Key insights
- United Parks & Resorts (PRKS) shares fell after Q1 earnings and revenue missed expectations due to poor weather and declining international visitation. Stifel analysts noted high investor expectations exacerbated the negative reaction. While forward demand indicators are encouraging, ideal weather is needed for the company to meet its adjusted EBITDA growth targets for 2026. The results raise concerns about demand in the amusement park sector.
Investing.com -- United Parks & Resorts Inc. (NYSE: PRKS) shares dropped 5.56% after the company reported first quarter results that missed Wall Street expectations on both earnings and revenue.
The theme park operator posted a loss of $0.69 per share for the quarter, falling short of the analyst estimate of a $0.34 loss. Revenue came in at $278.3 million, below the consensus estimate of $280.81 million.
Adjusted EBITDA reached $58 million, approximately $5 million below consensus estimates. The company attributed the weaker quarterly performance to poor weather during peak holiday periods and a decline in international visitation.
Despite the disappointing first quarter results, United Parks & Resorts said it expects to grow both attendance and adjusted EBITDA in 2026.
Stifel analysts commented that "these results will continue to cause all kinds of concern about the demand for the amusement park space (and even other consumer facing businesses). We are interested to see how PRKS trades today because we believe investors were expecting a much different type of print versus what was reported."
The analysts added that "investor expectations were high going into this print, so we believe the reported results/outlook, while average at best, will cause concern and selling pressure today as we move into PRKS' core operating season."
Stifel noted that while forward demand indicators appear encouraging, "weather conditions will have to be ideal for the rest of the year for PRKS to grow YoY adjusted EBITDA." The firm is currently modeling adjusted EBITDA of $604 million for 2026 versus $605 million reported for 2025.