Luis Alvarez/DigitalVision via Getty Images Listen below or on the go on Apple Podcasts and Spotify Investors rotate from AI to A1 as breadth increases. (0:16) Krispy Kreme and Shake Shack surge on earnings. (1:13) S&P 500 triggers sixth Hindenburg Omen signal. (3:26) This is an abridged transcript of the podcast: Our top story so far, investors are going from AI to A1. Looking at forward valuations, the premium investors were paying for the mega caps has faded — and they’re now willing to pay up for ...

Regional Gaming: Management cited resilience despite headwinds including roadwork and local curfews in Mississippi and minor weather impacts in December. Same-store, wholly owned casino margins (excluding racing) declined modestly by 0.8 points versus 2024, primarily reflecting Mississippi performance.Wagering Services and Solutions: Adjusted EBITDA rose 7% in 2025, primarily due to continued growth in the Exacta business, which the company acquired in 2024 to vertically integrate HRM technology.Virginia HR ...

The London Company, an investment management company, released its fourth-quarter 2025 investor letter for its “The London Company Mid Cap Strategy”. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In Q4 2025, US equities posted the third consecutive quarter of higher returns, with the Russell 3000 Index rising 2.4%. The market highlighted how investors balanced the optimism on earnings growth and concerns regarding AI returns and cooling macroeconomic factors. In the quarter, the portfolio returned 3.2% (3.0% ...

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Feb. 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Churchill Downs Incorporated (“CDI” or “the Company”) (Nasdaq: CHDN) announced the grand opening of Marshall Yards Racing & Gaming (“Marshall Yards”) to the public on February 25, 2026, the Company’s eighth premier historical horse racing entertainment venue in Kentucky. The 23,000 square foot venue in Calvert City, Kentucky features 225 state-of-the-art historical racing machines (“HRM”), a retail sportsbook, simulcast wagering, and various food and bevera ...

Company Overview - Churchill Downs is a diversified gambling and entertainment company with a national presence in live racing, online wagering, and casino operations across multiple U.S. states [4] - The company leverages iconic racing assets, proprietary technology, and a broad gaming portfolio to drive growth and maintain a leading position in the U.S. gaming industry [4] - As of February 6, 2026, the company's market capitalization is $6.57 billion, with a revenue of $2.88 billion and a net income of $403.4 million [3] Financial Performance - As of February 6, 2026, shares of Churchill Downs were priced at $93.55, reflecting a 23.8% decline over the past year, underperforming the S&P 500 by 37.76 percentage points [2] - The company generates most of its revenue from gaming operations, including casinos, historical racing venues, and online wagering through TwinSpires [8] - Gaming revenue is influenced by foot traffic, machine volumes, and spending per visit, while margins depend on property mix and operating efficiency [8] Investment Insights - Beck Bode, LLC established a new position in Churchill Downs by acquiring 154,871 shares valued at $17.62 million, representing 2.93% of its $601.19 million in reportable U.S. equity assets as of December 31, 2025 [1][2] - The company has been investing heavily to expand its regional footprint and add high-return gaming capacity, which may pressure near-term earnings but is intended to drive stronger cash flow over time [8] - Churchill Downs is recognized for hosting the Kentucky Derby, but its significant earnings power comes from regional casinos and historical horse racing terminals that generate recurring gaming revenue [6]

Market Overview - Mid cap equities showed flat to slightly positive performance in Q4, with the Russell Midcap Index returning 0.16% [2] - Market dynamics were influenced more by investor sentiment and positioning rather than macroeconomic factors, leading to uneven earnings reactions [2] - Mid cap equities lagged behind both small and large caps for the year, despite improvements in fundamentals for many mid cap businesses [3] Performance Analysis - The ClearBridge Mid Cap Strategy underperformed its benchmark due to broad market headwinds and uneven earnings reactions, despite solid execution in the portfolio [4] - Information technology and real estate sectors were significant detractors, while consumer discretionary holdings provided some positive contributions [4][5] Sector-Specific Insights - The IT sector faced challenges as investor sentiment weakened towards software businesses, impacting companies like Teledyne Technologies and Bentley Systems [5] - Real estate was pressured by Alexandria Real Estate Equities due to a slowdown in biopharma research spending, leading to a decline in leasing demand [6] - Consumer discretionary sector saw positive performance from companies like Light & Wonder and Expedia, which benefited from improved execution and market conditions [7] Portfolio Positioning - The company reallocated capital towards businesses with durable fundamentals and recurring revenue profiles, while exiting positions with unfavorable risk-reward profiles [9] - New positions were initiated in Casella Waste Systems and Tyler Technologies, focusing on companies with strong recurring revenue models [10] - Exited positions included Corpay and DraftKings due to emerging competitive uncertainties [11] Future Outlook - The environment for mid cap equities is expected to improve, with signs of easing market imbalances and potential for reaccelerated business investment [13][14] - A normalization of capital allocation could benefit mid cap companies with strong cash flows and attractive valuations [14] - The company is focusing on bottom-up stock selection and balanced portfolio construction to navigate the evolving opportunity set [15] Portfolio Highlights - The ClearBridge Mid Cap Strategy underperformed the Russell Midcap Index, with contributions primarily from consumer discretionary and health care sectors [16] - Stock selection in various sectors, including IT and real estate, detracted from performance, while consumer discretionary sector selection provided some benefits [17] - Notable individual stock performance included detractors like Alexandria Real Estate Equities and contributors like Light & Wonder and Expedia [18]

Group 1: ClearBridge Investments and Mid Cap Strategy - ClearBridge Mid Cap Strategy underperformed against the Russell Midcap Index, which returned 0.16% during Q4 2025, due to narrow market leadership and sentiment-driven trading [1] - Weakness in information technology and real estate holdings negatively impacted returns, while gains in select consumer discretionary stocks provided partial support [1] - The portfolio management team expressed cautious optimism for the future, citing improving clarity around policy, interest rates, and business investment as potential positive factors for active stock selection [1] Group 2: Churchill Downs Inc. Overview - Churchill Downs Inc. operates gaming, racing, and online wagering assets, including the Kentucky Derby, with a one-month return of -11.91% and a market capitalization of approximately $7.029 billion [2] - The stock price of Churchill Downs Inc. has fluctuated between $85.58 and $126.60 over the past 52 weeks, closing at around $100.23 on January 27, 2026 [2] Group 3: Performance Insights on Churchill Downs Inc. - ClearBridge Investments highlighted Churchill Downs Inc. as a new holding that advanced as operating trends normalized following earlier weaknesses related to the Kentucky Derby and softer consumer sentiment [3] - Churchill Downs Inc. was held by 45 hedge fund portfolios at the end of Q3, an increase from 43 in the previous quarter, indicating growing interest among institutional investors [4]

Core Insights - Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. is a significant player in the gaming and hospitality industry, known for its luxury casino resorts and high-quality service, competing with companies like Century Casinos, Churchill Downs, and Golden Entertainment [1] Financial Performance - Monarch's Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) is 13.89%, which is higher than its Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) of 10.69%, indicating effective capital utilization [2][6] - The ROIC to WACC ratio for Monarch is 1.30, demonstrating its ability to create value for investors [2] - In contrast, Century Casinos has a ROIC of 0.50% and a WACC of 9.43%, resulting in a ROIC to WACC ratio of 0.05, indicating inefficiencies [3] - Churchill Downs has a ROIC of 11.03% and a WACC of 6.32%, leading to a ROIC to WACC ratio of 1.75, making it the most efficient in capital utilization among peers [4] - Golden Entertainment has a ROIC to WACC ratio of 0.66, which is below Monarch's performance [4][6] Overall Assessment - Monarch Casino & Resort demonstrates strong capital efficiency, effectively generating value for its investors, although Churchill Downs leads in capital utilization efficiency [5][6]

Core Insights - Everi has entered a seven-year agreement with Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) to provide a range of FinTech solutions, including CashClub® services, across CDI's gaming properties [1][2] - The partnership aims to enhance financial technology capabilities, improve compliance with Title 31, and optimize operational efficiency for CDI [2] - The collaboration builds on existing relationships, leveraging Everi's BeOn™ Venue Platform and IGT's historical horse racing games [2][3] Company Overview - IGT is a leading global provider of gaming, digital, and financial technology solutions, formed from the merger of International Game Technology PLC's Gaming & Digital Business and Everi Holdings Inc. [4] - IGT's offerings include gaming machines, game content, iGaming, sports betting, cash access, and loyalty solutions, aimed at delivering integrated experiences across various environments [4] - Churchill Downs Incorporated has been a key player in entertainment for over 150 years, known for the Kentucky Derby and expanding into live and historical racing, online wagering, and regional casino gaming [5]

Company Overview - Take-Two Interactive (TTWO) shares increased by 4.5% to close at $256.12, supported by strong trading volume, which was significantly higher than usual [1] - The stock has gained 4.4% over the past four weeks, indicating positive momentum [1] Financial Performance - Take-Two is projected to report quarterly earnings of $0.91 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 37.9% [2] - Expected revenues for the upcoming quarter are $1.74 billion, which represents a 17.7% increase compared to the same quarter last year [2] Market Trends - The company is experiencing strong growth driven by popular franchises such as Grand Theft Auto and NBA 2K, alongside rapid mobile growth from games like Toon Blast and Color Block Jam [2] - Take-Two is expanding its presence on the Nintendo Switch 2 and has a robust pipeline of upcoming titles, including Borderlands 4 and Mafia: The Old Country [2] Earnings Estimate Trends - The consensus EPS estimate for Take-Two has remained stable over the last 30 days, suggesting that the stock's price may not continue to rise without changes in earnings estimate revisions [4] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating a neutral outlook [4] Industry Comparison - Take-Two is part of the Zacks Gaming industry, where another company, Churchill Downs (CHDN), saw a 0.7% increase in its stock price, closing at $96.94, but has returned -6.5% over the past month [4] - Churchill Downs has a consensus EPS estimate of $1, which has decreased by 4.5% over the past month, representing a 3.1% increase year-over-year [5]