Workflow
Combat Sports Entertainment
icon
Search documents
Fan Loyalty Powers TKO Group's Margin Strength, Analysts Note
Benzinga· 2025-10-10 17:07
Core Insights - TKO Group Holdings is benefiting from media rights deals, additional UFC and WWE events, and rising site fees, supporting its growth outlook [1] - BTIG has named TKO Group a Top Pick, maintaining a Buy rating with a price forecast of $235, based on a sum-of-the-parts EV/EBITDA model [2] Financial Performance - UFC gate receipts in Q3 2025 totaled approximately $31 million across ten fights, down from $40 million year-over-year, aligning with expectations due to tough comparisons [3] - Premium numbered events generated $8–$11 million each, while fight night events averaged $2-$3 million, with average ticket prices ranging from $130 to $275 [4] - TKO's first major boxing event, Canelo vs. Crawford, generated around $47 million in gate receipts with an average ticket price of $670, attracting 41.4 million global livestream viewers [5] Media Rights and Revenue - TKO signed a long-term media rights deal with Paramount Skydance to stream 12 annual Zuffa Boxing events starting January 2026, following a $7.7 billion deal for UFC's U.S. domestic rights [6] - UFC's core unit economics estimate a net profit of approximately $35 million per fight in 2025, with media rights accounting for about 60% of event revenue [7] - Partnerships and marketing contribute around $7 million per fight, with live events generating about $6 million; potential upside in partnership revenue could rise 25% year-over-year in 2025 [8] Growth Projections - BTIG projects UFC revenue growth of 25-37% in 2026, with EBITDA margins between 57% and 60.5%, alongside growth in WWE and IMG segments [9] - Fiscal 2025 revenue is projected at $4.69 billion, increasing to $6.01 billion in fiscal 2026, with adjusted EBITDA expected to rise from $1.56 billion to $2.30 billion [10] Market Position - TKO remains the leading combat sports entertainment platform with strong pricing power and industry-leading margins, supported by a loyal fan base [11]