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DiamondRock Hospitality Co.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 7 raised, 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income and diluted EPS rose: Net income attributable to common stockholders was $14.5 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, up 54.3% and 75.0% from the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Adjusted FFO per share rose 15.8%: Adjusted FFO per diluted share was $0.22 against $0.19; Adjusted FFO totaled $46.1 million against $39.5 million a year earlier. Source
  • Renovations credited for returns: Management cited returns from recent renovations, margin expansion, and limited earnings disruption across the portfolio. Source
  • Comparable hotel margin rose 127 basis points: Comparable Hotel Adjusted EBITDA Margin was 25.63% against 24.36%, on comparable total revenues of $258.2 million. Source
  • Management constructive on demand: Management said it is constructive on portfolio demand, citing recent booking trends and the resilience of the higher-end consumer. Source
  • Free cash flow per share grew nearly 20%: Management said trailing twelve-month free cash flow per share grew nearly 20%. Source
  • Westin Boston Seaport franchise renewed: The current agreement expires December 31, 2026; the new agreement takes effect January 1, 2027 and keeps the Westin flag. Source

“We delivered first quarter results ahead of expectations despite a difficult RevPAR comparison and disruptive weather in several of our markets.”

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

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Comparable RevPAR growth SourceFull year 20261.5% to 3.5%Raised from 1% to 3%
Comparable total RevPAR growth SourceFull year 20261.75% to 3.75%Raised from 1.25% to 3.25%
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026$296 to $308 (in millions)Raised from $287 to $302 (in millions)
Adjusted FFO SourceFull year 2026$233.5 to $245.5 (in millions)Raised from $227 to $242 (in millions)
Adjusted FFO per share SourceFull year 2026$1.12 to $1.18Raised from $1.09 to $1.16
Net income SourceFull year 2026$106,850 to $119,850 (in thousands)Raised from $101,100 to $117,100 (in thousands)
Capital improvements Source2026$80 to $90 millionKept
Cash corporate expenses, excluding share-based compensation SourceFull year 2026$25.0 million to $26.0 millionKept
Cash interest expense SourceFull year 2026$58.5 million to $59.5 millionRaised from $57.5 million to $58.5 million
Fully diluted weighted average common shares and units SourceFull year 2026208.0 millionKept
Quarterly dividend Source2026$0.09 per common share quarterly; stub dividend in fourth quarter depending on 2026 operating incomeKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 guidance ranges were raised, citing better first-quarter results and a more favorable insurance renewal. Source
  • New: Board approved a new $300 million share repurchase program, replacing the existing program. No repurchases have been made under the new program. Source
  • New: New franchise agreement executed for the hotel listed as Westin Boston Seaport District; the previous release listed it as Westin Boston Waterfront, with its agreement expiring December 31, 2026. Source
  • New: One hotel placed under contract for sale as of March 31, 2026, not in the previous release. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net income and diluted EPS rose: Net income attributable to common stockholders was $14.5 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, up 54.3% and 75.0% from the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Adjusted FFO per share rose 15.8%: Adjusted FFO per diluted share was $0.22 against $0.19; Adjusted FFO totaled $46.1 million against $39.5 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 8.0%: Adjusted EBITDA was $60.6 million, up from $56.1 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source

Hotel-level performance

  • Renovations credited for returns: Management cited returns from recent renovations, margin expansion, and limited earnings disruption across the portfolio. Source
  • Three hotels posted RevPAR gains near 50%: Cavallo Point, L'Auberge de Sedona and Hotel Emblem San Francisco RevPAR rose 48.7%, 51.7% and 49.7%, respectively, in the quarter. Source
  • Midtown East RevPAR fell 22.6%: Courtyard New York Manhattan/Midtown East RevPAR fell 22.6% to $177.90, with occupancy at 59.7% against 87.6%, in the quarter its guestroom renovation was completed. Source

“We raised the midpoint of our guidance largely to account for the stronger than expected results, but we are keeping a measured approach to guidance for the remainder of the year given recent geopolitical events and an uncertain macroeconomic environment.”

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

Margins and costs

  • Comparable hotel margin rose 127 basis points: Comparable Hotel Adjusted EBITDA Margin was 25.63% against 24.36%, on comparable total revenues of $258.2 million. Source
  • Corporate expenses edged up: Corporate expenses were $7.8 million, against $7.7 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Share-based compensation increased: Share-based compensation expense was $1.6 million, against $0.7 million a year earlier; Adjusted EBITDA excludes this item. Source

Demand and bookings

  • Management constructive on demand: Management said it is constructive on portfolio demand, citing recent booking trends and the resilience of the higher-end consumer. Source
  • Out-of-room revenues rose 3.4%: Out-of-room revenues rose 3.4%, lifting comparable total RevPAR 2.5% to $298.95. Source
  • ADR up, occupancy slightly lower: Comparable ADR rose 2.6% to $284.58, while comparable occupancy was 66.8% against 67.1%. Source

“We are constructive on the demand outlook across our portfolio, supported by recent booking trends and the continued resilience of the higher‑end consumer.”

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

Capital spending and projects

  • Q1 capital spend of $20.8 million: Capital improvements were $20.8 million in the quarter; management continues to expect $80 to $90 million for 2026. Source
  • Two guestroom renovations completed: Courtyard New York Manhattan/Midtown East guestrooms were renovated in the first quarter, as were Henderson Park Inn guestrooms and bathrooms. Source
  • Westin San Diego lobby work planned: Renovation of the entrance, public spaces and lobby bar at Westin San Diego Bayview is expected to start in mid-2026. Source

Balance sheet, returns and dividends

  • Debt and liquidity position: Total debt was $1.1 billion, all unsecured term loans at a 5.0% weighted average rate; $400 million was undrawn on the revolver, with $39.3 million of unrestricted cash. Source
  • Post-quarter share repurchases: After quarter-end, the company repurchased 0.1 million shares at $9.38 per share, about $1.3 million in total. Source
  • Regular dividend of $0.09 declared: The Board declared a $0.09 quarterly dividend on April 30, 2026, payable July 14, 2026. Source
  • Free cash flow per share grew nearly 20%: Management said trailing twelve-month free cash flow per share grew nearly 20%. Source

Strategy, franchise and disposition

  • Westin Boston Seaport franchise renewed: The current agreement expires December 31, 2026; the new agreement takes effect January 1, 2027 and keeps the Westin flag. Source
  • Disposition proceeds to be deployed opportunistically: Management intends to deploy proceeds from the hotel sale opportunistically, allocating capital where it can drive the highest returns. Source
  • Capital recycling advanced: Management said capital recycling initiatives advanced during the quarter. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 April 2026

  • Hotel sale expected to close: Closing of the one hotel under contract for sale is expected in the second quarter of 2026. Source
  • Dividend payment on July 14: The $0.09 dividend is payable July 14, 2026 to holders of record as of June 30, 2026. Source
  • Fourth-quarter guestroom renovations planned: Guestroom renovations at Atlanta Marriott Alpharetta and Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach Resort are expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Adjusted FFO per diluted share Source$0.22 vs $0.19 (up 15.8%)
Occupancy (comparable) Source66.8% vs 67.1%
Acquisitions and dispositions SourceOne hotel under contract for sale; closing expected second quarter of 2026
Leverage (net debt to EBITDA) Source3.5x

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management is keeping a measured approach to guidance for the rest of the year because of geopolitical events and macroeconomic uncertainty. Source
  • External: Disruptive weather affected several markets during the quarter. Source
  • Demand: Management described the comparison against the prior-year quarter's RevPAR as a challenge for first-quarter results. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management reiterated the 2026 capital improvement expectation. Source
  • Not stated: Management reiterated the expected 2026 quarterly dividend. Source
  • Met: The prior release expected completion by the end of the first quarter; this release states the renovation was completed in that quarter. Source
  • Met: The prior release expected completion during the first quarter; this release states it was completed. 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.