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DraftKings Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 3 lowered, 7 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 16% year over year: Total revenue was $1,329 million, up $185 million from $1,144 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA was a loss: Adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $316.9 million, against a loss of $126.5 million a year earlier. Adjusted loss per share was $0.53, against $0.26. Source
  • Sports revenue grew 31.5%: Sports revenue was $783.6 million, up $187.5 million from $596.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Monthly unique payers up 13%: Monthly Unique Payers reached 4.1 million, attributed to retention and new customer acquisition across Sportsbook, iGaming and Predictions. Source
  • Sales and marketing rose sharply: Sales and marketing expense was $605.7 million, against $360.4 million a year earlier. It was the largest year-over-year increase among the operating expense lines. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 guidance lowered: Fiscal 2026 revenue range set at $6.35 billion to $6.55 billion and Adjusted EBITDA at $175 million to $275 million, primarily reflecting higher Predictions investment. Source
  • Fiscal 2027 guidance introduced: Fiscal 2027 revenue guidance of $7.35 billion to $7.75 billion and Adjusted EBITDA of $800 million to $1.0 billion, with core business revenue of $6.7 billion to $7.0 billion. Source

“The third quarter marked a pivotal moment for DraftKings, as the Predictions offering we have been building is now powering meaningful growth for our business,”

Jason Robins, DraftKings’ Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcefiscal year 2026$6.35 billion to $6.55 billionLowered from $6.5 billion to $6.9 billion
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefiscal year 2026$175 million to $275 millionLowered from $700 million to $900 million
Core business Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefiscal year 2026$875 million to $925 millionLowered from approximately $1 billion
Predictions Adjusted EBITDA investment Sourcefiscal year 2026$650 million to $700 millionRaised
Predictions Adjusted EBITDA investment Sourcefourth quarter 2026$175 million to $225 millionNew
Revenue Sourcefiscal year 2027$7.35 billion to $7.75 billionNew
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefiscal year 2027$800 million to $1.0 billionNew
Core business revenue Sourcefiscal year 2027$6.7 billion to $7.0 billionNew
Core business Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefiscal year 2027$1.15 billion to $1.25 billionNew
Predictions revenue Sourcefiscal year 2027$650 million to $750 millionNew
Predictions Adjusted EBITDA investment Sourcefiscal year 2027$250 million to $350 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Fiscal 2026 revenue and Adjusted EBITDA guidance ranges were lowered from the ranges maintained in the second quarter release. Source
  • New guidance: Fiscal 2027 guidance introduced in this release, with revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, core business and Predictions ranges. Source
  • New: Company decided to invest further in iGaming growth, which is cited as a reason for the lower core business Adjusted EBITDA guidance. Source
  • New: Nine-month cash flow shows $300.4 million of convertible notes repurchased and $687.8 million of net Term B Loan proceeds; the six-month figures in the previous release showed no repurchase and no Term B proceeds. Source

Results and profit

  • Revenue rose 16% year over year: Total revenue was $1,329 million, up $185 million from $1,144 million a year earlier. Source
  • Operating and net losses both larger: Operating loss was $493.1 million against $271.9 million a year earlier. Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $468.7 million, or $0.94 per share, against $0.52. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA was a loss: Adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $316.9 million, against a loss of $126.5 million a year earlier. Adjusted loss per share was $0.53, against $0.26. Source
  • Nine-month revenue up 8.7%: Nine-month revenue was $4,418.4 million, up 8.7% from $4,065.3 million in the same period of 2025. Source

Products and segments

  • Sports revenue grew 31.5%: Sports revenue was $783.6 million, up $187.5 million from $596.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • IGaming and other revenue moved: iGaming revenue was $460.9 million, up 2.1%. Other revenue was $84.5 million, down 12.5%. Source
  • Sports revenue now includes prediction markets: The company defines Sports Revenue as online sportsbook, retail sportsbook and prediction markets revenue combined. Source

“combined with the strength of our core, we believe we are set up for an exceptional 2027.”

Jason Robins, DraftKings’ Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder

Footprint and regions

  • Mobile sports betting in 27 states: Mobile sports betting is live in 27 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, covering about 53% of the U.S. population. Source
  • IGaming live in five states: iGaming is live in 5 states, representing about 11% of the U.S. population. Source
  • Canadian provinces covered: Sportsbook and iGaming are live in provinces representing about 51% of the Canadian population. Source

Customers and engagement

  • Monthly unique payers up 13%: Monthly Unique Payers reached 4.1 million, attributed to retention and new customer acquisition across Sportsbook, iGaming and Predictions. Source
  • Revenue per payer up $3: Average Revenue per MUP was $109, up about 3%, attributed mainly to an improved Sportsbook net revenue margin. Source
  • Predictions engagement reached 1.6 million: More than 1.6 million customers have engaged with Predictions so far in 2026, according to the release. Source

“Our core business continues to generate significant free cash flow, which we are deploying to fund growth in our Predictions business”

Alan Ellingson, DraftKings’ Chief Financial Officer

Sports margin and pricing

  • Driver of revenue increase: Management attributed the quarter's revenue increase primarily to continued customer engagement and a higher Sportsbook net revenue margin. Source
  • Quarterly sports margin 5.6%: Sports Net Revenue Margin, Sports revenue as a percentage of Sports Consumer Volume, was 5.6% against 5.2% a year earlier. Source
  • Nine-month sports margin flat: Nine-month Sports Net Revenue Margin was 6.7% in both 2026 and 2025. Source

Demand and sports volume

  • Quarterly volume up 21.9%: Sports Consumer Volume was $13,900,152 thousand, up from $11,402,405 thousand a year earlier. Source
  • Nine-month volume up 12.2%: Nine-month Sports Consumer Volume was $41,242,267 thousand, up from $36,757,637 thousand in 2025. Source
  • Market maker volume excluded: Sports Consumer Volume leaves out volume from market makers on the prediction markets offering. Source

Costs and operating expenses

  • Sales and marketing rose sharply: Sales and marketing expense was $605.7 million, against $360.4 million a year earlier. It was the largest year-over-year increase among the operating expense lines. Source
  • Cost of revenue increased: Cost of revenue was $900.0 million, against $784.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Advocacy spend excluded from Adjusted EBITDA: Advocacy and other related legal expenses were $12.8 million in the quarter and $59.1 million for nine months, adjusted out of Adjusted EBITDA. Source
  • Non-GAAP tax rate 27%: The estimated non-GAAP effective tax rate is 27% as of the third quarter 2026, against 28% as of the second quarter 2026. Source

Predictions and guidance

  • Fiscal 2026 guidance lowered: Fiscal 2026 revenue range set at $6.35 billion to $6.55 billion and Adjusted EBITDA at $175 million to $275 million, primarily reflecting higher Predictions investment. Source
  • Fiscal 2027 guidance introduced: Fiscal 2027 revenue guidance of $7.35 billion to $7.75 billion and Adjusted EBITDA of $800 million to $1.0 billion, with core business revenue of $6.7 billion to $7.0 billion. Source
  • Predictions investment in fourth quarter: Adjusted EBITDA investment in Predictions expected at $175 million to $225 million in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Core business investment in iGaming: Core business fiscal 2026 Adjusted EBITDA reflects a decision to invest further in iGaming growth, along with modestly customer-friendly sport outcomes. Source

Capital, cash and buybacks

  • Nine-month operating cash flow lower: Net cash provided by operating activities was $63.0 million for nine months, against $342.4 million in the same period of 2025. Source
  • Capital spending rose: Purchases of property and equipment were $55.4 million, and internally developed software costs were $113.5 million, for nine months. Source
  • Program buybacks unchanged since June: Stock Repurchase Program purchases were $154.2 million for nine months, the same as the six-month figure in the second quarter release. RSU withholding was $62.4 million. Source
  • Cash and equivalents higher than June: Cash and cash equivalents were $1,100.9 million at September 30, 2026, up from $983.9 million at June 30, 2026. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 November 2026

  • Form 10-Q released with results: The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q is made available on the investor relations website alongside the release and presentation. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Monthly Unique Payers Source4.1 million
Sports Consumer Volume Source$13,900,152 thousand
Average Revenue per MUP Source$109
Sports Net Revenue Margin Source5.6%
Mobile sports betting states Source27 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico

Risks management discussed

  • External: Sport results were cited as a factor in the lower fiscal 2026 core business Adjusted EBITDA, described as modestly customer-friendly. Source
  • Financial: Predictions revenue is expected to be immaterial in fiscal 2026 because new customer promotions will offset most of the gross revenue generated. Source
  • Regulatory: Advocacy spending is tied to legalization efforts, including iGaming legislation and a Sportsbook ballot measure in certain states. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The previous release said the core business remained on track for about $1 billion; this release sets core fiscal 2026 Adjusted EBITDA at $875 million to $925 million.
  • Not stated: Fiscal 2026 ranges announced on May 7, 2026 were replaced by the updated ranges in this release.

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.