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Vail Resorts (MTN)
NYSE:MTN

Vail Resorts (MTN) AI Stock Analysis

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MTN

Vail Resorts

(NYSE:MTN)

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Neutral 54 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:54Neutral
Price Target:
$137.00
▲(1.25% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:03/10/26
The score is held back primarily by elevated leverage and weakening free cash flow alongside slightly declining revenue, despite solid operating margins. Technicals also detract as the stock trades below key moving averages with negative MACD. Offsetting factors include a high dividend yield and a generally balanced earnings outlook with reiterated guidance and efficiency initiatives.
Positive Factors
Diversified premier resort portfolio
Owning and operating a broad set of iconic destination and regional resorts gives Vail durable scale, brand strength and cross-selling opportunities across lodging, dining and retail. Geographic and product diversity supports guest loyalty, marketing efficiency and resilience versus single-asset operators.
Season pass strategy and recurring revenue
Multi-resort pass products create predictable, advance-paid revenue, lock in customer lifetime value and boost ancillary spend. That advance-commitment model smooths seasonal volatility, improves cash flow timing and enhances pricing power through differentiated pass tiers and renewals.
Solid operating margin profile
Sustained high gross and EBITDA margins indicate structural pricing power and operating leverage in resort operations. Strong margins provide capacity to reinvest in guest experience, fund maintenance capex and absorb periodic revenue swings while supporting long-term profitability.
Negative Factors
Elevated leverage and equity erosion
Very high leverage and a reduced equity cushion materially increase financial risk and limit strategic flexibility. Interest and covenant pressures can constrain capital allocation, reduce ability to pursue M&A or fund capex, and amplify downside in weaker visitation or economic stress.
Weakening free cash flow
Declining free cash flow reduces the company's ability to pay down debt, sustain buybacks, or increase reinvestment. If the downward trend persists it will tighten liquidity headroom, slow deleveraging, and force tougher capital allocation choices that could impact long-term growth initiatives.
Structural weather sensitivity and revenue volatility
Reliance on cold-season snowfall makes revenue inherently variable; severe early-season weather can materially depress skier visits and ancillary spend. Even with geographic diversification, weather-driven volatility forces higher marketing, dynamic pricing and contingency spending, pressuring margins and cash flow in weak seasons.

Vail Resorts (MTN) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Vail Resorts Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionVail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates mountain resorts and urban ski areas in the United States. It operates through three segments: Mountain, Lodging, and Real Estate. The Mountain segment operates 37 destination mountain resorts and regional ski areas. This segment is also involved in the ancillary activities, including ski school, dining, and retail/rental operations, as well as real estate brokerage activities. The Lodging segment owns and/or manages various luxury hotels and condominiums, and other lodging properties under the RockResorts brand; various condominiums located in proximity to the company's mountain resorts; destination resorts; and golf courses, as well as offers resort ground transportation services. This segment operates owned and managed hotel and condominium units. The Real Estate segment owns, develops, and sells real estate properties. The company was incorporated in 1997 and is based in Broomfield, Colorado.
How the Company Makes MoneyVail Resorts generates revenue through several key streams. The primary source of income is from lift ticket sales, which provide access to the ski slopes and are a significant driver of earnings during the winter season. The company also earns revenue from ski school lessons, equipment rentals, and retail sales within its resorts. Additionally, Vail Resorts operates lodging facilities, generating income from accommodations, dining, and event services. The company has embraced a season pass strategy, offering multi-resort passes that encourage repeat visits and provide a stable revenue base. Furthermore, Vail Resorts benefits from strategic partnerships with travel and tourism companies, as well as sponsorships that enhance its brand visibility and market reach.

Vail Resorts Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Net Revenue By Segment
Net Revenue By Segment
Analyzes net revenue generated by each segment, offering a clear view of which areas drive the company's income and where there might be opportunities or challenges.
Chart InsightsVail Resorts' Mountain & Lodging Services and Other segment shows consistent revenue growth, with a notable uptick in early 2025. This aligns with the company's strategic capital investments and efficiency plans, despite challenges like declining skier visits and pass sales. The Mountain & Lodging Retail and Dining segment also reflects steady growth, supported by enhanced guest experiences. However, the Real Estate segment remains volatile, indicating potential risks. The earnings call underscores stable financial performance amid these challenges, with a focus on long-term efficiency and capital allocation strategies.
Data provided by:The Fly

Vail Resorts Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Dec 10, 2025
(Q1-2026)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Jun 04, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The call presented a balanced view with positive impacts from strategic marketing shifts and improved financial performance, while also acknowledging challenges from weather conditions and flat EBITDA figures.
Q1-2026 Updates
Positive Updates
Improved Financial Performance
Resort net revenue increased by 4% year over year, driven by improved visitation at Australian resorts and the introduction of the Epic Australia four-day pass.
Successful Marketing Shifts
Marketing efforts led to a 6% increase in post-Labor Day pass sales dollars, showcasing effective use of paid media and social channels.
Pass Sales Trends
Despite a 2% decline in units, pass sales dollars increased by 3%, with improvements from media investments and higher price flow from unlimited pass products.
Resource Efficiency Transformation Plan
Expected to deliver $75 million in cumulative efficiencies, with $38 million in incremental savings versus fiscal year 2025.
Strong Balance Sheet
Liquidity stands at $1.5 billion with net debt of 3.0 times trailing twelve months EBITDA.
Negative Updates
Challenging Weather Conditions
Early season conditions were challenging at Rockies and Tahoe resorts, impacting local passholder results and contributing to a slow start.
Flat Resort Reported EBITDA
Fiscal first quarter resort reported EBITDA was flat year over year, offset by typical inflation in year-round overhead costs and increased marketing spend.
Decline in Pass Units
North American pass product selling period finished with a 2% decline in units, although offset by a 3% increase in sales dollars.
Company Guidance
During the Vail Resorts fiscal first quarter 2026 earnings call, the company reiterated its guidance for net income of $201 million to $276 million and Resort reported EBITDA of $842 million to $898 million for the fiscal year 2026. Key initiatives discussed included a focus on increasing lift ticket visitation to enhance long-term guest lifetime value, with strategies such as the introduction of Epic Friends tickets offering a 50% discount to friends and family of pass holders, and a new lift ticket offer providing a 30% discount for purchases made over a month in advance. The company reported resort net revenue up by 4% year over year, with fiscal first quarter resort reported EBITDA remaining flat. Moreover, Vail Resorts highlighted the completion of approximately $25 million in share repurchases and announced a capital investment plan of $234 million to $239 million, including multiyear investments to enhance guest experiences and technology improvements to support the guest experience. The call emphasized ongoing strategies to optimize products and pricing, and a commitment to sustainable growth and value creation.

Vail Resorts Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Operating profitability is solid (TTM gross margin ~42.8%, operating margin ~19.0%, EBITDA margin ~29.0%), but revenue is slightly down (~-1.8% YoY) and net margin has compressed (~8.9% vs. ~13.8% in 2022). The biggest drag is balance-sheet risk: debt-to-equity is extremely elevated (TTM ~21.9x) due to a reduced equity base, while free cash flow is positive (~$286M) but declining (~-18.8%).
Income Statement
70
Positive
TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) revenue is essentially flat-to-down (about -1.8% vs. the prior year), continuing a choppy top-line pattern after the post-2022 rebound. Profitability remains solid for the sector, with TTM gross margin ~42.8%, operating margin ~19.0%, and EBITDA margin ~29.0%, broadly consistent with recent years. However, net margin has compressed versus the 2022 peak (TTM ~8.9% vs. ~13.8% in 2022), pointing to higher costs, interest burden, or other below-the-line pressures.
Balance Sheet
38
Negative
Leverage and equity erosion are the key concerns. Annual data shows debt-to-equity rising materially from ~1.8x (2022) to ~8.1x (2025), and the TTM snapshot is extremely elevated (~21.9x), driven by a sharply lower equity base. While returns on equity are high (TTM ~52%), that strength is heavily amplified by the reduced equity cushion, which increases financial risk and limits flexibility if operating conditions soften.
Cash Flow
57
Neutral
Cash generation is positive but weakening. TTM operating cash flow is ~$522M and free cash flow is ~$286M, but free cash flow is down sharply (TTM growth about -18.8%). Cash conversion is moderate: free cash flow is ~60% of net income in TTM (roughly in line with recent years), suggesting earnings are reasonably supported by cash, though the decline in free cash flow reduces capacity for debt paydown, buybacks, or reinvestment.
BreakdownTTMJul 2025Jul 2024Jul 2023Jul 2022Jul 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue2.92B2.96B2.89B2.89B2.53B1.91B
Gross Profit1.73B1.27B1.23B1.22B1.18B830.04M
EBITDA1.08B870.46M783.43M795.04M857.74M529.17M
Net Income230.55M280.00M231.10M265.82M347.92M127.85M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets5.60B5.78B5.70B5.95B6.32B6.25B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments384.74M440.29M322.83M562.98M1.11B1.24B
Total Debt284.90M3.44B3.04B3.03B2.94B3.08B
Total Liabilities4.96B5.02B4.66B4.61B4.47B4.42B
Stockholders Equity301.82M424.50M723.54M1.00B1.61B1.59B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow286.29M319.68M375.58M324.65M517.68M410.15M
Operating Cash Flow522.04M554.87M586.77M639.56M710.50M525.25M
Investing Cash Flow-222.48M-204.50M-241.07M-273.17M-347.92M-103.33M
Financing Cash Flow-433.06M-242.65M-574.79M-915.71M-493.14M434.66M

Vail Resorts Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price135.31
Price Trends
50DMA
137.46
Negative
100DMA
140.76
Negative
200DMA
145.44
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.54
Positive
RSI
46.46
Neutral
STOCH
61.95
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For MTN, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 135.31 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 138.21, below the 50-day MA of 137.46, and below the 200-day MA of 145.44, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.54 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 46.46 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 61.95 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for MTN.

Vail Resorts Risk Analysis

Vail Resorts disclosed 32 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Vail Resorts reported the most risks in the "Legal & Regulatory" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Vail Resorts Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
77
Outperform
$6.14B3.7891.87%0.84%5.91%336.91%
62
Neutral
$9.29B46.867.55%0.05%-94.07%
61
Neutral
$18.38B12.79-2.54%3.03%1.52%-15.83%
59
Neutral
$5.86B21.2336.68%0.38%7.97%-0.14%
54
Neutral
$4.82B5.6951.86%6.27%3.06%12.82%
54
Neutral
$10.30B38.12-90.44%0.80%-0.26%-44.45%
44
Neutral
$2.15B12.19-13.94%11.32%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
MTN
Vail Resorts
135.31
-15.34
-10.18%
BYD
Boyd Gaming
81.30
15.92
24.36%
CHDN
Churchill Downs
84.08
-23.11
-21.56%
MLCO
Melco Resorts & Entertainment
5.50
0.05
0.92%
MGM
MGM Resorts
36.30
6.14
20.36%
WYNN
Wynn Resorts
98.79
16.31
19.78%

Vail Resorts Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and Financing
Vail Resorts Amends Credit Agreement, Extends Loan Maturities
Positive
Feb 12, 2026

On February 9, 2026, Vail Holdings, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Vail Resorts, and its subsidiaries amended and restated their existing credit agreement with a syndicate of lenders led by Bank of America. The revision consolidates the prior term loan and delayed draw term loan into a new $1.275 billion senior term loan facility, extending both revolver and term loan maturities to the earlier of five years from closing or 90 days before the company’s 2030 senior notes mature.

The Tenth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement also lowers borrowing costs by adjusting the leverage-based pricing grid and removing a 0.10% credit spread adjustment tied to certain reference rate loans. The changes are expected to strengthen Vail Resorts’ capital structure by lengthening debt maturities and reducing interest expense, which could provide greater financial flexibility for operations and investment across its resort portfolio.

The most recent analyst rating on (MTN) stock is a Sell with a $140.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Vail Resorts stock, see the MTN Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Vail Resorts Reports Weaker Early-Season Metrics, Cuts Outlook
Negative
Jan 15, 2026

On January 15, 2026, Vail Resorts reported season‑to‑date ski metrics for its North American destination resorts and regional ski areas for the period ended January 4, 2026, showing a 20% decline in skier visits compared with the prior-year period, along with drops of 1.8% in lift revenue, 14.9% in ski school revenue, 15.9% in dining revenue and 6% in retail/rental revenue. Chief Executive Rob Katz attributed the weaker performance to one of the worst early season snowfall patterns in over 30 years in the western U.S., which sharply limited available terrain—particularly in the Rockies and Tahoe—although stronger early conditions in the eastern U.S. partially offset the impact, and he indicated that, given these conditions, the company now expects full‑year Resort Reported EBITDA to come in just below the low end of its previously issued fiscal 2026 guidance range, underscoring how weather volatility is pressuring near-term financial performance while reinforcing the strategic importance of Vail’s geographically diversified resort network and advance commitment model for guests and shareholders.

The most recent analyst rating on (MTN) stock is a Buy with a $157.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Vail Resorts stock, see the MTN Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Mar 10, 2026