Flutter Entertainment PLC (NYSE:FLUT) Short Interest Update

Key Points

• As of February 27 the stock's short interest fell to 9,052,256 shares—a 27.4% drop from Feb. 12—representing about 5.2% of shares short and a days-to-cover ratio of 1.4.
• The Board approved a $250 million share buyback (about 1.3% of outstanding shares), signaling management believes the stock may be undervalued.
• Flutter missed quarterly EPS estimates ($1.74 vs. $2.11) with revenue slightly below forecasts, and senior executives (CEO and CFO) recently sold shares—insiders disposed of 17,834 shares (~$1.9M) over the last quarter.

Flutter Entertainment PLC (NYSE:FLUT - Get Free Report) was the target of a significant drop in short interest in the month of February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 9,052,256 shares, a drop of 27.4% from the February 12th total of 12,469,256 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 6,395,129 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.4 days. Approximately 5.2% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Approximately 5.2% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 6,395,129 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.4 days.

Flutter Entertainment Trading Up 2.6%

Shares of NYSE:FLUT traded up $2.73 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $108.26. The company had a trading volume of 2,584,183 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,200,392. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $152.49 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $210.38. The firm has a market cap of $18.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -60.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.74 and a beta of 2.30. Flutter Entertainment has a 1-year low of $99.96 and a 1-year high of $313.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 0.95.

Flutter Entertainment (NYSE:FLUT - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 26th. The company reported $1.74 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.11 by ($0.37). Flutter Entertainment had a positive return on equity of 12.12% and a negative net margin of 1.89%.The company had revenue of $4.74 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.87 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.94 EPS. Flutter Entertainment's quarterly revenue was up 24.9% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts predict that Flutter Entertainment will post 4.17 earnings per share for the current year.

Flutter Entertainment announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock repurchase plan on Wednesday, March 11th that permits the company to buyback $250.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the company to repurchase up to 1.3% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are generally an indication that the company's leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Activity at Flutter Entertainment

In other Flutter Entertainment news, CFO Robert Coldrake sold 4,613 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $106.45, for a total transaction of $491,053.85. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 10,006 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,065,138.70. This trade represents a 31.55% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Amy Howe sold 8,895 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $105.91, for a total value of $942,069.45. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 78,889 shares in the company, valued at $8,355,133.99. This represents a 10.13% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold 17,834 shares of company stock worth $1,900,331 over the last quarter. 0.09% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. ORG Partners LLC boosted its position in Flutter Entertainment by 43.0% during the 3rd quarter. ORG Partners LLC now owns 143 shares of the company's stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 43 shares during the period. MML Investors Services LLC increased its holdings in shares of Flutter Entertainment by 0.6% in the 2nd quarter. MML Investors Services LLC now owns 7,081 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,024,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the period. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Flutter Entertainment by 1.2% in the 3rd quarter. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 4,057 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,030,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares during the period. Versant Capital Management Inc lifted its position in shares of Flutter Entertainment by 5.6% in the third quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 943 shares of the company's stock worth $240,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. boosted its holdings in shares of Flutter Entertainment by 5.7% during the third quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. now owns 1,074 shares of the company's stock worth $273,000 after purchasing an additional 58 shares during the period.

Trending Headlines about Flutter Entertainment

Here are the key news stories impacting Flutter Entertainment this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Board authorizes buyback — The Board approved a $250 million share repurchase program (up to ~1.3% of shares), which reduces float and signals management thinks shares are undervalued; buybacks often support near-term stock demand. Flutter Entertainment NYSE: FLUT Announces Stock Buyback Program
• Positive Sentiment: Prediction markets & product investment — Management is expanding FanDuel Predicts and treating prediction markets as incremental TAM; company plans material investment to scale the product ahead of major sports seasons, which could drive revenue growth and engagement. 3 Stocks Betting Big on Prediction Markets This March Madness
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst/market write-ups lift valuation narrative — Recent commentary argues FLUT’s valuation has improved on updates and investor focus on scale/EBITDA could support multiple expansion if growth re-accelerates. Flutter Entertainment NYSE: FLUT Valuation Climbs Higher Following Latest Market Update
• Neutral Sentiment: Long-term opportunity debate — Commentary examines whether the recent multi-quarter share price decline creates a buy-the-dip chance; useful for investors weighing fundamentals vs. macro/sector headwinds. Has Flutter Entertainment NYSE: FLUT Share Price Slump Created A Long Term Opportunity?
• Neutral Sentiment: Director RSUs granted — The company issued restricted stock units to an independent director (standard governance/compensation action); modest dilution/expense but routine. Flutter grants RSUs to independent director Stefan Bomhard
• Negative Sentiment: Institutional trimming — Los Angeles-based Capital Group reduced its holding, a high-profile institutional seller that can pressure sentiment and indicate waning confidence from a major shareholder. Los Angeles fund Capital Group reduces Flutter Entertainment holding
• Negative Sentiment: Executive insider selling — Multiple senior executives disclosed large stock sales (CEO(s) and CFO reduced positions last week), which markets often view negatively even if sales are for diversification/liquidity. SEC Filing — Amy Howe Form 4

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Zacks Research lowered Flutter Entertainment from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a report on Monday, January 19th. Texas Capital upgraded shares of Flutter Entertainment to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Craig Hallum cut shares of Flutter Entertainment from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and set a $200.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Susquehanna reiterated a "positive" rating and issued a $228.00 target price on shares of Flutter Entertainment in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company restated an "equal weight" rating and set a $228.00 target price (down from $248.00) on shares of Flutter Entertainment in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $234.65.

About Flutter Entertainment

Flutter Entertainment plc is a global sports betting and gaming company that operates a portfolio of consumer-facing brands and digital platforms. The company's primary activities include online sports betting, casino gaming, poker, and daily fantasy sports, delivered through web and mobile applications as well as retail betting locations in select markets. Flutter focuses on product development, customer acquisition and engagement, and compliance with local gambling regulations across the jurisdictions where it operates.

Flutter's brand portfolio includes well-known names in different regional markets, such as FanDuel in the United States, PokerStars, Betfair, Paddy Power and Sky Betting & Gaming in Europe and elsewhere.

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