DraftKings (NASDAQ:DKNG) shares rose more than 2% intra-day today after Morgan Stanley added the stock to its Top Picks list, despite Illinois recently adopting a higher, progressive tax structure. The investment bank contends that tax hikes do not automatically translate to identical impacts across all markets and should not be considered inevitable.
Morgan Stanley noted that not all states face budget shortfalls, so higher taxes should not be universally expected. They also emphasize that increased taxes may not be directly comparable since operators often reduce their investments, marketing efforts, and promotions in response.
The bank highlights that in states needing to address budget deficits, the expansion of legalized gaming could present opportunities, such as online sports betting in California and Texas, or iGaming in Maryland, New York, and Illinois. The analysts believe concerns over taxes are exaggerated and that positive earnings will serve as a significant catalyst.
Symbol | Price | %chg |
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035250.KS | 18010 | 0 |
034230.KS | 21400 | 0 |
114090.KS | 16580 | 0 |
034230.KQ | 10240 | 0 |
DraftKings Inc. (NASDAQ:DKNG) is a prominent player in the digital sports entertainment and gaming industry. The company offers a range of products, including daily fantasy sports, sports betting, and online casino games. DraftKings competes with other major players like FanDuel and BetMGM in the rapidly growing online sports betting market.
On August 8, 2025, Joseph Stauff from Susquehanna set a price target of $64 for DraftKings, suggesting a potential upside of approximately 47.81% from its then-current trading price of $43.30. This optimistic outlook aligns with DraftKings' recent financial performance, as the company reported record-breaking revenue and earnings in its second-quarter 2025 earnings report.
DraftKings achieved earnings per share (EPS) of 30 cents on revenue of $1.51 billion, marking a 37% year-over-year increase in revenue. This impressive growth was driven by higher sportsbook-friendly outcomes, where more customers lost their bets, benefiting the company's financials. The stock had already risen by approximately 11% in the month leading up to the earnings announcement, with analysts increasing their price targets.
The company also raised its full-year guidance for both revenue and earnings, indicating confidence in its path toward sustained profitability. A 29% increase in average revenue per user further supports DraftKings' positive outlook. Despite a recent decrease of 4.29% in its stock price, the company's market capitalization stands at approximately $21.47 billion, reflecting its strong position in the market.
DraftKings' stock has traded between a low of $42.91 and a high of $44.88 today, with a trading volume of 10.04 million shares on the NASDAQ exchange. Over the past year, the stock has reached a high of $53.61 and a low of $29.29, showcasing its volatility and potential for growth.
DraftKings (NASDAQ: DKNG) is a prominent player in the sports betting industry, offering a range of online gaming and sports entertainment services. The company competes with other major players like FanDuel and BetMGM. On July 18, 2025, Brandt Montour from Barclays set a price target of $51 for DraftKings, suggesting a potential upside of 16.07% from its current trading price of $43.94.
The recent legislative changes introduced by President Donald Trump through the One Big Beautiful Bill (BBB) could significantly impact DraftKings. The bill modifies the taxation rules for gamblers, making it harder for professional gamblers to deduct losses from their winnings. This change could reduce the financial impact of professional gamblers on DraftKings' profits, potentially benefiting the company.
DraftKings' stock price currently stands at $43.94, reflecting a 1.34% increase or $0.58. The stock has traded between $43.60 and $44.73 today, with a market capitalization of approximately $21.81 billion. Over the past year, the stock has seen a high of $53.61 and a low of $28.69, indicating some volatility in its performance.
The trading volume for DraftKings today is 8,846,859 shares on the NASDAQ exchange. This level of activity suggests strong investor interest, possibly influenced by the recent legislative changes and the positive outlook from Barclays. Investors may view the new tax regulations as a potential tailwind for DraftKings, enhancing its profitability in the competitive sports betting market.
DraftKings Inc. (NASDAQ:DKNG) is a prominent player in the digital sports entertainment and gaming industry. The company offers daily fantasy sports, sports betting, and iGaming opportunities. As a leader in the sector, DraftKings competes with other major companies like FanDuel and BetMGM. The company has been gaining traction, as evidenced by its recent stock performance.
On July 11, 2025, Citigroup reiterated its "Buy" rating for DraftKings, with the stock priced at approximately $43.40. This rating suggests confidence in the company's future prospects. Despite the "hold" action associated with this rating, DraftKings has been a popular topic among investors, as highlighted by its significant attention on Zacks.com.
DraftKings' stock has shown strong momentum, with a 17.4% increase over the past month. This performance surpasses the Zacks S&P 500 composite's gain of 4.1% and the Zacks Gaming industry's rise of 9.7%. Such growth indicates positive investor sentiment and potential for future gains. However, the stock's current price of $43.34 reflects a slight decrease of 2.76% or $1.23.
The stock's trading range today has been between $43.19 and $44.83, with a market capitalization of approximately $21.51 billion. Over the past year, DraftKings' stock has fluctuated, reaching a high of $53.61 and a low of $28.69. The trading volume for the day stands at 3,655,680 shares, indicating active investor interest.
For investors, understanding the factors influencing DraftKings' stock is crucial. While media releases and rumors can cause immediate price changes, long-term investment decisions are shaped by fundamental factors like earnings estimates. At Zacks, the focus is on evaluating changes in the projection of a company's future earnings, which significantly impacts a stock's present value.
DraftKings Inc. (NASDAQ:DKNG) is a prominent player in the digital sports entertainment and gaming industry. The company offers a range of products, including daily fantasy sports, sports betting, and online casino games. DraftKings competes with other major companies like FanDuel and BetMGM in the rapidly growing online sports betting market.
On May 12, 2025, Needham updated its rating for DraftKings to "Buy," maintaining its previous grade. At the time, the stock was priced at $37.93. Despite the "hold" action associated with this update, the stock has shown resilience, trading between $37.40 and $38.85 today, with a 4.69% increase from the previous day.
DraftKings reported its first-quarter financial results, revealing a revenue of $1.41 billion, a 20% increase year-over-year. However, this figure fell short of the Street consensus estimate of $1.44 billion. The company's earnings per share were 12 cents, missing the expected 22 cents per share. Despite these results, CEO Jason Robins emphasized strong performance in core value areas.
In response to the financial results, DraftKings adjusted its full-year revenue guidance to a range of $6.2 billion to $6.4 billion, down from the previous $6.3 billion to $6.6 billion. The company also revised its full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance to a range of $800 million to $900 million, from the earlier $900 million to $1 billion.
Despite the downward adjustments in forecasts, DraftKings shares experienced a 4.4% increase, trading at $37.83 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of approximately $18.96 billion, with a trading volume of 14,614,653 shares on the NASDAQ exchange. Over the past year, the stock has reached a high of $53.61 and a low of $28.69.
DraftKings Inc. (NASDAQ:DKNG) is a prominent player in the digital sports entertainment and gaming industry. The company offers a range of products, including daily fantasy sports, sports betting, and online casino games. DraftKings competes with other major companies like FanDuel and BetMGM in the rapidly growing online sports betting market.
On May 12, 2025, Needham updated its rating for DraftKings to "Buy," maintaining its previous grade. At the time, the stock was priced at $37.93. Despite the "hold" action associated with this update, the stock has shown resilience, trading between $37.40 and $38.85 today, with a 4.69% increase from the previous day.
DraftKings reported its first-quarter financial results, revealing a revenue of $1.41 billion, a 20% increase year-over-year. However, this figure fell short of the Street consensus estimate of $1.44 billion. The company's earnings per share were 12 cents, missing the expected 22 cents per share. Despite these results, CEO Jason Robins emphasized strong performance in core value areas.
In response to the financial results, DraftKings adjusted its full-year revenue guidance to a range of $6.2 billion to $6.4 billion, down from the previous $6.3 billion to $6.6 billion. The company also revised its full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance to a range of $800 million to $900 million, from the earlier $900 million to $1 billion.
Despite the downward adjustments in forecasts, DraftKings shares experienced a 4.4% increase, trading at $37.83 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of approximately $18.96 billion, with a trading volume of 14,614,653 shares on the NASDAQ exchange. Over the past year, the stock has reached a high of $53.61 and a low of $28.69.
Needham reaffirmed its Buy rating on DraftKings (NASDAQ:DKNG) with a $65 price target, despite trimming near-term estimates due to March Madness-related betting outcomes.
The firm cut its Q1 adjusted EBITDA forecast by $70 million, noting that unfavorable game results during the NCAA tournament more than offset the positive boost seen from the Super Bowl. As a result, the new projection now falls below the company’s current full-year EBITDA guidance. However, Needham expects momentum to return in Q2, helped in part by early surprises such as Duke’s exit from the tournament.
Despite the short-term volatility, Needham emphasized that sports outcomes are inherently unpredictable, and therefore these fluctuations shouldn't impact the longer-term view. The firm noted that recent investor conversations have centered on bearish themes including slowing handle growth, potential recession, increased state tax burdens, competition from prediction markets, and structural hold questions.
Yet, Needham believes these concerns are either overstated or manageable over time. With shares under pressure recently, the firm views the pullback as a buying opportunity for investors focused on the long term, especially as DraftKings continues to scale and build competitive advantages in the growing online sports betting and iGaming markets.
Needham reaffirmed its Buy rating on DraftKings (NASDAQ:DKNG) with a $65 price target, despite trimming near-term estimates due to March Madness-related betting outcomes.
The firm cut its Q1 adjusted EBITDA forecast by $70 million, noting that unfavorable game results during the NCAA tournament more than offset the positive boost seen from the Super Bowl. As a result, the new projection now falls below the company’s current full-year EBITDA guidance. However, Needham expects momentum to return in Q2, helped in part by early surprises such as Duke’s exit from the tournament.
Despite the short-term volatility, Needham emphasized that sports outcomes are inherently unpredictable, and therefore these fluctuations shouldn't impact the longer-term view. The firm noted that recent investor conversations have centered on bearish themes including slowing handle growth, potential recession, increased state tax burdens, competition from prediction markets, and structural hold questions.
Yet, Needham believes these concerns are either overstated or manageable over time. With shares under pressure recently, the firm views the pullback as a buying opportunity for investors focused on the long term, especially as DraftKings continues to scale and build competitive advantages in the growing online sports betting and iGaming markets.