FanDuel, DraftKings Targets Cut. Betting Peer Outpaces S&P 500. | Investor's Business DailyBREAKING: [Stocks Test Key Levels; U.S. Government Enters Shutdown]---Shares of online betting companies DraftKings (DKNG) and Flutter Entertainment (FLUT), the parent company of FanDuel, fell after receiving price target cuts on Friday. Meanwhile, competitor Rush Street Interactive (RSI) posted an early market rally, which eventually also reversed to a loss. Price Cuts For DraftKings And FanDuel Stifel lowered its pr ...

Joining us now is NEM senior analyst Bernie McTierin. Uh why should we not look at the disruptive forces of places like Khi and Poly Market and say that they will be the demise of all these traditional sports books and even the online ones. >> Yeah.No, it's a great question and certainly something investors are grappling with right now. Um, and I think the key thing to understand is I actually think prediction markets are going to be an asset for DraftKings and Flutter and and even Fanatics is going off aft ...

Core Insights - The gaming sector is starting 2026 with a focus on online sports betting, despite softer trends in Las Vegas, regional casinos, and Asia affecting near-term expectations [1] Group 1: Online Betting Trends - BofA updated forecasts for Las Vegas, regional casinos, and Macau, while reviewing recent online betting trends and earnings for DraftKings and Flutter Entertainment [2] - Gaming stocks declined approximately 9% in the fourth quarter and into January, with U.S. operators down about 4%, Macau names off 13%, and digital gaming stocks falling 23% [3] - DraftKings is positioned for a strong fourth-quarter performance, while FanDuel faces more pressure due to weaker betting handle and concerns around promotional intensity [4] Group 2: Las Vegas Market Analysis - Fourth-quarter estimates for Las Vegas remain modestly below Street expectations, with BofA's forecast about 1% below consensus for the Strip and roughly 2% below for MGM Resorts [5] - Las Vegas locals are outperforming, with BofA's estimates running above consensus [6] Group 3: Regional and Asian Markets - Macau's fourth-quarter EBITDA is expected to align with Street expectations, driven by strength at MGM China, with BofA slightly above consensus [7] - Marina Bay Sands in Singapore may modestly outperform expectations, supported by events like Formula One and improving hotel metrics [8] - Regional casinos show strength led by MGM Resorts and Boyd Gaming, but potential weakness is noted for Penn Entertainment due to increased competition in Louisiana [8]

Core Insights - The U.S. online betting industry is transitioning from growth to profitability, with investors focusing on execution and balance-sheet discipline, highlighting a competitive landscape between DraftKings Inc. (DKNG) and PENN Entertainment, Inc. (PENN) [1][2] DraftKings (DKNG) - DraftKings operates as a pure-play digital operator, emphasizing scale, technology, and customer engagement to enhance long-term earnings potential [2][3] - The company is experiencing improving momentum with accelerating handle growth, stronger customer retention, and increased parlay mix, which are expected to support higher sportsbook margins over time [3] - DraftKings is expanding media partnerships and product initiatives while maintaining disciplined capital allocation, including a larger share repurchase authorization [4] - The company continues to invest in new initiatives and technology, which may affect near-term profitability, leading to uneven margins compared to peers [6] - DraftKings faces inherent volatility in sportsbook results, which can significantly impact revenue and EBITDA, creating challenges for earnings visibility [5] PENN Entertainment (PENN) - PENN has strategically reset its digital operations by exiting the ESPN BET partnership and focusing on owned assets like theScore Bet and Hollywood iCasino, which simplifies the business and reduces marketing costs [7] - The company is witnessing strong momentum in iCasino, which is increasingly viewed as a profit engine, with record revenue driven by cross-selling from online sports betting [8][9] - PENN's regional casino business provides stable cash flow and differentiates it from digital-only competitors, with strong performance in several markets and a visible development pipeline [10] - Execution risk in the Interactive segment remains a concern, particularly with the transition away from ESPN BET, which introduces uncertainty around customer retention [11] - PENN's diversified structure and focus on profitability position it favorably compared to DraftKings, especially as the industry matures [24] Stock Performance & Valuation - DraftKings shares have underperformed compared to PENN over the past six months [12] - DraftKings is trading at a premium on a forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) ratio compared to PENN [16] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DKNG's 2026 earnings implies a year-over-year improvement of 100.4%, while PENN's estimate suggests a 116.4% improvement [18][21] Conclusion - PENN Entertainment is currently better positioned than DraftKings due to its balanced business model, digital reset, and stable cash flow from regional casinos, while DraftKings remains more exposed to sportsbook volatility and investment needs [24]

Core Viewpoint - Truist Securities has lowered its price target on DraftKings Inc. to $43.00 from $45.00 while maintaining a Buy rating, reflecting increased costs associated with the company's expansion into prediction markets [1] Group 1: Company Developments - DraftKings has launched its prediction app in 38 U.S. states, including major markets like California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas, with FanDuel expected to follow suit [2] - Both DraftKings and FanDuel are proceeding with their expansions without jeopardizing their core state gaming licenses, although unresolved legal challenges remain, including potential Supreme Court rulings [2] Group 2: Financial Projections - Truist has maintained its fourth-quarter EBITDA forecast at $500 million, which is at the midpoint of the company's guidance, pending additional state-level data [3] - For 2026 and 2027, Truist has reduced EBITDA estimates by 22% and 18%, respectively, to $940 million and $1.60 billion, reflecting increased costs related to prediction markets and more conservative assumptions regarding betting handle and hold rates [4]

Core Insights - Flutter Entertainment plc (NYSE:FLUT) is recognized as one of the best consumer cyclical stocks, primarily due to its leading online betting service, FanDuel, which has over 12 million users in the US [1] Analyst Recommendations - As of November 28th, 19 out of 27 analysts recommend buying Flutter Entertainment plc shares, with 6 ratings as Strong Buy and 2 as Hold. The average price target is set at $307.59 [2] Recent Analyst Reports - A recent report from Citi on November 29th lowered the price target for Flutter Entertainment plc from $340 to $320 while maintaining a Buy rating. This adjustment was influenced by the UK government's announcement to increase the online gaming tax from 21% to 40% [3] - UBS also revised its price target for Flutter Entertainment plc from $360 to $340 on November 20th, indicating that the stock could re-rate following the tax announcement as focus shifts back to its fundamentals [3] Earnings Call Insights - During the third-quarter earnings call, Flutter Entertainment's CFO discussed the impact of wager fees in Illinois, noting a reduction in the number of bets but an increase in handle per bet. The company is closely monitoring market data to assess future implications [4] - The CFO expressed optimism about potential regulatory developments that could help mitigate tax impacts in high-tax jurisdictions [4]

Core Insights - Tiger Global's Q3 2025 13F filing indicates a return to aggressive growth positioning, focusing on secular digital winners, cloud infrastructure, and global e-commerce [1] Significant Buys and Position Increases - Coupang (CPNG): Increased by 2,252,000 shares (+16.58%), remaining Tiger Global's largest disclosed equity bet, reflecting a long-standing relationship and high conviction [2] - Block (SQ): Increased by 478,872 shares (+12.14%), signaling confidence in the company's turnaround story and potential for operating leverage [3] - Amazon (AMZN): Increased by 357,900 shares (+3.35%), treated as a core position and long-term compounder [4] - MongoDB (MDB): New buy with 341,000 shares (100% increase), consistent with Tiger's strategy of identifying scalable software infrastructure leaders early [5] - Corpay (CPAY): Increased by 269,500 shares (+17.95%), viewed as a high-quality fintech compounder [6] - Flutter Entertainment (FLUT): Increased by 204,800 shares (+5.93%), continuing to add to the global online betting giant [7] Strategic Themes - Re-acceleration in Growth Tech: Significant additions like MongoDB, Coupang, Block, and Netflix indicate confidence in a multi-year resurgence of high-growth tech [13] - AI Infrastructure Positioning: Additions of Broadcom and Amazon show strategic alignment with AI's infrastructural backbone [14] - Strong Global Focus: Companies like Coupang, Flutter, and Sea Limited anchor Tiger's global approach to digital consumer platforms [15] New Positions - Netflix (NFLX): Initiated a new stake with 201,900 shares, indicating confidence in Netflix's strengthening fundamentals and global growth potential [11] - Broadcom (AVGO): Increased by 186,400 shares (+6.9%), positioning for sustained AI-driven tailwinds [12]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of in-depth research in the casino and gaming sector, highlighting the value of subscribing to specialized resources for actionable insights [1]. Group 1: Industry Overview - The casino and gaming sector is characterized by significant operational complexities and competitive dynamics, necessitating expert analysis for informed investment decisions [1]. - The sector includes various segments such as traditional casinos, online betting, and entertainment, which are influenced by consumer trends and regulatory changes [2]. Group 2: Expert Analysis - Howard Jay Klein, with 30 years of experience in major casino operations, leads a research group focused on actionable investment strategies in the gaming industry [2]. - Klein's investment approach prioritizes management quality, leveraging insights from a broad intelligence network across the US gambling and entertainment sectors [2]. Group 3: Research Offerings - The House Edge provides a model portfolio that is reviewed monthly, offering actionable analysis, news interpretation, and investment recommendations [2]. - Subscribers receive regular newsletters that include buy-sell-hold or accumulate recommendations, enhancing their investment decision-making process [2].

Group 1 - The article discusses the investment insights and strategies of Howard Jay Klein, who has extensive experience in the casino and gaming sector, emphasizing the importance of management quality in investment decisions [1] - Klein leads an investing group called The House Edge, which provides actionable research and analysis on gaming companies, online betting, and entertainment industries [1] - The model portfolio managed by Klein is reviewed monthly and includes buy-sell-hold or accumulate recommendations, along with a regular newsletter and updates on the latest trends in gaming [1] Group 2 - The article promotes a subscription service for in-depth research on the casino and gaming sector, highlighting the availability of free excerpts from an upcoming book titled "The Smartest ever Guide to Gaming Stocks" [1] - Klein's intelligence network spans various levels within the US gambling and entertainment sectors, providing valuable insights from customer-facing employees to senior management [1] - The focus is on value investing, with an emphasis on identifying potential investment opportunities based on management quality and industry trends [1]

Core Insights - The article expresses skepticism regarding ESPN's late entry into the sports betting market with its BetESPN platform, which only captured a 2.8% market share in its first year [1]. Group 1: Industry Analysis - The casino and gaming sector is experiencing significant changes, with new entrants like ESPN attempting to capture market share in sports betting [1]. - The article highlights the importance of management quality in informing investment decisions within the gaming industry [1]. Group 2: Expert Background - Howard Jay Klein, with 30 years of experience in major casino operations, leads an investing group called The House Edge, focusing on actionable research in the casino, online betting, and entertainment industries [1]. - Klein's extensive intelligence network spans various levels within the US gambling and entertainment sectors, providing valuable insights for investment strategies [1].