** Shares of Australia's Lottery Corporation TLC.AX fall as much as 1.1% to A$4.975, set for weakest trading session since Dec. end
** Analysts at Macquarie lower PT on TLC to A$5.40 from A$5.50; maintain "Outperform" rating
** Brokerage expects co's lottery volumes to fall by 7% in FY25 and sees co reporting lower earnings for 1H25
** Macquarie anticipates TLC to post 1H25 net profit after tax of A$177 mln ($110.20 mln), down 9% from a year ago and 6% lower market consensus
** Lowers earnings estimates by 8%, 3% and 3% for FY25-27, respectively
** Lottery Corp has traditionally been good buying during periods of poor lotteries volumes, with short-term volatility smoothing out in time - Macquarie
** 10 of 14 analysts rate the stock "Buy" or higher, four "Hold"; median PT - A$5.40 – LSEG data
** Stock gained 2.6% in 2024
($1 = 1.6062 Australian dollars)
(Reporting by Rishav Chatterjee in Bengaluru)
((Rishav.Chatterjee@thomsonreuters.com;))