.3 million new rated customers last year in our mychoice database. Approximately 300,000 of these guests signed up in the fourth quarter, representing a 15% year-over-year increase. Over 50% of the database growth this quarter came from our online offerings, and our emphasis on delivering high-quality customer experiences has led to a 25% increase in guests who engage with us across multiple channels. In addition, our 21-44 year-old demographic has steadily grown their share of total retail theoretical to 18.5% by year end. We also saw positive momentum in our mychoice app downloads and the adoption of our industry leading cashless, cardless and contactless technology (“3C’s”), which is now deployed at twenty-one properties representing approximately 70% of our retail EBITDAR. Our guests who use the digital wallet enjoy a better guest experience and demonstrate superior loyalty through increased visitation, time on device, and total theoretical.

Interactive Segment Achieves Profitable Quarter

Interactive Segment highlights:

• Revenues of $208.0 million (including tax gross up of $82.9 million); and
• Adjusted EBITDA of $5.2 million.

“Our Interactive segment generated positive Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter inclusive of expenses related to online sports betting launches in Maryland and Ohio and unfavorable hold driven by VVIP play. Following our successful playbook in Kansas and Maryland, our omni-channel marketing approach in Ohio led to one of our strongest launches to date of our Barstool Sportsbook. Our deep customer database, retail footprint, and powerful Barstool Sports marketing engine contributed to a record number of first-time depositors at launch this January despite minimal external marketing expense. Meanwhile, in Ontario, theScore Bet continues to experience strong momentum, achieving record gaming revenue in December for both sports betting and iCasino. The transition to our proprietary technology platform last summer has resulted in higher customer engagement and a noticeable increase in hold rates. Greater control over our product offering and advanced promotional capabilities is contributing to encouraging retention metrics and cross-sell rates to iCasino. Looking ahead, we remain on-track to migrate the Barstool Sportsbook and Casino to our proprietary technology solution this summer. In addition to expected cost synergies, our Ontario success suggests that there is meaningful revenue potential post-migration once we are able to leverage our advanced trading and promotional tools. Finally, we are excited about our recent launch of the Barstool Sportsbook in Massachusetts at Plainridge Park Casino and are looking forward to our launch of online sports betting in March.

Compelling Media Content With New Verticals

“Despite well-known headwinds in the digital media space, theScore’s media business and Barstool Sports continue to produce impressive revenue and engagement results, driven by compelling content and an exceptional product experience. theScore’s mobile media audience is more engaged than ever with both quarterly and annual user session growth. In addition, we completed the initial integration of the Barstool Sportsbook into theScore media app in October, highlighting the benefits of our owned media strategy. We are also excited about the upcoming acquisition of the remainder of Barstool Sports, which we expect will close February 17. Barstool achieved record revenue in 2022 while investing in and expanding into new verticals, including coverage of live sporting events such as the Barstool Invitational college basketball tournament on November 11 and the Arizona Bowl on December 30. The combination of Barstool’s vast, loyal audience with theScore’s fully integrated media and betting platform will provide us with compelling competitive advantages and organic cross-selling opportunities.

ESG – Caring for our People, our Communities and our Planet

“During the fourth quarter, we finalized our Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions assessment, which along with our inaugural Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (“SASB”) disclosure, will be released in April in conjunction with our upcoming FY2022 Corporate Social Responsibility Report. In addition, we completed our companywide diversity, equity, and inclusion training and will soon begin a second phase of training focused on our leadership teams. Finally, we are proud to report that PENN Interactive received ‘RG Check iGaming Accreditation’ from the Responsible Gambling Council for its online gaming operations. PENN Interactive is the first U.S. operator to undergo this accreditation process, which is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive responsible gambling accreditation programs in the world.”

Share Repurchase Authorization Update

On December 6, 2022, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a new $750 million share repurchase program which expires on December 31, 2025 and is incremental to the Company’s existing $750 million share repurchase program authorized in February 2022.

During the three months ended December 31, 2022, the Company repurchased 2,870,894 shares of its common stock in open market transactions for $91.0 million at an average price of $31.69 per share.

Subsequent to the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company repurchased 1,008,744 shares of its common stock at an average price of $31.20 per share for an aggregate amount of $31.5 million. The remaining availability under our February 2022 authorization was $117.8 million and $750.0 million under our December 2022 authorization as of February 1, 2023.

Liquidity Remains Strong

Total liquidity as of December 31, 2022 was $2.6 billion inclusive of $1.6 billion in cash and cash equivalents. Traditional net debt as of the end of the quarter was $1.1 billion, an increase of $189.6 million from December 31, 2021 due to a lower cash balance reflecting recent activity under our share repurchase program. Lease-adjusted net leverage as of December 31, 2022 was 4.4x compared to 4.1x as of December 31, 2021.

Additional information on PENN’s reported results, including a reconciliation of the non-GAAP results to their most comparable GAAP measures, is included in the financial tables below. The Company does not provide a reconciliation of projected Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR because it is unable to predict with reasonable accuracy the value of certain adjustments that may significantly impact the Company’s results, including realized and unrealized gains and losses on equity securities, re-measurement of cash-settled stock-based awards, contingent purchase payments associated with prior acquisitions, and income tax (benefit) expense, which are dependent on future events that are out of the Company’s control or that may not be reasonably predicted.

Summary of Fourth Quarter Results

Selected Financial Information

Balance Sheet Data

Cash Flow Data

The table below summarizes certain cash expenditures incurred by the Company.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Non-GAAP Financial Measures used in this press release include Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDAR, and Adjusted EBITDAR margin. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for, nor superior to, financial results and measures determined or calculated in accordance with GAAP.

We define Adjusted EBITDA as earnings before interest expense, net; interest income; income taxes; depreciation and amortization; stock-based compensation; debt extinguishment charges; impairment losses; insurance recoveries, net of deductible charges; changes in the estimated fair value of our contingent purchase price obligations; gain or loss on disposal of assets; the difference between budget and actual expense for cash-settled stock-based awards; pre-opening expenses; and other. Adjusted EBITDA is inclusive of income or loss from unconsolidated affiliates, with our share of non-operating items (such as interest expense, net; income taxes; depreciation and amortization; and stock-based compensation expense) added back for Barstool Sports, Inc. (“Barstool”) and our Kansas Entertainment, LLC joint venture. Adjusted EBITDA is inclusive of rent expense associated with our triple net operating leases (the operating lease components contained within our triple net master lease dated November 1, 2013 with Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (Nasdaq: GLPI) and the triple net master lease assumed in connection with our acquisition of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc., our individual triple net leases with GLPI for the real estate assets used in the operations of Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, Inc. (terminated on September 26, 2022) and Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, and our individual triple net leases with VICI Properties Inc. (NYSE: VICI) for the real estate assets used in the operations of Margaritaville Resort Casino and Hollywood Casino at Greektown). Although Adjusted EBITDA includes rent expense associated with our triple net operating leases, we believe Adjusted EBITDA is useful as a supplemental measure in evaluating the performance of our consolidated results of operations.

Adjusted EBITDA has economic substance because it is used by management as a performance measure to analyze the performance of our business, and is especially relevant in evaluating large, long-lived casino-hotel projects because it provides a perspective on the current effects of operating decisions separated from the substantial non-operational depreciation charges and financing costs of such projects. We present Adjusted EBITDA because it is used by some investors and creditors as an indicator of the strength and performance of ongoing business operations, including our ability to service debt, and to fund capital expenditures, acquisitions and operations. These calculations are commonly used as a basis for investors, analysts and credit rating agencies to evaluate and compare operating performance and value companies within our industry. In order to view the operations of their casinos on a more stand-alone basis, gaming companies, including us, have historically excluded from their Adjusted EBITDA calculations of certain corporate expenses that do not relate to the management of specific casino properties. However, Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of performance or liquidity calculated in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA information is presented as a supplemental disclosure, as management believes that it is a commonly used measure of performance in the gaming industry and that it is considered by many to be a key indicator of the Company’s operating results.

We define Adjusted EBITDAR as Adjusted EBITDA (as defined above) plus rent expense associated with triple net operating leases (which is a normal, recurring cash operating expense necessary to operate our business). Adjusted EBITDAR is presented on a consolidated basis outside the financial statements solely as a valuation metric. Management believes that Adjusted EBITDAR is an additional metric traditionally used by analysts in valuing gaming companies subject to triple net leases since it eliminates the effects of variability in leasing methods and capital structures. This metric is included as a supplemental disclosure because (i) we believe Adjusted EBITDAR is traditionally used by gaming operator analysts and investors to determine the equity value of gaming operators and (ii) Adjusted EBITDAR is one of the metrics used by other financial analysts in valuing our business. We believe Adjusted EBITDAR is useful for equity valuation purposes because (i) its calculation isolates the effects of financing real estate; and (ii) using a multiple of Adjusted EBITDAR to calculate enterprise value allows for an adjustment to the balance sheet to recognize estimated liabilities arising from operating leases related to real estate. However, Adjusted EBITDAR when presented on a consolidated basis is not a financial measure in accordance with GAAP, and should not be viewed as a measure of overall operating performance or considered in isolation or as an alternative to net income because it excludes the rent expense associated with our triple net operating leases and is provided for the limited purposes referenced herein. Adjusted EBITDAR margin is defined as Adjusted EBITDAR on a consolidated basis (as defined above) divided by revenues on a consolidated basis. Adjusted EBITDAR margin is presented on a consolidated basis outside the financial statements solely as a valuation metric.

Each of these non-GAAP financial measures is not calculated in the same manner by all companies and, accordingly, may not be an appropriate measure of comparing performance among different companies. See the table above, which presents reconciliations of these measures to the GAAP equivalent financial measures.

Management Presentation, Conference Call, Webcast and Replay Details

PENN is hosting a conference call and simultaneous webcast at 9:00 am ET today, both of which are open to the general public. During the call, management will review an earnings presentation that can be accessed at https://investors.pennentertainment.com/events-and-presentations/presentations.

The conference call number is 212-231-2922; please call five minutes in advance to ensure that you are connected prior to the presentation. Interested parties may also access the live call at www.pennentertainment.com; allow 15 minutes to register and download and install any necessary software. Questions and answers will be reserved for call-in analysts and investors. A replay of the call can be accessed for thirty days at www.pennentertainment.com.

This press release, which includes financial information to be discussed by management during the conference call and disclosure and reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures, is available on the Company’s web site, www.pennentertainment.com, in the “Investors” section (select link for “Press Releases”).

About PENN Entertainment

PENN Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: PENN) is North America’s leading provider of integrated entertainment, sports content and casino gaming experiences. PENN operates 43 properties in 20 states, online sports betting in 16 jurisdictions and iCasino in five jurisdictions under a portfolio of well-recognized brands including Hollywood Casino^®, L’Auberge^®, Barstool Sportsbook^® and theScore Bet Sportsbook and Casino^®. PENN’s highly differentiated strategy, which is focused on organic cross-sell opportunities, is reinforced by its investments in market-leading retail casinos, sports media assets, technology, including a state-of-the-art, fully integrated digital sports and online casino betting platform, and an in-house iCasino content studio. The Company’s portfolio is further bolstered by its industry-leading mychoice^® customer loyalty program, which offers our approximately 26 million members a unique set of rewards and experiences across business channels. PENN is deeply committed to fostering a culture that welcomes a diverse set of customers and dedicated team members. The Company has been consistently ranked in the top two as “Employer of First Choice” over the last nine years in the Bristol Associates-Spectrum Gaming’s Executive Satisfaction Survey. In addition, as a long-standing good corporate citizen, PENN is also committed to being a trusted and valued member of its communities and a responsible steward of our finite natural resources.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “expects,” “believes,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “goal,” “seeks,” “may,” “will,” “should,” or “anticipates” or the negative or other variations of these or similar words, or by discussions of future events, strategies or risks and uncertainties. Specifically, forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: future revenue and Adjusted EBITDAR; the Company’s anticipated share repurchases; the Company’s expectations of future results of operations and financial condition, including the scale and timing of the Company’s product and technology investments; the Company’s expectations regarding results, and the impact of competition, in retail/mobile/online sportsbooks, iGaming and retail operations; the Company’s development and launch of its Interactive segment’s products in new jurisdictions and enhancements to existing Interactive segment products, including the content for the Barstool and theScore Bet iCasino apps and the migration of the Barstool Sportsbook into both our proprietary player account management system and risk and trading platforms; the Company’s expectations regarding its acquisition of Barstool Sports and the future success of its products; the Company’s expectations with respect to the integration and synergies related to the Company’s integration of theScore and Barstool Sports; the continued growth and monetization of the Company’s media business; the Company’s expectations with respect to the ongoing introduction and the potential benefits of the cashless, cardless and contactless (3C’s) technology; the Company’s development projects, including the prospective development projects at Hollywood Casinos Aurora, Joliet, Columbus, and the M Resort Spa Casino; our ability to obtain financing for our development projects on attractive terms; and the timing, cost and expected impact of planned capital expenditures on the Company’s results of operations; the actions of regulatory, legislative, executive or judicial decisions at the federal, state, provincial or local level with regard to our business and the impact of any such actions.

Such statements are all subject to risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances that could significantly affect the Company’s future financial results and business. Accordingly, the Company cautions that the forward-looking statements contained herein are qualified by important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected by such statements. Such factors include: the effects of economic and market conditions in the markets in which the Company operates; competition with other entertainment, sports content, and casino gaming experiences; the timing, cost and expected impact of product and technology investments; risks relating to international operations, permits, licenses, financings, approvals and other contingencies in connection with growth in new or existing jurisdictions; and additional risks and uncertainties described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, each as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not intend to update publicly any forward-looking statements except as required by law. Considering these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this press release may not occur.

¹ 2023 revenue and Adjusted EBITDAR guidance does not include the acquisition of the remainder of Barstool Sports, which we expect will close on February 17.

² Property level consists of retail operating segments which are composed of our Northeast, South, West, and Midwest reportable segments.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230202005342/en/