United Parks & Resorts (NYSE:PRKS) Releases Earnings Results, Misses Estimates By $0.14 EPS

Key Points

• United Parks missed quarterly estimates: EPS was $1.74 versus $1.88 expected, while revenue of $506.5 million fell 1.1% year over year and came in below consensus.
• Attendance declined 4.7% and Adjusted EBITDA fell $11.2 million to $205.1 million, with management citing weather, calendar effects, and weaker international visitation; increased per-capita spending provided a partial offset.
• Management pointed to stronger pass sales and forward bookings as support for a potential return to growth in 2027, and is targeting an additional $40 million–$50 million in gross cost savings that year.

United Parks & Resorts (NYSE:PRKS - Get Free Report) posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday. The company reported $1.74 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.88 by ($0.14), FiscalAI reports. United Parks & Resorts had a net margin of 8.11% and a negative return on equity of 27.85%. The business had revenue of $506.45 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $511.03 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.61 earnings per share. United Parks & Resorts's revenue was down 1.1% compared to the same quarter last year.

Here are the key takeaways from United Parks & Resorts' conference call:

• Q3 revenue fell 1.1% to $506.5 million, attendance declined 4.7%, and Adjusted EBITDA decreased $11.2 million to $205.1 million. Management attributed attendance weakness to weather, calendar effects, and lower international visitation, while higher per-capita spending partly offset the decline.
• Pass sales rose nearly 8% in Q3, and the paid pass base was up 0.3% year over year as of October 31; passes tied specifically to 2027 were up more than 15%. Management sees these trends, alongside double-digit growth in forward bookings for Discovery Cove and group business, as support for a return to growth in 2027.
• The company is targeting another $40 million–$50 million in gross cost savings for 2027, following its existing $50 million savings program, and expects technology, automation, and tighter cost management to help. Management said revenue growth could also support margins, though past gross savings have not always translated into net savings or margin expansion.
• United Parks bought back about $218 million of stock, or roughly 12% of shares outstanding, this year, but made no repurchases in Q3 because of cash-flow dynamics and expects to resume only when liquidity and other conditions permit. Discussions with prospective real-estate partners continue, but management cautioned that there is no assurance of a deal.

United Parks & Resorts Price Performance

Shares of United Parks & Resorts stock traded up $1.95 during trading on Friday, reaching $39.81. 1,068,820 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 690,477. United Parks & Resorts has a 52-week low of $28.77 and a 52-week high of $50.00. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $34.47 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $38.07. The company has a market capitalization of $1.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.91, a P/E/G ratio of 3.13 and a beta of 1.22.

Analyst Ratings Changes

PRKS has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Barclays lifted their target price on United Parks & Resorts from $37.00 to $41.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on United Parks & Resorts from $39.00 to $44.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 11th. Mizuho set a $51.00 price objective on shares of United Parks & Resorts in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Guggenheim increased their price objective on shares of United Parks & Resorts from $51.00 to $54.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded shares of United Parks & Resorts from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, October 12th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $45.70.

United Parks & Resorts News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting United Parks & Resorts this week:

• Positive Sentiment: United Parks’ 2027 outlook helped offset its Q3 earnings miss, and shares rose as investors responded to the forward view. United Parks Shares Rise as 2027 Outlook Offsets Third-Quarter Earnings Miss
• Positive Sentiment: The stock moved above its 50-day moving average following the results, a potentially encouraging technical signal. United Parks Stock Price Crosses Above 50-Day Moving Average Following Weak Earnings
• Neutral Sentiment: The CEO promised continued investment and improvements at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. This could support the park’s longer-term appeal, though investment may also involve added costs. United Parks CEO Promises Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Improvements
• Negative Sentiment: Q3 adjusted earnings were $1.74 per share, below the roughly $1.87–$1.88 analyst consensus. Revenue of about $506.5 million also missed expectations of $511 million and declined 1.1% year over year. United Parks Reports Third Quarter 2026 Results
• Negative Sentiment: Lower attendance weighed on the quarter; the company pointed to poor weather and international-market headwinds as factors dragging traffic. United Parks Points to International Headwinds and Poor Weather as Traffic Drags

Insider Activity at United Parks & Resorts

In related news, insider James Forrester, Jr. sold 1,150 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.71, for a total transaction of $41,066.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 26,733 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $954,635.43. This represents a 4.12% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Corporate insiders own 1.70% of the company's stock.

United Parks & Resorts Company Profile

United Parks & Resorts Inc NYSE: PRKS is a theme park and entertainment company that owns and operates a portfolio of destination amusement and water parks in the United States. Its properties combine rides, live entertainment, animal exhibits, educational experiences, seasonal events and hospitality-related offerings.

The company's portfolio includes SeaWorld parks in Orlando, San Antonio and San Diego; Busch Gardens parks in Tampa and Williamsburg, Virginia; Sesame Place parks in Pennsylvania and California; and water parks and attractions such as Aquatica, Adventure Island, Water Country USA and Discovery Cove.

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