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United Parks & Resorts Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 August 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Second-quarter revenue and income fell: Total revenue was $483.3 million, down 1.4%, and net income was $63.3 million, down 21.0%; diluted EPS was $1.34 against $1.45. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell 5.2%: Adjusted EBITDA was $195.5 million, down $10.8 million, as revenue declined and operating expenses rose. Source
  • Second-quarter attendance fell on calendar: Attendance fell mainly on the Easter timing shift and lower international visitation, according to the release. Source
  • Attendance flat before calendar effects: Management said that, adjusting for the Easter shift and the international decline, second-quarter attendance would have been flat. Source
  • In-park spending reached a record: In-park per capita spending rose 5.1% to a record $39.51 in the second quarter, on higher penetration and pricing initiatives. Source
  • Howl O' Scream bookings ahead of 2025: Early forward ticket sales for Howl O' Scream are running ahead of last year across the parks. Source
  • Buybacks reached 12.1% of shares: The company repurchased about 3.3 million shares for $125 million in the second quarter. First-half buybacks totaled 5.9 million shares, 12.1% of outstanding as of February 24, 2026, for $217.7 million. Source

“While we faced first-half headwinds across international visitation, weather impacts and holiday shifts, we are fully focused on executing against our strategic priorities”

Marc Swanson, CEO of United Parks & Resorts Inc.

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Forward bookings SourceCurrent, Discovery Cove and group businessAdvanced bookings revenue up double-digits versus prior year

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Howl O' Scream adds film intellectual property, with Sony Pictures horror titles I Know What You Did Last Summer and Anaconda at SeaWorld and Busch Gardens parks. Source

Second quarter and first-half results

  • Second-quarter revenue and income fell: Total revenue was $483.3 million, down 1.4%, and net income was $63.3 million, down 21.0%; diluted EPS was $1.34 against $1.45. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell 5.2%: Adjusted EBITDA was $195.5 million, down $10.8 million, as revenue declined and operating expenses rose. Source
  • First-half net income fell 54%: First-half net income was $29.2 million, down 54.4%, with diluted EPS of $0.60 against $1.15 and Adjusted EBITDA of $253.4 million, down 7.4%. Source

Attendance and calendar effects

  • Second-quarter attendance fell on calendar: Attendance fell mainly on the Easter timing shift and lower international visitation, according to the release. Source
  • Attendance flat before calendar effects: Management said that, adjusting for the Easter shift and the international decline, second-quarter attendance would have been flat. Source
  • First-half attendance hit by weather: First-half attendance fell mainly on unfavorable weather, lower international visitation and the Easter holiday shift. Source

“We are pleased with the continued progress we are making across certain initiatives.”

Marc Swanson, CEO of United Parks & Resorts Inc.

Per-capita spending and admissions

  • Revenue per capita up 1.5%: Total revenue per capita rose 1.5% to $79.82 in the second quarter and 1.7% to $82.11 in the first half. Source
  • In-park spending reached a record: In-park per capita spending rose 5.1% to a record $39.51 in the second quarter, on higher penetration and pricing initiatives. Source
  • Admission per capita fell 1.8%: Admission per capita fell 1.8% to $40.31, mainly from the net effect of the admissions product mix. Source

Operating costs and Adjusted EBITDA

  • Operating expenses rose 5.3%: Operating expenses excluding depreciation rose $10.9 million, or 5.3%, to $215.7 million in the second quarter. Source
  • Food and merchandise costs rose 2.4%: Cost of food, merchandise and other revenues rose 2.4% to $38.1 million, while the food, merchandise and other revenue line rose 2.0%. Source
  • Administrative costs rose 3.4%: Selling, general and administrative expenses rose 3.4% to $66.6 million in the second quarter. Source
  • Business optimization costs rose: Business optimization, development and strategic initiative costs were $10.1 million, up from $3.0 million, and are added back in the Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation. Source

Events and bookings

  • Summer events run several more weeks: Summer events continue for several weeks, closing with Red, White & BBQ, Summer Spectacular and Bier Fest Brews & BBQ across the parks. Source
  • Howl O' Scream bookings ahead of 2025: Early forward ticket sales for Howl O' Scream are running ahead of last year across the parks. Source
  • Seasonal events resonating with guests: Management said the seasonal offerings continue to resonate with guests. Source

Cash flow, capital and buybacks

  • Second-quarter operating cash flow fell: Second-quarter operating cash flow fell 6.2% to $170.0 million; first-half operating cash flow rose 14.4% to $236.8 million. Source
  • Free cash flow dipped in quarter: Free cash flow was $101.5 million in the second quarter, down 20.5%, and $98.6 million for the first half, up 2.3%. Source
  • Capital spending rose 28% in quarter: Capital expenditures were $68.6 million in the second quarter, up 28.0%, and $138.2 million in the first half, up 25.1%. Source
  • Buybacks reached 12.1% of shares: The company repurchased about 3.3 million shares for $125 million in the second quarter. First-half buybacks totaled 5.9 million shares, 12.1% of outstanding as of February 24, 2026, for $217.7 million. Source

Balance sheet and debt

  • Cash fell to $19.1 million: Cash and cash equivalents were $19.1 million at June 30, 2026, against $99.8 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Long-term debt rose to $2.29 billion: Total long-term debt was $2,290.3 million, including $50.0 million drawn on the revolving credit facility, up from $2,248.0 million. Source
  • Stockholders' deficit widened: Total stockholders' deficit was $617.0 million at June 30, 2026, against $435.8 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Animal rescue activity

  • Second-quarter rescues reached 331: Rescue teams aided 331 animals in need in the second quarter, up from 211 in the first quarter. Source
  • Lifetime rescues pass 43,000: The total number of animals helped over the company's history is more than 43,000. Source
  • Rescue teams on call year-round: Working with state, local and federal agencies, rescue teams are on call around the clock, every day of the year. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 August 2026

  • Halloween events open in September: Halloween events start in September and run through October, followed by Christmas celebrations in November and December. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Attendance, second quarter Source6.06 million guests (6,055 thousand)
Attendance, first six months Source9.28 million guests (9,275 thousand)

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management cited continued declines in international visitation as weighing on attendance. Source
  • External: Weather was cited as a factor behind lower attendance. Source
  • Demand: The Easter timing shift was cited as an unfavorable calendar factor for attendance. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said second-quarter results were affected by the Easter shift and international decline, as it had expected. Source
  • Not stated: The first-quarter release said management remained committed to growth in revenue and Adjusted EBITDA in 2026.
  • Not stated: The first-quarter release said planned 2026 investments would drive attendance and guest spending; the second-quarter release does not report on that.
  • Missed: The first-quarter release said results fell short of management's expectations, mainly on weather and international visitation.

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.