Vail Resorts Reports 2023 Financial Results: Pass Sales +11%, Net Income Down $80 Million, and New Lifts Teased for 2024

Vail Resorts yesterday reported financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2023 ending July 31, 2023, season-to-date pass sales, and updates on capital spending plans. The results fell short of expectations due to subpar snowfall in Australia and North American summer operations underperforming. Shares dropped 0.5% in after-hours trading.

• Related: What are Vail Resorts’ Plans for World Domination?

CEO Kirsten Lynch expressed satisfaction with the overall results despite significant weather-related challenges, emphasizing the stability created by advanced commitment products and strong guest experience due to normal staffing levels. The addition of new resorts, record visitation, and resort net revenue in March and April were highlighted as drivers for visitation growth. However, the dining business underperformed, and guest dining behavior did not fully return to pre-COVID levels.

“Given the significant weather-related challenges this past season, we are pleased with our overall results for the year, with strong growth in 2022/2023 North American ski season visitation and spending compared to the prior year, further supported by the stability created by our advance commitment products. The return to normal staffing levels enabled our mountain resorts to deliver a strong guest experience resulting in a significant improvement in guest satisfaction scores, which exceeded pre-COVID levels at our destination mountain resorts.”

– Kirsten Lynch, Chief Executive Officer

The company revealed that pass product sales for the upcoming 2023/2024 North American ski season increased approximately 7% in units and approximately 11% in sales dollars as compared to the period in the prior year through September 23rd, 2022.

The fourth quarter saw a decline primarily due to investments in employees and the subpar snowfall, affecting the terrain availability during the Australian winter season. The North American summer operations also didn’t meet the expectations due to a change in summer travel behavior and weather-related operational disruptions.

Lynch also highlighted some of the capital expenditures coming in 2024. Whistler Blackcomb will be getting a new high-speed 6-pack to replace the Jersey Cream 4-pack. Hunter Mountain, NY, will see a new 6-pack chair in place of the current four-person Broadway lift. The existing Broadway lift will then be recycled to replace the two-person E lift. Planning is set to continue on the 10-person gondola that will replace the Sunrise chair at Canyons Village, Park City, in 2025. More details of capital expenditure will follow in December.

Fiscal Year 2023:

• Net Income: $268.1 million, a decrease from $347.9 million in fiscal 2022, mainly attributed to a large gain on disposal of fixed assets in 2022 and increased expenses in 2023.
• Resort Reported EBITDA: Nearly constant at $834.8 million, compared to $836.9 million for fiscal 2022.
• Total Net Revenue: Experienced a 14.4% increase, totaling $2,889.4 million.
• Total Lift Revenue: $1,420.9 million, a rise of $110.7 million, or 8.4%, from the previous year.
• Resort Net Revenue: Increased by 14.1%, amounting to $2,881.3 million.
• Ski School Revenue, Dining Revenue, and Retail/Rental Revenue: Saw substantial growth due to fewer COVID-related restrictions and increased visitation.
• Operating Expense: Increased by $314.4 million or 22.4%, due to investments in employee wages, salaries, and increased headcount.
• Pass Product Sales: For the upcoming 2023/2024 North American ski season, increased by approximately 7% in units and about 11% in sales dollars compared to the previous year.
• Total cash and revolver availability as of July 31, 2023, was approximately $1.2 billion, with $563 million of cash on hand, $421 million of U.S. revolver availability under the Vail Holdings Credit Agreement, and $225 million of revolver availability under the Whistler Credit Agreement.

Major Talking Points:

• Vail Resorts’ fiscal year 2023 net income experienced a decrease compared to 2022.
• The fourth quarter faced a decline due to investments in employees and unfavorable weather conditions affecting the terrain.
• Pass product sales saw growth, indicating an increase in the upcoming North American ski season’s demand.
• Various sectors like ski school, dining, and retail/rental experienced growth due to the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions.
• The company has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $2.06 per share, payable on October 26, 2023.
• There were share repurchases totaling $100 million during the fourth quarter.
• For fiscal year 2024, the company provided a positive financial outlook, predicting an increase in net income and Resort Reported EBITDA.

Vail Resorts faced challenges but also achieved growth in various sectors during fiscal 2023. The outlook for fiscal 2024 is optimistic, assuming stable economic and regular weather conditions.

The full press release is below:

BROOMFIELD, Colo., Sept. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — September 28, 2023 – Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) today reported results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended July 31, 2023 and reported results of season-to-date season pass sales. Vail Resorts also provided its outlook for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2024, provided an update on capital spending plans, declared a dividend payable in October 2023 and announced share repurchases completed during the fourth quarter.

Highlights

• Net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc. was $268.1 million for fiscal 2023 compared to net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc. of $347.9 million for fiscal 2022. The decrease in net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc. compared to the prior year is primarily attributable to a large gain on disposal of fixed assets in fiscal 2022 and an increase in fiscal 2023 expense associated with a change in the estimated fair value of the contingent consideration liability related to our Park City resort lease.
• Resort Reported EBITDA was $834.8 million for fiscal 2023, compared to $836.9 million for fiscal 2022.
• Pass product sales through September 22, 2023 for the upcoming 2023/2024 North American ski season increased approximately 7% in units and approximately 11% in sales dollars as compared to the period in the prior year through September 23, 2022. Pass product sales are adjusted to eliminate the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates by applying current U.S. dollar exchange rates to both current period and prior period sales for Whistler Blackcomb.
• The Company provided its outlook for fiscal 2024 and expects net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc. to be between $316 million and $394 million and Resort Reported EBITDA to be between $912 million and $968 million. Fiscal 2024 guidance, among other assumptions described below, assumes a continuation of the current economic environment and normal weather conditions for the 2023/2024 North American and European ski season and the 2024 Australian ski season.
• The Company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $2.06 per share of Vail Resorts’ common stock that will be payable on October 26, 2023 to shareholders of record as of October 10, 2023 and repurchased approximately 0.4 million shares during the quarter at an average price of $247 for a total of $100 million. For the full fiscal year, the Company repurchased approximately 2.2 million shares, or 5.4% of shares outstanding, at an average price of approximately $229 for a total of $500 million.

Commenting on the Company’s fiscal 2023 results, Kirsten Lynch, Chief Executive Officer, said, “Given the significant weather-related challenges this past season, we are pleased with our overall results for the year, with strong growth in 2022/2023 North American ski season visitation and spending compared to the prior year, further supported by the stability created by our advance commitment products. The return to normal staffing levels enabled our mountain resorts to deliver a strong guest experience resulting in a significant improvement in guest satisfaction scores, which exceeded pre-COVID levels at our destination mountain resorts.

“Visitation growth was achieved through strong growth in pass sales, the addition of Andermatt-Sedrun in Switzerland, the full year impact of Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Hidden Valley Resort and Laurel Mountain Ski Area (collectively, the “Seven Springs Resorts,” acquired December 31, 2021), and record visitation and resort net revenue in March and April. Ancillary businesses, including ski school, dining, and retail/rental, experienced strong growth compared to the prior period, when those businesses were impacted by capacity constraints driven by staffing, and in the case of dining, by operational restrictions associated with COVID-19. Our dining business rebounded strongly from the prior year, though underperformed expectations for the year as guest dining behavior did not fully return to pre-COVID levels following two years of significant operational restrictions associated with COVID-19. Our overall results throughout the 2022/2023 North American ski season highlight the stability of the advance commitment from season pass products in a season with challenging conditions, including travel disruptions during the peak holiday period, abnormal weather conditions which significantly reduced operating days, terrain availability, and activity offerings across our 26 Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast resorts (collectively, “Eastern” U.S. resorts), and severe weather disruptions at our Tahoe resorts. This past season, approximately 75% of skier visitation at our North American resorts, excluding complimentary visits, was from pass product holders who committed in advance of the season, which compares to approximately 72% for the 2021/2022 North American ski season.”

Regarding the Company’s fiscal 2023 fourth quarter results, Lynch said, “The fourth quarter declined from the prior year, primarily driven by the Company’s fiscal 2023 investments in employees, as well as a below average snowfall and snowmaking temperatures that limited terrain availability during the Australian winter season. North American summer operations also underperformed expectations driven by a combination of lower demand for destination mountain travel, which we believe was primarily driven by a broader shift in summer travel behavior associated with the wider variety of vacation offerings available following various travel restrictions in the prior two years, and weather-related operational disruptions.”

Operating Results

A more complete discussion of our operating results can be found within the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section of the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023, which was filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The discussion of operating results below compares the results for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023 to the fiscal year ended July 31, 2022, unless otherwise noted. The following are segment highlights:

Mountain Segment

• Total lift revenue increased $110.7 million, or 8.4%, to $1,420.9 million due to increases in both pass product revenue and non-pass product revenue. Pass product revenue increased 8.5% primarily as a result of an increase in pass product sales for the 2022/2023 North American ski season compared to the prior year, as well as an increase in pass product sales for the 2022 Australian ski season compared to the prior year. Non-pass revenue increased 8.3% primarily due to an increase in non-pass ETP (excluding Andermatt-Sedrun) of 7.8%, as well as incremental non-pass revenue from Andermatt-Sedrun of $13.2 million. Total non-pass ETP, including the impact of Andermatt-Sedrun, increased 4.3%. The increase in non-pass revenue also benefited from an increase in visitation at our Australian ski areas in the first quarter of fiscal 2023, which experienced record visitation and favorable snow conditions during the 2022 Australian ski season following periodic COVID-related closures and restrictions in the prior season.
• Ski school revenue increased $63.6 million, or 28.5%, dining revenue increased $60.9 million, or 37.2%, and retail/rental revenue increased $49.7 million, or 15.9%, each primarily driven by the greater impact of COVID-19 and related limitations and restrictions in the prior year, including staffing challenges which limited our ability to operate at full capacity, as well as increased skier visitation.
• Operating expense increased $314.4 million, or 22.4%, which was primarily attributable to investments in employee wages and salaries and increased headcount to support more normalized staffing and operations at our resorts, as well as increased variable expenses associated with increased revenue, the impact of inflation and incremental expenses associated with Andermatt-Sedrun and the Seven Springs Resorts.
• Mountain Reported EBITDA increased $11.4 million, or 1.4%, which includes $21.2 million of stock-based compensation for fiscal 2023 compared to $20.9 million in the prior year.

Lodging Segment

• Lodging segment net revenue (excluding payroll cost reimbursements) increased $22.8 million, or 7.6%, primarily due to increases in dining and ancillary revenue as a result of fewer COVID-19 related limitations and restrictions as compared to the prior year and a return to more normalized operations, as well as incremental revenue from the Seven Springs Resorts.
• Operating expense (excluding reimbursed payroll costs) increased $36.3 million, or 13.2%, which was primarily attributable to investments in employee wages and salaries and increased headcount to support more normalized staffing and operations at our resorts, as well as increased variable expenses associated with increased revenue, the impact of inflation and incremental expenses associated with the Seven Springs Resorts.
• Lodging Reported EBITDA decreased $13.5 million, or 52.4%, which includes $4.0 million of stock-based compensation expense in fiscal 2023 compared to $3.7 million in the prior year.

Resort – Combination of Mountain and Lodging Segments

• Resort net revenue was $2,881.3 million for fiscal 2023, an increase of $356.1 million, or 14.1%, compared to resort net revenue of $2,525.2 million for fiscal 2022.
• Resort Reported EBITDA was $834.8 million for fiscal 2023, a decrease of $2.1 million, or 0.2%, compared to fiscal 2022.

Total Performance

• Total net revenue increased $363.5 million, or 14.4%, to $2,889.4 million.
• Net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc. was $268.1 million, or $6.74 per diluted share, for fiscal 2023 compared to net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc. of $347.9 million, or $8.55 per diluted share, in fiscal 2022. The decrease in net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc. was primarily due to a reduction in the gain on disposal of fixed assets and other, net, for fiscal 2023 compared to fiscal 2022, for which prior year disposals included (i) $32.2 million gain from the sale of the DoubleTree at Breckenridge hotel; (ii) $10.3 million in proceeds from the NPS related to partial payments for a leasehold surrender interest at GTLC which was made at the request of the NPS; and (iii) $7.9 million gain from the sale of an administrative building in Avon, CO. The decrease was also attributable to a $29.6 million increase in fiscal 2023 expense associated with a change in the estimated fair value of the contingent consideration liability related to our Park City resort lease.

Return of Capital

Commenting on capital allocation, Lynch said, “Our balance sheet remains strong, and the business continues to generate robust cash flow. Our total cash and revolver availability as of July 31, 2023 was approximately $1.2 billion, with $563 million of cash on hand, $421 million of U.S. revolver availability under the Vail Holdings Credit Agreement and $225 million of revolver availability under the Whistler Credit Agreement. As of July 31, 2023, our Net Debt was 2.7 times trailing twelve months Total Reported EBITDA. The Company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $2.06 per share of Vail Resorts’ common stock that will be payable on October 26, 2023 to shareholders of record as of October 10, 2023. During the quarter, the Company repurchased approximately 0.4 million shares of common stock at an average price of $247 for a total of approximately $100.0 million. Including shares repurchased during the fourth quarter, the Company repurchased a total of approximately 2.2 million shares of common stock during fiscal year 2023 at an average price of approximately $229 for a total of $500.0 million. We remain committed to returning capital to shareholders and intend to maintain an opportunistic approach to future share repurchases. We will continue to be disciplined stewards of our capital and remain committed to prioritizing investments in our guest and employee experience, high-return capital projects, strategic acquisition opportunities, and returning capital to our shareholders through our quarterly dividend and share repurchase program.”

Season Pass Sales

Commenting on the Company’s season pass sales for the upcoming 2023/2024 North American ski season, Lynch said, “Advance commitment continues to be the foundation of our strategy, shifting guests from short term refundable lift ticket purchases to a nonrefundable commitment before the season starts, in exchange for greater value. We are pleased with the results of our season pass sales to date, which demonstrate the compelling value proposition of our pass products, our network of mountain resorts, and our commitment to continually investing in and delivering a strong guest experience. Through September 22, 2023, North American ski season pass sales increased approximately 7% in units and 11% in sales dollars as compared to the period in the prior year through September 23, 2022. Pass product sales are adjusted to eliminate the impact of foreign currency by applying an exchange rate of $0.74 between the Canadian dollar and U.S. dollar in both periods for Whistler Blackcomb pass sales.

“Relative to the 2022/2023 season, the Company achieved strong loyalty among its pass holders, with particularly strong pass sales growth from renewing pass holders, while also growing sales among new pass holders. The Company successfully grew units across destination, international and local geographies, with the strongest unit growth in destination markets, including in the Northeast, and across all major pass product segments, with the strongest product growth in regional pass products and Epic Day Pass products as lower frequency guests and local Northeast guests continue to be attracted by the strong value proposition of these products. The business also achieved positive growth in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic, which after challenging conditions last season, highlights the stability of our advance commitment program, loyalty of our guests, and significant opportunity to drive pass penetration in the East. Pass sales dollars continue to benefit from the 8% price increase relative to the 2022/23 season, partially offset by the mix impact from the growth of Epic Day Pass products. As we enter the final period for season pass sales, we expect our December 2023 growth rates may moderate relative to our September 2023 growth rates given the impact of moving purchasers earlier in the selling cycle.”

Lynch continued, “We continue to prioritize advance commitment as the best way for guests to access our mountain resorts. Similar to prior seasons, lift ticket sales will be limited during the 2023/2024 season in order to prioritize guests committing in advance with season passes and to preserve the guest experience at each resort. We expect these lift ticket limitations will further support our resorts and communities on peak days, and we do not anticipate that the limitations will have a significant impact on our financial results, consistent with prior seasons. As a reminder, no reservations are required at any of the resorts on the Epic Pass for pass holders, other than at our partner resort Telluride.”

Capital Investments

Commenting on the Company’s investments for the 2023/2024 North American ski season, Lynch said, “We remain dedicated to delivering an exceptional guest experience and will continue to prioritize reinvesting in the experience at our resorts, including consistently increasing capacity through lift, terrain and food and beverage expansion projects. As previously announced, the Company expects to invest approximately $180 million to $185 million in calendar year 2023, excluding one-time investments related to integration activities, deferred capital associated with previously delayed projects, reimbursable investments associated with insurance recoveries, and growth capital investments at Andermatt-Sedrun.

“At Keystone, we plan to complete the transformational lift-served terrain expansion project in Bergman Bowl, increasing lift-served terrain by 555 acres with the addition of a new six-person high speed lift. At Breckenridge, we plan to upgrade the Peak 8 base area to enhance the beginner and children’s experience and increase uphill capacity from this popular base area. The investment plan includes a new four-person high speed 5-Chair to replace the existing two-person fixed-grip lift as well as significant improvements, including new teaching terrain and a transport carpet from the base, to make the beginner experience more accessible. At Whistler Blackcomb, we plan to replace the four-person high speed Fitzsimmons lift with a new eight-person high speed lift. At Stevens Pass, we are planning to replace the two-person fixed-grip Kehr’s Chair lift with a new four-person lift, which is designed to improve out-of-base capacity and guest experience. At Attitash, we plan to replace the three-person fixed-grip Summit Triple lift with a new four-person high speed lift to increase uphill capacity and reduce guests’ time on the longest lift at the resort. We currently plan to complete these lift projects in time for the 2023/2024 North American winter season.

“The Company is planning to pilot My Epic Gear at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, and Keystone for a limited number of pass holders during the 2023/2024 North American ski season, which will introduce a new membership program that provides the best benefits of gear ownership but with more choice, lower cost, and no hassle. My Epic Gear provides its members with the ability to choose the gear they want, for the full season or for the day, from a selection of the most popular and latest ski and snowboard models, and have it delivered to them when and where they want it, guaranteed, with free slopeside pick up and drop off every day. In addition to offering the best skis and snowboards, My Epic Gear will also offer name brand, high-quality ski and snowboard boots with customized insoles and boot fit scanning technology. The entire My Epic Gear membership, from gear selection to boot fit to personalized recommendations to delivery, will be at the members’ fingertips through the new My Epic app. My Epic Gear will officially launch for the 2024/2025 winter season at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Whistler Blackcomb, Park City Mountain, Crested Butte, Heavenly, Northstar, Stowe, Okemo, and Mount Snow, and further expansions are expected in future years.

“The Company is also planning to introduce new technology for the 2023/2024 ski season at its U.S. resorts that will allow guests to store their pass product or lift ticket directly on their phone and scan at lifts hands-free, eliminating the need for carrying plastic cards, visiting the ticket window or waiting to receive a pass or lift ticket in the mail. Once loaded on their phones, guests can store their phone in their pocket, and get scanned hands free in the lift line using Bluetooth® Low Energy technology, which is designed for low energy usage to minimize the impact on a phone’s battery life. In addition to the significant enhancement of the guest experience, this technology will also ultimately reduce waste of printing plastic cards for pass products and lift tickets, and RFID chips, as a part of the Company’s Commitment to Zero. For the first year of launch, to ensure a smooth transition, the Company will provide plastic cards for passes and lift tickets to all guests, and in future years plastic cards will be available to any guests who cannot or do not want to use their phone to store their pass product or lift ticket. We are also excited to announce the launch of our new My Epic app, which will include Mobile Pass and Mobile Lift Tickets, interactive trail maps, real-time and predictive lift line wait times, personalized stats, My Epic Gear, and other relevant information to support the guest experience. The Company is also investing in network-wide scalable technology that will enhance our analytics, e-commerce and guest engagement tools to improve our ability to target our guest outreach, personalize messages and improve conversion.”

Including $10 million of deferred capital associated with previously delayed projects, $4 million of reimbursable investments associated with insurance recoveries, $1 million of one-time investments related to integration activities, and $9 million of growth capital investments at Andermatt-Sedrun, our total capital plan for calendar year 2023 is expected to be approximately $204 million to $209 million.”

Regarding calendar year 2024 capital expenditures, Lynch said, “In addition to this year’s significant investments across new lifts, expanded terrain and enhanced guest-facing technology, we are pleased to announce some select projects for our calendar year 2024 capital plan, with the full capital investment announcement planned for December 2023. At Whistler Blackcomb, we plan to replace the four-person high speed Jersey Cream lift with a new six-person high speed lift. This lift is expected to provide a meaningful increase to uphill capacity and better distribute guests at a central part of the resort. At Hunter Mountain, we plan to replace the four-person fixed-grip Broadway lift with a new six-person high speed lift and plan to relocate the existing Broadway lift to replace the two-person fixed-grip E lift, providing a meaningful increase in uphill capacity and improved access to terrain that is key to the progressive learning experience for our guests. At Park City Mountain, we expect to engage in a planning process to support the replacement of the Sunrise lift with a new 10-person gondola in partnership with the Canyons Village Management Association in calendar year 2025, which will provide improved access and enhanced guest experience for existing and future developments within Canyons Village. These projects are subject to approvals.”