South_agency/E+ via Getty Images Listen below or on the go on Apple Podcasts and Spotify Fox has the option snap up 18.6% of Flutter’s FanDuel. (0:15) Wegovy once-daily pill now on sale. (1:32) Amazon launches Alexa.com. (2:34) This is an abridged transcript of the podcast: Our top story so far, is the Fox in the Flutter henhouse? Flutter Entertainment’s (FLUT) FanDuel is a juggernaut in U.S. sports betting, with a market share north of 30%. And that success could be a big plus for Fox (FOX) (FOXA), ...

Most Wall Street analysts think prediction markets don't threaten the business model of FanDuel, Flutter's most valuable asset. ...

Core Insights - The Zacks Gaming industry is facing challenges due to strained consumer spending, rising regulatory complexity, and compliance costs, but is benefiting from increased gaming revenues in Macau and strong demand for sports betting [1][3][4][5][6] Industry Overview - The Zacks Gaming industry encompasses companies that operate integrated casinos, hotels, and entertainment resorts, as well as those providing technology products and services in lotteries, electronic gaming, and sports betting [2] Key Themes - **Consumer Spending Pressure**: The U.S. gaming industry is experiencing reduced discretionary spending due to persistent inflation and rising costs, leading to more conservative spending habits among consumers [3] - **Regulatory Complexity**: The expansion of sports betting and iGaming is creating a fragmented regulatory environment, increasing compliance costs and compressing margins for operators [4] - **Macau Gaming Revenues**: Macau's gaming revenues rose 14.4% year-over-year to approximately MOP21.09 billion ($2.63 billion), indicating a steady recovery in the mass-market segment [5] - **Sports Betting Growth**: The legalization of sports betting across multiple states has significantly contributed to industry growth, with various digital platforms facilitating wagers [6] Industry Performance - The Zacks Gaming industry has underperformed the S&P 500 Index, rising 7.2% over the past year compared to the S&P 500's 15.7% growth [10] - The industry's current trailing EV/EBITDA ratio is 18.64, consistent with the S&P 500, with historical trading ranges between 14.16X and 28.46X over the past three years [13] Notable Companies - **Las Vegas Sands (LVS)**: Benefiting from strong travel demand and improved conditions in Macau and Singapore, with a 22% share price increase over the past year and a 10.1% rise in 2026 earnings estimates [16][17] - **Rush Street Interactive (RSI)**: Achieved record revenues with a 20% year-over-year increase, supported by a 46% surge in North American online casino monthly active users, and a 38.3% share price increase [20][21] - **Brightstar Lottery (BRSL)**: Strengthened its balance sheet post-IGT Gaming divestiture, with a 5% increase in 2026 earnings estimates despite a 19.9% decline in share price over the past year [24]

Company Comparison - The report differentiates FanDuel from Polymarket or Kalshi [1] Industry Analysis - The analysis focuses on the semantics of different platforms in the industry [1]

Group 1: Analyst Ratings Adjustments - JPMorgan has significantly reduced its price target for Evoke PLC (EVOK) from 66p to 34p, indicating a nearly 50% decrease in outlook for the company [3][10] - The price target for Flutter Entertainment (FLTR, FLUT) has been lowered from 27,100p to 25,300p, reflecting cautious sentiment in the entertainment and gaming sector [4][10] - For EPR Properties (EPR), JPMorgan adjusted its target price down to $58 from $65, following a previous increase in September 2025 [5][10] - Daiwa Capital Markets has made a minor adjustment to Deere & Co (DE), lowering its target from $530 to $520 amid mixed analyst sentiments [8][10] Group 2: Geopolitical Concerns - A Taiwanese minister has warned that the ongoing tensions between China and Japan could last for another year, which may impact regional stability and trade [7][10]

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 Viewpoint - Flutter Entertainment PLC, a major player in the global sports betting and gaming industry, has received a "Buy" rating from Benchmark despite a price target adjustment from $310 to $285, indicating continued investor confidence in the company's future growth [1][2][6]. Group 1: Stock Performance - As of December 1, 2025, Flutter's stock price was $208.81, reflecting a 4.45% increase on that day [5][6]. - The stock has fluctuated between $202.01 and $210.49 on the same day, with a yearly high of $313.69 and a low of $189.33 [5]. - Flutter Entertainment has a market capitalization of approximately $36.7 billion and a trading volume of 1,593,432 shares [5]. Group 2: Institutional Investor Activity - Boston Partners increased its investment in Flutter by 15% during the second quarter, now holding 5,011 shares valued at $1.43 million, indicating a positive outlook from institutional investors [2]. - Bank of New York Mellon Corp significantly increased its stake in Flutter by 120.1%, now owning 454,660 shares valued at approximately $129.92 million, suggesting strong confidence in the company's growth potential [3]. - Jefferies Financial Group Inc. also raised its holdings in Flutter by 5.4%, now possessing 18,163 shares worth around $3.99 million, further supporting the notion of optimism among institutional investors [4].

Core Insights - The U.S. online sports betting market is rapidly expanding, intensifying competition among leading digital gaming platforms like DraftKings Inc. and Flutter Entertainment plc [1][2] - Both companies are enhancing their product offerings and customer engagement strategies to capture a larger market share [2][12] Group 1: DraftKings Overview - DraftKings is focusing on product enhancement and user engagement, leading to solid revenue gains in Q3 2025, with a notable increase in iGaming content [4][5] - The company reported a 25% year-over-year growth in iGaming net revenues and a 17% increase in total sportsbook handle in October [5][7] - DraftKings anticipates continued growth driven by product innovation and expansion into new jurisdictions [7] Group 2: Flutter Overview - Flutter, through its brand FanDuel, is experiencing steady growth with over 14 million average monthly players and a 17% year-over-year revenue increase in Q3 2025 [8][9] - The company is enhancing customer engagement through improved pricing and personalization, contributing to a balanced performance from both U.S. and international operations [8][11] - Flutter expects to benefit from ongoing digital gaming adoption and long-term engagement trends as it continues to innovate its product ecosystem [12] Group 3: Stock Performance & Valuation - DraftKings' share price has outperformed Flutter's in the past six months but remains below the Zacks Gaming industry average [13] - DraftKings is trading at a premium compared to Flutter based on a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio [14] - Earnings estimates for DraftKings show significant year-over-year improvements of 173.3% and 100.4% for 2025 and 2026, respectively, while Flutter's estimates reflect more modest growth of 8.1% and 39.1% [17][19]

Core Insights - Flutter Entertainment, the owner of FanDuel, announced that the UK government's plans to increase online gaming taxes will significantly impact its adjusted EBITDA, estimating a reduction of approximately $320 million in fiscal 2026 and $540 million in 2027 [1] Financial Impact - The anticipated adjusted EBITDA impact for fiscal 2026 is about $320 million [1] - The projected adjusted EBITDA impact for fiscal 2027 is around $540 million [1]

Core Viewpoint - The UK Government's recent changes to online gaming taxation will significantly impact Flutter Entertainment's adjusted EBITDA, with expected impacts of approximately $320 million in fiscal 2026 and $540 million in fiscal 2027 [1][2]. Tax Changes and Financial Impact - Effective from April 2026, the iGaming tax will increase by 19 percentage points to 40 percent, while from April 2027, the sports betting tax (excluding horse racing) will rise by 10 percentage points to 25 percent [5]. - The adjusted EBITDA impact for Flutter is projected to be $320 million in 2026 and $540 million in 2027, with first order mitigation expected to be around 27% in 2026 and 37% in 2027 [2][6]. Mitigation Strategies - Flutter anticipates that direct first order mitigation, including reduced operational, promotional, and marketing spend, will account for approximately 20% of the gross impact in the first six months post-implementation, increasing to about 40% thereafter [2]. - The company expects to leverage its scale and market position to achieve material second order mitigation benefits, potentially gaining market share and improving operational efficiencies [2][3]. Industry Context - The tax increases are viewed as detrimental to the industry, potentially benefiting illegal gambling operators who do not pay taxes and do not invest in safer gambling practices [3]. - The UK's remote gaming duty is now higher than in countries like the Netherlands, which has previously seen a rise in illegal gambling following tax increases [3]. Company Overview - Flutter Entertainment is a leading online sports betting and iGaming operator with a diverse portfolio of brands, including FanDuel, Sky Betting & Gaming, and PokerStars, generating $14,048 million in revenue globally for fiscal 2024, a 19% year-over-year increase [9].