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United Parks & Resorts 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: 1 raised, 1 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter revenue and net income declined: Q4 total revenue was $373.5 million and net income was $15.1 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA declined in both periods: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA was $605.1 million, down 13.6%, and Q4 Adjusted EBITDA was $115.2 million, down 20.3%. Source
  • Peak-period weather hurt three markets: Net weather impact was essentially flat year over year, as the recovery from prior-year hurricanes was offset by unfavorable peak-period weather in San Diego, Williamsburg and Florida. Source
  • Admission per guest fell, in-park rose: Total revenue per guest decreased on lower admissions per guest, partly offset by higher in-park spending per guest in the fourth quarter. Source
  • International visitation declined: Management attributed the fourth-quarter attendance decrease mainly to lower international visitation. Source
  • Q4 selling and admin costs rose: Q4 selling, general and administrative expenses rose 17.4%, while Q4 operating expenses fell 1.0% and full-year operating expenses rose 2.2%. Source
  • Free cash flow declined in both periods: Free cash flow was $28.1 million in Q4, down 67.4%, and $162.6 million for the year, down 29.8%. Source

“Our fiscal 2025 results did not meet our expectations.”

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

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Sponsorship revenue Sourcecoming years$30 million-plusNew
Company-wide group booking revenue Source2026pacing up over 50%Raised from up over 20%

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Management updated the 2026 plan with an events calendar, an expanded concert lineup, new and upgraded food and retail locations, and a revamped marketing plan. Source
  • New: The 2026 plan adds a heightened focus on cost management and efficiency, following the prior release's reference to reducing costs. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Fourth-quarter revenue and net income declined: Q4 total revenue was $373.5 million and net income was $15.1 million. Source
  • Full-year revenue down 3.6%: Full-year total revenue was $1.7 billion, down 3.6%, and net income was $168.4 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA declined in both periods: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA was $605.1 million, down 13.6%, and Q4 Adjusted EBITDA was $115.2 million, down 20.3%. Source
  • Operating income fell in both periods: Full-year operating income was $365.4 million, down 21.1%. Q4 operating income was $56.4 million, down 25.5%. Source

Parks, regions and weather

  • Peak-period weather hurt three markets: Net weather impact was essentially flat year over year, as the recovery from prior-year hurricanes was offset by unfavorable peak-period weather in San Diego, Williamsburg and Florida. Source
  • Portfolio spans 13 parks, seven markets: The company's seven brands span 13 parks in seven markets across the United States and Abu Dhabi. Source
  • Park operating schedules changed: Changes in operating schedules across parks were cited as a factor in full-year attendance, alongside lower reseller ticket sales. Source

“we should have delivered better results, particularly on the cost side of the income statement.”

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

Guest spending and pricing

  • Admission per guest fell, in-park rose: Total revenue per guest decreased on lower admissions per guest, partly offset by higher in-park spending per guest in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Admissions revenue fell 6.0% for year: Full-year admissions revenue was $883.4 million, down 6.0%, while food, merchandise and other revenue was $779.2 million, down 0.8%. Source
  • Fourth-quarter food sales slightly lower: Q4 food, merchandise and other revenue was $170.7 million, down 0.5%, and Q4 admissions revenue was $202.9 million, down 4.7%. Source

Demand and forward bookings

  • International visitation declined: Management attributed the fourth-quarter attendance decrease mainly to lower international visitation. Source
  • Fewer operating days in Q4: Fourth-quarter operating days were lower than in 2024, which management named alongside international visits as a factor. Source
  • Forward bookings were up in prior release: In the prior release, management said forward bookings into 2026 were up for Discovery Cove and groups. This release updates them in guidance.

“excluding the impacts of international visitation and operating days, underlying attendance trends would have been approximately flat for the quarter”

United Parks & Resorts Inc., press release

Costs and expenses

  • Q4 selling and admin costs rose: Q4 selling, general and administrative expenses rose 17.4%, while Q4 operating expenses fell 1.0% and full-year operating expenses rose 2.2%. Source
  • One-time bad debt write-off in Q4: Q4 included a one-time non-cash bad debt write-off of $7.6 million, which the release cites in both net income and Adjusted EBITDA. Source
  • Interest expense declined sharply: Interest expense was $32.6 million in Q4, down 34.8%, and $134.1 million for the year, down 20.0%. Source
  • New accounting system costs: Costs of the new financial accounting system were $3.4 million in Q4 and $7.6 million for the year, within business optimization costs. Source

Cash, capital and debt

  • Operating cash flow declined: Net cash from operations was $78.4 million in Q4, down 30.3%, and $380.1 million for the year, down 20.8%. Source
  • Q4 capital spending rose 91.7%: Q4 capital expenditures were $50.3 million, up 91.7%. Full-year capital expenditures were $217.5 million, down 12.5%. Source
  • Core spending up, expansion down: Core spending on rides, attractions and maintenance was $182.4 million, up 2.7%. Expansion and return-on-investment projects were $35.1 million, down 50.4%. Source
  • Free cash flow declined in both periods: Free cash flow was $28.1 million in Q4, down 67.4%, and $162.6 million for the year, down 29.8%. Source
  • Cash and debt at year-end: At December 31, 2025, cash was $99.8 million and total long-term debt was $2,248.0 million, with a stockholders' deficit of $435.8 million. Source
  • Q4 financing outflow rose: Net cash used in financing activities was $149.2 million in Q4, compared with $47.2 million a year earlier. Source

Share repurchases

  • Q4 buybacks of 3.9 million shares: The company repurchased about 3.9 million shares in Q4 for about $144.7 million. Source
  • 6.7 million shares repurchased since 2025: Across 2025 and through February 24, 2026, the company repurchased 6.7 million shares, about 12% of shares outstanding. The 2025 total was 4.2 million shares for $157.0 million. Source
  • 2026 buybacks through February 24: From the start of 2026 through February 24, 2026, the company repurchased about 2.5 million shares for about $90.1 million. Source

2026 products and plans

  • Plans for 2026 updated: Management said it updated and focused its 2026 plans and investments to drive attendance and guest spending across its parks. Source
  • New attractions across five parks: The 2026 lineup includes new rides and attractions across five parks. Dated openings appear under next steps. Source
  • Expanded concerts and food and retail: The 2026 plan includes an expanded concert lineup and new or upgraded food and retail locations. Source

Animal rescue and recognition

  • Rescues in 2025 and Q4: The company came to the aid of 825 animals in fiscal 2025 and 178 in Q4, and more than 42,000 in its history. Source
  • Awards for parks in 2025: SeaWorld Orlando was voted #3 Nation's Best Amusement Park, and Busch Gardens Williamsburg was named World's Most Beautiful Theme Park for a 35th year. Source

Coming up, as management said on 26 February 2026

  • Verbolten opens this spring: Busch Gardens Williamsburg's re-imagined Verbolten - Forbidden Turn is due to open this spring, with new immersive storytelling and special effects. Source
  • Shark Encounter debut this spring: SeaWorld San Diego's re-imagined Shark Encounter is due to debut this spring as part of the Fin Shui project. Source
  • Lion & Hyena Ridge opening soon: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay will soon open Lion & Hyena Ridge, a habitat expanding its space to more than double its previous size. Source
  • Barracuda Strike coaster planned: SeaWorld San Antonio will introduce Barracuda Strike, an inverted family coaster. No opening date is given. Source
  • SEAQuest attraction planned: SeaWorld Orlando's SEAQuest: Legends of the Deep is a new submersible attraction. No opening date is given. Source

In management's words

“Importantly, we reported record in-park per capita spending in the quarter, underscoring that guests continue to respond positively to our offerings and spend when they visit our parks.”

United Parks & Resorts Inc., press release

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Attendance, fourth quarter 2025 Source4.76 million guests
Attendance, fiscal 2025 Source21.17 million guests
Total revenue per capita, fourth quarter Source$78.56
Total revenue per capita, fiscal 2025 Source$78.54
Admission per capita, fourth quarter Source$42.67
In-park per capita spending, fourth quarter Source$35.89
Admission per capita, fiscal 2025 Source$41.73
In-park per capita spending, fiscal 2025 Source$36.81

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management described the consumer environment as uneven and cited negative international tourism trends. Source
  • External: Unfavorable weather in peak periods affected San Diego, Williamsburg and Florida, though the net weather impact was essentially flat. Source
  • Operational: Fewer operating days in the fourth quarter reduced attendance compared with the prior year. Source
  • Operational: Management cited less than optimal execution as one factor in the full-year attendance decline. Source
  • Financial: The company recorded non-cash self-insurance reserve adjustments of about $17.5 million for the year, which it adds back in non-GAAP measures. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it has moved to address cost management, which it called less than optimal. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release said the Board had announced a $500 million program contingent on stockholder approval. This release does not state its remaining amount.
  • Not stated: The prior release expressed high confidence in operational and financial improvements lifting EBITDA and free cash flow. This release does not report progress against it.

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.