Las Vegas Sands' (LVS - News) continued to rake in winnings in the first quarter, led by growth in Singapore and gaming mecca Macau.
Earnings for the casino resorts giant climbed 89% to 70 cents per share, topping analyst estimates by 10 cents.
Revenue jumped 31% to $2.76 billion, vs. Wall Street projections of $2.62 billion.
Sands' shares edged fractionally lower in late trading, perhaps reflecting high expectations. But they rose 4% to 58.78 during the regular session, ahead of results.
MGM Resorts (MGM - News) and Wynn Resorts (WYNN - News) edged higher late after solid regular session gains. Both report Q1 earnings in early May.
Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson said Q1's gains came in large measure on strength in Macau and Singapore, where the company also has operations. "Our business in Macau has never been in a stronger position," Adelson said during a press conference. "The word plateau in terms of Asia is not in our vocabulary.
Morningstar analyst Chad Mollman said, "They put in new management for Sands China, and the new promoters are bringing in VIP customers there.
Sands grew in all geographic markets, with a slowly improving U.S. economy another boon.
In Macau's special gambling district — the only area in China with legal casino gaming — blazing growth has helped Sands, MGM and Wynn.
Las Vegas Sands on April 11 opened the Sands Cotai, its newest Macau resort casino.
CLSA, the Asian securities unit of French bank Credit Agricole, this month raised its forecast for Macau 2012 gambling revenue to $41 billion from $39 billion.
"There are only six gaming operators in Macau, three domestic and Sands, MGM and Wynn," CLSA analyst Jon Oh told IBD. "Given that Sands is the largest foreign gaming operation in Macau ... Sands will be in good shape to benefit.
The Macau gaming area near Hong Kong attracts affluent mainland China consumers and tourists from around the globe.
Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli told IBD ahead of results that, "we expect to see improving fundamentals in Macau. We think Sands' operations will show meaningful upside" because of its operations there.
Sands China, which includes its three Macau casinos open during Q1, reported a 25% revenue gain to $1.45 billion.
Revenue at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore surged 45% to $848.7 million.
In the U.S., the Las Vegas Sands casino enjoyed a 26% rise to $384.6 million. Revenue at Sands Bethlehem in Pennsylvania grew 27% to $115.6 million.
Spain Update Adelson earlier this month also revealed plans to build a $35 billion Vegas-style strip in Spain.
On Wednesday he clarified his remarks, saying Sands would invest about $4 billion over three years either in Madrid or Barcelona. Revenue from the initial phase would finance further expansion, so total estimated out-of-pocket investment would be $4 billion to $5 billion.
Adelson said a decision as to Barcelona or Madrid is expected in a matter of weeks.
All those new casinos are fueling gains for gaming equipment.
Bally Technologies (BYI - News) will announce quarterly earnings on Thursday afternoon.
Analysts forecast it to report a 56% surge in earnings to 67 cents per share on a 17% pop in sales, to $223 million.
Slot machine and gaming table makers Boyd Gaming (BYD - News) and International Game Technology (IGT - News) reported strong results Tuesday.
