Vail Resorts (MTN) Shares Slide 29%, Dividend Yield Reaches 6.7%
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 02 2026
0mins
Should l Buy MTN?
Source: Fool
- Weak Sales Performance: Vail Resorts reported a mere 4.1% year-over-year revenue increase to $271 million in Q1 FY2026, with North American pass unit sales down 2%, despite a 7% price hike, indicating weak market demand that could impact future performance.
- Strong Cash Flow: The company's trailing twelve-month free cash flow of $352.2 million comfortably covers its $324.8 million in dividend payments, suggesting it has the financial capacity to maintain its current dividend level despite market challenges.
- Stock Buyback Program: Vail spent $25 million on stock repurchases in Q1 FY2026, demonstrating a proactive approach to capital allocation aimed at enhancing shareholder value, even as overall stock performance remains lackluster.
- High Debt Risk: With net debt around $2.6 billion against a free cash flow of approximately $350 million, Vail's debt level appears relatively high, posing potential risks to future dividend payments, although management has committed to maintaining dividends for FY2026.
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Analyst Views on MTN
Wall Street analysts forecast MTN stock price to rise
9 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
5 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 136.930
Low
145.00
Averages
169.54
High
234.00
Current: 136.930
Low
145.00
Averages
169.54
High
234.00
About MTN
Vail Resorts, Inc. is a network of destination and close-to-home ski resorts in the world including Vail Mountain, Breckenridge, Park City Mountain, Whistler Blackcomb, Stowe, and 32 additional resorts across North America; Andermatt-Sedrun and Crans-Montana Mountain Resort in Switzerland; and Perisher, Hotham, and Falls Creek in Australia - all available on the Company's Epic Pass. The Company's segments include Mountain, Lodging and Real Estate. It also provides ancillary services, primarily including ski school, dining and retail/rental operations. The Company owns and/or manages a collection of elegant hotels under the RockResorts brand, a portfolio of vacation rentals, condominiums and branded hotels located in close proximity to its mountain destinations, as well as the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyo. The Company operates more than 250 retail and rental locations across North America. It owns, develops and sells real estate in and around its resort communities.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Vail Resorts to Release Q2 2026 Financial Results on March 9
- Earnings Release Schedule: Vail Resorts will announce its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2026, ending January 31, 2026, after market close on March 9, 2026, reflecting the company's performance in the ski resort sector.
- Conference Call Details: The company will host a conference call at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the same day, during which executives will provide a detailed review of the financial results, likely attracting significant attention from investors and analysts.
- Replay and Archive: A replay of the call will be available two hours after its conclusion until March 16, 2026, ensuring that investors who cannot participate live can access key information, thereby enhancing transparency.
- Company Background: Vail Resorts operates and manages several renowned ski resorts and hotels, committed to delivering exceptional customer experiences while pledging to achieve a zero net operating footprint by 2030, demonstrating its dedication to sustainability.
See More
Vail Resorts to Release Q2 2026 Financial Results on March 9
- Earnings Release Schedule: Vail Resorts will announce its financial results for the fiscal second quarter 2026, ending January 31, on March 9, 2026, which is expected to significantly impact investors.
- Conference Call Details: The company will host a conference call at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the same day, during which executives will review the financial results, providing in-depth analysis for investors.
- Replay and Archive: A replay of the call will be available two hours after its conclusion until March 16, ensuring that investors who cannot participate live can access key information.
- Company Overview: Vail Resorts operates a network of ski resorts and hotels, committed to delivering exceptional customer experiences while pledging to achieve a zero net operating footprint by 2030, demonstrating its commitment to sustainability.
See More
High Dividend Stocks Favored Amid Market Turbulence
- Investor Preference: During turbulent and uncertain market conditions, many investors are turning to high dividend-yielding stocks, which typically possess high free cash flows and reward shareholders with substantial dividends, thereby boosting investor confidence.
- Analyst Ratings: Analysts have provided accurate ratings for three high-yielding stocks in the consumer discretionary sector, including Bloomin’ Brands Inc (NASDAQ:BLMN), Vail Resorts Inc (NYSE:MTN), and Wendy’s Co (NASDAQ:WEN), indicating strong market confidence in these companies.
- Market Trends: As economic uncertainty intensifies, investors are increasingly focusing on companies that can provide stable cash flows and dividends, a trend that may drive demand and prices for these stocks higher.
- Dividend Appeal: High dividend stocks not only offer investors a stable income source but may also provide a relatively safe investment option during market volatility, attracting more investors seeking to preserve capital.
See More
Lack of Snowfall Leads Us to Reassess Our Vail Resorts Stock Recommendation
- Stock Price Prediction: Predicting stock prices is inherently challenging due to market volatility and numerous influencing factors.
- Weather Pattern Prediction: Forecasting weather patterns proves to be even more complex, highlighting the difficulties in making accurate predictions in both fields.
See More
Western U.S. Snow Shortage Raises Water Supply Concerns
- Ski Industry Impacted: The unusually warm and dry winter has significantly reduced snowfall in major ski areas like Park City and Vail, sidelining skiing and snowmobiling activities, which adversely affects tourism revenue and related industries.
- Water Supply Crisis: Snow cover across the West is near record lows, leading to insufficient snowpack that directly impacts water supply for cities, agriculture, and reservoirs, complicating the long-standing drought issues in the Colorado River basin.
- Agricultural Risks: The low snowpack has resulted in irrigation shortages, raising concerns among farmers about winter wheat crops suffering from cold snaps without protective snow cover, potentially leading to costly replanting.
- Increased Cloud Seeding Investment: States and ski operators are investing more in cloud seeding to enhance snowfall, although experts note that results are uneven; the snowpack situation in Colorado is particularly critical, affecting water supplies for approximately 40 million people in the U.S. and Mexico.
See More
U.S. Policy Affects Canadian Tourist Trends
- Visitor Decline Trend: U.S. ski resorts report a sharp drop in Canadian visitors, particularly in the New England region, despite excellent snowfall this winter, indicating a direct impact of policy on tourism.
- Canadian Tourist Reaction: Inntopia data reveals that Canadian bookings tend to drop significantly within 48 hours following any controversial geopolitical statement by President Trump, reflecting their dissatisfaction and resistance to U.S. policies.
- Sense of Betrayal: Tom Foley, Inntopia's director of business intelligence, states that Canadians feel betrayed by a longtime friend, exacerbating their resistance to U.S. ski resorts and affecting tourism stability.
- Impact on Las Vegas: There is also a notable decline in Canadian tourists visiting Las Vegas compared to last year, further demonstrating the negative impact of U.S. policies on tourism across other popular destinations.
See More
Vail Resorts to Release Q2 2026 Financial Results on March 9
- Earnings Release Schedule: Vail Resorts will announce its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2026, ending January 31, 2026, after market close on March 9, 2026, reflecting the company's performance in the ski resort sector.
- Conference Call Details: The company will host a conference call at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the same day, during which executives will provide a detailed review of the financial results, likely attracting significant attention from investors and analysts.
- Replay and Archive: A replay of the call will be available two hours after its conclusion until March 16, 2026, ensuring that investors who cannot participate live can access key information, thereby enhancing transparency.
- Company Background: Vail Resorts operates and manages several renowned ski resorts and hotels, committed to delivering exceptional customer experiences while pledging to achieve a zero net operating footprint by 2030, demonstrating its dedication to sustainability.
See More
Vail Resorts to Release Q2 2026 Financial Results on March 9
- Earnings Release Schedule: Vail Resorts will announce its financial results for the fiscal second quarter 2026, ending January 31, on March 9, 2026, which is expected to significantly impact investors.
- Conference Call Details: The company will host a conference call at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the same day, during which executives will review the financial results, providing in-depth analysis for investors.
- Replay and Archive: A replay of the call will be available two hours after its conclusion until March 16, ensuring that investors who cannot participate live can access key information.
- Company Overview: Vail Resorts operates a network of ski resorts and hotels, committed to delivering exceptional customer experiences while pledging to achieve a zero net operating footprint by 2030, demonstrating its commitment to sustainability.
See More
High Dividend Stocks Favored Amid Market Turbulence
- Investor Preference: During turbulent and uncertain market conditions, many investors are turning to high dividend-yielding stocks, which typically possess high free cash flows and reward shareholders with substantial dividends, thereby boosting investor confidence.
- Analyst Ratings: Analysts have provided accurate ratings for three high-yielding stocks in the consumer discretionary sector, including Bloomin’ Brands Inc (NASDAQ:BLMN), Vail Resorts Inc (NYSE:MTN), and Wendy’s Co (NASDAQ:WEN), indicating strong market confidence in these companies.
- Market Trends: As economic uncertainty intensifies, investors are increasingly focusing on companies that can provide stable cash flows and dividends, a trend that may drive demand and prices for these stocks higher.
- Dividend Appeal: High dividend stocks not only offer investors a stable income source but may also provide a relatively safe investment option during market volatility, attracting more investors seeking to preserve capital.
See More
Lack of Snowfall Leads Us to Reassess Our Vail Resorts Stock Recommendation
- Stock Price Prediction: Predicting stock prices is inherently challenging due to market volatility and numerous influencing factors.
- Weather Pattern Prediction: Forecasting weather patterns proves to be even more complex, highlighting the difficulties in making accurate predictions in both fields.
See More
Western U.S. Snow Shortage Raises Water Supply Concerns
- Ski Industry Impacted: The unusually warm and dry winter has significantly reduced snowfall in major ski areas like Park City and Vail, sidelining skiing and snowmobiling activities, which adversely affects tourism revenue and related industries.
- Water Supply Crisis: Snow cover across the West is near record lows, leading to insufficient snowpack that directly impacts water supply for cities, agriculture, and reservoirs, complicating the long-standing drought issues in the Colorado River basin.
- Agricultural Risks: The low snowpack has resulted in irrigation shortages, raising concerns among farmers about winter wheat crops suffering from cold snaps without protective snow cover, potentially leading to costly replanting.
- Increased Cloud Seeding Investment: States and ski operators are investing more in cloud seeding to enhance snowfall, although experts note that results are uneven; the snowpack situation in Colorado is particularly critical, affecting water supplies for approximately 40 million people in the U.S. and Mexico.
See More
U.S. Policy Affects Canadian Tourist Trends
- Visitor Decline Trend: U.S. ski resorts report a sharp drop in Canadian visitors, particularly in the New England region, despite excellent snowfall this winter, indicating a direct impact of policy on tourism.
- Canadian Tourist Reaction: Inntopia data reveals that Canadian bookings tend to drop significantly within 48 hours following any controversial geopolitical statement by President Trump, reflecting their dissatisfaction and resistance to U.S. policies.
- Sense of Betrayal: Tom Foley, Inntopia's director of business intelligence, states that Canadians feel betrayed by a longtime friend, exacerbating their resistance to U.S. ski resorts and affecting tourism stability.
- Impact on Las Vegas: There is also a notable decline in Canadian tourists visiting Las Vegas compared to last year, further demonstrating the negative impact of U.S. policies on tourism across other popular destinations.
See More
