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Planet Fitness, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

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

Key takeaways

  • Revenue grew 21.9% year on year: Total revenue rose $60.6 million to $337.2 million. System-wide same club sales rose 3.5%, and system-wide sales reached $1.4 billion. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose $22.9 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $139.9 million against $117.0 million a year earlier. Adjusted net income was $59.4 million, or $0.74 per diluted share, against $0.59. Source
  • Membership near 21.5 million: The company ended the quarter with approximately 21.5 million members, up from approximately 20.8 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Marketing sharpened to win sign-ups: Management said it is adjusting marketing to capture demand and drive net member growth during the rest of the year. Source
  • Equipment revenue more than doubled: Equipment segment revenue rose to $62.1 million, with $32.0 million from equipment sales to existing franchisee-owned clubs. Source
  • Same club sales target cut to 1%: Management now expects 2026 system-wide same club sales growth of approximately 1%, compared with the earlier 4% to 5%. Source
  • Revenue and EBITDA growth lowered: Revenue growth is now approximately 7%, from 9%, and Adjusted EBITDA growth approximately 6%, from 10%. Source
  • Adjusted net income now expected to fall: Adjusted net income is now expected to decrease approximately 2%, against the earlier 4% to 5% increase, and Adjusted EPS to rise approximately 4%. Source
  • Black Card increase paused: The planned national Black Card price increase is paused while a broader pricing review takes place. Source
  • Benefits expected in 2027: Management expects the current actions to set the stage for enhanced top and bottom-line results in 2027. Source

“In the first quarter, our top and bottom line results exceeded expectations.”

Colleen Keating, Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
System-wide same club sales growth Sourcefiscal year 2026 versus 2025approximately 1%Lowered from 4% to 5%
Revenue Sourcefiscal year 2026 versus 2025approximately 7%Lowered from approximately 9%
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefiscal year 2026 versus 2025approximately 6%Lowered from approximately 10%
Adjusted net income Sourcefiscal year 2026 versus 2025decrease approximately 2%Lowered from increase of 4% to 5%
Adjusted net income per share, diluted Sourcefiscal year 2026 versus 2025approximately 4%Lowered from 9% to 10%
Adjusted diluted weighted-average shares Sourcefiscal year 2026approximately 79.0 millionLowered from 80.0 million
Net interest expense Sourcefiscal year 2026approximately $111.0 millionLowered from $114.0 million
Capital expenditures Sourcefiscal year 2026 versus 2025increase approximately 10% to 15%Kept
Depreciation and amortization Sourcefiscal year 2026 versus 2025approximately 10%Kept
New equipment placements Sourcefiscal year 2026approximately 150 to 160Kept
System-wide new club openings Sourcefiscal year 2026approximately 180 to 190Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: 2026 system-wide same club sales growth cut to approximately 1% from 4% to 5%, citing lower net joins and the Black Card pause. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income and Adjusted EPS growth expectations were all lowered for 2026. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Adjusted diluted weighted-average share count assumption reduced to approximately 79.0 million from 80.0 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: 2026 net interest expense expectation reduced to approximately $111.0 million from $114.0 million. Source
  • New: The planned national Black Card price increase is paused pending a broader pricing review. Source
  • New: Marketing is being sharpened to prioritize capturing demand and driving net member growth. Source
  • Ended: The Chief Financial Officer departed during the quarter, and the company is searching for a new Chief Financial Officer. Source

Quarter results and growth

  • Revenue grew 21.9% year on year: Total revenue rose $60.6 million to $337.2 million. System-wide same club sales rose 3.5%, and system-wide sales reached $1.4 billion. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose $22.9 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $139.9 million against $117.0 million a year earlier. Adjusted net income was $59.4 million, or $0.74 per diluted share, against $0.59. Source
  • GAAP net income per diluted share rose: Net income attributable to Planet Fitness was $51.6 million, or $0.65 per diluted share, against $41.9 million, or $0.50, in the prior year period. Source

Membership and club growth

  • Membership near 21.5 million: The company ended the quarter with approximately 21.5 million members, up from approximately 20.8 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Net member growth below plan: Management said net joins were below plan, which it linked to the full-year expectation reset and the Black Card pause. Source
  • Fifteen new clubs, all franchisee-owned: 15 clubs opened in the quarter, all franchisee-owned, bringing the system to 2,909 clubs at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Marketing sharpened to win sign-ups: Management said it is adjusting marketing to capture demand and drive net member growth during the rest of the year. Source

“However, 2026 is off to a slower than expected start from a net member growth perspective as we faced internal and external headwinds during our peak sign-up period.”

Colleen Keating, Chief Executive Officer

Segment results

  • Franchise revenue rose 16.7%: Franchise segment revenue reached $134.5 million. The NAF contribution rate rise from 2% to 3% added $10.3 million; royalties added $6.0 million. Source
  • Corporate clubs rose 5.2%: Corporate-owned club revenue reached $140.6 million. Eight California clubs sold to a franchisee in August 2025 reduced revenue by $4.8 million. Source
  • Equipment revenue more than doubled: Equipment segment revenue rose to $62.1 million, with $32.0 million from equipment sales to existing franchisee-owned clubs. Source
  • Segment EBITDA higher in all three: Franchise segment EBITDA rose 11.6% to $94.7 million, corporate-owned clubs rose 1.4% to $46.5 million, and equipment rose 161.6% to $19.5 million. Source

Costs and margins

  • NAF expense offset franchise gains: NAF expense rose $10.3 million, partly offsetting the franchise segment EBITDA increase, alongside $1.2 million of higher SG&A. Source
  • Cost of revenue rose to $45.3 million: Cost of revenue was $45.3 million, against $22.5 million a year earlier, while club operations costs were $88.2 million against $81.7 million. Source
  • Interest expense rose to $33.0 million: Interest expense was $33.0 million, up from $26.2 million, and total other expense, net was $26.7 million. Source

“While we are resetting near-term expectations, we expect that these actions will help set the stage for enhanced top and bottom-line results in 2027.”

Colleen Keating, Chief Executive Officer

Cash, capital and shareholder returns

  • Repurchased 613,725 shares for $50.0 million: Class A shares were repurchased and retired using $50.0 million of cash on hand. Source
  • Cash and securities of $652.0 million: Cash and marketable securities at March 31, 2026 totalled $652.0 million, including restricted cash of $81.2 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose to $147.5 million: Net cash from operating activities was $147.5 million, against $133.9 million, while additions to property and equipment were $25.5 million. Source
  • Long-term debt of $2.45 billion: Long-term debt, net of current maturities, was $2.45 billion at March 31, 2026, against $2.46 billion at December 31, 2025. Source

Full-year expectations revised

  • Same club sales target cut to 1%: Management now expects 2026 system-wide same club sales growth of approximately 1%, compared with the earlier 4% to 5%. Source
  • Revenue and EBITDA growth lowered: Revenue growth is now approximately 7%, from 9%, and Adjusted EBITDA growth approximately 6%, from 10%. Source
  • Adjusted net income now expected to fall: Adjusted net income is now expected to decrease approximately 2%, against the earlier 4% to 5% increase, and Adjusted EPS to rise approximately 4%. Source
  • Seasonal subscription model magnifies shortfall: Management said the early shortfall in net joins has an outsized effect on full-year results because of how subscription revenue is seasonal. Source
  • Openings and capex targets kept: Equipment placements of 150 to 160, openings of 180 to 190 clubs, capex growth of 10% to 15% and D&A growth of approximately 10% are unchanged. Source

Pricing and strategy

  • Black Card increase paused: The planned national Black Card price increase is paused while a broader pricing review takes place. Source
  • Benefits expected in 2027: Management expects the current actions to set the stage for enhanced top and bottom-line results in 2027. Source
  • Long-term thesis unchanged: Management said its long-term thesis remains intact and that the company is well positioned as the leader in the high-value, low-price segment. Source
  • Industry tailwinds cited: Management said the fitness industry continues to benefit from secular tailwinds linked to growing awareness of movement and health. Source

Leadership and transition costs

  • CFO departure and search: Costs in the quarter covered the Chief Financial Officer's departure and the search for a new Chief Financial Officer. Source
  • Executive transition costs recorded: Executive transition costs of $0.8 million were recorded in the quarter, under the company's Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation. Source

Coming up, as management said on 7 May 2026

  • Benefits expected in 2027: Management expects the actions taken to help set the stage for enhanced top and bottom-line results in 2027. Source
  • Broader pricing review pending: The national Black Card price increase remains paused pending a broader pricing review; no date for that review is given. Source
  • Chief Financial Officer search ongoing: The company is searching for a new Chief Financial Officer following the departure of the current officer. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
System-wide total clubs Source2,909 as of March 31, 2026
Total membership Sourceapproximately 21.5 million
New clubs opened system-wide in the quarter Source15
Equipment sales to new franchisee-owned clubs Source14 (compared with 10 in the prior year period)
System-wide same club sales growth Source3.5%

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Net member growth fell short of plan during the peak sign-up period, which management attributed to internal and external headwinds. Source
  • Financial: Because subscription revenue is seasonal, a lower first-quarter net join level has a larger effect on full-year results. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Delayed: The national Black Card increase, which was planned for 2026, is paused pending a broader pricing review. Source
  • Ahead: Management said first-quarter top and bottom line results were above its expectations. Source
  • Missed: Net member growth in 2026 started below the company's expectation during the peak sign-up period. Source
  • Not stated: Management reiterated the placement and opening targets for 2026 while revising other growth expectations. 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.