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DiamondRock Hospitality Co.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 26 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 11 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted FFO per share rose 12.5%: Adjusted FFO per diluted share was $0.27 in the fourth quarter, up 12.5%, and $1.08 for 2025, up 3.8%. Adjusted FFO was $55.9 million for the quarter, up 10.9%. Source
  • Total RevPAR rose on out-of-room spend: Comparable Total RevPAR rose 0.6% to $311.00 in the fourth quarter. Comparable RevPAR fell 0.3% to $201.83, and out-of-room revenues rose 2.3%. Source
  • Comparable hotel margin up 83 basis points: Comparable Hotel Adjusted EBITDA margin was 27.92% in the fourth quarter, up 83 basis points. For 2025 the margin was 28.32%, up 2 basis points. Source
  • Debt is $1.1 billion, all unsecured: Total debt was $1.1 billion across three unsecured term loans at a 5.0% weighted average rate. A $400 million revolver was undrawn at year end. Source
  • Fourth-quarter buybacks of $1.6 million: The company repurchased 0.2 million shares in the fourth quarter at $7.93, for $1.6 million. For 2025 it repurchased 4.8 million shares at $7.72, for $37.1 million. Source
  • Free cash flow per share is the focus: Management defines free cash flow per share as Adjusted FFO less total capital expenditures per share. It said this measure has grown more than 22% since 2023. Source

“Our thoughtfully curated portfolio of high quality hotels, in desirable destinations, benefited from this commitment in 2025 and is well positioned to carry that momentum into 2026.”

Jeffrey J. Donnelly, Chief Executive Officer of DiamondRock Hospitality Company

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Comparable RevPAR growth SourceFull year 20261.0% to 3.0%New
Comparable Total RevPAR growth SourceFull year 20261.25% to 3.25%New
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026$287 million to $302 millionNew
Adjusted FFO SourceFull year 2026$227 million to $242 millionNew
Adjusted FFO per diluted share SourceFull year 2026$1.09 to $1.16New
Net income SourceFull year 2026$ 101,100 to $ 117,100 (in thousands)New
Share-based compensation expense SourceFull year 20269,000 (in thousands)New
Cash corporate expenses (excluding share-based compensation) SourceFull year 2026$25.0 million to $26.0 millionNew
Cash interest expense SourceFull year 2026$57.5 million to $58.5 millionNew
Fully diluted weighted average common shares and units SourceFull year 2026208.0 millionNew
Capital improvements at hotels SourceFull year 2026$80 to $90 millionNew
Regular quarterly common dividend Source2026$0.09 per shareRaised from $0.08

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 guidance was issued for RevPAR growth, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted FFO, Adjusted FFO per share and related assumptions. The third quarter release gave only 2025 guidance. Source
  • Guidance raised: The regular quarterly common dividend is $0.09 per share, up from the $0.08 declared in the third quarter. Source
  • Ended: The 8.25% Series A preferred stock was fully redeemed on December 31, 2025, and no preferred stock remains outstanding. Source
  • New: The common stock listing moved from the New York Stock Exchange to the Nasdaq Global Select Market on December 1, 2025. Source

Fourth quarter and full year results

  • Adjusted FFO per share rose 12.5%: Adjusted FFO per diluted share was $0.27 in the fourth quarter, up 12.5%, and $1.08 for 2025, up 3.8%. Adjusted FFO was $55.9 million for the quarter, up 10.9%. Source
  • Total RevPAR rose on out-of-room spend: Comparable Total RevPAR rose 0.6% to $311.00 in the fourth quarter. Comparable RevPAR fell 0.3% to $201.83, and out-of-room revenues rose 2.3%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 3.3% in quarter: Adjusted EBITDA was $71.9 million in the fourth quarter, up 3.3%, and $297.6 million for 2025, down 0.1%. Source
  • Net income rose against prior-year impairments: Net income to common stockholders was $23.8 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, against a $13.7 million loss a year earlier, which included $32.6 million of impairment losses. Source

Hotel portfolio performance

  • ADR up, occupancy down: Comparable ADR rose 1.6% to $295.79 in the fourth quarter, and occupancy fell 1.3% to 68.2%. For 2025, ADR rose 1.2% to $287.63 and occupancy fell 0.6% to 72.1%. Source
  • Hotel Emblem San Francisco led RevPAR gains: Among comparable hotels, Hotel Emblem San Francisco had the largest fourth-quarter RevPAR increase, up 43.4%. Havana Cabana Key West had the largest decline, down 52.3%. Source
  • Portfolio of 35 hotels: The company owns 35 premium hotels with about 9,600 rooms. The comparable portfolio excludes the Westin Washington D.C. City Center, sold in February 2025. Source

“several distinct factors do support DiamondRock being constructive on the year including a holiday calendar that favors extended gatherings”

Jeffrey J. Donnelly, Chief Executive Officer of DiamondRock Hospitality Company

Transient and group demand

  • Travelers kept prioritizing elevated experiences: Management said transient and group travelers kept prioritizing elevated travel experiences through 2025, even amid periods of economic uncertainty. Source
  • World Cup and America 250 cited for 2026: Management cited FIFA World Cup matches in key markets, America 250 celebrations and post-renovation tailwinds as factors for 2026. Source
  • Out-of-room revenue growth for 2025: For the full year, comparable Total RevPAR rose 1.2% to $319.06, driven by a 2.6% increase in out-of-room revenues, while comparable room revenues rose 0.1%. Source

Margins and costs

  • Comparable hotel margin up 83 basis points: Comparable Hotel Adjusted EBITDA margin was 27.92% in the fourth quarter, up 83 basis points. For 2025 the margin was 28.32%, up 2 basis points. Source
  • Right-sizing of property and corporate costs: Management credited a disciplined approach to right-sizing property-level and corporate costs for 2025 results, alongside demand recovery. Source
  • Corporate expenses fell from 2024: Full-year corporate expenses were $34.4 million, down from $52.9 million in 2024. The 2024 figure included $20.4 million of severance costs in the adjusted reconciliation. Source

“I am particularly proud of our team and operating partners for their unwavering focus on driving free cash flow per share growth”

Jeffrey J. Donnelly, Chief Executive Officer of DiamondRock Hospitality Company

Capital improvements and projects

  • 2025 capital spend of $81.6 million: The company invested about $81.6 million in hotel capital improvements in 2025. Completed projects included guestroom renovations at Hilton Garden Inn New York/Times Square Central and Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix. Source
  • Sedona repositioning now one property: The $25 million Sedona project turned the former Orchards Inn into The Cliffs at L'Auberge, which now runs together with L'Auberge de Sedona. Source
  • Courtyard Midtown East renovation under way: The Courtyard New York Manhattan/Midtown East guestroom renovation began and is expected to finish by the end of the first quarter of 2026. Source

Debt and liquidity

  • Debt is $1.1 billion, all unsecured: Total debt was $1.1 billion across three unsecured term loans at a 5.0% weighted average rate. A $400 million revolver was undrawn at year end. Source
  • No debt maturities until January 2028: After the 2025 mortgage repayments, the portfolio is fully unencumbered of secured debt, and debt can be prepaid without penalty. Source
  • Cash balance fell after preferred redemption: Unrestricted cash was $68.1 million at year end, against $145.3 million at September 30, 2025. The preferred redemption used about $121.5 million of cash on hand. Source

Share repurchases and dividends

  • Fourth-quarter buybacks of $1.6 million: The company repurchased 0.2 million shares in the fourth quarter at $7.93, for $1.6 million. For 2025 it repurchased 4.8 million shares at $7.72, for $37.1 million. Source
  • $137.0 million repurchase capacity remains: Remaining capacity under the $200.0 million share repurchase program is $137.0 million, the same figure reported at the third quarter. Source
  • Fourth-quarter dividend included a stub: The fourth-quarter cash dividend of $0.12 comprised a regular $0.08 dividend and a $0.04 stub dividend, paid January 14, 2026, to holders of record at December 31, 2025. Source

Strategy and free cash flow focus

  • Free cash flow per share is the focus: Management defines free cash flow per share as Adjusted FFO less total capital expenditures per share. It said this measure has grown more than 22% since 2023. Source
  • Westin Washington sale multiple: The 410-room Westin Washington D.C. City Center sold at 11.2x 2024 Hotel EBITDA and a 7.5% capitalization rate on 2024 hotel net operating income, or 5.6% including projected capital expenditures. Source
  • Credit facility upsized to $1.5 billion: The senior unsecured credit facility was upsized from $1.2 billion and is priced on a leverage grid of 1.35% to 2.25% over SOFR, at the lowest end of the grid. Source

Coming up, as management said on 26 February 2026

  • Quarterly dividend payable April 14: The $0.09 dividend declared February 26, 2026 is payable April 14, 2026, to holders of record on March 31, 2026. Source
  • Possible stub dividend in fourth quarter: A stub dividend in the fourth quarter of 2026 depends on 2026 operating income, according to management. Source
  • Westin San Diego Bayview lobby renovation: A renovation of the entrance, public spaces, lobby and lobby bar at Westin San Diego Bayview is expected to start in mid-2026. Source
  • Atlanta Marriott Alpharetta guestroom renovation: A guestroom renovation at Atlanta Marriott Alpharetta is expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2026. Source

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management said the political and economic backdrop warrants a degree of caution as it assesses 2026. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said results exceeded the high end of 2025 guidance on the three measures named. Source
  • Not stated: Management expects to build on the free cash flow per share progress made since 2023 during 2026. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.