business

Tom Jones5/8/25

Flutter keeps blaming different sets of sports fans for ruining its results

After posting disappointing earnings, most companies vaguely gesture toward the wider economic climate to explain missed estimates to their demanding investors. Gambling giant Flutter Entertainment, on the other hand, has an ace up its sleeve: blame it on the prowess of the customers themselves.

In an interview with CNBC, Flutter CEO Peter Jackson circled out “customer-friendly” results in this year’s NCAA March Madness tournament — where the Final Four teams were all No. 1 seeds — to explain why the FanDuel parent company missed top- and bottom-line expectations in Q1.

At the start of the year, though, it was football fans who apparently weighed heavy on the financials of the world’s biggest online betting company, with Flutter publishing a surprise trading update pointing to the adverse effects of the NFL’s “highest rate of favorites winning in nearly 20 years.”

While DraftKings’ biggest rival is maintaining guidance for 2025, it seems like the company looking to fans’ skills and “poor sports results” to explain its own underperformance is becoming a bit of a safe bet.

March Madness drags down Flutter first-quarter results

March Madness drags down Flutter first-quarter results

In an interview with CNBC, Flutter CEO Peter Jackson circled out “customer-friendly” results in this year’s NCAA March Madness tournament — where the Final Four teams were all No. 1 seeds — to explain why the FanDuel parent company missed top- and bottom-line expectations in Q1.

At the start of the year, though, it was football fans who apparently weighed heavy on the financials of the world’s biggest online betting company, with Flutter publishing a surprise trading update pointing to the adverse effects of the NFL’s “highest rate of favorites winning in nearly 20 years.”

While DraftKings’ biggest rival is maintaining guidance for 2025, it seems like the company looking to fans’ skills and “poor sports results” to explain its own underperformance is becoming a bit of a safe bet.

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Apple is turning 50 today and it doesn’t look a thing like its younger self

From Macs to iPods, iPhones, and now services, here’s how Apple’s business has looked every 10 years.

Birthday Green apple

The entrance of Allbirds seen from Hayes St. in San Francisco, Calif.

Allbirds, the once buzzy multibillion-dollar sneaker startup, is selling up for $39 million

That’s less than 1% of its peak market cap about four years ago.

Tom Jones3/31/26

business

Max Knoblauch3/30/26

JetBlue is raising its bag fees as fuel costs squeeze airlines

JetBlue will reportedly hike its bag fees, as the cost of jet fuel continues to climb amid the war in Iran. It’s the latest example of carriers finding ways to push rising costs onto travelers.

Last week, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said that if fuel prices remain elevated, fares would need to rise another 20% for his airline to break even this year.

As CNBC reported, when one airline raises fees, others tend to follow.

Earlier this month, JetBlue hiked its first-quarter outlook for operating revenue per seat mile to between 5% and 7%, saying that strong Q1 demand helped “partially offset additional expenses realized from operational disruptions and rising fuel costs.” Now, the carrier appears to be making moves to further boost revenue to offset those costs.

Earlier on Monday, JetBlue rival Alaska Air lowered its Q1 profit forecast. The refining margins for the carrier’s cheapest fuel option — sourced from Singapore and representing about 20% of Alaska’s overall supply — have spiked 400% since February.

JetBlue did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

JetBlue Airways raises bag fees as fuel prices soar

JetBlue Airways raises bag fees as fuel prices soar

As CNBC reported, when one airline raises fees, others tend to follow.

Earlier this month, JetBlue hiked its first-quarter outlook for operating revenue per seat mile to between 5% and 7%, saying that strong Q1 demand helped “partially offset additional expenses realized from operational disruptions and rising fuel costs.” Now, the carrier appears to be making moves to further boost revenue to offset those costs.

Earlier on Monday, JetBlue rival Alaska Air lowered its Q1 profit forecast. The refining margins for the carrier’s cheapest fuel option — sourced from Singapore and representing about 20% of Alaska’s overall supply — have spiked 400% since February.

JetBlue did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

flavor of the month

Americans won’t tolerate bland food anymore — and it’s turned McCormick into a ~$7 billion-a-year spice and sauce giant

Now, McCormick is eyeing Unilever’s food business.

Bottles of Frank's RedHot Xtra Hot and Sweet Chili on a

Crocs’ prince charming

ByChrisStokel-Walker

FriMar 272026

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