Vail Resorts Reports Season-to-Date Performance & Visitor Trends

Vail Resorts, Inc. MTN has released ski season metrics for the season-to-date period ended Jan. 5, 2025 (comparative period ended Jan. 7, 2024). The reported metrics focus on the company's North America’s destination mountain resorts and regional ski areas, excluding the results from resorts of Australia and Europe in both periods.Inside MTN's Season-to-Date PerformanceThe company reported a 0.3% decrease in season-to-date total skier visits compared with the prior-year period. However, season-to-date lift ticket revenues, including an allocated portion of season pass revenues, rose 4.5% year over year. Season-to-date results benefited from improved weather conditions.However, the continued normalization of industry demand and the late timing of the Thanksgiving holiday in the current year affected its performance. Additionally, the company observed a shift in destination guest behavior, with more guests expected to visit later in the season.Ski school and dining revenues increased 1.1% and 6.6%, respectively, compared with the previous year. On the other hand, retail or rental revenues for North America’s resort and ski area stores declined 5.4%. The company saw strong ancillary spending per destination guest visit, particularly in the ski school and dining businesses. This can be attributed to a higher mix of local visitation during the period.Vail Resorts' season-to-date results indicate the stability provided by its season pass program and investments in the guest experience. The company's mountain operations teams executed effectively across all resorts, leading to improved local visitation compared with the prior year.However, destination guest visitation at Vail Resorts' western North America’s resorts was below prior-year levels during the holiday period. This was attributed to a shift in industry visitation patterns, with more guests expected later in the season following the challenging early season conditions of the previous year.The company expects improved performance for the remainder of the season, driven by a shift in destination guest visitation. This is supported by a strong base of pre-committed guests, current lodging booking trends and historical guest behavior patterns. Owing to these factors, the company anticipates meeting its full-year Resort Reported EBITDA guidance between $838 million and $894 million.MTN’s Price PerformanceImage Source: Zacks Investment ResearchShares of Vail Resorts have increased 4.2% in the past three months compared with the industry’s growth of 5%. The company is poised to benefit from solid season pass sales, development projects and innovative customer programs. Also, the focus on the Resource Efficiency Transformation Plan bodes well.MTN’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksVail Resorts currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).Some better-ranked stocks in the Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector are:Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. LIND currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here.The stock has surged 32% in the past year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LIND’s 2025 sales and earnings per share (EPS) indicates growth of 10.2% and 93.1%, respectively, from the year-ago levels.Carnival Corporation & plc CCL currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. CCL delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 326.4%, on average. The stock has surged 44.4% in the past year.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CCL’s fiscal 2025 sales and EPS indicates growth of 4.1% and 24.7%, respectively, from the year-ago levels.Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. RCL currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. RCL delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 16.2%, on average. The stock has surged 86.2% in the past year.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RCL’s 2025 sales and EPS indicates growth of 9.5% and 23.8%, respectively, from the year-ago levels.Just Released: Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2025Hurry – you can still get in early on our 10 top tickers for 2025. Handpicked by Zacks Director of Research Sheraz Mian, this portfolio has been stunningly and consistently successful. From inception in 2012 through November, 2024, the Zacks Top 10 Stocks gained +2,112.6%, more than QUADRUPLING the S&P 500’s +475.6%. Sheraz has combed through 4,400 companies covered by the Zacks Rank and handpicked the best 10 to buy and hold in 2025. You can still be among the first to see these just-released stocks with enormous potential. See New Top 10 Stocks >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Carnival Corporation (CCL): Free Stock Analysis Report Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL): Free Stock Analysis Report Vail Resorts, Inc. (MTN): Free Stock Analysis Report Lindblad Expeditions (LIND): Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks