Goldman Sachs On Theme Park Stocks: A Ride Worth Taking?

Zinger Key Points
  • Goldman Sachs initiated coverage on Cedar Parks, SeaWorld, and Six Flags.
  • Cedar Parks and SeaWorld get a Buy, while Sex Flags gets a Sell rating.

Goldman Sachs turned attention to the theme park sector, telling investors it initiated coverage on Cedar Fair LP FUN, SeaWorld Entertainment Inc SEAS, and Six Flags Entertainment Corp SIX.

With amusement parks riding high on post-COVID demand and considerable growth in admissions and in-park spending, it’s a sector ripe for investor scrutiny. Here's what Goldman analyst Lizzie Dove thinks about theme parks.

Cedar Fair LP: Buy rating, $50 price target.

Despite current investor caution around the theme park sector, Dove sees a +5.0% EBITDA CAGR through 2026. She cited Cedar Fair’s well-invested park portfolio, stable management team, and high-repeat customer base as key contributors to pricing power.

SeaWorld Entertainment Inc: Buy rating, $75 price target.

SeaWorld's high exposure to the burgeoning Orlando market offers admissions pricing power, while mobile app usage and new park investments could bolster in-park spending per-cap growth, Goldman said. Dove believes ongoing cost-cutting initiatives and growth opportunities from international licensing and domestic resort potential are not being adequately appreciated by investors.

Read also: Driving Ford’s Dividends After Its Upgrade – How Much Would You Need To Earn $500 Per Month?

Six Flags Entertainment Corp: Sell rating, $26 price target.

Despite an anticipated easy comp from a 40% attendance decline in 2022, Goldman suggested that consensus may be misjudging per-cap growth in 2023 and the ongoing investment necessary for advertising and new attractions.

Given the cautious investor sentiment with potential recession impacts, parks over-earning, and competition, Dove urges investors to focus on company-specific growth drivers and potential return on invested capital late cycle.

Despite park multiples reflecting a 15-20% discount versus pre-COVID levels, Goldman said the growth opportunity is still intact and warrants a fresh look from investors.

Next: US Dollar Rises To 10-Week Peak With Debt Ceiling Breakthrough, Rate Hike Buzz: Crucial House Vote Wednesday

Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Comments
Loading...
date
ticker
name
Price Target
Upside/Downside
Recommendation
Firm
Posted In: Analyst ColorMid CapNewsPrice TargetInitiationTop StoriesAnalyst RatingsTrading IdeasGeneralExpert IdeasGoldman SachsLizzie Dove
Benzinga simplifies the market for smarter investing

Trade confidently with insights and alerts from analyst ratings, free reports and breaking news that affects the stocks you care about.

Join Now: Free!