Core Viewpoint - Golden Entertainment reported quarterly earnings of $0.09 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.10 per share, but showing improvement from a loss of $0.37 per share a year ago [1][2] Financial Performance - The company posted revenues of $160.84 million for the quarter ended March 2025, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.91% and down from $174.05 million year-over-year [2] - Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates only once [2] Stock Performance - Golden Entertainment shares have declined approximately 18.2% since the beginning of the year, compared to a decline of 4.3% for the S&P 500 [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 5 (Strong Sell), indicating expectations of underperformance in the near future [6] Earnings Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.21 on revenues of $170.28 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $0.58 on revenues of $666.38 million [7] - The trend for estimate revisions ahead of the earnings release has been unfavorable [6] Industry Context - The Gaming industry, to which Golden Entertainment belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 41% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting potential challenges ahead [8] - Another company in the same industry, Snail, Inc. (SNAL), is expected to report a quarterly loss of $0.11 per share, indicating a year-over-year change of -120% [9]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The first quarter results were in line with expectations, primarily impacted by the absence of last year's Super Bowl in Las Vegas, particularly affecting The Strat [5] - EBITDA from other casinos increased year over year, while EBITDA from taverns stabilized [5] - The company ended the quarter with over $400 million in debt, $50 million in cash, and $225 million in remaining availability under the revolving credit facility, with a low net leverage of 2.4 times EBITDA [9][10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Strat experienced a 5% decline in occupancy for the quarter, with a 13% drop in February, leading to a $3 million EBITDA headwind [6] - In Laughlin, EBITDA increased by reducing expenses and focusing on more profitable concerts, maintaining leading market share [7] - Revenue for Nevada locals casinos was flat year over year, but EBITDA increased by 2%, with consistent performance and EBITDA margins at 46% for the second consecutive quarter [8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company observed increasing strength in the locals business in April, indicating a strong start for Q2 [8] - The tavern segment saw slight declines in revenue and EBITDA year over year, but sequentially improved over Q4 [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on a disciplined reinvestment strategy and has prioritized share repurchases over M&A opportunities due to current market conditions [10][19] - The management believes that the current macroeconomic environment allows for continued reinvestment in assets, paying dividends, and opportunistically acquiring stock [10][11] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the business remains resilient and is improving despite an uncertain macroeconomic environment [11] - The company is optimistic about the upcoming months, with April showing stable operating trends and May starting strong [5][11] Other Important Information - The company has repurchased 3.2 million shares totaling nearly $100 million since the start of 2024 and paid out $35 million in dividends [10] - A nationally recognized food and beverage concept is set to open at The Strat, which is expected to enhance the property’s offerings [45] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide insights on The Strat's booking window and OTA mix? - Management indicated that the booking window is relatively short, with 25% to 30% of occupancy materializing within a seven-day period, and the OTA mix is currently around 65%, trending downward as they improve direct bookings [13][17] Question: How is the M&A environment affecting discussions? - Management stated that the current market dislocation has dampened strategic M&A discussions, with high price expectations for marketed assets [18][19] Question: Can you elaborate on the tavern business and competition from smaller operators? - Management noted increased promotional activity from smaller operators but emphasized that such trends are typically unsustainable and that their disciplined approach has led to improved performance [24][28] Question: How is the company addressing capital allocation and potential leverage for stock repurchases? - Management confirmed a commitment to aggressive stock buybacks, utilizing available liquidity, but expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of tender offers in the gaming space [66] Question: What are the key drivers for increasing hotel room rates at The Strat? - Management highlighted the importance of citywide events and improved direct booking strategies, with a focus on midweek occupancy to drive higher rates [70][72]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The first quarter results were in line with expectations, primarily impacted by the absence of last year's Super Bowl in Las Vegas, particularly affecting The Strat [5] - EBITDA from other casinos increased year over year, while EBITDA from taverns stabilized [5] - The company ended the quarter with over $400 million in debt, $50 million in cash, and $225 million in remaining availability under the revolving credit facility, with a low net leverage of 2.4 times EBITDA [8][9] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Strat experienced a 5% decline in occupancy for the quarter, with a 13% drop in February, leading to a $3 million EBITDA headwind [6] - In Laughlin, EBITDA increased by reducing expenses and focusing on more profitable concerts, maintaining leading market share [7] - Revenue and EBITDA from taverns were down slightly year over year, but sequentially improved over Q4 due to better performance from newer taverns and reduced operating expenses [8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Nevada locals casinos was flat compared to the prior year, with EBITDA up 2% driven by operational efficiencies [7] - The locals business showed increasing strength in April, indicating a strong start for Q2 [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on a disciplined reinvestment strategy and has prioritized share repurchases over M&A opportunities due to current market conditions [10][19] - The management believes that the current valuation dislocation presents a better opportunity for repurchasing equity rather than pursuing acquisitions [10][39] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the resilience of the business despite an uncertain macroeconomic environment, highlighting stable operating trends in April and a strong start in May [5][11] - The company is optimistic about the performance of The Strat, with occupancy pacing up 6% year over year in May and showing strength in June [6][11] Other Important Information - The company has repurchased 3.2 million shares totaling nearly $100 million since the start of 2024 and paid out $35 million in dividends [10] - A nationally recognized food and beverage concept is set to open at The Strat, expected to enhance revenue [45] Q&A Session Summary Question: Booking trends and OTA mix at The Strat - Management noted a shorter booking window at The Strat, with occupancy materializing within a seven-day period, and the OTA mix is currently around 65%, trending downward as they improve direct bookings [13][16] Question: M&A environment and macro impact - The management indicated that the current macro environment has dampened M&A discussions due to value dislocation and uncertainty about future conditions [18][19] Question: Tavern business competition - Management acknowledged increased promotional activity from smaller operators but expressed confidence in their disciplined approach and market position [24][28] Question: Local segment margins and operational efficiencies - The company highlighted strong margins of 46% for the local segment, attributed to rightsizing labor and streamlining operations [50][51] Question: Capital allocation and stock repurchase strategy - Management confirmed a commitment to aggressive stock repurchases, leveraging available liquidity, but expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of tender offers in the gaming space [63][66] Question: Future hotel room rates at The Strat - The management indicated that driving higher room rates will depend on citywide promotions and improved midweek occupancy, with ongoing efforts to enhance direct bookings [70][72]

Business Overview - Golden Entertainment focuses on casino and branded tavern operations in Nevada[6,8] - The company operates 8 casinos in Nevada with approximately 4,400 slots and 6,000 rooms[7] - It also operates 72 branded taverns in Nevada with approximately 1,100 slots[7,24] Market Position and Growth - Nevada's total gaming revenue (GGR) in 2024 was $15.6 billion[15] - Las Vegas Strip GGR in 2024 was $8.8 billion[15] - Nevada Locals GGR in 2024 was $3.6 billion[15] - Clark County's population is growing at a CAGR of 1.7% from 2024-2028, which is 3.8x faster than the total US population CAGR of 0.4% over the same period[17,20] Financial Performance and Capital Structure - The company's net leverage as of March 31, 2025, was 2.4x[30,33] - Golden Entertainment has repaid over $750 million of debt since 2021[31] - The company has returned $194 million of capital to shareholders since the completion of the Rocky Gap sale in July 2023[31] - Total revenues for continuing operations in 2024 were $660.799 million, and Adjusted EBITDA was $154.891 million[58]

Financial Performance - Golden Entertainment reported Q1 2025 revenues of $160.8 million, a decrease of 7.4% from $174.0 million in Q1 2024[3] - Net income for Q1 2025 was $2.5 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, compared to $42.0 million, or $1.37 per diluted share in Q1 2024[3] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q1 2025 was $37.6 million, down from $41.0 million in Q1 2024, reflecting a decline of 8.3%[3] Share Repurchase and Dividends - The company repurchased 273,945 shares at an average price of $27.79 per share, totaling $7.6 million, with $91.8 million remaining under its repurchase authorization[2] - The company plans to continue opportunistically repurchasing common stock under its current buyback authorization[3] - The board authorized a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share, payable on July 9, 2025[1] Debt and Liquidity - As of March 31, 2025, total debt outstanding was $411.3 million, including $393.0 million in term loans and $15.0 million in revolving credit[4] - Cash and cash equivalents stood at $50.5 million, with $225.0 million available under the revolving credit facility as of March 31, 2025[5] Business Operations - The company operates eight casinos and 72 gaming taverns in Nevada, featuring approximately 5,500 slots and 100 table games[10] Future Outlook - Forward-looking statements indicate potential growth and strategies for future business opportunities, subject to various risks and uncertainties[7]

Core Viewpoint - Wall Street anticipates a year-over-year increase in earnings for Golden Entertainment despite lower revenues, with a focus on how actual results will compare to estimates [1][2]. Earnings Expectations - Golden Entertainment is expected to report quarterly earnings of $0.10 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of +127%, while revenues are projected to be $162.32 million, down 6.7% from the previous year [3]. Estimate Revisions - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised 1.54% lower in the last 30 days, indicating a reassessment by analysts regarding the company's earnings prospects [4][10]. Earnings Surprise Prediction - The Zacks Earnings ESP model indicates a negative Earnings ESP of -41.85% for Golden Entertainment, suggesting analysts have become bearish on the company's earnings outlook [11][10]. Historical Performance - In the last reported quarter, Golden Entertainment was expected to post earnings of $0.22 per share but only achieved $0.10, resulting in a surprise of -54.55%. Over the last four quarters, the company has only beaten consensus EPS estimates once [12][13]. Investment Considerations - Despite the negative indicators, the potential for stock movement is influenced by various factors beyond earnings results, including unforeseen catalysts and overall market conditions [14][16].

Core Insights - Cygnus Metals Limited is advancing its Chibougamau Copper-Gold Project in Quebec, focusing on high-grade gold targets, particularly the Golden Eye area, which has not been drilled since the early 1990s [8][9][22] - Recent drilling has confirmed high-grade gold mineralization, with assays showing up to 9.1g/t Au and significant historical intersections indicating strong potential for resource growth [5][11][12] Company Overview - Cygnus Metals Limited is a diversified critical minerals exploration and development company with projects in Quebec and Western Australia, aiming to create shareholder value through resource growth and development [22] - The company is utilizing a cost-effective approach by digitizing over 100,000 documents, including historic drill logs, to generate new drill targets and consolidate geological data [6][15] Drilling Campaign and Results - A recent drilling campaign at Golden Eye involved six holes totaling 1,954 meters, aimed at confirming historic results and extending mineralization at depth [6][11] - Initial assays from the drilling have confirmed high-grade gold intersections, including 3.3m at 6.6g/t Au and 2.3m at 9.1g/t Au [11][12] - The drilling has extended mineralization down to 400 meters below the surface, with visible gold intersected in drill hole LDR-25-08 [11][17] Historical Context - The Chibougamau district has a rich history of gold and copper production, with over 3.5 million ounces of gold produced at an average grade of 2.1g/t Au [6][12] - Golden Eye was identified as a priority target due to its higher gold content compared to copper, making it a unique drilling opportunity within the district [7][9] Future Plans - Cygnus plans to complete an initial Mineral Resource estimate for Golden Eye using both recent drilling data and historic data from 77 holes totaling 21,371 meters [6][13] - The company is focused on resource growth and conversion drilling, employing two rigs on site to expedite exploration efforts [9][15]

Company Overview - Golden Entertainment, Inc. operates a diversified entertainment platform in the United States, with four segments: Nevada Casino Resorts, Nevada Locals Casinos, Nevada Taverns, and Distributed Gaming [2] - The company also manages casinos, casino resorts, taverns, and slot machines in third-party non-casino locations [2] Financial Performance - Golden Entertainment is currently rated as Zacks Rank 5 (Strong Sell) due to three analysts cutting their earnings estimates for the current and next year [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimates for the current year have decreased from 85 cents to 61 cents, indicating a forecasted earnings contraction of 64% this year [3] - For the next year, earnings estimates have been revised down from $1.05 to 88 cents, but there is an expected return to growth at 44% [3] Industry Context - The gaming industry is ranked in the top 35% of the Zacks Industry Rank, indicating a relatively strong position within the market [4] - There are several companies within the gaming industry that are performing well, including Flutter Entertainment (Zacks Rank 1, Strong Buy) and Accel Entertainment (Zacks Rank 2, Buy) [4]

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 _______________________________________________ Form 10-K _______________________________________________ (Mark One) ☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 or ☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from ______to ______ Commission File No. 000-24993 _____________________ ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4 2024, the company generated revenue of $164 million and EBITDA of $39 million, bringing full-year revenue to $667 million and EBITDA to $155 million [8][10] - Compared to the prior year, Q4 results were lower year-over-year but showed significant improvement from Q3, which was noted as the low point in quarterly performance [8][10] - The company repurchased approximately 1.1 million shares at an average price of $32.65, totaling $36 million in Q4 [16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The STRAT's weekend occupancy remained flat at 95% year-over-year, while mid-week occupancy decreased by 6%, leading to an overall occupancy of 75% for Q4 [11] - The Nevada Locals Casinos saw increased revenue and EBITDA compared to last year, with EBITDA margins improving to 46% [13] - The performance of the Nevada Tavern segment was negatively impacted by recent acquisitions, but same-store revenue improved by 6% from Q3 to Q4 [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - January 2025 showed broad strength in gaming revenue, with a 4% increase compared to the prior year, while February was expected to decline due to tough comparisons from the previous Super Bowl [10] - Las Vegas visitation reached nearly 42 million, marking the fourth consecutive year of growth, although still below 2019 levels [17] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company streamlined its portfolio by selling non-core assets, generating over $600 million in proceeds, which were used to optimize capital structure and return capital to shareholders [6][7] - The company is focused on operational efficiency, investing in its assets, and exploring M&A opportunities while maintaining a low leverage profile [18][19] - Future growth is anticipated from improved performance at The STRAT and stabilized revenues in new taverns, supported by Nevada's favorable economic trends [18] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that consumer health is stabilizing, particularly in the locals market, with improvements in visitation and spending from the top tier of their database [42][44] - The company expects continued organic growth in 2025, driven by improved performance at The STRAT and the overall strength of Nevada's economy [18][44] Other Important Information - The company has maintained a strong balance sheet with total funded debt of approximately $400 million and net leverage of 2.3x EBITDA [15] - The company is committed to returning capital to shareholders, having returned nearly $190 million through share repurchases and dividends in the past two years [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Has the company's thinking around M&A changed? - Management stated that their approach remains proactive in pursuing opportunities to grow shareholder value [22] Question: How did the F1 promotional activities trend? - Management noted that they did not expect the dramatic fall-off in F1 and experienced challenges with occupancy rates [25] Question: What is the recovery status at The STRAT? - Management indicated that The STRAT's occupancy is currently at 75%, with expectations for improvement as convention business returns [30] Question: What are the expectations for operational expenses in 2025? - Management expects sequential growth in taverns and is focused on managing labor inflation as a headwind [36][37] Question: How is the consumer behavior stabilizing post-election? - Management observed improvements in the locals market, particularly among higher-tier customers, with a moderation in declines from lower-tier customers [42][44] Question: What are the company's thoughts on expanding geographically? - Management is open to expanding outside of Nevada but would focus on multiple properties rather than single asset acquisitions [75][76]