Here at Zacks, our focus is on the proven Zacks Rank system, which emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find great stocks. Nevertheless, we are always paying attention to the latest value, growth, and momentum trends to underscore strong picks.
In a game of word association, Churchill Downs and Kentucky Derby are a common match. But for investors, it's worth your time to get familiar with Churchill Downs Inc. NASDAQ: CHDN, the parent company that operates the racetrack that hosts the Kentucky Derby.
The headline numbers for Churchill Downs (CHDN) give insight into how the company performed in the quarter ended March 2026, but it may be worthwhile to compare some of its key metrics to Wall Street estimates and the year-ago actuals.
Churchill Downs (CHDN) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.21 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.06 per share. This compares to earnings of $1.07 per share a year ago.
Churchill Downs (CHDN) has an impressive earnings surprise history and currently possesses the right combination of the two key ingredients for a likely beat in its next quarterly report.
Churchill Downs Incorporated offers a compelling long-term equity case, driven by its unique assets and robust compounding potential. CHDN's moat is anchored by the Kentucky Derby, but growth is also fueled by expansion in Historical Racing Machines and premium ticketing initiatives. Financials are strong, with a 10-year EBIT CAGR of 16.7%, healthy cash flow, and disciplined capital allocation toward both expansion and buybacks.
Churchill Downs Incorporated (CHDN) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
While the top- and bottom-line numbers for Churchill Downs (CHDN) give a sense of how the business performed in the quarter ended December 2025, it could be worth looking at how some of its key metrics compare to Wall Street estimates and year-ago values.
Churchill Downs (CHDN) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.97 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.85 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.92 per share a year ago.
Churchill Downs (CHDN) doesn't possess the right combination of the two key ingredients for a likely earnings beat in its upcoming report. Get prepared with the key expectations.
Churchill Downs' moat is moderate overall, but the Derby assets alone represent a wide, culturally entrenched monopoly with exceptional pricing power. Capital allocation favors buybacks over dividends, with share count reduced by 30% in a decade and ongoing investment in luxury Derby suites. Despite disruption risks from digital betting apps, the Derby's brand strength and resilient cash flows provide a margin of safety and optionality.
Churchill Downs (CHDN) might move higher on growing optimism about its earnings prospects, which is reflected by its upgrade to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).