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United Parks & Resorts Inc.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 November 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Quarter revenue and net income fell: Revenue $511.9 million, down 6.2%; net income $89.3 million, down 25.4%; diluted EPS $1.61 against $2.08; Adjusted EBITDA $216.3 million, down 16.3%. Source
  • Admission per capita fell 6.3%: Admission per capita fell 6.3% and total revenue per capita fell 2.9%; management ties the total decline to lower admissions per capita, partly offset by in-park spending. Source
  • Attendance fell on calendar and international: Attendance declined about 240,000 guests; management attributed the decrease to an unfavorable calendar shift, including Fourth of July timing, and lower international visitation. Source
  • Flat attendance excluding calendar and international: Management said that, adjusted for the calendar shift and lower international visitation, attendance would have been roughly flat for the quarter. Source
  • Bookings growth above the August pace: In August, group and Discovery Cove bookings for the rest of 2025 were up mid to high single digits; the November release cites a larger figure for bookings into 2026.
  • Operating expenses rose 3.4%: Operating expenses were $214.4 million, up $7.1 million; selling, general and administrative expenses rose 9.6% to $60.7 million. Source
  • Free cash flow lower than prior year: Free cash flow was $38.0 million for the quarter against $67.6 million, and $134.5 million for nine months against $145.5 million. Source
  • Repurchases began in third quarter: The company repurchased 148,727 shares for about $7.7 million in the third quarter. Source

“We are obviously not happy with the results we delivered in the quarter.”

Marc Swanson, Chief Executive Officer of United Parks & Resorts Inc.

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Forward bookings, Discovery Cove and group business Sourceinto 2026up over 20% year over yearNew
Share repurchase authorization Sourcenot stated$500.0 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Stockholders unaffiliated with Hill Path Capital authorized the board to approve and implement additional share repurchases on September 3, 2025. Source
  • New: The company announced several upcoming 2026 rides, attractions, events and upgrades, which the August release did not list. Source

Results and per-capita spending

  • Quarter revenue and net income fell: Revenue $511.9 million, down 6.2%; net income $89.3 million, down 25.4%; diluted EPS $1.61 against $2.08; Adjusted EBITDA $216.3 million, down 16.3%. Source
  • Nine-month revenue and profit lower: Nine-month revenue $1,289.0 million, down 3.9%; net income $153.3 million, down 23.2%; diluted EPS $2.76 against $3.24; Adjusted EBITDA $490.0 million, down 11.8%. Source
  • Nine-month attendance down 1.5%: Nine-month attendance declined by about 252,000 guests; the company attributes the decrease primarily to lower demand. Source
  • Admission per capita fell 6.3%: Admission per capita fell 6.3% and total revenue per capita fell 2.9%; management ties the total decline to lower admissions per capita, partly offset by in-park spending. Source
  • In-park spending grew, 20 of 22 quarters: In-park per capita spending rose 1.1% in the quarter; the CEO said it has grown in 20 of the last 22 quarters. Source

Attendance, calendar and forward demand

  • Attendance fell on calendar and international: Attendance declined about 240,000 guests; management attributed the decrease to an unfavorable calendar shift, including Fourth of July timing, and lower international visitation. Source
  • Poor weather hit holiday weekends: Management said poor weather over the peak Fourth of July and Labor Day weekends also reduced attendance. Source
  • Flat attendance excluding calendar and international: Management said that, adjusted for the calendar shift and lower international visitation, attendance would have been roughly flat for the quarter. Source
  • International visitation down about 90,000: International visitation fell about 90,000 guests in the quarter, which management described as a reversal of first-half trends. Source
  • Bookings growth above the August pace: In August, group and Discovery Cove bookings for the rest of 2025 were up mid to high single digits; the November release cites a larger figure for bookings into 2026.

“While this year has been disappointing to date, we have high confidence in our ability to deliver operational and financial improvements that will lead to meaningful increases in EBITDA, free cash flow and shareholder value.”

Marc Swanson, Chief Executive Officer of United Parks & Resorts Inc.

Costs and operating expenses

  • Operating expenses rose 3.4%: Operating expenses were $214.4 million, up $7.1 million; selling, general and administrative expenses rose 9.6% to $60.7 million. Source
  • Self-insurance reserve adjustments excluded: Non-cash self-insurance reserve adjustments were about $6.2 million in the quarter and $15.8 million for nine months, added back in Adjusted EBITDA. Source
  • Depreciation and amortization up 7.5%: Depreciation and amortization was $44.7 million in the quarter, up 7.5% from the prior year quarter. Source
  • Cost of food and merchandise down: Cost of food, merchandise and other revenues was $39.9 million, down 1.7%. Source

Products, events and attractions

  • Howl-O-Scream record attendance: Separately ticketed Howl-O-Scream events grew year over year, with record attendance at the Orlando and San Diego events. Source
  • 2026 rides and attractions announced: The release lists new 2026 rides, attractions, events and upgrades, including SEAQuest at SeaWorld Orlando and Barracuda Strike at SeaWorld San Antonio. Source
  • Lion & Hyena Ridge habitat expansion: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay's Lion & Hyena Ridge expands its habitat to more than double its previous size, to nearly 35,000 square feet. Source
  • Christmas events expected to be best: Management expects this year's Christmas events to be its best ever, with new events and food and beverage offerings. Source

Capital, cash and share repurchases

  • Free cash flow lower than prior year: Free cash flow was $38.0 million for the quarter against $67.6 million, and $134.5 million for nine months against $145.5 million. Source
  • Expansion and ROI capex fell: Nine-month expansion and ROI capital expenditures were $25.1 million, down 63.8%; core capital expenditures were $142.2 million, down 7.1%. Source
  • Repurchases began in third quarter: The company repurchased 148,727 shares for about $7.7 million in the third quarter. Source
  • Repurchases continued after quarter-end: Since the start of the third quarter through November 4, 2025, total repurchases reached 635,020 shares for about $32.2 million. Source
  • Long-term debt balance reported: Total long-term debt including current maturities was $2,251.9 million at September 30, 2025, compared with $2,263.4 million at December 31, 2024. Source

Execution and animal rescue

  • Execution and efficiency focus for 2026: Management said it is focused on investments and operational efficiencies it expects to achieve, and on the value it plans to build. Source
  • 192 animals rescued in quarter: The company came to the aid of 192 animals in need in the wild during the third quarter. Source
  • Animal rescue total exceeds 42,000: The company says it has helped more than 42,000 animals over its history. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 November 2025

  • Christmas events begin later this month: Christmas events begin at SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and Sesame Place Langhorne parks later this month. Source
  • Busch Gardens Williamsburg attraction reveal: Busch Gardens Williamsburg will announce its upcoming attraction later this week. Source
  • Shark Encounter debut in spring 2026: A reimagined Shark Encounter at SeaWorld San Diego is set to debut in spring 2026 as part of the Fin Shui project. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Attendance, third quarter Source6.8 million guests
Attendance, first nine months Source16.4 million guests
Total revenue per capita, third quarter Source$75.39
Admission per capita, third quarter Source$39.57
In-park per capita spending, third quarter Source$35.82

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Management cited less than optimal execution as one of the factors in the quarter's performance. Source
  • External: Management described the U.S. consumer environment as inconsistent and cited similar reports from other leisure and hospitality businesses. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The August release expected the vote within 30 days; the November release reports stockholders granted the authority on September 3, 2025.

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.