Churchill Downs offers a compelling 29% upside to analyst consensus at a forward multiple of 12.7x with a PEG ratio near 1, but the stock sits in a confirmed downtrend, carries debt-to-equity of 4.4x, and converts only 32% of net income into free cash flow — a combination that demands the technical picture improve before the valuation gap can close.
Thesis pillars
- Elevated Debt Load↓Deteriorating
- Attractive Valuation Material Upside→Stable
- Weak Free Cash Flow Conversion→Stable
- +1 more pillar — see the Why tab for full reasoning
Churchill Downs, Incorporated (CHDN) Stock Analysis
Consumer Cyclical · Gambling
Hold if already holding. Not a fresh buy at $87.07, but acceptable to hold if already in. Reasons: Sector modifier (Consumer Cyclical): -1.5; Leverage penalty (D/E 3.5): -1.5.
Churchill Downs Incorporated ("CDI" or the "Company") has been creating extraordinary entertainment experiences for over 150 years, beginning with the Company's most iconic and enduring asset, the Kentucky Derby. Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, CDI has expanded through... Read more
Hold if already holding. Not a fresh buy at $87.07, but acceptable to hold if already in. Reasons: Sector modifier (Consumer Cyclical): -1.5; Leverage penalty (D/E 3.5): -1.5. Chart setup: No clear chart pattern; technical signals are mixed. Multiple concerning factors. Consider reducing position. | News modifier +2 (SELL_IF_HOLDING → HOLD_IF_HOLDING) Score 5.9/10, high confidence.
Passes 7/9 gates (favorable risk/reward ratio, clean insider activity, no SEC red flags, news events none recent, earnings proximity 53d clear, semi cycle peak clear, materials cycle peak clear). Fails on weak momentum and death cross (50MA < 200MA). Suitability: moderate.
Recent developments
updated 2026-09-05Recent Developments — Churchill Downs, Incorporated
Latest news
- NEWS Churchill Downs (CHDN) Q2 Earnings: Taking a Look at Key Metrics Versus Estimates - Yahoo Finance — Yahoo Finance neutral
- NEWS Churchill Downs (CHDN) Misses Q2 Earnings Estimates - Yahoo Finance — Yahoo Finance negative
- NEWS CHURCHILL DOWNS ($CHDN) Releases Q2 2026 Earnings - Quiver Quantitative — Quiver Quantitative positive
- NEWS CHURCHILL DOWNS ($CHDN) Releases Q2 2026 Earnings - quiverquant.com — quiverquant.com positive
- NEWS Churchill Downs (NASDAQ:CHDN) Posts Q2 CY2026 Sales In Line With Estimates - TradingView — TradingView positive
Generated 2026-09-05T21:12:04Z.
Upcoming dated catalysts
Thesis
Key Metrics
Quality Signals
Options Flow
Model-generated analysis — not investment advice. Not a registered investment advisor. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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Rating Breakdown
1 floor-breaker·1 ceiling hit
Price action weak — below key moving averages, no momentum carry. Needs a base before trend-continuation setups apply.static
Price Targets
Position Sizing
Risk Alerts
Earnings
Verdict History
Frequently Asked Questions
Hold if already holding. Not a fresh buy at $87.07, but acceptable to hold if already in. Reasons: Sector modifier (Consumer Cyclical): -1.5; Leverage penalty (D/E 3.5): -1.5. Chart setup: No clear chart pattern; technical signals are mixed. Multiple concerning factors. Consider reducing position. | News modifier +2 (SELL_IF_HOLDING → HOLD_IF_HOLDING) Target $113.61 (+30.5%), stop $83.12 (−4.8%), A.R:R 4.7:1. Score 5.9/10, high confidence.
Take-profit target: $113.61 (+30.5% upside). Target $113.61 (+30.5%), stop $83.12 (−4.8%), A.R:R 4.7:1. Stop-loss: $83.12.
Sector modifier (Consumer Cyclical): -1.5; Leverage penalty (D/E 3.5): -1.5; Negative momentum.
Churchill Downs, Incorporated trades at a P/E of 15.3 (forward 11.8). TrendMatrix value score: 8.2/10. Verdict: Hold.
18 analysts cover CHDN with a consensus score of 4.2/5. Average price target: $131.
What does Churchill Downs, Incorporated do?Churchill Downs Incorporated ("CDI" or the "Company") has been creating extraordinary entertainment experiences for...
Churchill Downs Incorporated ("CDI" or the "Company") has been creating extraordinary entertainment experiences for over 150 years, beginning with the Company's most iconic and enduring asset, the Kentucky Derby. Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, CDI has expanded through the acquisition, development, and operation of live and historical racing entertainment venues, the growth of the online wagering businesses, and the acquisition, development, and operation of regional casino gaming prop...