United Parks & Resorts faced a difficult start to the year, as the first quarter was marked by unfavorable weather in key markets and a pronounced decline in international attendance. Management attributed the drop in visitors primarily to persistent rain and cold in both San Diego and Florida, along with ongoing geopolitical dynamics that dampened international tourism. CEO Marc Swanson described the quarter as disappointing, noting, “Attendance in the first quarter was negatively impacted by approximately 140,000 guests due to weather, and approximately 80,000 guests due to declines in international visitation.” Management acknowledged execution challenges in marketing and cost pressures, including non-cash charges and consulting fees, further impacting results.
Is now the time to buy PRKS? Find out in our full research report (it’s free for active Edge members).
United Parks & Resorts (PRKS) Q1 CY2026 Highlights:
- Revenue: $278.3 million vs analyst estimates of $278.8 million (3% year-on-year decline, in line)
- Adjusted EPS: -$0.42 vs analyst estimates of -$0.20 (significant miss)
- Adjusted EBITDA: $57.95 million vs analyst estimates of $62.54 million (20.8% margin, 7.3% miss)
- Operating Margin: -3.1%, down from 5.9% in the same quarter last year
- Visitors: down 180,000 year on year
- Market Capitalization: $1.70 billion
While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention.
Our Top 5 Analyst Questions From United Parks & Resorts’s Q1 Earnings Call
- Steven Wieczynski (Stifel) asked about the company’s confidence in achieving adjusted EBITDA growth despite a weak first quarter. CEO Marc Swanson pointed to the strong lineup of new attractions and improving forward indicators as key factors supporting their outlook.
- Patrick Scholes (Truist) inquired about the impact of new sponsorship revenues on per capita spending. Swanson clarified that sponsorships had limited effect in the quarter but are expected to be a larger contributor going forward.
- Arpine Kocharyan (UBS) pressed for details on higher operating expenses and the nature of one-time costs. Interim CFO James Forrester explained that non-cash insurance adjustments and ERP amortization drove most of the increase, while consulting fees were related to business optimization projects.
- Ben Chaikin (Mizuho) sought clarification on the drivers behind the positive inflection in deferred revenue and its implications for future attendance. Swanson cited stronger pass sales and pre-sold in-park experiences as key factors, indicating an expectation of attendance growth.
- Chris Woronka (Deutsche Bank) asked about tangible results from recent marketing modernization efforts. Swanson acknowledged execution hiccups but expressed confidence that ongoing testing and optimization would yield improved results in upcoming quarters.
Catalysts in Upcoming Quarters
Looking ahead, the StockStory team will be watching (1) the effectiveness of United Parks & Resorts’ expanded lineup of attractions and events in driving attendance recovery, (2) the impact of revamped marketing campaigns and sponsorship deals on guest spending, and (3) the execution of cost savings initiatives and technology investments to support margin improvement. Monitoring trends in advance ticket sales and international visitation will also be central to tracking the company’s turnaround.
United Parks & Resorts currently trades at $36.14, down from $39.22 just before the earnings. Is there an opportunity in the stock?The answer lies in our full research report (it’s free).
The Best Stocks for High-Quality Investors
WHILE YOU’RE HERE: Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. The best stocks don't just beat the market once. They do it again. And again. Robust revenue growth, rising free cash flow, returns on capital that leave their competition in the dust. The market has already rewarded these businesses.
But our AI platform says the party isn't over. Find out which 9 stocks made the cut this week - FREE. Get Our Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks for Free HERE.
Stocks that have made our list include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,326% between June 2020 and June 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
