Citi Downgrades Flutter Entertainment to Sell Amid Regulatory Uncertainty
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 4 days ago
0mins
Should l Buy FLUT?
Source: CNBC
- Significant Downgrade: Citi's research arm has downgraded Flutter Entertainment from buy to sell, reflecting diminished confidence in U.S. growth forecasts for 2026 and 2027, with analyst Monique Pollard noting that future U.S. market value is no longer prioritized.
- Stock Price Plunge: U.S.-listed shares of Flutter have dropped 48% since the beginning of the year, correlating with the company's forecast of slower growth in its U.S. business, indicating signs of weakening customer engagement, particularly following a less exciting NFL season.
- Investment Risk in Prediction Markets: FanDuel plans to allocate up to $300 million for building its new prediction market in the near term, but investor concerns arise due to regulatory uncertainties in the U.S. for this emerging industry, with Citi suggesting that this move may not yield the anticipated business growth.
- Uncertain Market Outlook: Although prediction markets are rapidly growing in the U.S., projected to reach $1 trillion by 2030, Citi warns that it remains unclear whether FanDuel's prediction market will secure the necessary regulatory approvals, emphasizing that investors will require proof of execution and legal clarity before assigning material value to this segment.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy FLUT?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on FLUT
Wall Street analysts forecast FLUT stock price to rise
26 Analyst Rating
23 Buy
3 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 110.080
Low
228.00
Averages
296.77
High
381.46
Current: 110.080
Low
228.00
Averages
296.77
High
381.46
About FLUT
Flutter Entertainment plc is an online sports betting and iGaming operator. Its segments include the United States (U.S.), United Kingdom and Ireland (UKI), Australia and International. The U.S. segment offers sports betting, casino, DFS and horse racing wagering products to players across various states in the United States, mainly online but with sports betting services also provided through retail outlets and certain online products in the province of Ontario in Canada. The UKI segment offers sports betting (sportsbook), iGaming products and other products through its Sky Betting & Gaming, Paddy Power, Betfair and tombola brands. Its Australia segment offers online sports betting products through its Sportsbet brand. The International segment includes its operations in 100 global markets and offers sports betting, casino, poker, rummy and lottery, mainly online. This segment includes Sisal, PokerStars, Snai, Betfair International, Adjarabet, MaxBet, Betnacional, and other brands.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
US Stocks Close Higher with Chipmakers Rallying
- Market Recovery: On Thursday, the S&P 500 rose by 0.26% and the Nasdaq 100 by 0.49%, reaching new highs, indicating a strong rebound after early losses and reflecting investor confidence in economic recovery.
- Chip Sector Boost: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co raised its 2026 revenue forecast, highlighting strong AI demand, which propelled chipmakers' stock prices, particularly benefiting major suppliers to Nvidia and Apple, further enhancing market optimism.
- Oil Price Impact: Despite the stock market gains, crude oil prices surged over 3%, raising concerns about the Middle East situation and limiting the market's upward momentum, illustrating the potential impact of energy prices on the overall economy.
- Mixed Economic Data: Initial jobless claims fell to 207,000, exceeding expectations and indicating labor market strength, but unexpected declines in manufacturing production reflect economic uncertainty, which could influence future monetary policy.
See More
US Stocks Dip Slightly as Chipmakers Weigh on Market
- Market Performance: The S&P 500 index fell by 0.15%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased by 0.06%, and the Nasdaq 100 dropped by 0.21%, indicating a slight market pullback after reaching new highs, particularly pressured by weakness in chipmakers.
- Economic Data: Initial jobless claims in the US fell by 11,000 to 207,000, indicating a stronger labor market than the expected 213,000; additionally, the Philadelphia Fed business outlook unexpectedly rose by 8.6 to a 15-month high of 26.7, reflecting potential economic recovery.
- Oil Price Fluctuations: WTI crude oil prices increased by over 1% as the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz enters its fourth day, which could exacerbate global oil and fuel shortages, impacting future energy market stability.
- Earnings Season: Q1 earnings for the S&P 500 are projected to rise by 12% year-over-year, but excluding the technology sector, the earnings growth is only 3%, the lowest in two years, indicating a cautious market outlook on profit growth.
See More
US Stocks Rise Slightly, Chipmakers Rebound
- Chipmaker Rebound: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co raised its 2026 revenue forecast, reflecting strong AI demand, which led to a rebound in chipmakers, with ON Semiconductor up over 10% and AMD up over 5%, indicating renewed market confidence in tech stocks.
- Mixed Economic Data: Initial jobless claims fell to 207,000, below the expected 213,000, suggesting a strong labor market; however, manufacturing production unexpectedly declined by 0.1%, highlighting the unevenness of economic recovery, which could influence future policy decisions.
- Oil Price Surge Impact: WTI crude oil prices rose over 2% due to escalating tensions between Iran and the US, potentially exacerbating global oil and fuel shortages, which negatively affects airline and cruise line profitability, leading to declines in related stocks.
- Earnings Season Begins: Q1 earnings for the S&P 500 are projected to rise by 12% year-over-year, but excluding the tech sector, growth is only expected at 3%, raising concerns about the profitability of non-tech stocks and potentially impacting investor confidence.
See More
AMD Shares Surge 7% Following Price Target Increase
- AMD Stock Surge: AMD shares rose over 7% after Bernstein raised its price target from $235 to $265, with analyst Stacy Rasgon highlighting the company's benefits from strong server CPU demand, which is expected to enhance its market performance further.
- Intel Price Target Increase: Bernstein also lifted Intel's price target from $36 to $60, resulting in a nearly 5% stock increase, reflecting growing market confidence in Intel's future growth potential, which may attract more investor interest.
- Aehr Test Systems Order Boost: Aehr Test Systems announced a $41 million production order from a leading hyperscale AI customer, leading to an 11% stock increase, which not only strengthens the company's market position but also potentially drives future earnings growth.
- PPG Global Price Hike: PPG Industries announced a global price increase of up to 20% across its product portfolio, resulting in about a 5% stock rise, as this move addresses rising raw material and packaging costs, demonstrating the company's proactive strategy in navigating market challenges.
See More
Citi Downgrades Flutter Entertainment to Sell Amid Earnings Risks
- Rating Downgrade: Citi Research has downgraded Flutter Entertainment (FLUT) from Buy to Sell and placed it on a 30-day Catalyst Watch due to concerns over downside risks to earnings in the first half of the year and potential adjustments to adjusted EBITDA guidance.
- Earnings Forecast Cuts: Analyst Monique Pollard has reduced her adjusted EBITDA forecasts for Flutter by 10% for Q1 and 37% for Q2, indicating uncertainty in the company's earnings momentum in the U.S. market, particularly regarding its investments in prediction markets.
- Buyback Forecast Adjustments: Pollard also lowered buyback forecasts for FY26 and FY27, cutting them from $600 million to $250 million and from $1.5 billion to $750 million, respectively, to ensure that leverage remains within management's medium-term guidance range of 2-2.5x.
- Market Reaction Expectations: Flutter (FLUT) shares are expected to open more than 2% lower on Thursday, reflecting heightened market concerns about the company's future profitability, which may impact investor confidence and stock performance.
See More
U.S. Stocks Edge Up as PepsiCo and TSMC Shine
- PepsiCo's Quarter Performance: PepsiCo achieved its first volume growth in North American food business in two years, with CEO Ramon Laguarta addressing the industry's threat from GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, leading to a 1% rise in shares, demonstrating the company's resilience and adaptability in a competitive consumer goods market.
- TSMC Profit Surge: TSMC reported a 58% year-over-year profit increase, despite facing challenges with shortages of industrial gases; management noted a 'little bit softer' memory pricing, indicating ongoing demand and competitive pressures in advanced chip manufacturing that could impact future profitability.
- J.B. Hunt Transport Services: J.B. Hunt indicated the start of a new cycle with positive demand signals, reporting a first-quarter earnings beat and a 1% premarket share increase, reflecting potential growth opportunities in the transportation sector.
- Analyst Rating Changes: JPMorgan downgraded Corning to hold and cut its price target from $175 to $115, citing the need for greater earnings visibility to support stock upside, indicating a cautious market outlook on the company's future performance.
See More
US Stocks Close Higher with Chipmakers Rallying
- Market Recovery: On Thursday, the S&P 500 rose by 0.26% and the Nasdaq 100 by 0.49%, reaching new highs, indicating a strong rebound after early losses and reflecting investor confidence in economic recovery.
- Chip Sector Boost: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co raised its 2026 revenue forecast, highlighting strong AI demand, which propelled chipmakers' stock prices, particularly benefiting major suppliers to Nvidia and Apple, further enhancing market optimism.
- Oil Price Impact: Despite the stock market gains, crude oil prices surged over 3%, raising concerns about the Middle East situation and limiting the market's upward momentum, illustrating the potential impact of energy prices on the overall economy.
- Mixed Economic Data: Initial jobless claims fell to 207,000, exceeding expectations and indicating labor market strength, but unexpected declines in manufacturing production reflect economic uncertainty, which could influence future monetary policy.
See More
US Stocks Dip Slightly as Chipmakers Weigh on Market
- Market Performance: The S&P 500 index fell by 0.15%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased by 0.06%, and the Nasdaq 100 dropped by 0.21%, indicating a slight market pullback after reaching new highs, particularly pressured by weakness in chipmakers.
- Economic Data: Initial jobless claims in the US fell by 11,000 to 207,000, indicating a stronger labor market than the expected 213,000; additionally, the Philadelphia Fed business outlook unexpectedly rose by 8.6 to a 15-month high of 26.7, reflecting potential economic recovery.
- Oil Price Fluctuations: WTI crude oil prices increased by over 1% as the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz enters its fourth day, which could exacerbate global oil and fuel shortages, impacting future energy market stability.
- Earnings Season: Q1 earnings for the S&P 500 are projected to rise by 12% year-over-year, but excluding the technology sector, the earnings growth is only 3%, the lowest in two years, indicating a cautious market outlook on profit growth.
See More
US Stocks Rise Slightly, Chipmakers Rebound
- Chipmaker Rebound: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co raised its 2026 revenue forecast, reflecting strong AI demand, which led to a rebound in chipmakers, with ON Semiconductor up over 10% and AMD up over 5%, indicating renewed market confidence in tech stocks.
- Mixed Economic Data: Initial jobless claims fell to 207,000, below the expected 213,000, suggesting a strong labor market; however, manufacturing production unexpectedly declined by 0.1%, highlighting the unevenness of economic recovery, which could influence future policy decisions.
- Oil Price Surge Impact: WTI crude oil prices rose over 2% due to escalating tensions between Iran and the US, potentially exacerbating global oil and fuel shortages, which negatively affects airline and cruise line profitability, leading to declines in related stocks.
- Earnings Season Begins: Q1 earnings for the S&P 500 are projected to rise by 12% year-over-year, but excluding the tech sector, growth is only expected at 3%, raising concerns about the profitability of non-tech stocks and potentially impacting investor confidence.
See More
AMD Shares Surge 7% Following Price Target Increase
- AMD Stock Surge: AMD shares rose over 7% after Bernstein raised its price target from $235 to $265, with analyst Stacy Rasgon highlighting the company's benefits from strong server CPU demand, which is expected to enhance its market performance further.
- Intel Price Target Increase: Bernstein also lifted Intel's price target from $36 to $60, resulting in a nearly 5% stock increase, reflecting growing market confidence in Intel's future growth potential, which may attract more investor interest.
- Aehr Test Systems Order Boost: Aehr Test Systems announced a $41 million production order from a leading hyperscale AI customer, leading to an 11% stock increase, which not only strengthens the company's market position but also potentially drives future earnings growth.
- PPG Global Price Hike: PPG Industries announced a global price increase of up to 20% across its product portfolio, resulting in about a 5% stock rise, as this move addresses rising raw material and packaging costs, demonstrating the company's proactive strategy in navigating market challenges.
See More
Citi Downgrades Flutter Entertainment to Sell Amid Earnings Risks
- Rating Downgrade: Citi Research has downgraded Flutter Entertainment (FLUT) from Buy to Sell and placed it on a 30-day Catalyst Watch due to concerns over downside risks to earnings in the first half of the year and potential adjustments to adjusted EBITDA guidance.
- Earnings Forecast Cuts: Analyst Monique Pollard has reduced her adjusted EBITDA forecasts for Flutter by 10% for Q1 and 37% for Q2, indicating uncertainty in the company's earnings momentum in the U.S. market, particularly regarding its investments in prediction markets.
- Buyback Forecast Adjustments: Pollard also lowered buyback forecasts for FY26 and FY27, cutting them from $600 million to $250 million and from $1.5 billion to $750 million, respectively, to ensure that leverage remains within management's medium-term guidance range of 2-2.5x.
- Market Reaction Expectations: Flutter (FLUT) shares are expected to open more than 2% lower on Thursday, reflecting heightened market concerns about the company's future profitability, which may impact investor confidence and stock performance.
See More
U.S. Stocks Edge Up as PepsiCo and TSMC Shine
- PepsiCo's Quarter Performance: PepsiCo achieved its first volume growth in North American food business in two years, with CEO Ramon Laguarta addressing the industry's threat from GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, leading to a 1% rise in shares, demonstrating the company's resilience and adaptability in a competitive consumer goods market.
- TSMC Profit Surge: TSMC reported a 58% year-over-year profit increase, despite facing challenges with shortages of industrial gases; management noted a 'little bit softer' memory pricing, indicating ongoing demand and competitive pressures in advanced chip manufacturing that could impact future profitability.
- J.B. Hunt Transport Services: J.B. Hunt indicated the start of a new cycle with positive demand signals, reporting a first-quarter earnings beat and a 1% premarket share increase, reflecting potential growth opportunities in the transportation sector.
- Analyst Rating Changes: JPMorgan downgraded Corning to hold and cut its price target from $175 to $115, citing the need for greater earnings visibility to support stock upside, indicating a cautious market outlook on the company's future performance.
See More
