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Top 5 Gambling & Sports Betting Stocks After Legalization Wave
247Wallst· 2026-01-27 19:22
Core Insights - The legalization of sports betting in the U.S. has led to significant market growth, with over $150 billion wagered in 2025, but profitability remains a challenge for many operators [1] Company Summaries 1. DraftKings - DraftKings is the closest to achieving profitability in the digital sports betting space, posting $0.16 in annual EPS in 2025, marking its first year of profitability after five years of losses [12] - Revenue reached $5.46 billion, with quarterly earnings growth of 185% year-over-year, indicating strong operational performance [12] - The stock has seen a 26% decline over the past year, but analysts project a fair value of $45, suggesting a 47% upside if the company can maintain its profitability [13][14] 2. Flutter Entertainment - Flutter Entertainment, the parent company of FanDuel, is the largest operator in the group with a market cap of $30.6 billion and revenue of $15.4 billion [10] - The company reported $3.82 in annual EPS for 2025, down 37% from the previous year, but remains profitable [10] - Analysts see a fair value of $285 for the stock, implying a 63% upside, supported by its global diversification and established profitability [11] 3. Caesars Entertainment - Caesars operates over 50 casino properties and runs Caesars Sportsbook, but reported an annual EPS of -$0.95 in 2025, despite an improvement from -$1.26 in 2024 [7] - The stock has dropped 35% over the past year, trading at $22.37, with analysts maintaining a target of $32, indicating a potential 43% upside if the company can stabilize its digital losses [8] 4. MGM Resorts - MGM Resorts is the only company on the list with a positive one-year performance, up 3.7%, generating $17.3 billion in revenue [5] - The profit margin is low at 0.4%, and earnings fell 70% year-over-year in Q3 2025, indicating operational stress [6] - The stock trades near its 200-day moving average at $34.10, with a modest upside to the $42 analyst target [6] 5. Penn Entertainment - Penn Entertainment reported an annual loss of -$0.59 in 2025, an improvement from -$1.62 in 2024, but remains unprofitable [3] - The stock trades at 0.3x sales and below book value, suggesting market skepticism regarding its ESPN partnership [4] - Analysts have set a target of $19 for the stock, implying a 33% upside, but the company needs to demonstrate its ability to convert ESPN's reach into profitable customer acquisition [4]