Caesars Entertainment stock edges lower as merger faces FTC scrutiny
Published on 09/17/2026 at 19:02 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Caesars Entertainment, Inc. stock (ISIN US12738T1034) traded around USD 29.70 on Nasdaq on September 17, 2026, slightly below its recent 52-week high of USD 30.88 and leaving the shares up roughly 27% year to date.
FTC second request adds uncertainty to Fertitta merger
On September 17, 2026, Caesars Entertainment disclosed that it and Fertitta Entertainment received a second request for additional information from the Federal Trade Commission regarding their proposed merger, signaling a deeper antitrust review of the deal.GuruFocus The companies said they intend to cooperate fully with the FTC, while shareholders are scheduled to vote on the merger agreement the following week, keeping corporate governance developments in focus.StreetInsider
The same disclosure highlighted immediate resignations of board members Jesse Lynn and Ted Papapostolou, both associated with activist investor Carl Icahn, removing two Icahn-backed voices from Caesars’ board just ahead of the merger vote.GuruFocus For investors, the combination of an intensified FTC review and changing board composition raises questions about the timing and terms of the Fertitta transaction, even as the offer reportedly carries a 49% premium to Caesars’ unaffected share price at announcement.Seeking Alpha
Recent earnings show modest growth but ongoing losses
In its most recent reported quarter, Q2 CY2026, Caesars Entertainment generated revenue of USD 2.99 billion, an increase of 3% compared with the same quarter a year earlier and slightly ahead of analyst estimates of USD 2.97 billion.StockStory The GAAP loss per share in the quarter came in at USD 0.30, missing consensus expectations of a positive USD 0.05 and underlining that the business remains loss-making despite steady top-line progress.StockStory
Operationally, Caesars reported adjusted EBITDA of USD 920 million in Q2 CY2026, corresponding to a margin of 30.7% and falling short of analyst expectations of USD 962.7 million, a 4.4% miss that points to cost pressure or mix effects in its casino and hospitality operations.StockStory The operating margin in the quarter was 17.1%, broadly in line with the same period of the prior year, suggesting that although earnings missed expectations, the underlying profitability profile did not deteriorate sharply year on year.StockStory
Despite the negative EPS print, Caesars has been narrowing its losses over time: EPS of negative USD 0.30 in Q2 CY2026 improved from negative USD 0.39 in the same quarter a year earlier, a 23.1% reduction in the quarterly loss and part of a broader multi-year trend toward higher earnings.StockStory Analysts following the company still expect a full-year turnaround, with consensus forecasts pointing to a swing from a negative USD 2.28 EPS to a positive USD 0.09 for the current fiscal year, highlighting the importance of execution in the remainder of 2026.StockStory
Valuation, legal backdrop and trading levels
At a share price near USD 29.70 and a Price-to-Sales ratio of 0.52, Caesars Entertainment trades well below its historical median P/S multiple of around 1.0 and also beneath typical industry levels, indicating that the market is applying a discount to the company’s growth and regulatory risk profile.GuruFocus GuruFocus’ GF Value model estimates an intrinsic value of USD 36.07 per share, implying that Caesars stock is about 17.7% undervalued relative to the current market price and offering a potential re-rating if earnings and regulatory conditions evolve favorably.GuruFocus
Legal developments in sports betting form a key part of the risk backdrop for Caesars. On September 16, 2026, the Ninth Circuit Court issued a unanimous 3-0 ruling in favor of California Tribes and against contracts platform Kalshi, confirming that sports event contracts qualify as Class III gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and are not exempt under the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, clarifying regulatory treatment of certain betting-related products.GuruFocus As a major player in U.S. sports betting and casino gaming, Caesars sits at the intersection of these legal frameworks, meaning future rulings and enforcement could influence both growth prospects and valuation multiples.
Market capitalization for Caesars Entertainment stands around USD 6.10 billion as of mid September 2026, placing the company firmly in the mid-cap segment of the U.S. gaming and hospitality universe.StockStory According to recent analyst data, the consensus rating on the stock is Hold, with an average target price of USD 31.27, suggesting limited upside from current levels but potentially more if the Fertitta deal closes successfully and regulatory risks prove manageable.Zonebourse
Stock holds near 52-week high
Caesars Entertainment stock closed at USD 29.67 on Nasdaq on September 16, 2026, with intraday trading around USD 29.64 to USD 29.70 on September 17, 2026 and a modest daily change of about negative 0.08% at one point, leaving the shares close to their 52-week high of USD 30.88 and reflecting the market’s cautious balance between merger hopes and regulatory risk.Zonebourse For investors, the key variables now are the outcome and timing of the Fertitta merger review, the trajectory of sports betting regulation and Caesars’ ability to translate steady revenue growth and strong EBITDA margins into consistently positive earnings per share.
Caesars Entertainment stock facts
- Company: Caesars Entertainment, Inc.
- ISIN: US12738T1034
- Ticker: CZR
- Trading venue: Nasdaq
- Price (as of September 17, 2026, 16:52): 29.64 USD
- Market capitalization: 6.10 billion USD (as of September 17, 2026)
- Sector / Industry: Casinos and gaming
- Index membership: S&P 500
