PRKS

Consumer Cyclical

United Parks & Resorts Inc. · Leisure · $2B

UQS Score — Balanced Preset
44.1
Below Average

United Parks & Resorts Inc. scores 44.1/100 using the Balanced preset.

UQS vs Consumer Cyclical Sector
PRKS
44.1
Sector avg
37.7
Quality
Neutral
Moat
Weak
Growth
Weak
Risk
Weak
Valuation
Attractive

What is United Parks & Resorts Inc.?

United Parks & Resorts Inc. operates a portfolio of twelve theme parks and water attractions across the United States. Formerly known as SeaWorld Entertainment, the company rebranded in February 2024 to reflect its broader park lineup.

United Parks & Resorts generates revenue primarily through theme park admissions, in-park spending, and seasonal passes across its portfolio of destinations. Its parks span marine life experiences, thrill rides, water attractions, and family entertainment. The company earns additional income through food, merchandise, and lodging offerings at select locations. Operating across Florida, Texas, California, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, it targets families and tourists seeking day-trip and multi-day entertainment experiences.

The company traces its park origins to 1959 and is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.

  • SeaWorld marine and theme parks in three major US markets
  • Busch Gardens adventure theme parks in Florida and Virginia
  • Aquatica and Adventure Island water parks
  • Discovery Cove reservations-only immersive experience
  • Sesame Place family parks for younger audiences

Is PRKS a Good Stock to Buy?

UQS Score rates PRKS as Below Average overall, reflecting meaningful headwinds across several key pillars.

The Quality pillar stands out as the relative bright spot, suggesting the underlying business operations maintain a reasonable standard relative to the company's overall profile. Valuation is rated Attractive, meaning the stock may be priced at a discount compared to what the fundamentals might otherwise justify — a point worth noting for value-oriented investors.

Moat, Growth, and Risk all carry Weak ratings, pointing to limited competitive differentiation, constrained expansion prospects, and elevated financial or operational vulnerabilities that weigh on the overall score.

Pro members can see the exact pillar breakdown and full financial metrics behind the PRKS rating. Sign up free →

Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.

Does PRKS pay dividends?

No — United Parks & Resorts Inc. does not currently pay a dividend.

PRKS does not currently pay a dividend. For a capital-intensive theme park operator carrying meaningful debt, retaining cash for park maintenance, reinvestment, and debt management tends to take priority over shareholder distributions. Investors seeking income from this sector should factor the absence of a dividend into their broader portfolio planning.

When does PRKS report earnings?

United Parks & Resorts reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with US-listed public companies.

Theme park operators like PRKS are heavily influenced by seasonal attendance patterns, with summer and holiday periods typically driving the bulk of annual revenue. Results can swing meaningfully based on weather, consumer discretionary spending trends, and operational costs.

For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit United Parks & Resorts' investor relations page directly.

PRKS Price History

-35.0% over 5Y

Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.

Return Calculator

What if I invested in United Parks & Resorts Inc.?

$
Today it would be worth
$6,797
That's a -32.0% total return, or -7.4% annualized.

Based on United Parks & Resorts Inc.'s historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.

PRKS Long-term Outlook

The Weak Growth pillar suggests the company faces real challenges in expanding revenue or earnings at a pace that would meaningfully re-rate the stock. Meanwhile, the Weak Risk pillar indicates the business carries above-average vulnerability — whether from leverage, demand cyclicality, or cost pressures. The Attractive Valuation label does introduce an interesting dynamic: if operational conditions stabilize, the current price may already reflect a degree of pessimism. However, the combination of weak growth and weak moat limits the conviction around a sustained recovery.

Growth drivers

  • Potential attendance recovery and per-capita spending growth across the park portfolio
  • Expansion of premium experiences such as reservations-only and seasonal events
  • Brand diversification following the 2024 rebrand to United Parks & Resorts

Key risks

  • High sensitivity to consumer discretionary spending and economic downturns
  • Competitive pressure from larger theme park operators with greater scale
  • Debt load limiting financial flexibility for reinvestment or downturns

PRKS vs Peers

PRKS competes in the broader leisure and entertainment space alongside regional park operators and other consumer experience companies.

FUNPRKS scores higher
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation

Six Flags operates a larger network of regional amusement parks, giving it broader geographic reach and a different attendance model compared to PRKS's destination-focused parks.

TOY.TOPRKS scores higher
Spin Master Corp.

Spin Master competes in the family entertainment space through toys and media rather than physical parks, representing a capital-light alternative to PRKS's asset-heavy model.

PTONPRKS scores higher
Peloton Interactive, Inc.

Peloton targets consumer leisure spending through connected fitness rather than physical destinations, competing indirectly for discretionary entertainment budgets.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does United Parks & Resorts do?

United Parks & Resorts operates twelve theme parks and water attractions across the United States under brands including SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Aquatica, Discovery Cove, and Sesame Place. The company earns revenue through admissions, in-park spending, and seasonal passes, targeting families and tourists at destinations in Florida, Texas, California, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

Does PRKS pay dividends?

PRKS does not currently pay a dividend. The company retains cash to manage operational costs, capital expenditures, and debt obligations typical of a large physical-park operator. Income-focused investors should note the absence of a dividend when evaluating PRKS.

When does PRKS report earnings?

United Parks & Resorts follows a standard quarterly earnings cadence for US-listed companies. Because theme park revenue is highly seasonal, results can vary significantly by quarter. For exact reporting dates and the most recent results, check the company's investor relations page.

Is PRKS a good stock to buy?

UQS Score rates PRKS as Below Average overall. The Valuation pillar is Attractive and Quality is Good, but Moat, Growth, and Risk are all rated Weak. Whether that combination suits a particular investor depends on their risk tolerance and time horizon. The full pillar breakdown is available to Pro members.

Is PRKS overvalued?

The UQS Valuation pillar for PRKS is rated Attractive, suggesting the stock may be trading at a discount relative to its fundamentals. However, an attractive price alone does not offset the Weak ratings in Growth, Moat, and Risk — context across all five pillars matters when assessing value.

How does PRKS compare to its competitors?

Among leisure and entertainment peers, PRKS occupies a mid-tier position as a destination park operator. Larger competitors like Six Flags benefit from greater geographic scale, while PRKS differentiates through branded marine and immersive experiences. The UQS platform provides side-by-side pillar comparisons for a more structured view.

What is PRKS's market cap bracket?

PRKS is classified as a small-cap company. This places it below the scale of major theme park conglomerates, which can mean higher volatility and less institutional coverage — factors that both create opportunity and add risk for investors.

Who founded United Parks & Resorts?

The SeaWorld parks that form the core of the business date back to 1959. The company went public and has operated under various ownership structures since then. Its current corporate identity as United Parks & Resorts Inc. was adopted in February 2024. Full founding history is widely available through public records.

Is PRKS a long-term quality investment?

As a long-term quality indicator, the UQS Score rates PRKS as Below Average. The Weak Moat and Weak Growth pillars suggest limited durable competitive advantages and constrained expansion potential — two factors that matter significantly over a long investment horizon. The Attractive Valuation may offer some cushion, but sustained quality requires more than price alone.

What is the main competitive advantage of United Parks & Resorts?

PRKS's primary differentiator lies in its branded park experiences — particularly the marine and wildlife focus of SeaWorld and the immersive, reservations-only model of Discovery Cove. However, the UQS Moat pillar rates these advantages as Weak, indicating they may not provide durable protection against larger or better-capitalized competitors.

What sector does PRKS belong to?

PRKS is classified under the Consumer Cyclical sector. This means its business performance is closely tied to broader economic conditions and consumer discretionary spending — when household budgets tighten, leisure and entertainment spending is often among the first to be cut.

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Pro Analysis

PRKS — Score History

40455055Apr 2Apr 12Apr 22May 2May 12May 22May 24v5
Score changes· 5 most recent
DateUQSQualityMoatGrowthRiskValueChange
May 1, 202647.162.027.028.628.099.20.0
Apr 19, 202647.162.027.028.928.099.20.0
Apr 18, 202647.162.027.028.928.099.0-0.1
Apr 16, 202647.262.027.028.928.0100.0-0.1
Apr 2, 202647.362.027.029.128.0100.0

PRKS — Pillar Breakdown

Quality

53.1/100 (25%)

United Parks & Resorts Inc. has average quality metrics, with room for improvement in margins or capital efficiency.

Capital Efficiency (ROIC)Moderate

How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.

Return on EquityWeak

Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.

Operating ProfitabilityModerate

Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.

Net ProfitabilityModerate

Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.

Gross Profit / AssetsModerate

Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.

Cash GenerationStrong

Free cash flow relative to market value.

Growth

28.3/100 (20%)

United Parks & Resorts Inc. faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.

Recent Revenue TrendWeak

Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.

3Y Revenue CAGRWeak

Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.

EPS GrowthWeak

Year-over-year earnings per share growth.

Forward Revenue OutlookWeak

Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.

Forward EPS GrowthStrong

Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.

Risk

25.8/100 (15%)

United Parks & Resorts Inc. presents elevated risk with concerns around leverage or financial stability.

Financial LeverageWeak

Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.

Debt/EquityStrong

Total debt relative to shareholder equity.

Current RatioWeak

Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.

Interest CoverageWeak

Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.

Valuation

97.0/100 (15%)

United Parks & Resorts Inc. appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.

Earnings YieldStrong

Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.

Price to Free Cash FlowStrong

How many years of FCF the market cap represents.

PEG RatioStrong

P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.

EV/EBITDA vs SectorStrong

Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.

Moat

27/100 (25%)

United Parks & Resorts Inc. operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for PRKS.

Score Composition

Quality
53.1×25%13.3
Growth
28.3×20%5.7
Risk
25.8×15%3.9
Valuation
97.0×15%14.5
Moat
27.0×25%6.8
Total
44.1Below Average

Financial Data

More Stock Analysis

How is the PRKS UQS Score Calculated?

The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for United Parks & Resorts Inc. is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.

Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.

Moat (25%) assesses United Parks & Resorts Inc.'s competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.

Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.

Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.

Valuation (15%) measures whether United Parks & Resorts Inc. is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.

Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.