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United Parks & Resorts Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 11 May 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net loss widened year on year: Net loss was $34.1 million, against $16.1 million a year earlier. Diluted loss per share was $0.69, against $0.29. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell 14.1%: Adjusted EBITDA was $58.0 million, down $9.5 million from the first quarter of 2025. Management said Adjusted EBITDA was negatively impacted by lower total revenue. Source
  • Weather and international visits cut attendance: Management put about 140,000 guests lost to weather and about 80,000 to lower international visitation. Adjusted for these, attendance would have risen more than 1%. Source
  • Admission per capita fell on pricing and mix: Management attributed the decline to lower realized pricing on certain admission products and to the net effect of admissions product mix versus the prior-year quarter. Source
  • In-park spending reached a record: Management said in-park per capita spending rose on higher demand across many in-park offerings. The release describes the level as a record for the metric. Source
  • Operating expenses rose as revenue fell: Operating expenses, excluding depreciation, rose about $10.0 million to $171.2 million while total revenue fell. Operating income was negative $8.5 million, against positive $16.9 million. Source
  • Paid pass sales grew about 10%: Management said paid pass sales rose about 10% during the quarter and about 12% through April 30, 2026. Source
  • Repurchased $92.7 million of shares: The company repurchased about 2.6 million shares in the first quarter for an aggregate of about $92.7 million. Source

“First quarter results fell short of our expectations primarily due to unfavorable weather”

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

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Expedition Odyssey revamp appears as a new 2026 attraction. It is not in the prior release's list of new rides and attractions. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net loss widened year on year: Net loss was $34.1 million, against $16.1 million a year earlier. Diluted loss per share was $0.69, against $0.29. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell 14.1%: Adjusted EBITDA was $58.0 million, down $9.5 million from the first quarter of 2025. Management said Adjusted EBITDA was negatively impacted by lower total revenue. Source
  • Weather and international visits cut attendance: Management put about 140,000 guests lost to weather and about 80,000 to lower international visitation. Adjusted for these, attendance would have risen more than 1%. Source
  • Weather hit San Diego, Florida and Texas: Unfavorable weather hit San Diego and Florida in January and February. It hit Florida and Texas again during their peak Spring Break periods. Source
  • Free cash flow improved, still negative: Net cash from operations was $66.8 million, against $25.7 million. Free cash flow was negative $2.8 million, against negative $31.2 million a year earlier. Source

New rides and attractions

  • Barracuda Strike opened in March: SeaWorld San Antonio opened Barracuda Strike, which the release calls Texas' first inverted family coaster. The release says it is built for thrill-seekers and the whole family. Source
  • Shark Encounter expansion planned for May: SeaWorld San Diego's expanded exhibit adds additional sharks, colorful fish and new shark species. The prior release said the debut was this spring; this release says May. Source
  • Lion & Hyena Ridge expands habitat: The Busch Gardens Tampa Bay habitat more than doubles in size. It will house five young male lions and a pair of hyenas, described as the most ambitious new habitat in over a decade. Source
  • Verbolten coaster re-imagined: Busch Gardens Williamsburg's Verbolten - Forbidden Turn is a re-imagined indoor/outdoor multi-launch coaster with new storytelling and special effects. The prior release said it would open this spring. Source
  • Expedition Odyssey revamp added: SeaWorld Orlando's Expedition Odyssey is completely revamped, with an all-new themed Fire & Ice experience. It does not appear in the prior release's list of new attractions. Source

“We delivered another quarter of strong in park execution, growing our in-park per capita and producing another quarter of record results.”

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

Revenue and per-capita spending

  • Revenue fell on attendance, partly offset: Total revenue was $278.3 million, down $8.7 million. Management attributed the decline mainly to lower attendance, partly offset by higher total revenue per capita. Source
  • Admission per capita fell on pricing and mix: Management attributed the decline to lower realized pricing on certain admission products and to the net effect of admissions product mix versus the prior-year quarter. Source
  • In-park spending reached a record: Management said in-park per capita spending rose on higher demand across many in-park offerings. The release describes the level as a record for the metric. Source

Costs and margins

  • Operating expenses rose as revenue fell: Operating expenses, excluding depreciation, rose about $10.0 million to $171.2 million while total revenue fell. Operating income was negative $8.5 million, against positive $16.9 million. Source
  • Selling and admin costs rose 8.9%: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $48.1 million, up 8.9%. Depreciation and amortization of $45.1 million rose 8.1% over the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Optimization costs of $6.7 million: Business optimization and strategic initiative costs were $6.7 million. These included $3.5 million for a new enterprise resource planning system, $2.1 million of other costs and $0.8 million of severance. Source
  • Non-cash self-insurance adjustments added back: Losses on impairment and other non-cash items were $5.7 million. They include about $3.7 million of non-cash self-insurance reserve adjustments and are added back to Adjusted EBITDA. Source

Demand and advance bookings

  • Paid pass sales grew about 10%: Management said paid pass sales rose about 10% during the quarter and about 12% through April 30, 2026. Source
  • Advance bookings ahead of 2025: Management said Discovery Cove advanced bookings revenue and group business are both outpacing 2025 levels, with Discovery Cove up a double-digit percentage. Source
  • Deferred revenue rose to $203.8 million: Deferred revenue was $203.8 million at March 31, 2026, against $143.3 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Capital, cash and returns to shareholders

  • Capital spending rose 22.4%: Capital expenditures were $69.6 million, against $56.9 million. Core spending rose 25.7% to $62.7 million, while expansion and return-on-investment projects were $7.0 million, down 1.2%. Source
  • Repurchased $92.7 million of shares: The company repurchased about 2.6 million shares in the first quarter for an aggregate of about $92.7 million. Source
  • More buybacks through May 8: From quarter end through May 8, 2026, the company repurchased about 1.8 million more shares for about $64.8 million. Source
  • Revolver drawn, cash balance lower: The revolving credit facility had $30.0 million drawn at March 31, 2026, against none at year-end. Cash and cash equivalents were $28.9 million, against $99.8 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Stockholders' deficit grew: Total stockholders' deficit was $557.2 million at March 31, 2026, against $435.8 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Marketing, investment and people

  • Revamped 2026 lineup and marketing plan: Management described new rides, shows, an updated events calendar, an expanded concert lineup, and upgraded food and retail. A revamped and enhanced marketing plan supports them. Source
  • Planned investments expected to lift demand: Management said it is confident the planned 2026 investments will drive attendance and guest spending across its parks. Source
  • Animal rescue total above 43,000: The company aided 211 animals in need in the first quarter. Its total over its history is more than 43,000 animals. Source

Coming up, as management said on 11 May 2026

  • Busy summer period ahead: Management said the company is entering its busy summer period, and it thanked ambassadors whose preparation is vital to it. Source
  • Shark Encounter debut this May: The release says the expanded Shark Encounter at SeaWorld San Diego will debut in May. Source
  • Lion & Hyena Ridge opening soon: The release says Busch Gardens Tampa Bay will soon open the new habitat. No specific date is given. Source
  • Verbolten opening soon: The release says Busch Gardens Williamsburg will soon open the re-imagined coaster. No specific date is given. Source
  • Expedition Odyssey opening soon: The release says SeaWorld Orlando will soon open the revamped Expedition Odyssey. No specific date is given. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Attendance Source3.22 million guests
Total revenue per capita Source$86.43
Admission per capita Source$45.81
In-park per capita spending Source$40.62 (record)
Paid pass sales growth Sourceup about 10% in quarter; up about 12% through April 30, 2026
Discovery Cove advanced bookings revenue Sourceup a double-digit percentage
Animals rescued Source211 in the quarter

Risks management discussed

  • External: Weather reduced attendance by about 140,000 guests in the quarter, across several markets during peak periods. Source
  • Demand: Lower international visitation reduced attendance by about 80,000 guests in the quarter. Source
  • Demand: Lower realized pricing on certain admission products and product mix reduced admission per capita. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it remains committed to delivering financial performance and growth in revenue and Adjusted EBITDA in 2026. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it is confident the planned investments will drive attendance and guest spending. Source
  • Not stated: Management referred to a long-standing commitment to returning excess cash to shareholders, and to share repurchases in the quarter. 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.