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ESPN Bet an Albatross on Penn Entertainment Stock, Says Analyst

The ESPN Bet peregrine sports wagering application, which went live last-place November, is likely to carry a larger-than-expected first-quarter loss, so acting as an beetle on shares of parent Penn Entertainment (NASDAQ: PENN).

That’s the use up of Deutsche Bank psychoanalyst Carlo Santarelli who inwards a Monday cover to clients, cut his cost aim on the gunstock to $19 from $22 while maintaining a “neutral” rating. The damage forecast implies upside of 14.8% from today’s come together and is advantageously infra the Wall Street consensus toll outlook of $26.51.

While the multi-year underperformance of the shares has us intrigued, we are (still) adopting a hold off and ensure come on on ESPN BET, which is likely the biggest driver of the buy in for the foreseeable future,” wrote the analyst.

Citing depression sports wagering hold, Santarelli said Penn’s digital unit is potential to carry a loss of $187 million, wider than his original forecast of $167 million. The Pennsylvania-based regional cassino manipulator is scheduled to write up results for the January through March period on Thursday, May 2. Analysts expect Penn testament account a every quarter loss of 58 cents a deal on revenue of $1.66 billion. Over the past 90 days, 9 analysts feature pared earnings per portion out (EPS) estimates on the gaming keep company spell none make boosted related forecasts.

Parlays Problematic for ESPN Bet

While Penn’s nucleus competency is operating regional casinos, the hefty price the gaming accompany paid to Walt Walt Disney (NYSE: DIS) for employ of the ESPN make has prompted investors to apply more scrutiny to the sports betting side of meat of the business.

Expectations that ESPN Bet would be a money-loser for Penn for a material portion of this twelvemonth are among the reasons the caudex is downwardly 17.75% over the yesteryear month and to a greater extent than twofold that just now since the bulge of 2024.

In his report, Santarelli noted parlays experience been a germ of consternation for ESPN Bet inward its infancy. It’s possible that over time, the manipulator will branding iron out those kinks. How  a great deal forbearance investors expand Penn on that look could live problematical because rivals such as DraftKings (NASDAQ: DKNG) and Flutter Entertainment’s (NYSE: FLUT) FanDuel are proving to follow proficient executors inwards the parlay space.

Across the industry, parlays, including those of the same-game variety, are viewed as border enhancers and benefit drivers, signification it’s pivotal operators take advantage on those opportunities.

Some Optimism for Penn’s Regional Casinos

Santarelli pointed out that as was the display case with other regional casino firms, Penn was hampered past forged weather crossways the US inwards January, but revenue flattened out in February and March next a lantern slide inwards the foremost month of the year.

Likewise, the psychoanalyst highlighted some strength at Penn’s Midwestern venues, which provided some buffer against weakness at some of the operator’s gambling casino hotels inwards the South.

Santarelli added that the M Resort inward Henderson, NV as wellspring as the Hollywood Cristoforo Colombo and 2 Penn casinos inward Land of Lincoln could benefit from the company’s rising slope cycle, which is expected to bleed through 2025.

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