BOSTON, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DraftKings Inc. (NASDAQ: DKNG) announced today that it has entered into a multi-year advertising agreement with NBCUniversal to execute exclusive integrations and digital sponsorships across NBCUniversal’s top-tier sports properties, including premier national coverage. This deal marks a significant milestone for both companies, expanding DraftKings’ presence in sports broadcasting through one of its largest and most impactful multi-platform agreements to date. “We ...

Group 1 - DraftKings Inc. (NASDAQ:DKNG) is recognized as one of the best fast growth stocks to buy, with Benchmark reaffirming a Buy rating and a $53 price target following strong NFL Week 1 results in New York [1] - The company experienced significant handle growth, although there was substantial margin compression across the market due to bettor-friendly NFL outcomes, such as favorites covering and overs hitting [2] - Intense promotion during the NFL kickoff increased handling but negatively impacted profitability, as DraftKings relied heavily on promotions to boost volume and engagement, leading to a decrease in net revenue margin [3] Group 2 - DraftKings Inc. operates in the digital sports entertainment and gaming sector, offering sports betting, digital lottery courier, daily fantasy sports, and online casino games including roulette, slot machines, blackjack, and baccarat [4]

Core Insights - DraftKings experienced its worst single-game outcome in history during the first week of the NFL season, as reported by Citizens Equity Research Analyst Jordan Bender [2] - The sports betting operator faced significant losses due to multiple player props hitting during the Buffalo Bills vs. Baltimore Ravens game [2]

Core Insights - The football season has begun, leading to increased excitement among fans and a surge in gaming operations for companies like DraftKings [1][10] - DraftKings has outperformed the S&P 500 in 2025, with a share price increase of approximately 15% compared to the S&P 500's 13% [2] - The company has reported record figures in revenue, net income, and adjusted EBITDA in its latest quarterly results [2][10] Financial Performance - DraftKings has maintained its current-year sales outlook, expecting to reach the upper band of previously announced guidance [8] - Monthly Unique Payers (MUPs) increased by 6% to 3.3 million, surpassing consensus estimates by over 25% [8][11] - The company has seen consistent quarterly sales growth, reflecting strong performance during the football season [4][10] Market Position and Growth - DraftKings operates mobile sports betting in 25 states and Washington, DC, covering approximately 49% of the U.S. population [12] - The company plans to expand its operations into Missouri and is actively seeking more regulatory approvals for future growth [12] - The stock has historically performed well during football seasons, driven by heightened interest in sports wagering and fantasy services [6][14]

Core Viewpoint - The NFL season's return is positively impacting DraftKings, with the company experiencing record numbers in sports betting, which is expected to boost its stock performance in the near term [1][3]. Industry Overview - The sports betting industry was valued at $100.9 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 11% from 2025 to 2030, reaching $187.39 billion [4]. - Legal betting in the U.S. is forecasted to grow by 8.5% during the current NFL season, amounting to $30 billion [9]. Company Performance - DraftKings' stock has increased over 26% in 2025 and has gained nearly 45% since its year-to-date bottom on April 4 [3][4]. - The company reported Q2 earnings with an EPS of 30 cents, surpassing analysts' expectations of 16 cents, and revenue of $1.51 billion, exceeding the forecast of $1.39 billion [10]. - Engagement on social media increased by 200% year-over-year in Q2 2025, and sportsbook net revenue rose by 45% year-over-year [11]. Financial Health - DraftKings has significantly reduced its losses, from $1.523 billion in 2021 to $507 million last year, a nearly 67% decrease [12]. - The company achieved a turnaround in net cash flow from operating activities, moving from a $420 million loss in 2021 to a $418 million gain in 2024, representing a 199.28% increase [13]. Stock Forecast - Analysts have a consensus price target of $55.12 for DraftKings, indicating a potential upside of 20.16% from the current price of $43.98 [14][16]. - The company has repurchased 6.5 million shares in the first two quarters of the year, indicating confidence in its financial position [15].

Group 1 - DraftKings stock is experiencing a minor pullback in an otherwise solid uptrend, characterized by relatively high implied volatility, which benefits option sellers [1] - A cash-secured put strategy is suggested for traders looking to capitalize on the high volatility of DraftKings stock, allowing them to potentially buy the stock at a discount [2][3] - The cash-secured put involves writing a put option while setting aside enough cash to purchase the stock, with the goal of either keeping the premium if the option expires worthless or acquiring the stock at a lower price [2][3] Group 2 - Selling a put option at a strike price of $42.50 could generate approximately $95 in premium, with a break-even price calculated at $41.55, which is 8.4% below the current price of $45.35 [4] - If the stock remains above $42.50 by expiration, the put expires worthless, yielding a 2.3% return on capital at risk, equating to around 22% on an annualized basis [4] - The maximum loss occurs if DraftKings stock falls to zero, resulting in a loss of $4,155, although most traders would likely cut losses before reaching this point [5] Group 3 - DraftKings has already announced its second-quarter earnings, eliminating earnings risk for this trade, making cash-secured puts an attractive option for generating high returns [6] - If assigned the put, the investor would take ownership of the stock at a reduced cost base and could potentially sell covered calls for additional income [6] - Investor's Business Daily rates DraftKings stock with a Composite Rating of 93 out of 99, an Earnings Per Share Rating of 79, and a Relative Strength Rating of 79, ranking third in its group [7]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the reliability of brokerage recommendations, particularly focusing on DraftKings (DKNG), and emphasizes the importance of using these recommendations in conjunction with other analytical tools for making investment decisions [1][5][10]. Group 1: Brokerage Recommendations for DraftKings - DraftKings has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.27, indicating a consensus between Strong Buy and Buy, based on recommendations from 31 brokerage firms [2]. - Out of the 31 recommendations, 25 are classified as Strong Buy and 3 as Buy, which represent 80.7% and 9.7% of all recommendations respectively [2]. Group 2: Limitations of Brokerage Recommendations - Studies indicate that brokerage recommendations have limited success in guiding investors towards stocks with the highest price increase potential [5]. - Analysts from brokerage firms tend to exhibit a strong positive bias in their ratings, often issuing five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" [6][10]. - The interests of brokerage firms may not align with those of retail investors, leading to potential misguidance regarding stock price movements [7][10]. Group 3: Zacks Rank as an Alternative Tool - The Zacks Rank is presented as a more reliable indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, based on earnings estimate revisions rather than brokerage recommendations [8][11]. - The Zacks Rank is distinct from ABR, as it is a quantitative model that reflects earnings estimate revisions and is displayed in whole numbers [9]. - The Zacks Rank is updated more frequently than ABR, making it a timely tool for predicting future stock prices [12]. Group 4: Current Earnings Estimates for DraftKings - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DraftKings remains unchanged at $1.33 for the current year, suggesting steady analyst views on the company's earnings prospects [13]. - Due to the unchanged consensus estimate and other factors, DraftKings holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating a cautious approach despite the Buy-equivalent ABR [14].

Core Insights - Brown Advisory's Large-Cap Growth Strategy demonstrated resilience in Q2 2025, achieving a return of 16%, slightly underperforming the Russell 1000® Growth Index [1] - DraftKings Inc. (NASDAQ:DKNG) was highlighted as a key investment, showing a one-month return of 6.37% and a 52-week gain of 19.43% [2] - The company reported a revenue increase of 37% year-over-year to $1.513 billion in Q2 2025, with an adjusted EBITDA of $301 million, reflecting a 20% margin [4] Company Overview - DraftKings Inc. is a leader in the U.S. online gaming and sports betting market, benefiting from state-by-state legalization and a growing total addressable market [3] - The company is positioned to capitalize on favorable regulatory trends and increased consumer adoption, supported by disciplined cost management and operational leverage [3] - DraftKings is focused on continued expansion, product innovation, and maintaining a strong brand to capture additional market share and sustain long-term growth [3] Investment Sentiment - As of the end of Q2 2025, DraftKings was held by 66 hedge fund portfolios, a decrease from 70 in the previous quarter [4] - Despite its potential, some analysts believe that certain AI stocks may offer greater upside potential with less downside risk compared to DraftKings [4]

Core Insights - DraftKings Inc. (NASDAQ:DKNG) is viewed positively by analysts, with a recommendation to add to positions due to its strong performance and leadership [1] - The company reported a revenue growth of 37% and better-than-expected earnings, driven by favorable outcomes in its sportsbook operations [1] - DraftKings is expected to see revenue near the high end of its guidance range, which has positively impacted its stock price in after-hours trading [1] Company Overview - DraftKings provides digital sports entertainment and gaming services, including online sports betting, daily fantasy contests, iGaming, and retail sportsbooks [1] - The company also develops betting and casino software and operates a digital collectibles marketplace featuring curated NFTs [1] Financial Performance - The company reported impressive quarterly results, with revenue growth accelerating to 37% [1] - Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization exceeded expectations, contributing to a positive outlook for the company [1] - Management reiterated its full-year forecast, indicating confidence in future performance [1]

Core Viewpoint - DraftKings has experienced a decline in its stock price for seven consecutive sessions, closing at $45.91, which is a 0.89% decrease on the latest trading day [1] Group 1: Stock Performance - The company's shares fell by 3.46% over the previous six sessions [1] - Year-to-date, DraftKings' shares have increased by more than 24% compared to the beginning of the year [1]