Entries by Ken Liu

Questions about “Durango Station”

Is there market demand for another Las Vegas Locals casino? How many “Durango Station” customers will come from Red Rock Casino? How will “Durango Station” compete against nearby mixed-use developments? What will happen to the Flamingo/I-215 site after “Durango Station”?

New Costs to Pressure Margins at Station Casinos

In December, Station Casinos announced a company-wide new benefits package, immediately after the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) announced there was going to be a union election at the company’s flagship Red Rock Casino. We estimate the new benefits would add nearly $70 million in operating costs on an annual basis, or a 400-bps hit […]

Selected Results: 2017 Corporate Governance Survey of Red Rock Shareholders

The results of our survey reveal shareholder respondents expressed consensus for a hybrid format for the annual general meeting, took issue with the dual-class capital structure and other takeover defenses, and shared their preference for a more diverse board, an independent board chair, and their doubt regarding shareholder representation on the board.

Baron’s Sunk Cost Trap: Red Rock Resorts

Red Rock’s shares have underperformed both the market and its peers, year-to-date. Baron’s efforts to double down on Red Rock’s stagnant stock suggest its stock pickers have fallen into a sunk cost trap, unwilling to recognize the opportunity cost they’ve incurred by putting millions more of their clients’ money in RRR over the past year.

Opportunity Cost: The Case of Cohen & Steers’ Investment in Red Rock Resorts

Cohen & Steers, Inc. (NYSE: CNS) filed a Schedule 13G on December 12, 2016, announcing its beneficial ownership (at the time 15.94% of Class A shares) in Red Rock Resorts. This was an interesting move by Cohen & Steers, which is often praised as the “king of REITs” and self-described as “pioneers in REIT investing.”

The Palms Conundrum

What is Station Casinos doing with Palms? The company has committed nearly half a billion dollars to the property. What kind of management experience can Station bring to Palms? Does Station have the management know-how to operate an almost-Strip property like Palms?