Sands China doubles interim dividend to US$0.06

Macau casino concessionaire Sands China Ltd announced on Friday an interim dividend of HKD0.50 (US$0.06) per share, double the amount in the prior-year period. The interim dividend, amounting in aggregate to HKD4.05 billion, is due to be paid on October 9, 2026, stated the Hong Kong-listed firm. Sands China runs a number of casino properties in Macau, including The Venetian Macao (pictured), The Parisian Macao, The Londoner Macao, and Sands Macao. Earlier this year, the company paid a final dividend of HKD0.50 for full-year 2025. Las Vegas Sands Corp, the U.S.-based parent, controls a nearly 75-percent stake in Sands China, according to corporate information. Sands China recorded a net profit of US$398 million for the first half of 2026, down 3.6 percent from the prior-year period. That was on net revenues that rose 11.1 percent year-on-year, to US$3.88 billion. Group-wide casino revenue stood at nearly US$2.93 billion in the six months to June 30, up 12.0 percent from a year earlier. The Macau unit’s adjusted property earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) stood at US$1.07 billion in the first half of 2026, down 3.4 percent year-on-year. “Although net revenues showed growth year-over-year, this was offset by increased costs on patron reinvestment and increased payroll costs related to the competitive environment and an increase in table game hours and service levels,” Sands China stated in Friday’s filing. In the second quarter this year, Sands China’s property EBITDA declined 24.0 percent year-on-year, to US$430 million. Banking group JP Morgan said at the time of the quarterly results announcement that Sands China’s adjusted property EBITDA “miss” was “too large to ignore”, despite the Macau casino operator suffering what analysts described as its worst-ever VIP luck.