Churchill Downs Inc. experienced an unprecedented initial quarter in 2024, as earnings surged due to the prosperous performance of its equine racing ventures and digital wagering service, TwinSpires. Nevertheless, the firm’s bottom line faced a setback attributed to elements connected to the preceding year’s fiscal outcomes.
The corporation’s income attained an unparalleled $5.909 billion, a 6% rise contrasted with the corresponding timeframe last year. This remarkable expansion was fueled by a 15% surge in income from Churchill Downs’ live and archived racing spectacles, encompassing robust showings from its Kentucky Derby venue, Churchill Downs Racetrack, and other holdings. The internet wagering platform, TwinSpires, similarly witnessed substantial growth, with earnings leaping by 18%.
However, the company’s overall profitability experienced a significant decrease in net earnings, which tumbled by 48% to $80.4 million. This decline was linked to various factors, including elevated expenditures and comparisons to an exceptionally robust performance in the first quarter of the prior year.
Despite the reduction in net earnings, Churchill Downs emphasized its robust adjusted EBITDA, a crucial indicator of profitability, which hit a record $2.425 billion, a 9% year-over-year increase. This signifies the company’s fundamental operational robustness and its capacity to produce cash flow.
The start of 2024 presented challenges for Churchill Downs Incorporated. The company faced the termination of a crucial management agreement for their Lady Luck Casino situated at the Nemacolin resort, coupled with unfavorable weather conditions in January that negatively impacted their financial performance. This confluence of factors resulted in a $4 million decline in earnings compared to the corresponding period in the preceding year.
Undeterred by this obstacle, Churchill Downs is forging ahead with ambitious growth initiatives. They are particularly enthusiastic about two new ventures: The Rose Gaming Resort (anticipated to commence operations in late September 2024) and Owensboro Racing & Gaming (projected to launch in the initial quarter of 2025). These fresh endeavors are integral to their strategy of broadening and expanding their gaming portfolio.
In additional financial transactions, the corporation divested 49% of their ownership in the United Tote Company to NYRA Content Management Solutions. They also sustained their share repurchase initiative, reacquiring $22 million worth of stock throughout the first quarter.
In aggregate, Churchill Downs declared a net income of $80.4 million for the first quarter of 2024. This signifies a substantial reduction from the $155.7 million generated during the equivalent timeframe in the prior year. It is noteworthy that the 2023 results were positively influenced by a one-time gain stemming from the sale of their Arlington Park property situated in Illinois.
Examining the broader context, Churchill Downs commemorated a record-setting year in 2023. Their overall net revenue attained an impressive $2.5 billion, representing a 36% surge in comparison to the previous year.