LVS - Las Vegas Sands Corp.

Analyst Thinks Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts, and Wynn Resorts Have Run Far Enough

Although the Big Three casinos are getting ready to open for business again in Las Vegas, Wall Street is urging caution and tempering investor expectations. UBS analyst Robin Farley reiterated her neutral position on Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS), MGM Resorts (NYSE: MGM), and Wynn Resorts (NASDAQ: WYNN) while simultaneously lowering her price targets for all three gambling halls. Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak announced yesterday that he set a June 4 reopening date for the casino industry, but as the stocks of the industry giants have roared back after collapsing under the weight of the coronavirus pandemic, Farley thinks it's time to apply the brakes.

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  How 2 famous Las Vegas casinos prepare to reopen

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  Caesars Entertainment confirms reopening date of Flamingo, Caesars Palace in Las Vegas

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Las Vegas Sands (LVS) Stock Sinks As Market Gains: What You Should Know

Las Vegas Sands (LVS) closed the most recent trading day at $47.94, moving -1.26% from the previous trading session.

Top 1st-Quarter Buys of Steven Cohen's Firm

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Point72 Asset Management Buys Micron Technology, Baxter

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Even as Penn National Gaming Stock Rebounds, Consider Other Casino Plays

[Editor's Note: "Even as Penn National Gaming Stock Rebounds, Consider Other Casino Plays" was originally published April 17, 2020. It is regularly updated to include the most relevant information.]Source: Jeffrey J Coleman / Shutterstock.com Should you buy Penn National Gaming (NASDAQ:PENN) stock? Shares have skyrocketed in recent days. With many states allowing casinos to reopen after the novel coronavirus shutdowns, investors are betting on a quick rebound. But, who's to say we'll see a V-shaped recovery at the gaming tables?Casino stocks offer high risk, but high potential returns. Yet, Penn National may not be your best option. Firstly, the company mostly leases the real estate under its casinos. This may have been a smart financial engineering move. But it leaves them fewer liquidity options relative to peers.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsSecondly, shares trade at a premium to stronger rivals like Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS) and MGM Resorts (NYSE:MGM). This could make them better ways to play a potential industry rebound, as might VanEck Vectors Gaming ETF (NASDAQ:BJK), which holds all four names in its 42-stock exchange-traded fund portfolio.Also, who knows if the gaming industry will fully recover once the pandemic fades? Given the high-fixed costs of the gaming industry, even a 20% decline in revenue could mean bad news. Especially for weaker names like Penn National.Considering these factors, it may be better to skip out on this "too hot to touch" regional casino play. Let's dive in, and see why PENN stock isn't your "best bet." Surviving CoronavirusCan Penn National survive the coronavirus? When the pandemic first hit America, Wall Street's answer was a resounding "no" as shares fell from above $39 in February to as low as $3.75 in March. Yet, with many states allowing casinos to reopen, shares have rebounded nearly eight-fold, and now trade just under $30 per share.Will shares continue to climb? It's possible. As this Seeking Alpha contributor recently wrote, half of the company's casinos are set to reopen by May 31. This includes properties in Louisiana, Missouri, and Mississippi. Yet, these states are imposing strict social distancing guidelines. This could mean things won't return to 100% for quite some time.But, there's another big risk specific to PENN stock. The company leases, not owns, most of its properties. In fact, the company was a pioneer in the casino REIT (real estate investment trust) trend.In 2013, the company spun off most of its real estate as the first casino REIT, Gaming and Leisure Properties (NASDAQ:GLPI). This transaction allowed them to realize the underlying value of its property. But while this boosted valuation, it left them exposed to heavy lease liabilities.As our own Matt McCall wrote on April 3, Penn National carries $8.5 billion in lease liabilities on its balance sheet. In 2020 alone, the company must make $900 million in lease payments. This wouldn't be a problem if their casinos were generating cash flow. But how about now, when its casinos are sitting idle?Yet, the stock's current valuation doesn't reflect this weakness. In fact, shares now trade at a premium to peers. Richly Priced Relative to RiskThe recent rally in PENN Stock has made shares richly priced. The company's enterprise value/EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) ratio now stands at 14.8. That's a premium to the EBITDA multiples of Las Vegas Sands (11.9) and MGM (12.9).Sure, there may be good reason for this valuation discrepancy. Las Vegas casinos have yet to reopen. This has a larger affect on LVS and MGM stock, as Penn's Vegas footprint is much smaller. But, despite regional casinos opening sooner than resort properties in Vegas, Penn National was on shakier ground financially coming into the pandemic.Granted, Penn's liquidity situation has improved in recent weeks. With the recent $675m equity and convertible debt offering, the company has plenty of capital to ride out the storm.Also, many of their liabilities are leases with GLPI, which could provide the company some rent relief. The spun-off REIT entity has already helped out its former parent, agreeing to buy several properties in exchange for $337.5 million in rent credits.To top it all off, the company may have a growth catalyst in motion that helps them recover even sooner than anticipated. As InvestorPlace's Ian Cooper wrote May 22, the company's investment in Barstool Sports could help them grow their budding sports wagering business. PENN Stock Is Not Your "Best Bet"Upcoming casino reopenings, along with excitement over the company's sports betting catalyst, have led investors to bid up Penn National shares as of late. Should you join in, as it seems the stock could head back to past highs pretty soon?Not so fast! As I highlighted last month, other opportunities could offer a better risk/return proposition. PENN stock? Not so much. In short, this isn't your "best bet" on a casino industry rebound.Thomas Niel, contributor to InvestorPlace, has written single-stock analysis since 2016. As of this writing, Thomas Niel did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. More From InvestorPlace * America's 1 Stock Picker Reveals Next 1,000% Winner * 25 Stocks You Should Sell Immediately * 1 Under-the-Radar 5G Stock to Buy Now * The 1 Stock All Retirees Must Own The post Even as Penn National Gaming Stock Rebounds, Consider Other Casino Plays appeared first on InvestorPlace.

Las Vegas Sands (LVS) Up 5.7% Since Last Earnings Report: Can It Continue?

Las Vegas Sands (LVS) reported earnings 30 days ago. What's next for the stock? We take a look at earnings estimates for some clues.

The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: MGM, Wynn Resorts, Las Vegas Sands and Eldorado Resorts

The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: MGM, Wynn Resorts, Las Vegas Sands and Eldorado Resorts

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  The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Nintendo, Activision Blizzard, Glu Mobile, Capcom and DouYu International

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  The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: NIKE, Workday, Allstate, Synopsys and HP

  Zacks

Better Buy: Las Vegas Sands vs. Wynn Resorts

Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS) and Wynn Resorts (NASDAQ: WYNN) shuttered their casinos in the Chinese gambling mecca of Macao. Then, once the contagion took hold in the United States, their casinos in Las Vegas followed suit. Now, as the Las Vegas casinos begin to transition toward reopening, investors in both companies have to deal with the fallout from weeks of closure.

3 Reasons to Buy Penn National Gaming Stock

Gambling companies like Penn National Gaming (NASDAQ:PENN) stock have been left in ruins, with Lady Luck nowhere to be found.Source: Casimiro PT / Shutterstock.com In fact, thanks to the novel coronavirus, casino stocks like PENN hemorrhaged cash instead of raking it in. MGM Resorts (NYSE:MGM) was reportedly losing up to $14.4 million a day. Boyd Gaming (NYSE:BYD) lost up to $3.2 million a day, says Best Casinos' contributor James Murray.Long-term investors didn't fare much better. Since the chaos began, Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS) slipped from a high of $70 to a current price of about $48. Caesars Entertainment (NASDAQ:CZR) fell from $14.60 to a current price of about $11. Boyd Gaming fell from $35 to near $20.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips * 7 Excellent Penny Stocks Ready to RoarBut with economies starting to reopen, now may be the perfect time to dig for diamonds in the rough. One of the stocks to consider is Penn National, whose stock recovered from low of $3.75 to nearly $30 per share. If the U.S. economy can successfully reopen, PENN stock could revisit highs of nearly $40. Long-Term Growth is IntactLike most casinos, Penn National Gaming had a tough first quarter, said President and CEO Jay Snowden."Penn National saw a phenomenal start to 2020, with record results in January and February. Our Company was performing well ahead of guidance in every segment, driven in large part by the introduction of retail sports betting at several properties, which has served as a catalyst for both gaming and non-gaming revenue. We also saw a strong positive reaction, including our stock price hitting an all-time high, following the announcement of our strategic investment in Barstool Sports."Unfortunately, growth was cut short in March 2020 thanks to the coronavirus, which required closure. As a result, first-quarter revenues fell $166.5 million year over year to $1.12 billion. Penn National Gaming also saw a loss of $608.6 million, as compared to a profit of $41 million in the first quarter of 2019.But as Snowden added, "The company's long-term growth strategy remains intact" as the company moves forward with projects like its Barstool Sports app. Barstool Sports App Could Be Worth MillionsWith torpedoed results, Penn National Gaming took a 36% stake in Barstool Sports for $163 million in cash and stock to help grow its sports betting and entertainment offering. By 2023, the company could pay another $62 million to increase its stake to 50%.This is great news for Penn National Gaming for two reasons. One, at the moment, Barstool has an audience of 66 million and growing. Better still, Barstool views on social media have already soared 50% since April 2020, a sign of an engaged audience."Penn will have its Barstool (sports betting) app running by the third quarter," said Macquarie's Chad Beynon, "and we believe the app (and the Barstool) database can be worth $10 to $25 per share of equity over time."In addition, we have to realize that legal sports betting is a big multibillion-dollar business. In fact, according to the American Gaming Association's Research on Sports Betting, "Our research showed sports betting, if available online and reasonably taxed, could have an impact of $41.2 billion annually."Plus, nearly 40% of U.S. adults are currently betting on sports. Nevada Approves Casino Reopening PlansBoosting the sector even more was the Nevada Gaming Commission approving guidelines to reopen Las Vegas again soon.Under new guidelines, casinos will be limited to 50% occupancy. Conventions will be limited to 250 people. Restaurants will have limited seating and allow for appropriate distancing. Seating at table games will be limited as well. With blackjack, for example, seating will be limited to three players. Chairs will only be permitted at every other slot machine, too.While there's not a defined timeline for reopening, at least they'll reopen sooner than later.While it won't be business as usual for quite some time, we are beginning to see big signs of recovery. From here, I strongly believe now is the best time to buy down-but-not-out casino stocks like Penn National Gaming.Ian Cooper, an InvestorPlace.com contributor, has been analyzing stocks and options for web-based advisories since 1999. As of this writing, Ian Cooper did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. More From InvestorPlace * Top Stock Picker Reveals His Next 1,000% Winner * America's Richest ZIP Code Holds Shocking Secret * 1 Under-the-Radar 5G Stock to Buy Now * The 1 Stock All Retirees Must Own The post 3 Reasons to Buy Penn National Gaming Stock appeared first on InvestorPlace.

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  Even as Penn National Gaming Stock Rebounds, Consider Other Casino Plays

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  Why Red Rock Resorts, Eldorado Resorts, and Penn National Gaming Rose 10% or More Today

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Can Las Vegas Sands Buy Wynn Resorts?

Sheldon Adelson, the CEO of Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS), made clear last month that the resort company was in the market for an acquisition. It would have to be the right target in the right market, namely Asia, and be a resort operator that could complement Sands' own operational attributes. John DeCree, an analyst at the boutique investment bank Union Gaming, thinks Wynn Resorts (NASDAQ: WYNN) would be the perfect target for Adelson.

It May Be Time To Place A Bet On Gambling Stocks

There is a lot of pent up demand to take risk, and legal gambling is the perfect place to satisfy that desire

Las Vegas Sands to Reopen Some Facilities, Including a Full-Service Casino, on June 1

For those eager to return to the glitz and excitement of Sin City, Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS) offered good news today: The casino and resort giant is now accepting reservations for the June 1 reopening of its Venetian Resort. Located on the world-famous Las Vegas Strip, the luxurious Venetian is the second-largest hotel in the world, and houses the Las Vegas Sands headquarters. Las Vegas Sands closed its facilities on March 19 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Casino giant Caesars’ challenges go far beyond coronavirus and social distancing

Casino giant Caesars’ mountains of debt raises uncertainty about its pending merger with Eldorado (ERI) amid the pandemic, says Dan Wasiolek, senior equity analyst at Morningstar.

A 'Lottery' Options Trade Idea For Las Vegas Sands

On Las Vegas Sands stock, a bear put spread would cost around $90 per contract with a maximum potential gain of $410.

Gambling Stock Roundup: Las Vegas Sands' Plan Cancellation, Q1 Earnings Releases

Concerns over the coronavirus pandemic continues to hurt the gambling stocks. Moreover, Las Vegas Sands (LVS) abandons its pursuit of Integrated Resort (IR) development in Japan.

7 Sin Stocks To Buy During The Coronavirus Shutdown

There's no question Americans are facing unprecedented stresses these days. Data suggests some Americans are relying on vices such as alcohol, tobacco and cannabis to get through the health crisis. At the same time, gamblers have been driven online for the time being due to casino closures.When times are good, people like to celebrate with a drink or a smoke or a roll of the dice. When times are hard, they turn to these activities as a distraction or a means of self-medication. Regardless of how you feel about the activities themselves, here are seven "sin stocks" to buy that Morningstar analysts say have significant upside.Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE: PM)Philip Morris is one of the largest global tobacco companies and holds nearly a 30% market share of the international cigarette and heated tobacco markets.Analyst Philip Gorham says Marlboro customer loyalty is extremely high and Philip Morris has considerable pricing power. The company has a first-mover advantage in heated tobacco, but it remains to be seen whether or not heated tobacco can completely offset lost cigarette volumes over time. Gorham says a successful launch of iQOS in the U.S. would generate completely incremental revenue given the company currently has no U.S. products.Philip Morris shares also pay a sizable 6.9% dividend.Morningstar has a Buy rating and $98 price target for PM stock.See Also: 7 Best Cheap Stocks To Buy Or Sell Cronos Group Inc (NASDAQ: CRON)Cronos is one of the "big four" Canadian legal producers of cannabis and owner of brands such as PEACE NATURALS, COVE and Lord Jones. Cronos reported impressive 180% revenue growth in the first quarter, but it also reported a $45 million operating loss.Analyst Kristoffer Inton says write-downs associated with lower prices due to oversupply in the Canadian market were the cause of the loss. However, Inton says Cronos' write-downs are shrinking, whereas other cannabis producers' losses are growing. Morningstar is projecting Canadian cannabis demand will grow 20% annually over the next decade, and Cronos has the balance sheet to expand its market share.Morningstar has a Buy rating and $8.50 fair value estimate for CRON stock.Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS)Las Vegas Sands is an international casino operator that owns casino resorts and hotels in Las Vegas, Macau and Singapore. Analyst Dan Wasiolek says Macau and Singapore are the keys to the bull case for Las Vegas Sands.Macau accounted for about 59% of Sands' earnings in 2019, and Singapore was another 31%. Wasiolek says Sand's has a dominant position in the high-growth Cotai Strip in Macau, and it has a duopoly in place in Singapore through at least 2030. COVID-19 shutdowns in Las Vegas and a 97% drop in gross gaming revenue due to COVID-19 may be scary, but Wasiolek estimates Las Vegas sands has 18 months of liquidity at nearly zero revenue.Mornigstar has a Buy rating and $62 fair value estimate for LVS stock.British American Tobacco PLC (NYSE: BTI)British American Tobacco is an international tobacco company that owns brands such as Lucky Strike, Newport and Camel and generates 45% of its revenue from the U.S. market.While cigarette volumes are likely in secular decline, Gorham says British American's accelerated volume declines in fiscal 2019 may be particularly troubling to investors. However, he says the company may be best-positioned to capitalize on the next generation of tobacco products, including its Vype and Vuse vaping brands an Glo heated tobacco brand. Gorham says British American's buyout of Reynolds American was a solid strategic move given its pricing power and the value of its assets.Morningstar has a Buy rating and $59 target for BTI stock.Anheuser Busch Inbev NV (NYSE: BUD)Anheuser Busch Inbev is the world's largest brewer and owner of brands such as Budweiser, Beck's and Corona.Gorham says the worst of the downturn may be yet to come for Anheuser Busch, but the company has plenty of liquidity to navigate the crisis. In the longer term, he says the company's near monopoly and cost advantages in developed markets make the stock a solid investment, and its potential for free cash flow generation isn't fully priced in at current levels. Gorham projects volumes will fall 20% in the first half of 2020 and only 7% in the second half of the year.Morningstar has a Buy rating and $96 fair value estimate for BUD stock.Altria Group Inc (NYSE: MO)Altria Group is one of the world's largest tobacco companies, but it's also one of the most diversified sin stocks. In addition to being the parent company of Philip Morris USA, Altria has a more than 10% ownership stake in Anheuser Busch, a 35% stake in vaping leader JUUL, and a 45% stake in cannabis stock Cronos.Gorham says COVID-19 has certainly disrupted Altria's business, but its underlying business trends in the first quarter appear to be solid. Cigarette shipment volume was up 6%, and management reiterated its guidance that industry-wide volume will drop between 4% and 6% this year.Morningstar has a Buy rating and $54 fair value estimate for MO stock.See Also: 7 Best-Performing Stocks Of 2020: Buy, Sell Or Hold?Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE: STZ)Constellation Brands is one of the world's largest producers of wine, spirits and imported beer and owns brands such as Arbor Mist, Black Velvet and SVEDKA. Constellation also recently upped its ownership stake in leading Canadian cannabis producer Canopy Growth Corp (NYSE: CGC) to nearly 40%.Analyst Nicholas Johnson says Constellation's beer business should help support numbers for now, and the sell-off in the stock has pushed it to "egregiously cheap" levels. In fact, given his bullish long-term outlook for Constellation, Johnson says it's his top stock pick in the pure-play beverage group.Morningstar has a Buy rating and $215 price target for STZ stock.Latest Ratings for CRON DateFirmActionFromTo May 2020StifelMaintainsHold Apr 2020Piper SandlerDowngradesOverweightNeutral Apr 2020B of A SecuritiesDowngradesBuyNeutral View More Analyst Ratings for CRON View the Latest Analyst RatingsSee more from Benzinga * Here's How Much Investing 0 In The 2018 Cronos Listing Would Be Worth Today * The Road To Recovery For Las Vegas Casino Stocks * Cannabis Stock Rally Puts Short Sellers In The Red For 2020(C) 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Bad News Is Good News for Today’s 3M Stock Investors

When it comes to Dow Jones Industrial Average stock 3M (NYSE:MMM), investors have been faced with their share of ailments off and on the price chart. But following a new sales report, will the old doggish trend in MMM stock remain the bears' best friend? Or will it mark new profitable beginnings for bulls? Let's take a closer look at what's going on with 3M right now.Source: r.classen / Shutterstock.com Many stocks in today's market can point to the novel coronavirus as a source for challenges facing those companies in an unfolding socially distanced environment. Take a look at the grounding in airline giant Delta Airlines (NASDAQ:DAL) or the TKO in casino heavyweight Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS) as two common victims. It's not pretty. That's not the entire story though.Many blue-chip stocks within the Dow Jones are adapting. Home Depot (NYSE:HD) is one constituent whose price chart points at a company figuring out how to successfully service consumers through the coronavirus pandemic. And tech giant Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), the market's largest publicly traded company, simply appears to be well-built for this unthinkable, disruptive socioeconomic shift. Unfortunately, 3M (and, by extension, MMM stock) is different.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsDespite the industrial conglomerate's well-positioned N-95 respirator mask success during the new pandemic and some spoils from other health-related business units, 3M's April sales dipped 11% from the year ago period according to a report released Thursday. Softness in other key market segments, including safety and industrial, consumer, transportation and electronics weighed on the company's total sales decline. * 7 Earnings Reports to Watch Next Week The news comes after 3M announced in late April it was withdrawing full-year guidance due to the pandemic. Management stated it will keep investors informed vis-a-vis monthly updates until a more accurate, longer-term forecast is possible. The first of these reports also appears to have been a surprise for Wall Street.MMM stock slid to its weakest levels since late March during Thursday's session. However, a rebound in the broader market from out-the-gate selling following back-to-back days of profit-taking helped lift the stock well off intraday lows to close down just 0.75%.But is 3M a pullback worth buying? MMM Stock Monthly Price Chart Source: Charts by TradingViewEarnings at the tail end of April saw investors bid up MMM stock by more than 2.50% and notch a two-month high. The action also established follow-through confirmation for a bullish monthly chart hammer candlestick formed during March's broader market correction. That's not all though.Technically, the hammer is well-supported by the 62% retracement level dating to 3M's 2009 financial crisis bottom. Also favorable, the candlestick's body completed narrowly above a long-term trend-line. It's the sort of evidence that makes the case for a meaningful bottom following a two-year long bear market. But a hard pullback over the past two weeks might raise a flag regarding the pattern's durability.A second look at 3M's monthly chart reveals the immediate post-earnings bid has yielded to another potential lower high pattern in MMM stock's existing downtrend. The rally high also failed rather quickly on an initial challenge of nearby resistance. It's not the sort of price action investors caught purchasing 3M's hammer are likely excited to see.The good news, if any, is 3M's stock is offering a pullback opportunity with solid risk versus reward characteristics. Shares are inside a support area from roughly $115 to $141 and above the trend-line, which held the body of April's hammer. Stochastics have also signaled a bullish crossover inside oversold territory.My advice for any would be buyers of 3M is to set a stop-loss beneath $129. This level minimizes dollar risk to about 5% as of Thursday's close. At the same time, relative to the recent high a return of nearly 20% is possible and skews the risk profile heavily in favor of buying stock. Moreover and to make sure an old and friendly doggish trend doesn't continue to rollover, this exit smartly pulls the plug if a bearish April pivot high is confirmed and 3M falls ominously inside the lower half of its hammer bottom.The information offered is based upon Christopher Tyler's observations and strictly intended for educational purposes only; the use of which is the responsibility of the individual. For additional market insights and related musings, follow Chris on Twitter @Options_CAT and StockTwits. More From InvestorPlace * Top Stock Picker Reveals His Next 1,000% Winner * America's Richest ZIP Code Holds Shocking Secret * 1 Under-the-Radar 5G Stock to Buy Now * The 1 Stock All Retirees Must Own The post Bad News Is Good News for Todaya€™s 3M Stock Investors appeared first on InvestorPlace.

Las Vegas Sands Abandons Japan Casino Plans

The biggest growth opportunity Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS) has had in more than a decade has now been abandoned. On Tuesday night, the company sent out a press release that said it was abandoning its pursuit of an integrated resort in Japan. The move follows years of speculation and delays; Japan still hasn't set concrete rules for obtaining or running a casino in the country.

What the Boss of the Most Devastated Union in Travel Has to Say About the Future

Coronavirus has ravaged hotel employment levels, but the leader of one of the hospitality industry’s largest unions still sees opportunity for the labor movement in the ongoing crisis. Roughly 98 percent of Unite Here’s 300,000 members across the U.S. and Canada have lost their jobs due to coronavirus-related shutdowns and the downturn in travel. Unite […]