Flutter Entertainment PLC (NYSE:FLUT) reported mixed third-quarter financial results and cut its FY25 sales guidance below estimates on Wednesday.Flutter Entertainment reported quarterly earnings of $1.64 per share which beat the Street estimate of 86 cents. Quarterly revenue came in at $3.79 billion which missed the analyst estimate of $3.9 billion."Flutter delivered a solid third quarter, with continued momentum in both our US and International businesses. We are the clear number one operator in the U.S., ...

Core Insights - The company has revised its full-year outlook downward due to increased investments in sports and prediction markets, a tax cost associated with the Illinois wager fee, and regulatory changes in India [1] Group 1 - The lower full-year outlook indicates a strategic shift towards enhancing investments in sports and prediction markets [1] - The tax cost related to the Illinois wager fee has impacted the financial projections for the year [1] - Changes in regulations in India are also contributing factors to the revised outlook [1]

Core Insights - The parent company of FanDuel has announced its entry into prediction markets while simultaneously issuing a profit warning [1] Company Developments - The announcement of entering prediction markets indicates a strategic expansion for the company, potentially diversifying its revenue streams [1] - The profit warning suggests that the company may face financial challenges in the near term, which could impact investor sentiment and stock performance [1] Industry Implications - The move into prediction markets reflects a growing trend in the gaming and betting industry, where companies are exploring new avenues for growth amid increasing competition [1] - The profit warning may signal broader challenges within the industry, potentially affecting other players as well [1]

Core Viewpoint - Shares of sports-focused firms experienced a decline following a New York State bill aimed at banning sports-related prediction markets for residents [1][4]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Genius Sports saw a nearly 3% drop in after-hours trading, closing at $10.30 [2][3]. - DraftKings shares fell by 0.79%, closing at $31.51 [2][3]. - Flutter Entertainment's stock decreased by 4.26%, with a closing price of $234.45 [2][3]. Group 2: Legislative Impact - The New York State legislation, known as the ORACLE Act, seeks to prohibit various categories of sports-related betting, including wagers on catastrophic events, politics, and individual incidents within larger sporting events [4][5]. - The bill aims to regulate emerging platforms that combine financial trading with gambling mechanics, which have outpaced current oversight [6]. Group 3: Market Context - Kalshi, a federally-regulated prediction market, recently achieved a valuation of $5 billion after raising $300 million [7]. - Polymarket is attempting to re-enter the U.S. market following a $2 billion investment from Intercontinental Exchange Inc. [7]. - The prediction market sector is viewed as part of a "hype cycle," indicating significant interest and potential growth in this area [7].

Core Insights - The partnership between FanDuel and CME is set to enhance the legitimacy and accessibility of prediction markets in the U.S. [1][5] - FanDuel Predicts will launch in December, allowing users in states without traditional sports betting licenses to participate [3][5] - The prediction markets are regulated by the CFTC, which adds a layer of credibility to the offerings [5] Group 1 - FanDuel has been operating in the prediction market space for a long time and is now expanding its offerings [1][2] - The partnership with CME is expected to provide a robust platform for prediction markets, particularly in states like California, Texas, and Florida [4][5] - The launch of FanDuel Predicts will enable customers to access sports betting products without needing traditional gaming licenses [4][5] Group 2 - The experience of FanDuel in various international markets, such as the UK and Italy, supports its expansion strategy in the U.S. [2] - The collaboration aims to provide the best products available in prediction markets, enhancing user experience [3] - The upcoming launch is anticipated to attract a significant user base in states currently lacking sports betting options [3][5]

Core Insights - Flutter Entertainment reported a revenue of $3.79 billion for the quarter ended September 2025, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 16.8% [1] - The company's EPS was $1.64, significantly higher than the $0.43 reported in the same quarter last year, resulting in an EPS surprise of +1161.54% [1] - Revenue fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.86 billion, indicating a surprise of -1.65% [1] Financial Performance Metrics - International revenue was $1.9 billion, below the average estimate of $2.42 billion [4] - U.S. revenue reached $1.37 billion, slightly lower than the estimated $1.44 billion [4] - U.S. iGaming revenue was $530 million, exceeding the estimate of $515.17 million [4] - U.S. Sportsbook revenue was $783 million, compared to the average estimate of $840.37 million [4] - Other U.S. revenue was $55 million, below the estimate of $71.33 million [4] - International revenue from other regions was $229 million, surpassing the estimate of $211.55 million [4] - International Sportsbook revenue was $982 million, lower than the average estimate of $1.05 billion [4] - International iGaming revenue was $1.37 billion, slightly above the estimate of $1.34 billion [4] - International Other revenue was $75 million, exceeding the estimate of $66.86 million [4] - U.S. Sportsbook stakes totaled $10.65 billion, slightly above the estimate of $10.59 billion [4] - Revenue from Brazil was $87 million, below the estimate of $97.07 million [4] - Revenue from Central and Eastern Europe was $151 million, closely matching the estimate of $151.4 million [4] Stock Performance - Flutter's shares have returned -7.2% over the past month, contrasting with the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +4.6% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell), suggesting potential underperformance relative to the broader market in the near term [3]

Core Viewpoint - Flutter Entertainment reported quarterly earnings of $1.64 per share, significantly exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.13 per share, marking an earnings surprise of +1,161.54% [1] - The company posted revenues of $3.79 billion for the quarter ended September 2025, which was below the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.65% [2] Financial Performance - Earnings per share (EPS) for the current quarter was $1.64, compared to $0.43 per share a year ago [1] - Revenue for the quarter was $3.79 billion, up from $3.25 billion year-over-year [2] - Over the last four quarters, Flutter has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times and topped revenue estimates two times [2] Market Performance - Flutter shares have declined approximately 10.3% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P 500 has gained 16.4% [3] - The current Zacks Rank for Flutter is 4 (Sell), indicating expected underperformance in the near future [6] Future Outlook - The consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $2.73 on revenues of $5.37 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $8.08 on revenues of $17.06 billion [7] - The gaming industry is currently ranked in the bottom 39% of Zacks industries, which may impact Flutter's stock performance [8]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Group revenue increased by 17% year-over-year, while adjusted EBITDA grew by 6% in Q3 2025 [5][19] - The company reported a net loss of $789 million for the quarter, compared to a loss of $114 million in the prior year, primarily due to a non-cash impairment charge of $556 million related to regulatory changes in India [18][19] - Adjusted earnings per share grew by 29%, while loss per share increased to $3.91 from $0.58 in Q3 2024 [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the US, revenue was up 9%, driven by exceptional iGaming growth of 44%, while sportsbook revenue declined by 5% [18] - International revenue increased by 21% year-over-year, with acquisitions contributing 18 percentage points to this growth [19] - iGaming performance showed strong organic growth of 10%, particularly in Turkey and Italy [12][19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Average monthly players engaging with products exceeded 14 million, contributing to revenue growth [5] - The company maintained a 47% market share in net gaming revenue (NGR) in September, despite competitive pressures [11][30] - The international division's revenue reached $2.4 billion, reflecting a 21% increase, with strong performance in Turkey and Italy [19] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is strategically positioning FanDuel to capture emerging prediction markets with the launch of FanDuel Predicts in December [6][17] - The focus remains on state-regulated sports betting and iGaming as the most valuable long-term opportunities in the US [8] - The company plans to invest significantly in FanDuel Predicts, anticipating an incremental EBITDA cost of $40-$50 million in Q4 2025 and $200-$300 million in 2026 [23][24] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the underlying business performance despite a reduction in full-year guidance due to customer-friendly sports results [5][21] - The competitive landscape has seen heightened generosity from competitors, impacting initial NFL season performance, but management remains optimistic about long-term growth [11][30] - The company is closely monitoring the regulatory environment in India and remains engaged with policymakers regarding potential gaming tax increases in the UK [15][16][60] Other Important Information - The company completed share repurchases totaling $225 million in Q3 and plans to continue the program into 2026, with a commitment to return $5 billion over the coming years [20][21] - The integration of recent acquisitions is progressing well, with a focus on delivering synergies and enhancing the iGaming proposition [13][14] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you elaborate on the planned investment for FanDuel Predicts? - Management expressed excitement about the product and emphasized a disciplined approach to customer acquisition, monitoring CAC to LTV dynamics closely [25][26] Question: How widespread was the competitive generosity seen at the start of the NFL season? - Management noted that while there was heightened generosity, they maintained a disciplined investment posture and were pleased with their market share performance [30][31] Question: What is the outlook for trading in September and into Q4 in the US? - Management reported strong momentum into Q4, with double-digit handle growth and a positive start to the NBA season [30][31] Question: Can you provide insights on the prediction markets and regulatory engagement? - Management highlighted extensive engagement with stakeholders and optimism about accelerating state legalization of sports betting [34][35] Question: How do you view the competitive landscape with new partnerships like ESPN and DraftKings? - Management acknowledged the competitive dynamics but emphasized their strong product offering and successful partnerships, particularly with Amazon [56]

Group 1 - The sports betting firm is launching a stand-alone prediction market app called FanDuel Predicts [1] - The app is being developed in partnership with CME Group [1]

Core Insights - Flutter Entertainment Inc. reported mixed third-quarter earnings, with earnings per share of $1.64 surpassing the Street estimate of 86 cents, while quarterly revenue of $3.79 billion fell short of the analyst estimate of $3.9 billion [1][2] Financial Performance - The company experienced a solid third quarter, with continued momentum in both US and International businesses, maintaining its position as the number one operator in the U.S. [2] - The adjusted EBITDA for Q3 was reported at $51 million, reflecting a 12% year-over-year decline [4] Revenue Outlook - Flutter lowered its fiscal 2025 revenue outlook to $16.69 billion from the previous estimate of $17.05 billion [2] Market Reaction - Following the earnings report, Flutter Entertainment's stock was down 2.1% in extended trading, priced at $229.50 [3] Business Segment Performance - Sportsbook revenue declined by 5% year-over-year due to temporary impacts from sports results and high levels of competition during the NFL season start [4] - The company noted a 10% year-over-year handle growth in Q4 to date, attributed to increased investment in FanDuel and a strong start to the NBA season [4]