Vail Resorts (NYSE:MTN) Shares Gap Down After Earnings Miss

Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE:MTN)’s stock price gapped down prior to trading on Tuesday following a dissappointing earnings announcement. The stock had previously closed at $133.94, but opened at $130.00. Vail Resorts shares last traded at $133.0950, with a volume of 585,074 shares trading hands.

The company reported $5.87 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.06 by ($0.19). The firm had revenue of $1.08 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.11 billion. Vail Resorts had a net margin of 8.94% and a return on equity of 32.51%. Vail Resorts’s quarterly revenue was down 4.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $6.56 EPS.

Vail Resorts Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 9th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 26th will be issued a dividend of $2.22 per share. This represents a $8.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.7%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 26th. Vail Resorts’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 130.21%.

Trending Headlines about Vail Resorts

Here are the key news stories impacting Vail Resorts this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Board declared a quarterly dividend of $2.22/share (ex-dividend Mar 26; pay Apr 9) — boosts income appeal with a ~6.6% yield, which can support the stock vs. short‑term weakness.
• Positive Sentiment: Two brokers left “buy” ratings with sizable upside: Stifel trimmed its PT to $172 (≈29% upside from current levels) and Truist cut its PT to $217 but kept a buy (≈63% upside), providing conviction that some analysts view this as a longer‑term buying opportunity. Benzinga TickerReport
• Neutral Sentiment: Deutsche Bank lowered its price target to $151 — reduced but still above current trade, so it’s a mixed signal rather than outright bearish. AmericanBankingNews
• Negative Sentiment: Q2 results missed expectations: EPS $5.87 vs. $6.06 est., revenue $1.08B vs. $1.11B — declines vs. prior year. These headline misses pressured sentiment. Press Release
• Negative Sentiment: Company cut FY26 outlook after what it called a very weak ski season (low snowfall, fewer skier visits). New net income guidance: roughly $144M–$190M vs. prior $201M–$276M — the guidance reset is the primary negative catalyst. WSJ
• Negative Sentiment: Broader media coverage emphasized the “most challenging winter” theme, highlighting steep YOY declines in skier visits and revenue — narrative amplified selling pressure in aftermarket trading. Benzinga
• Negative Sentiment: Barclays moved to an “underweight” and cut its PT to $138 — a bearish, near‑term signal that likely added selling pressure. Benzinga

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Mizuho set a $200.00 price objective on shares of Vail Resorts in a research note on Tuesday. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price target on Vail Resorts from $175.00 to $172.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on Vail Resorts from $168.00 to $172.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Morgan Stanley set a $150.00 price objective on shares of Vail Resorts in a research report on Friday, January 16th. Finally, Zacks Research raised shares of Vail Resorts from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Vail Resorts has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $171.27.

Institutional Trading of Vail Resorts

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Union Savings Bank bought a new stake in shares of Vail Resorts in the 4th quarter valued at $46,000. Midway Capital Research & Management acquired a new position in Vail Resorts during the fourth quarter worth $1,070,000. River Road Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Vail Resorts by 37.9% in the fourth quarter. River Road Asset Management LLC now owns 508,498 shares of the company’s stock valued at $67,529,000 after purchasing an additional 139,828 shares in the last quarter. Virtu Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of Vail Resorts during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $935,000. Finally, Invesco Ltd. grew its position in Vail Resorts by 52.4% in the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 100,550 shares of the company’s stock worth $13,353,000 after purchasing an additional 34,555 shares in the last quarter. 94.90% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Vail Resorts Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of $4.75 billion, a PE ratio of 19.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 8.46 and a beta of 0.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.52, a quick ratio of 0.46 and a current ratio of 0.54. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $137.49 and its 200 day simple moving average is $145.03.

About Vail Resorts

Vail Resorts, Inc is a leading mountain resort company that owns and operates an integrated network of ski areas, hotels, restaurants and retail outlets. The company’s signature Epic Pass program offers skiers and snowboarders season‐long access to its portfolio of resorts, while ancillary services such as ski and snowboard schools, equipment rental and retail drive additional revenue.

Headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, Vail Resorts was formed in 1997, building on the legacy of Vail Associates, which opened the Vail ski area in 1962.