** Shares of Scientific Games Corp SGMS.O jump 19.1% on Weds
after gaming co reported qtrly results after the bell on Tues
** SGMS on track for biggest one-day pct gain since Nov 8
** Though Q1 adj loss/sh of $0.26 bigger than avg analyst
estimate of $0.04 loss/sh, adj EBITDA of $328 mln surpassed est
of $323.4 mln. Rev of $837 mln also ahead of $832.3 mln estimate
(IBES data from Refinitiv) urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nASB01KLM
** SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, which rates SGMS "buy,"
points to recent IPO of SciPlay Corp SCPL.O urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N21N0SV,
SGMS's social gaming business, and improving free cash flow,
at$96 mln for Q1, as promising for deleveraging
** "As a result of the SciPlay IPO, we expect to continue
our deleveraging path," said SGMS in press release announcing
results urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nPn9Qyjxha
** With SCPL IPO, SunTrust also sees "meaningful valuation
arbitrage" given SCPL and SGMS have similar market cap.
According to SunTrust estimates, SCPL trading at ~15x 2019 adj
EBITDA while SGMS trading at just ~7x 2019 adj EBITDA
** YTD SGMS up 25.5% vs 15.4% gain for S&P 400 Consumer
Discretionary index .SPMDCD
((April.Joyner@thomsonreuters.com; +1 646 223 7480; Reuters
Messaging: april.joyner.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net; Twitter:
@aprjoy))