During the first quarter of 2026, Hirsberg said Boyd expects to pay approximately $340 million for tax credits that will satisfy tax obligations tied to the FanDuel transaction. He said the company anticipates leverage will approach roughly 2.5x in 2026 (traditional leverage), reflecting the tax credit payment, capital investments, and the ongoing capital return program. On a follow-up question, Hirsberg clarified that his 2.5x comment referred to traditional leverage and that lease-adjusted leverage would ...

Core Viewpoint - Caesars Entertainment Inc. is considered one of the best sin stocks to buy in 2026, with a Market Outperform rating and a price target of $37 set by Citizens analyst Jordan Bender, who believes that betting exchanges pose minimal competitive risk to traditional gambling establishments [1]. Group 1: Company Overview - Caesars Entertainment Inc. operates as a gaming and hospitality company, managing properties in 18 states that include slot machines, video lottery terminals, e-tables, hotel rooms, and table games such as poker [4]. Group 2: Market Analysis - An analysis of NFL Week 14 games revealed that Kalshi's pre-game odds were 14% lower than DraftKings and 15% lower than FanDuel when transaction fees were considered, indicating that while Kalshi's pricing improved week-over-week, the overall pricing discount was worse than established sportsbooks [2]. - Citizens maintained a positive outlook on Caesars Entertainment despite concerns regarding the impact of betting platforms on traditional operators, asserting confidence that these platforms would not threaten the financial health of existing players in legal sports betting states [3].

Core Insights - Caesars Entertainment reported a revenue of $2.87 billion for the quarter ended September 2025, reflecting a slight decline of 0.2% year-over-year and a miss of 0.68% against the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.89 billion [1] - The company's earnings per share (EPS) was -$0.27, a significant drop from -$0.04 in the same quarter last year, resulting in an EPS surprise of -145.45% compared to the consensus estimate of -$0.11 [1] Financial Performance Metrics - In Las Vegas, the table game drop was reported at $658 million, below the average estimate of $717.4 million, while the table game hold was 17.4%, lower than the estimated 19.5% [4] - The slot handle in Las Vegas was $2.54 billion, missing the average estimate of $2.62 billion [4] - Caesars Digital's iGaming handle was $4.76 billion, compared to the estimated $5.03 billion, with an iGaming hold of 3.6%, matching the estimates [4] - The sports betting hold for Caesars Digital was 7.8%, exceeding the average estimate of 7.1% [4] - Net revenues from Las Vegas were $952 million, significantly below the average estimate of $1 billion, marking a year-over-year decline of 10.4% [4] - Regional net revenues were reported at $1.54 billion, slightly above the average estimate of $1.48 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 6.2% [4] - Caesars Digital net revenues were $311 million, below the average estimate of $325.06 million, but showing a year-over-year growth of 2.6% [4] - Managed and branded net revenues reached $73 million, surpassing the average estimate of $69.07 million, with a year-over-year increase of 7.4% [4] - Corporate and other net revenues were reported at -$3 million, worse than the estimated -$1.7 million, representing a 40% decline year-over-year [4] - Las Vegas casino net revenues were $260 million, below the average estimate of $270.53 million, indicating an 11.6% year-over-year decrease [4] Stock Performance - Over the past month, shares of Caesars Entertainment have declined by 19.1%, contrasting with a 3.6% increase in the Zacks S&P 500 composite [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell), suggesting potential underperformance relative to the broader market in the near term [3]

Core Viewpoint - Butler National Corporation has initiated a new stock repurchase program of $5 million, closing its previous 2016 program, reflecting the company's commitment to enhancing shareholder value and confidence in long-term growth prospects [2][3]. Group 1: Stock Repurchase Details - The company has repurchased 2.41 million shares of its common stock since April 30, 2025, at an average price of $1.51 per share [1]. - The new stock repurchase program is authorized through April 2027 and allows for the repurchase of approximately 4.8% of the 64,854,736 outstanding shares at current market prices [2]. - As of July 31, 2025, the company has paid $2.9 million for the repurchased shares, with remaining payment obligations of $0.9 million due before December 31, 2025 [4]. Group 2: Management and Strategic Intent - The Board of Directors has prioritized stock repurchases, with management actively seeking opportunities to repurchase shares through private transactions [3]. - The new stock repurchase program is indicative of the Board's commitment to enhancing shareholder value and reflects confidence in the company's long-term growth prospects [3]. Group 3: Company Overview - Butler National Corporation operates in the Aerospace and Professional Services sectors, focusing on aircraft modification, maintenance, and gaming management services [6]. - The Aerospace Products segment includes design, manufacture, and service of structural modifications and electronic systems for various aircraft, while the Professional Services segment manages a gaming facility in Dodge City, Kansas [6].

Financial Performance & Strategic Review - Century Casinos' Q2 2025 net operating revenue reached $15081 million[122] - Adjusted EBITDAR for Q2 2025 was $3030 million[122] - The company initiated a strategic review process to explore options for enhancing shareholder value, including potential asset sales, partnerships, or a company sale[108] Regional Market Overview - US regional Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) has shown stable growth since 2001[20] - Missouri's gaming revenue was approximately $19 billion in 2024, with over 9% growth since 2019[63] - West Virginia's gaming market experienced 43% growth from 2019 to 2024[39] Capital Expenditures & Debt - Total growth capital expenditures are estimated at $385 million, excluding VICI funding[101] - Regular maintenance capital expenditures are projected at $68 million spent and $81 million remaining for 2025[101] - The company's total principal debt as of June 30, 2025, was $3381 million[99] - Net debt leverage was 62x, with expectations to trend towards 47-60x by the end of 2025[96]

Core Points - Butler National Corporation has adopted new Corporate Governance Guidelines to enhance the structure and practices of its Board of Directors [1][2] - The Guidelines include a mandatory retirement age for directors at 75 years old, alongside existing policies like stock ownership guidelines and annual performance reviews [2][3] - The company has made significant strides in corporate governance, including annual elections for all directors and separating the roles of Chairman and CEO [3][4] Company Overview - Butler National Corporation operates in the Aerospace and Professional Services sectors, focusing on aircraft modification, maintenance, and gaming management services [5] - The Aerospace Products segment involves design, manufacture, and service of aircraft modifications and electronic systems, while the Professional Services segment includes managing a gaming facility in Dodge City, Kansas [5]