greeksoup/ stock research

Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 raised, 2 lowered, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Tour revenue rose 12% in quarter: Third-quarter tour revenues were $269.2 million, up $29.0 million or 12% from $240.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net income positive at $0.36 per share: Net income available to stockholders was $24.2 million, $0.36 per diluted share, against a $49 thousand loss a year earlier. The release describes this as the highest quarterly result in Company history. Source
  • Lindblad segment Adjusted EBITDA up $4.3 million: Lindblad segment Adjusted EBITDA was $37.1 million, up $4.3 million or 13%. Land Experiences Adjusted EBITDA was $27.0 million, up $2.5 million or 10%. Source
  • Occupancy reached 91%: Lindblad occupancy was 91% against 88%, with 90,779 guest nights sold against 84,143 a year earlier on 99,550 available guest nights. Source
  • Net yield per guest night up 6%: Net yield per available guest night was $1,398 against $1,314; gross yield per available guest night was $1,541 against $1,441. Source
  • Lindblad cost of tours rose: Lindblad cost of tours rose on more voyages and higher fuel costs. Consolidated cost of tours was $135.9 million against $124.4 million. Source
  • Unearned passenger revenues up $70.3 million: Unearned passenger revenues were $431.8 million at September 30, 2026, against $361.5 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • White Desert and Echo Charlie added: The company acquired a majority ownership interest in White Desert and Echo Charlie, a new aviation travel brand. Management called it a new chapter of growth. Source

“It has been an exciting quarter for us! With the acquisition of White Desert and the launch of Echo Charlie, we are opening a new chapter of growth, innovation and long-term shareholder value creation.”

Natalya Leahy, Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Tour revenues SourceFull year 2026$870 - $885 millionRaised from $830 - $860 million
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026$142 - $148 millionRaised from $130 - $140 million
Income before income taxes SourceFull year 2026$8 to $28 millionRaised from $(5) to $14 million
Depreciation and amortization SourceFull year 202674 to 69 (in millions)Lowered from 77 to 75 (in millions)
Interest expense, net SourceFull year 202643 to 41 (in millions)Kept
Stock-based compensation SourceFull year 202610 to 7 (in millions)Lowered from 11 to 8 (in millions)
Other reconciling items SourceFull year 20267 to 3 (in millions)Raised from 4 to 2 (in millions)

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 tour revenue range was raised. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA range was raised. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 income before income taxes range was raised, per the reconciliation table. Source
  • New: The company acquired a majority ownership interest in White Desert and Echo Charlie, a new aviation travel brand. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Tour revenue rose 12% in quarter: Third-quarter tour revenues were $269.2 million, up $29.0 million or 12% from $240.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net income positive at $0.36 per share: Net income available to stockholders was $24.2 million, $0.36 per diluted share, against a $49 thousand loss a year earlier. The release describes this as the highest quarterly result in Company history. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 12%: Adjusted EBITDA was $64.1 million, up $6.9 million or 12% from $57.3 million a year earlier. Source
  • Operating income up 19%: Operating income was $42.8 million against $36.0 million; nine-month operating income was $70.3 million, up 38%. Source
  • Nine-month revenue and EBITDA up: For the nine months, tour revenues were $676.4 million, up 15%, and Adjusted EBITDA was $131.4 million, up 17%. Source

Segments: Lindblad and Land Experiences

  • Lindblad segment Adjusted EBITDA up $4.3 million: Lindblad segment Adjusted EBITDA was $37.1 million, up $4.3 million or 13%. Land Experiences Adjusted EBITDA was $27.0 million, up $2.5 million or 10%. Source
  • Lindblad tour revenue up 11%: Lindblad tour revenues were $153.4 million, up $15.8 million, from higher occupancy on more available guest nights and higher net yield. Source
  • Lindblad operating income up 34%: Lindblad operating income was $17.8 million, up $4.5 million; nine-month Lindblad operating income was $32.2 million, up 65%. Source
  • Land Experiences revenue up 13%: Land Experiences tour revenues were $115.8 million, up $13.2 million, from more guests and additional trips operated. Source
  • Land Experiences operating income up 10%: Land Experiences operating income was $25.0 million, up $2.2 million or 10%; nine-month operating income was $38.1 million, up 21%. Source

“We also delivered outstanding financial results with record Adjusted EBITDA and occupancy above 90% for the third consecutive quarter.”

Natalya Leahy, Chief Executive Officer

Occupancy, guests and yield

  • Occupancy reached 91%: Lindblad occupancy was 91% against 88%, with 90,779 guest nights sold against 84,143 a year earlier on 99,550 available guest nights. Source
  • Net yield per guest night up 6%: Net yield per available guest night was $1,398 against $1,314; gross yield per available guest night was $1,541 against $1,441. Source
  • Guest count and voyages edged up: Number of guests was 11,402 against 10,685, and voyages were 161 against 159 in the third quarter. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Lindblad cost of tours rose: Lindblad cost of tours rose on more voyages and higher fuel costs. Consolidated cost of tours was $135.9 million against $124.4 million. Source
  • Fuel expense rose to $7.6 million: Fuel expense was $7.6 million against $6.2 million; nine-month fuel expense was $22.5 million against $17.8 million. Source
  • Royalty step-up lifted selling costs: Selling and marketing expense was $37.8 million against $30.1 million, reflecting the final National Geographic royalty rate step-up and higher marketing spend. Source
  • Land Experiences costs rose with trips: Land Experiences operating and personnel costs rose with more trips, partly offsetting its revenue gain; marketing spend also rose. Source
  • Income tax expense rose $7.0 million: Income tax provision was $4.5 million against a $2.6 million benefit in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Adjusted net cruise cost per guest night rose: Adjusted net cruise cost per available guest night was $1,026 against $971 a year earlier. Source

“These achievements reflect the strength of our business model and disciplined execution.”

Natalya Leahy, Chief Executive Officer

Bookings and customer deposits

  • Unearned passenger revenues up $70.3 million: Unearned passenger revenues were $431.8 million at September 30, 2026, against $361.5 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Operating cash tied to bookings: Nine-month operating cash flow was $111.3 million, which the release attributes to increased bookings for future travel, against $97.1 million a year earlier. Source

Cash, debt and share repurchases

  • Cash balance rose to $308.2 million: Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash were $308.2 million at September 30, 2026, up from $289.7 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Nine-month free cash flow higher: Nine-month free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure, was $92.5 million against $60.4 million, after purchases of property and equipment of $18.8 million. Source
  • Acquisition and ownership payments: Acquisitions used $54.6 million net of cash acquired. A further $19.8 million bought an additional 5.0% of Natural Habitat and 9.9% of Classic Journeys. Source
  • Debt steady at $675.0 million: Total debt was $675.0 million at September 30, 2026, and the company reported compliance with all applicable debt covenants. Source
  • Buyback plan has $12.0 million left: As of October 31, 2026, 875,218 shares and 6.0 million warrants had been repurchased for $23.0 million under the $35.0 million plan. 65.7 million shares were outstanding. Source

Strategy, acquisitions and brands

  • White Desert and Echo Charlie added: The company acquired a majority ownership interest in White Desert and Echo Charlie, a new aviation travel brand. Management called it a new chapter of growth. Source
  • Marketing spend aimed at growth: Management cited higher marketing spend to drive long-term growth initiatives within the Lindblad segment's selling and marketing costs. Source
  • Company now lists eight brands: The company description lists eight pioneering brands, with White Desert and Echo Charlie added to the land-based and air-based portfolio. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net yield per available guest night Source$1,398 (prior year $1,314)
Gross yield per available guest night Source$1,541 (prior year $1,441)
Occupancy Source91% (prior year 88%)
Guest nights sold Source90,779 (prior year 84,143)
Number of guests Source11,402 (prior year 10,685)
Fuel costs (thousands of dollars) Source7,567 (prior year 6,224)
Voyages (fleet activity) Source161 (prior year 159)

Risks management discussed

  • External: Higher fuel costs raised Lindblad cost of tours alongside more voyages. Source
  • Financial: Income tax expense increased by $7.0 million, offsetting part of the improved operating results. Source
  • Operational: Land Experiences operating and personnel costs rose with more trips, partly offsetting revenue growth. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management cited the final royalty rate step-up under the National Geographic agreement as a driver of higher selling and marketing costs. 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.