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Churchill Downs Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 25 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net revenue rose 7 percent: Fourth quarter net revenue was $665.9 million, up $41.7 million or 7%. Full year net revenue was $2,925.9 million, up from $2,734.3 million. Source
  • Net income fell on charges: Net income attributable to CDI was $51.3 million, down $20.4 million or 28%. Factors included a $12.5 million valuation allowance and a $7.3 million after-tax rise in transaction and pre-opening costs. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 4 percent: Adjusted EBITDA was $247.0 million, up $10.4 million or 4%. Full year Adjusted EBITDA was $1,205.3 million against $1,159.2 million. Source
  • Virginia and Kentucky HRM venues drove growth: Fourth quarter Live and Historical Racing revenue rose $43.9 million, led by $20.8 million from Kentucky HRM venues and $16.1 million from Virginia HRM venues. Source
  • Louisiana HRM cessation reduced revenue: Fourth quarter Gaming revenue fell $7.2 million. The cessation of HRM operations in Louisiana cut $8.0 million, partly offset by $3.1 million from Indiana, New York and Maine. Source
  • Rivers Des Plaines equity income fell: Equity investments fell $8.4 million for the year, mainly a $7.8 million drop at Rivers Des Plaines that the company attributed to increased competition. Source
  • Buybacks reached $425.3 million in 2025: The company repurchased 4,190,380 shares in 2025 for $425.3 million, including $32.0 million in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Rockingham investment announced January: The company plans to invest $180 to $200 million in Rockingham Grand Casino, with $70 to $80 million planned for 2026 and an opening in mid-2027. Source

“We ended 2025 with net bank leverage of 4.1x and returned $456.3 million of capital to our shareholders through share repurchases and dividends during 2025.”

Churchill Downs Inc., press release

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Project capital Source2026$180 to $220 millionNew
Rockingham Grand Casino project spend Source2026$70 to $80 millionNew
Rockingham Grand Casino opening Sourcemid-2027mid-2027
Victory Run completion SourceApril 2028April 2028Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Project capital for 2026 is given as $180 to $220 million; the prior release gave a 2025 planned range of $200 to $240 million. Source
  • New: The company announced plans to invest $180 to $200 million in Rockingham Grand Casino in Salem, New Hampshire, on January 12, 2026. Source
  • New: Marshall Yards Racing & Gaming, an HRM venue in Southwestern Kentucky, opened February 25, 2026. Source
  • New: The company began using a net deferred tax asset of $85.1 million tied to interest expense; the prior release said it would begin with $91.2 million. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net revenue rose 7 percent: Fourth quarter net revenue was $665.9 million, up $41.7 million or 7%. Full year net revenue was $2,925.9 million, up from $2,734.3 million. Source
  • Net income fell on charges: Net income attributable to CDI was $51.3 million, down $20.4 million or 28%. Factors included a $12.5 million valuation allowance and a $7.3 million after-tax rise in transaction and pre-opening costs. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 4 percent: Adjusted EBITDA was $247.0 million, up $10.4 million or 4%. Full year Adjusted EBITDA was $1,205.3 million against $1,159.2 million. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS rose: Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.97 against $0.92. GAAP diluted EPS attributable to CDI was $0.71 against $0.95. Source

Live and Historical Racing

  • Virginia and Kentucky HRM venues drove growth: Fourth quarter Live and Historical Racing revenue rose $43.9 million, led by $20.8 million from Kentucky HRM venues and $16.1 million from Virginia HRM venues. Source
  • Segment EBITDA rose on same venues: Segment Adjusted EBITDA rose $20.5 million in the fourth quarter, with Kentucky HRM venues up $10.5 million and Virginia HRM venues up $6.9 million. Source
  • Roseshire added Central Virginia revenue: The Roseshire HRM venue, opened in September 2025, contributed to a $5.4 million revenue increase from Central Virginia venues in the quarter. Source
  • Insurance recovery lifted Northern Virginia: Full year Northern Virginia results included $3.5 million of one-time business interruption insurance recovery tied to the delayed Rose Gaming Resort opening. Source

“We plan to use our operating cash flows and existing revolving credit facility to fund our capital project expenditures.”

Churchill Downs Inc., press release

Wagering Services and Solutions

  • Sports betting and Exacta added revenue: Fourth quarter revenue rose $6.9 million, with $4.5 million from the sports betting business and $1.7 million from Exacta on incremental HRMs. Source
  • Derby Week lifted TwinSpires revenue: Full year TwinSpires Horse Racing revenue rose $11.8 million, mainly from Derby Week wagering. Exacta added $11.1 million from incremental HRMs in owned HRM venues. Source
  • Exacta drove full year segment EBITDA: Full year segment Adjusted EBITDA rose $11.7 million, including $9.2 million from Exacta and $4.2 million from sports betting, less $1.7 million at TwinSpires. Source

Gaming

  • Louisiana HRM cessation reduced revenue: Fourth quarter Gaming revenue fell $7.2 million. The cessation of HRM operations in Louisiana cut $8.0 million, partly offset by $3.1 million from Indiana, New York and Maine. Source
  • Rivers Des Plaines equity income fell: Equity investments fell $8.4 million for the year, mainly a $7.8 million drop at Rivers Des Plaines that the company attributed to increased competition. Source
  • Full year Gaming EBITDA fell $23.9 million: Full year Gaming Adjusted EBITDA decreased $23.9 million. Wholly owned properties fell $15.5 million, including $8.1 million from the Louisiana HRM cessation. Source
  • Mississippi roadwork and curfew hit Harlow's: Mississippi results were affected by temporary roadwork at Riverwalk and a local curfew affecting Harlow's, which the company listed among fourth quarter and full year declines. Source

“The expected reduction in cash paid taxes as a result of these new tax provisions will increase cash flow from operating activities.”

Churchill Downs Inc., press release

Costs, impairments and taxes

  • Chasers impairment hit full year: Full year net income included a $33.0 million after-tax increase in impairment charges, primarily for the impairment of the Chasers' gaming rights. Source
  • Valuation allowance reduced net income: The company recorded a $12.5 million valuation allowance in the fourth quarter, mainly for unrealizable state deferred tax assets. Source
  • Interest expense rose on more debt: Interest expense rose $2.4 million after tax for the full year, associated with higher outstanding debt balances and higher interest rates. Source
  • Transaction and pre-opening costs rose: Transaction, pre-opening and other expenses rose $7.3 million after tax in the fourth quarter. Full year pre-opening expense was $11.7 million against $29.6 million. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow held near prior year: Net cash from operating activities was $769.8 million for 2025 against $771.7 million. Capital project expenditures were $204.7 million. Source
  • Buybacks reached $425.3 million in 2025: The company repurchased 4,190,380 shares in 2025 for $425.3 million, including $32.0 million in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Dividend rose seven percent: The board approved an annual dividend of $0.438 per share, a seven percent increase, the fifteenth consecutive year of increases. Source
  • Leverage and capital returned in 2025: The company ended 2025 with net bank leverage of 4.1x and returned $456.3 million of capital to shareholders through buybacks and dividends. Source

Capital projects and venues

  • Rockingham investment announced January: The company plans to invest $180 to $200 million in Rockingham Grand Casino, with $70 to $80 million planned for 2026 and an opening in mid-2027. Source
  • Marshall Yards opened in February: Marshall Yards Racing & Gaming in Southwestern Kentucky opened on February 25, 2026, against a first quarter 2026 target in the prior release. Source
  • Roseshire opened in September 2025: The Roseshire Gaming Parlor in Henrico County, Virginia opened on September 29, 2025, with 175 historical racing machines per the prior release. Source

Coming up, as management said on 25 February 2026

  • Finish Line Suites target April 2026: Finish Line Suites / The Mansion at Churchill Downs Racetrack is targeted for completion in April 2026, with $20 to $25 million of planned 2026 spend. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total handle, TwinSpires Horse Racing Source$412.9 million in fourth quarter 2025 (up from $400.0 million); $1,981.0 million for full year 2025

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Rivers Des Plaines equity income fell because of increased competition, a $7.8 million drop for the year. Source
  • Operational: The cessation of HRM operations in Louisiana reduced fourth quarter Gaming revenue by $8.0 million. Source
  • Operational: Project capital may vary with the timing of work completed, unanticipated delays and payment timing to third parties. Source
  • Operational: Temporary roadwork at Riverwalk and a local curfew affected Mississippi results in the periods reported. Source
  • Financial: Full year impairment charges rose $33.0 million after tax, primarily on the Chasers' gaming rights. Source
  • Financial: A $12.5 million valuation allowance was recorded for unrealizable state deferred tax assets in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Financial: Higher outstanding debt balances and higher interest rates increased interest expense for the full year. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The company states it began utilizing a $85.1 million net deferred tax asset tied to interest expense. Source
  • Met: Marshall Yards Racing & Gaming opened February 25, 2026, against a first quarter 2026 target shown in the prior release. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.