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Churchill Downs Incorporated

CHDN · NASDAQ

Market closed$83.95$-2.34 (-2.71%)After hours $83.50 · -0.54%

Key statistics

Previous close$86.29
Open$85.94
Day high$86.52
Day low$83.81
52-week high$118.46
52-week low$80.24
Market cap5.85B
Volume545.67K
Average volume1.01M
P/E ratio13.18
Forward P/E—
EPS6.37
Dividend yield+0.52%

Market context

Why it moved

CHDN shares declined amid broad sector pressure as analysts noted the casino and gaming industry faces scarce growth prospects, with Churchill Downs specifically cited as a potential M&A participant rather than a near-term catalyst, while broader market sentiment was also weighed down by AI spending jitters and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty from the U.S.-Iran conflict disrupting the Strait of Hormuz.

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What is happening

Recent company-specific developments and publisher coverage.

July 18, 2026Churchill Downs fell nearly 3% on the day, extending recent weakness as broader risk-off sentiment — driven by escalating U.S.-Iran military strikes, a tech-led market selloff, and Netflix's disappointing guidance — weighed on consumer cyclical names. Notably, the decline comes amid active M&A chatter in the casino sector: Jefferies analyst David Katz flagged Churchill Downs as a potential M&A participant following Tilman Fertitta's ~$18 billion offer for Caesars, while Citizens Equity Research reiterated Churchill Downs as a preferred regional casino pick and floated the possibility of the company selling its regional gaming unit. Despite a consensus "Moderate Buy" from analysts with a $139.75 average price target — well above current levels — the stock continues to trade near 52-week lows amid macro headwinds and soft consumer discretionary sentiment.

-2.7118

July 17, 2026Churchill Downs shares rose nearly 2%, outperforming the broader consumer discretionary sector, as J.P. Morgan analyst Daniel Politzer named the company among his top regional casino picks, citing potential asset sales as a catalyst, while Citizens Equity Research also listed it as a preferred idea in the space. The positive analyst attention comes amid a broader regional gaming backdrop of healthy consumer spending trends and a Q1 earnings beat ($1.21 EPS vs. $1.06 expected), with the consensus price target of $139.75 implying significant upside from current levels.

1.9253

July 16, 2026Churchill Downs closed modestly higher, outperforming some casino peers as broader markets rallied on a softer-than-expected June CPI report that eased Fed rate hike concerns. The stock trades at a notable discount to its consensus analyst price target of $139.75, with 10 Buy ratings supporting a constructive outlook despite shares sitting well below their 52-week high of $118.46. Institutional accumulation remains a tailwind, with 82.59% of shares held by institutions and multiple funds reporting increased positions in Q1. The broader casino sector saw mixed Q1 results, though casino stocks as a group are up 14% on average since reporting.

1.3892

July 14, 2026Churchill Downs closed essentially flat, slipping modestly as broader consumer cyclical sentiment remained cautious amid Iran-driven macro headwinds and a mixed market backdrop. Key investor focus centers on the stock's significant discount to its consensus analyst price target of $139.75 — roughly 67% above current levels — alongside a Q1 earnings beat ($1.21 EPS vs. $1.06 expected) and Wells Fargo's recent price target cut from $132 to $120, maintaining Overweight. Sector peers face M&A activity, with MGM's take-private bid drawing attention to gaming valuations.

-0.2985

July 14, 2026Churchill Downs closed down over 2% as broader risk-off sentiment swept through consumer cyclicals and gaming stocks, with U.S.-Iran tensions sending oil prices sharply higher and pressuring equity markets at the start of a pivotal earnings week. The gaming sector faced additional headwinds from deal-driven volatility among peers — MGM Resorts remains in active takeover talks with Barry Diller's People Inc. at an $18B offer — while Barron's noted that traditional casino operators like MGM, Wynn, and Las Vegas Sands face structural pressure from online gambling growth and slowing Las Vegas consumer trends, a backdrop that also clouds sentiment for Churchill Downs ahead of Q2 earnings season.

-2.0697

July 10, 2026Churchill Downs shares edged lower, closing down 0.71% as the broader gaming sector faces headwinds from macroeconomic uncertainty and geopolitical risk tied to the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict. The stock remains under pressure year-to-date, down roughly 24%, with GurufFocus flagging shares as significantly undervalued relative to intrinsic estimates. Meanwhile, the gaming industry is absorbing M&A noise from Caesars Entertainment's contested takeover saga — with Fertitta Entertainment's $17.6B bid and Carl Icahn's rival pursuit — while consumer cyclical sentiment remains cautious amid softening discretionary spending signals.

-0.7082

July 9, 2026Churchill Downs closed modestly higher on the regular session but slipped in after-hours trading, as the gaming sector navigated a challenging macro backdrop. Geopolitical tensions from renewed U.S.-Iran strikes are keeping oil prices elevated and inflation fears alive, pressuring consumer discretionary names broadly. Within the casino and gaming peer group, Red Rock Resorts fell over 4% after missing EPS estimates, while Caesars carries a Zacks 'Strong Sell' rating amid heavy debt burdens — underscoring investor selectivity in the space. GurufFocus recently flagged Churchill Downs as significantly undervalued at a 44.8% discount to its GF Value estimate of $156.35, while the company's diversified model across live racing, regional casinos, and online wagering continues to underpin its long-term growth narrative despite a 24% year-to-date decline.

0.973

July 8, 2026Churchill Downs shares closed modestly lower amid a broad market risk-off session, as President Trump declared the Iran peace deal 'over,' sending oil prices surging over 5% and weighing on consumer discretionary and travel-adjacent stocks. The company, already down ~24% year-to-date, faces headwinds from rising inflation fears, elevated interest rate expectations, and sector-wide pressure on gambling and leisure names, while investors continue to monitor its long-term diversification strategy across racetracks, digital wagering, and regional casinos.

-1.0785

Simply Wall Street · July 1, 2026Did NBC’s Extended Derby Deal and HRM Expansion Just Shift Churchill Downs' (CHDN) Investment Narrative?Stock Titan · June 18, 2026Churchill Downs sets July 30 call for second-quarter resultsSeeking Alpha · May 1, 2026Kentucky Derby: An investor's guide to potential winners and losers (CHDN:NASDAQ)TradingView · April 23, 2026Why Is Churchill Downs (CHDN) Stock Rocketing Higher TodayQuiver Quantitative · January 7, 2026Churchill Downs Incorporated to Release Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Financial Results on February 25, 2026Churchill Downs Incorporated · November 24, 2025Churchill Downs Incorporated Announces New Victory Run Capital Investment at Churchill Downs Racetrack
Benzinga · July 14, 2026Wells Fargo Maintains Overweight on Churchill Downs, Lowers Price Target to $120
Mt Newswire · June 18, 2026Churchill Downs Notified About State of Maryland's Decision to Acquire Preakness IP Rights
Benzinga · May 27, 20264 Betting Stocks to Avoid as Prediction Markets Take Over
Mt Newswire · May 20, 2026Macquarie Cuts Price Target on Churchill Downs to $145 From $150, Keeps Outperform Rating
Benzinga · May 19, 2026Macquarie Maintains Outperform on Churchill Downs, Lowers Price Target to $145
Benzinga · May 1, 2026Is The Kentucky Derby Prediction Market Proof?
Benzinga · April 24, 2026These Analysts Increase Their Forecasts On Churchill Downs After Upbeat Q1 Results
Benzinga · April 24, 2026Mizuho Maintains Outperform on Churchill Downs, Raises Price Target to $155

Peers

S&P 500SPX · $7,457.69-1.01%Flutter Entertainment plcFLTR.L · 7,714.00-4.62%DraftKings Inc.DKNG · $24.94+0.40%MGM Resorts InternationalMGM · $46.13-1.64%Boyd Gaming CorporationBYD · $87.72-2.28%Wynn Resorts, LimitedWYNN · $96.64-1.50%Caesars Entertainment, Inc.CZR · $29.86-0.17%PENN Entertainment, Inc.PENN · $20.57-3.29%Rush Street Interactive, Inc.RSI · $32.50-0.91%Accel Entertainment, Inc.ACEL · $12.15-2.41%Canterbury Park Holding CorporationCPHC · $15.89+0.57%Inspired Entertainment, Inc.INSE · $6.52-3.12%