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Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc.: 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: 7 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full-year tour revenue rose 20%: Tour revenues were $771.0 million, up $126.3 million, or 20%. Source
  • Net yield rose 14% on occupancy: Lindblad net yield per available guest night rose 14% to $1,335, from higher pricing and occupancy of 88% against 78%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 38%: Adjusted EBITDA was $126.2 million, up $35.0 million, with both segments higher than in 2024. Source
  • Lindblad fourth-quarter Adjusted EBITDA fell: Lindblad Adjusted EBITDA fell on higher operating costs for additional voyages, with drydock timing, National Geographic royalties and marketing spend also cited. Source
  • Cash rose to $289.7 million: Cash and restricted cash rose to $289.7 million at December 31, 2025, from $216.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Buyback progress under the plan: By February 23, 2026, the company had repurchased 875,218 shares and 6.0 million warrants for $23.0 million under the plan. Source
  • Management points to fleet expansion: Management said the company is better placed to add vessels and land experience brands. Source

“In 2025, we delivered the strongest performance in our company’s history - record guest satisfaction, record yield of $1,335, and record Adjusted EBITDA $126.2 million - while strengthening our balance sheet position.”

Natalya Leahy, Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Tour revenues SourceFull year 2026$800 - $850 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026$130 - $140 millionNew
Loss before income taxes SourceFull year 2026$ (6) to $ 14 millionNew
Depreciation and amortization SourceFull year 202677 to 75 ($ millions)New
Interest expense, net SourceFull year 202643 to 41 ($ millions)New
Stock-based compensation SourceFull year 202611 to 8 ($ millions)New
Other reconciling items SourceFull year 20265 to 2 ($ millions)New
Share repurchase plan SourceAs of February 23, 2026$12.0 million remaining under the plan

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 tour revenue and Adjusted EBITDA ranges were given; the prior release gave 2025 ranges. Source
  • Ended: All 62,000 Series A preferred shares converted into about 9.0 million common shares, effective February 3, 2026. Source
  • New: The amount available under the revolving credit facility was increased to $60.0 million. Source

Full-year results and growth drivers

  • Full-year tour revenue rose 20%: Tour revenues were $771.0 million, up $126.3 million, or 20%. Source
  • Net yield rose 14% on occupancy: Lindblad net yield per available guest night rose 14% to $1,335, from higher pricing and occupancy of 88% against 78%. Source
  • Net loss narrowed to $34.6 million: Net loss available to stockholders was $34.6 million, or $0.63 per diluted share, against $35.8 million, or $0.67, in 2024. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 38%: Adjusted EBITDA was $126.2 million, up $35.0 million, with both segments higher than in 2024. Source

Fourth-quarter results

  • Fourth-quarter tour revenue rose 23%: Tour revenues were $183.2 million, up $34.6 million. Lindblad rose $25.2 million to $115.9 million and Land Experiences rose $9.3 million to $67.2 million. Source
  • Fourth-quarter net loss narrowed: Net loss available to stockholders was $24.8 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, against $26.2 million, or $0.48, in the fourth quarter of 2024. Source
  • Fourth-quarter Adjusted EBITDA rose $0.7 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $14.2 million. Land Experiences rose $2.5 million to $9.8 million, while Lindblad fell $1.8 million to $4.4 million. Source
  • Lindblad fourth-quarter Adjusted EBITDA fell: Lindblad Adjusted EBITDA fell on higher operating costs for additional voyages, with drydock timing, National Geographic royalties and marketing spend also cited. Source

“We're even better positioned to add to our fleet and portfolio of land experience brands.”

Natalya Leahy, Chief Executive Officer

Segments and guest metrics

  • Lindblad tour revenue rose 17%: Lindblad tour revenues were $495.6 million, up $72.3 million, on 2% more available guest nights and occupancy of 88% against 78%. Source
  • Land Experiences revenue rose 24%: Land Experiences tour revenues were $275.4 million, up $54.0 million, from more guests traveled and higher pricing. Source
  • Lindblad fourth-quarter yield rose 11%: Fourth-quarter Lindblad net yield per available guest night rose 11% to $1,279, on higher pricing and occupancy of 87% against 78%. Source
  • Land Experiences costs rose with departures: Land Experiences Adjusted EBITDA was $46.5 million, up $14.6 million, with a full year of Thomson Group results, partly offset by higher operating and personnel costs. Source

Costs, fuel and unit costs

  • Lindblad marketing spend partly offset gains: Lindblad Adjusted EBITDA reached $79.8 million; marketing spend for long-term growth partly offset tour revenue gains. Source
  • Adjusted cost per guest night rose: Adjusted net cruise cost per available guest night was $1,093 for 2025, against $987 in 2024; the fourth-quarter figure was $1,222 against $1,061. Source
  • Fuel expense fell year on year: Lindblad fuel expense was $24.0 million for 2025, against $26.6 million in 2024; fourth-quarter fuel expense was $6.3 million against $6.8 million. Source

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Cash rose to $289.7 million: Cash and restricted cash rose to $289.7 million at December 31, 2025, from $216.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Bookings drove operating cash: Management attributed $111.6 million of operating cash mainly to increased bookings for future travel and timing of operating expense payments; financing added $29.6 million. Source
  • Investing outflow for vessels and acquisitions: Investing used $67.3 million, mainly for vessel capital expenditure improvements and acquisitions. Source
  • Free cash flow of $63.8 million: Free cash flow was $63.8 million for 2025, against $58.8 million in 2024, after $47.7 million of purchases of property and equipment. Source
  • Debt of $675.0 million, covenants met: Total debt was $675.0 million at December 31, 2025, and the Company was in compliance with all its applicable debt covenants. Source

Capital and share repurchases

  • Buyback progress under the plan: By February 23, 2026, the company had repurchased 875,218 shares and 6.0 million warrants for $23.0 million under the plan. Source
  • Shares outstanding at 65.3 million: Common shares outstanding were 65.3 million on February 23, 2026. Source

2026 guidance and strategy

  • 2026 guidance reconciled to pre-tax income: Full-year 2026 guidance was reconciled from pre-tax income to Adjusted EBITDA, with depreciation, interest, stock compensation and other items shown. Source
  • Management points to fleet expansion: Management said the company is better placed to add vessels and land experience brands. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Available guest nights Source328,617 in 2025 (323,691 in 2024)
Guest nights sold Source287,830 in 2025 (253,941 in 2024)
Net yield per available guest night Source$1,335 in 2025 ($1,170 in 2024)
Fuel expense, Lindblad segment Source$24.0 million in 2025 ($26.6 million in 2024)
Adjusted net cruise cost per available guest night Source$1,093 in 2025 ($987 in 2024)
Voyages Source561 in 2025 (475 in 2024)

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Fourth-quarter Lindblad costs included drydock costs that rose on timing against the prior year, and royalties under the expanded National Geographic agreement. Source
  • Operational: Higher operating and personnel costs from additional departures partly offset the Land Experiences Adjusted EBITDA increase. Source
  • Financial: The full-year net loss includes a $23.5 million loss on extinguishment of debt. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The notice stated the company intended to exercise its right to mandatory conversion; the conversion was effective February 3, 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.