Key Takeaways Uber launches Uber Ski to ease travel to leading winter destinations through March.The service offers roomy vehicles, 90-day advance booking, and access across the U.S. and Europe.A partnership with Vail Resorts lets riders buy Epic Passes in-app for streamlined trip planning.To facilitate travel this winter, Uber Technologies (UBER) has launched Uber Ski, a seasonal travel option designed to make getting to and from top mountain destinations easier than ever. The service is available till the ...

Accessibility StatementSkip Navigation Now is the last chance to buy an Epic Pass for the 2025/26 winter season for access to world-class resorts including Whistler Blackcomb, Park City Mountain, Vail Mountain and Breckenridge IMAGES are available for media use here. BROOMFIELD, Colo., Nov. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --Â The most wonderful time of year is even better at world-class mountains like Whistler Blackcomb, Park City Mountain, Vail Mountain, Breckenridge and more. To experience it all, guests must act f ...

Core Insights - Uber has launched a new service called Uber Ski, allowing users to book rides to and from nearly 40 ski mountains across the U.S., Canada, Switzerland, and France, available through March [1] Group 1: Service Details - The Uber Ski service is designed for the ski season, enabling users to easily access ski resorts [1] - Uber is collaborating with Vail Resorts, allowing riders to book an Uber Reserve directly to various mountain resort destinations [2] - Users can purchase an Epic Pass through the app, which provides access to over 90 ski and snowboarding resorts [2] Group 2: Booking Options - Riders have the option to reserve UberXL or UberXXL vehicles up to 90 days in advance, which offer more trunk space for ski gear [2]

Core Insights - Keystone Resort opened as the first ski resort in North America for the season on October 25, 2025, with other major resorts preparing to open before December [1][3][12] Group 1: Epic Pass and Pricing - Epic Pass prices will increase after November 16, 2025, encouraging early purchases to lock in savings [2][6] - The Epic Pass offers unlimited access to 42 mountain resorts for $1,121 for adults and $572 for children, with additional discounts for military personnel [7] - New Epic Friend Tickets provide 50% off lift tickets for friends of Epic Pass holders, redeemable throughout the winter season [8][10] Group 2: Events and Activities - Various events are scheduled for December, including the Stifel Birds of Prey Audi FIS World Cup at Beaver Creek and the Rockstar Energy Open at Breckenridge [4] - Vail Mountain will host a vibrant après-ski scene with live music performances and culinary experiences throughout the season [4][5] - Breckenridge's Ullr Fest, celebrating its 62nd year, will take place from December 18, honoring the Norse god of snow [4] Group 3: New Offerings and Experiences - The new Ski & Ride School will allow guests to track their progress through the My Epic app, enhancing the skiing experience [4] - Culinary experiences at Vail Mountain include unique dining options and collaborations with renowned chefs [5] - Whistler Blackcomb introduces new Wonder Routes for a guided après-ski adventure [4]

Core Viewpoint - Vail Resorts reported mixed fiscal 2025 results, with a high dividend yield of about 6%, but the underlying business performance raises concerns about sustainability and growth potential [1][3][12]. Financial Performance - Resort reported EBITDA increased by 2% to approximately $844 million, while full-year net income rose to around $280 million, up from $231 million in fiscal 2024 [3]. - The annualized dividend payout of $8.88 per share exceeds the fiscal-year earnings per share of $7.53, indicating potential sustainability issues if cash generation does not remain strong [6]. Sales and Demand Trends - Season-to-date pass product sales for the upcoming ski season show a 3% decline in units sold, but a 1% increase in revenue, suggesting price increases rather than volume growth [5]. - Total skier visits declined by 3% across North American resorts compared to the previous year, highlighting challenges in demand [4]. Outlook and Growth Initiatives - Management's guidance for fiscal 2026 indicates net income between $201 million and $276 million, with resort EBITDA projected to be between $842 million and $898 million, suggesting flat or modest growth [8]. - The company is implementing several initiatives to boost demand, including updated marketing strategies and resort-specific pricing, but the full impact may not be realized until fiscal 2027 [10]. Investment Considerations - The current high yield may be more reflective of slower growth and increased uncertainty rather than a bargain opportunity [9]. - Despite the attractive yield, the combination of high payout ratios, potential earnings pressure, and significant leverage suggests a cautious investment approach is warranted [12][13].

Core Insights - Vail Resorts, the largest ski company globally, is undergoing a necessary turnaround as indicated by its new CEO, Rob Katz, following disappointing Q4 and fiscal year 2025 results [1][3] Group 1: Financial Performance - Total skier visits decreased by 3% year-over-year [1] - Season pass sales for the upcoming 2025-2026 season also fell by 3% in terms of quantity, although sales revenue increased by 1% due to a 7% price increase [2] - Shares of Vail Resorts have dropped 60% from their peak in 2021, reflecting investor concerns [13] Group 2: Strategic Changes - The CEO acknowledged that the company has not fully capitalized on its growth potential and needs to adapt to changing consumer behaviors [3][4] - Vail Resorts plans to modernize its marketing strategy, shifting focus from traditional email marketing to digital and social platforms, including potential partnerships with influencers [5][6] - The company aims to enhance emotional connections with guests rather than relying solely on transactional messaging [6] Group 3: Customer Engagement Initiatives - Katz highlighted the need to improve lift ticket offerings, including a program that allows pass holders to purchase discounted day passes for guests [11][12] - A dynamic pricing strategy will be implemented to optimize lift ticket prices based on resort and timing [12] - The company is confident that these long-term strategies will lead to higher growth by the fiscal year 2027 and beyond [13]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company generated $844 million of resort reported EBITDA in fiscal 2025, representing a 2% growth compared to the prior year despite a 3% decline in total skier visits across North American resorts [19][20] - Fiscal 2026 guidance expects net income attributable to Vail Resorts to be between $201 million and $276 million, with resort reported EBITDA projected between $842 million and $898 million [20][21] - Season pass sales through September 19, 2025, decreased approximately 3% in units but increased approximately 1% in sales dollars compared to the prior year [22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is focused on rebuilding lift ticket visitation, which is essential for revenue and long-term growth, and has introduced Epic Friend Tickets to drive lift ticket sales for new guests [11][12] - The pass price reset ahead of the 2021-2022 season has led to a projected increase of over 50% in pass units for fiscal 2026 compared to fiscal 2021 [14][15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company anticipates growth in fiscal 2026 to be driven by price increases, ancillary capture, and incremental efficiencies related to the Resource Efficiency Transformation Plan, partially offset by lower pass unit sales [22] - The company expects to exceed $100 million in annualized cost efficiencies by the end of fiscal year 2026 [23] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is committed to a multi-year strategy aimed at increasing guest visitation and optimizing product and pricing approaches across all resorts [10][11] - The focus is on leveraging strong competitive advantages, including owning and operating 42 resorts, to drive sustained and profitable growth [10][17] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged that results from the past season were below expectations and emphasized the need to adapt marketing strategies to connect with guests more effectively [5][6] - The company is preparing for fiscal 2027 and is focused on long-term growth despite current challenges [36][37] Other Important Information - The company plans to invest approximately $198 million to $203 million in core capital before additional growth capital investments in European resorts [24] - The company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $2.22 per share, reflecting strong cash flow generation [29] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the expectation for visitation this upcoming season? - Management expects total visitation to be down slightly, primarily driven by the decline in pass sales, but anticipates some recovery through lift ticket sales [35] Question: How significant is the change in the Buddy Pass system? - The Buddy Pass historically contributes about 7% of total lift revenue and 20% of paid lift ticket revenue, and management expects it to positively impact lift ticket growth this year [60][62] Question: What are the trends for international guests? - Management noted that international visitation has decreased over the past several years but does not see it as a major issue for the upcoming season [82] Question: Where is the company seeing weakness in its consumer base? - Management indicated that the results are consistent across various guest demographics, with lower renewal rates for less tenured pass holders [88][92] Question: What needs to happen to hit the upper end of the guidance range? - Visitation is the key driver for achieving the upper end of the guidance range, and management is focused on strategies to enhance visitation [95]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company generated $844 million of resort reported EBITDA in fiscal 2025, representing a 2% growth compared to the prior year despite a 3% decline in total skier visits across North American resorts [19][20] - Fiscal 2026 guidance expects net income attributable to Vail Resorts to be between $201 million and $276 million, with resort reported EBITDA projected between $842 million and $898 million [20][21] - Season pass sales through September 19, 2025, decreased approximately 3% in units but increased approximately 1% in sales dollars compared to the prior year [22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is focused on rebuilding lift ticket visitation, which is essential for revenue and long-term growth, and has introduced Epic Friend Tickets to drive lift ticket sales for new guests [11][12] - The pass price reset ahead of the 2021-2022 season has led to a projected increase of over 50% in pass units for fiscal 2026 compared to fiscal 2021 [14][15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company anticipates growth in fiscal 2026 to be driven by price increases, ancillary capture, and incremental efficiencies related to the Resource Efficiency Transformation Plan, partially offset by lower pass unit sales [22] - The company expects to exceed $100 million in annualized cost efficiencies by the end of fiscal year 2026 [23] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is committed to a multi-year strategy aimed at increasing guest visitation and optimizing product and pricing approaches across all resorts [10][11] - The focus is on leveraging strong competitive advantages, including owning and operating 42 resorts, to drive sustained and profitable growth [10][17] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged that results from the past season were below expectations and emphasized the need to adapt to changing consumer preferences [5][6] - The company is confident in its ability to return to higher growth in fiscal year 2027 and beyond, despite current challenges [5][18] Other Important Information - The company plans to invest approximately $198 million to $203 million in core capital before additional growth capital investments in European resorts [24] - A quarterly cash dividend of $2.22 per share has been declared, reflecting strong cash flow generation [29] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the expectation for visitation this upcoming season? - Management expects total visitation to be down slightly, primarily driven by the decline in pass sales, but anticipates some offset from lift ticket sales [35] Question: How significant is the change in the Buddy Pass system? - The Buddy Pass historically contributes about 7% of total lift revenue and 20% of paid lift ticket revenue, and management expects it to positively impact lift ticket growth this year [60][62] Question: What are the trends for international guests? - There has been no significant trend affecting overall results from international visitation, although it has declined over the past several years for various reasons [82] Question: Where is the company seeing weakness in its consumer base? - The company is experiencing lower renewal rates for less tenured pass holders, but overall performance is consistent across different guest demographics [88][92] Question: What needs to happen to hit the upper end of the guidance range? - The key driver for achieving the upper end of the guidance range is visitation, which impacts all ancillary revenue [95]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company generated $844 million of resort reported EBITDA in fiscal 2025, representing a 2% growth compared to the prior year despite a 3% decline in total skier visits across North American resorts [19][20] - Fiscal 2026 guidance expects net income attributable to Vail Resorts to be between $201 million and $276 million, with reported EBITDA projected between $842 million and $898 million [20][21] - Season pass sales through September 19, 2025, decreased approximately 3% in units but increased approximately 1% in sales dollars compared to the prior year [22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is focused on rebuilding lift ticket visitation, which is essential for revenue and long-term growth, and has introduced Epic Friend Tickets to drive sales [11][12] - The pass price reset ahead of the 2021-2022 season has led to a projected increase of over 50% in pass units for fiscal 2026 compared to fiscal 2021 [14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company anticipates growth in fiscal 2026 to be driven by price increases, ancillary capture, and normalized weather conditions in Australia, partially offset by lower pass unit sales [22] - The company has seen a broad-based result in performance across different guest demographics, indicating potential market maturity [91] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is committed to a multi-year strategy aimed at leveraging competitive advantages to drive sustained and profitable growth [10][17] - A new Chief Revenue Officer will be appointed to focus on driving all aspects of revenue for the company, reflecting a strategic shift in leadership [16] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged that results from the past season were below expectations and emphasized the need to adapt marketing strategies to evolving consumer preferences [5][6] - The company is confident in its ability to return to higher growth in fiscal year 2027 and beyond, despite current challenges [5][18] Other Important Information - The company plans to invest approximately $198 million to $203 million in core capital for fiscal 2026, with additional investments in European resorts and real estate projects [24][25] - The company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $2.22 per share, reflecting strong cash flow generation [29] Q&A Session All Questions and Answers Question: What is the expectation for visitation this upcoming season? - Management expects total visitation to be down slightly, primarily driven by the decline in pass sales, but anticipates some recovery through lift ticket sales [35] Question: How significant is the change in the pricing strategy for passes? - Management indicated that a more strategic approach to pricing will be taken, focusing on individual pass products rather than a blanket approach [41] Question: What is the expected impact of the Epic Friend Tickets on visitation? - Management expects the Epic Friend Tickets to contribute positively to visitation, although the full impact will take time to materialize [37][65] Question: How does the company view the impact of international guests on sales? - Management does not see any significant trends affecting international visitation that would materially impact overall results [84] Question: What are the trends in consumer behavior regarding renewals? - Management noted that while there is a lower renewal rate for less tenured passholders, overall trade-up and trade-down behaviors remain consistent [93]

Market Overview - The market is experiencing fluctuations, with a notable bounce from session lows as the trading day comes to a close [1][2] - Investors are concerned about a potential government shutdown, which could impact upcoming economic data releases, including a jobs report [2][3] Seasonal Trends - Historically, this month was expected to be muted, yet the market has reached multiple record highs this year, raising questions about the sustainability of this trend [4][5] - Goldman Sachs analysts suggest a year-end rally is possible, supported by favorable market positioning and expectations for the upcoming earnings season [5][6] Market Performance - Major indices are showing positive movement, with the Dow Jones up approximately 0.1%, S&P 500 up about 0.25%, and NASDAQ composite up around 0.5% [6][7] - The S&P 500 saw 308 stocks gain ground, indicating a healthy breadth despite contained moves at the benchmark level [8] Sector Performance - Consumer discretionary and technology sectors are leading gains, while communication services and energy sectors showed minor declines [9] Notable Stock Movements - Applovin, a mobile app marketing company, saw a significant increase of about 11%, with analysts raising price targets substantially [10][11] - Cannabis stocks, particularly Tilray Brands, experienced a surge of approximately 61% following positive media coverage regarding CBD benefits [13] - Carnival Corporation reported record revenue and raised its earnings forecast, yet shares fell by 4% due to market reactions [17][18] - Beyond Meat shares plummeted by 36% after announcing a debt restructuring plan, marking a record low for the company [22] Earnings Reports - Vail Resorts reported a fourth-quarter loss that exceeded analyst expectations, contributing to a decline in stock value [26][28] - The company is facing challenges with decreased skier visits and a rough year overall, leading to a 20% year-to-date decline in stock price [28][30]