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Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Tour revenues rose 19%: Second quarter tour revenues were $199.2 million, up $31.3 million or 19% from the same period in 2025, with increases at both the Lindblad and Land Experiences segments. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 31%: Adjusted EBITDA was $32.5 million, up $7.6 million from $24.8 million, driven by higher tour revenues at the Lindblad and Land Experiences segments. Source
  • Lindblad revenue rose 16%: Lindblad tour revenues were $129.2 million, up 16%, on a 4% rise in net yield per available guest night to $1,294 and occupancy of 91% against 86%. Source
  • Occupancy reached 91%: The CEO said the 91% occupancy was the company's strongest second-quarter occupancy in a decade, with capacity up 12%. Source
  • Bookings lifted unearned revenue: Unearned passenger revenues rose to $439.9 million from $361.5 million at year-end. Management linked the cash inflow to increased bookings for future travel. Source
  • Tour revenue range raised: Full-year 2026 tour revenues are now expected at $830 to $860 million, up from $800 to $850 million in the first-quarter release. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA range held: Full-year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA guidance remains $130 to $140 million, the same range as in the first-quarter release. Source

“Our second-quarter results once again demonstrate the strength of our strategy and the focused execution of our team.”

Natalya Leahy, Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Tour revenues SourceFull year 2026$830 - $860 millionRaised from $800 - $850 million
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026$130 - $140 millionKept
Loss before income taxes (Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation) SourceFull year 2026$(5) to $14 million
Depreciation and amortization SourceFull year 202677 to 75 (millions)Kept
Interest expense, net SourceFull year 202643 to 41 (millions)Kept
Stock-based compensation SourceFull year 202611 to 8 (millions)Kept
Other (Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation) SourceFull year 20264 to 2 (millions)

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 tour revenue guidance was raised to $830 to $860 million from $800 to $850 million. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Tour revenues rose 19%: Second quarter tour revenues were $199.2 million, up $31.3 million or 19% from the same period in 2025, with increases at both the Lindblad and Land Experiences segments. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 31%: Adjusted EBITDA was $32.5 million, up $7.6 million from $24.8 million, driven by higher tour revenues at the Lindblad and Land Experiences segments. Source
  • Net loss narrowed to $1.4 million: Net loss available to stockholders was $1.4 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, against a $9.7 million loss, or $0.18 per share, a year earlier. Source
  • Prior-year tax credit in comparison: The company said the net loss decrease reflects improved operating results, despite a $3.4 million prior-year employee retention tax credit benefit. The preferred dividend of $1.2 million was absent this year. Source

Segments and regions

  • Lindblad revenue rose 16%: Lindblad tour revenues were $129.2 million, up 16%, on a 4% rise in net yield per available guest night to $1,294 and occupancy of 91% against 86%. Source
  • Lindblad profit measures improved: Lindblad segment Adjusted EBITDA was $22.5 million, up $6.1 million. Segment operating income was $3.9 million, against a $2.1 million loss a year earlier. Source
  • Land Experiences revenue rose 23%: Land Experiences tour revenues were $70.0 million, up 23%, from operating additional trips and higher pricing. Segment Adjusted EBITDA was $10.0 million, up $1.5 million. Source

“We achieved another record second-quarter net yield of $1,294 and 91% occupancy, our strongest second-quarter occupancy in a decade”

Natalya Leahy, Chief Executive Officer

Products, guests and capacity

  • Guests and voyages rose: Lindblad guests rose to 11,521 from 9,937 and voyages to 162 from 153. Maximum guests rose to 12,561 from 11,393, with available guest nights up 12%. Source
  • Occupancy reached 91%: The CEO said the 91% occupancy was the company's strongest second-quarter occupancy in a decade, with capacity up 12%. Source
  • Gross yield per guest night rose: Gross yield per available guest night was $1,417, up from $1,362. Net yield was $1,294, up from $1,241. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Fuel costs rose, margins still widened: Lindblad fuel expense was $6.9 million, against $4.2 million a year earlier. Management said margins expanded despite higher fuel costs. Source
  • Royalty step-up lifted sales costs: Sales and marketing costs rose on higher National Geographic royalties from the final rate step-up, and on higher marketing spend for growth initiatives. Source
  • Land costs rose with trips: Land Experiences operating and personnel costs rose with additional trips, alongside higher marketing spend to drive future growth. Source

“These results reinforce our confidence in the company’s ability to deliver sustainable long-term growth and value creation.”

Natalya Leahy, Chief Executive Officer

Demand and the order book

  • Bookings lifted unearned revenue: Unearned passenger revenues rose to $439.9 million from $361.5 million at year-end. Management linked the cash inflow to increased bookings for future travel. Source
  • Six-month passenger revenue inflow: The six-month change in unearned passenger revenues was a $78.4 million inflow, against $63.0 million a year earlier. Source
  • Guest nights sold rose: Lindblad guest nights sold rose to 82,922 from 70,198 in the quarter, against available guest nights of 91,185 from 81,515. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Six-month free cash flow rose: Six-month free cash flow was $93.6 million, against $48.5 million. Net operating cash was $108.5 million and property spending was $14.9 million. Source
  • Cash rose, debt held at $675.0 million: Cash and restricted cash was $364.9 million at June 30, 2026, up from $289.7 million at December 31, 2025. The company was in compliance with its debt covenants. Source
  • Buyback capacity of $12.0 million: Under the $35.0 million plan, 875,218 shares and 6.0 million warrants had been repurchased for $23.0 million through July 31, 2026, leaving $12.0 million. Source

Full-year 2026 guidance

  • Tour revenue range raised: Full-year 2026 tour revenues are now expected at $830 to $860 million, up from $800 to $850 million in the first-quarter release. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA range held: Full-year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA guidance remains $130 to $140 million, the same range as in the first-quarter release. Source
  • Pre-tax range low end moved: The reconciliation shows a loss before income taxes of $5 million to $14 million, with the low end moved from $6 million; the depreciation, interest and stock compensation ranges are unchanged. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Marketing spend aimed at growth: Marketing spend was increased to drive long-term growth initiatives, which management cited among factors in segment sales and marketing costs. Source
  • Property spending fell by half: Cash used in purchasing property and equipment was $14.9 million for the six months, down from $29.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • Stakes in two brands acquired: The company used $19.8 million to acquire an additional 5% of Natural Habitat and an additional 9.9% of Classic Journeys during the quarter. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net yield per available guest night Source$1,294
Gross yield per available guest night Source$1,417
Occupancy Source91%
Available guest nights Source91,185
Voyages Source162
Number of guests Source11,521
Fuel expense (in thousands of dollars) Source$6,911

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Higher fuel costs were discussed as a factor in segment costs, with Lindblad fuel expense rising in the quarter. Source
  • Financial: Sales and marketing costs rose on higher royalties under the final royalty rate step-up in the National Geographic agreement. 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.