As the craze of earnings season draws to a close, here’s a look back at some of the most exciting (and some less so) results from Q1. Today, we are looking at leisure facilities stocks, starting with Dave & Buster's (NASDAQ: PLAY).

Leisure facilities companies often sell experiences rather than tangible products, and in the last decade-plus, consumers have slowly shifted their spending from "things" to "experiences". Leisure facilities seek to benefit but must innovate to do so because of the industry's high competition and capital intensity.

The 11 leisure facilities stocks we track reported a mixed Q1. As a group, revenues missed analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.1% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line.

Luckily, leisure facilities stocks have performed well with share prices up 17.2% on average since the latest earnings results.

Dave & Buster's (NASDAQ: PLAY)

Founded by a former game parlor and bar operator, Dave & Buster’s (NASDAQ: PLAY) operates a chain of arcades providing immersive entertainment experiences.

Dave & Buster's reported revenues of $567.7 million, down 3.5% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations, but overall, it was a slower quarter for the company with a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

“I am pleased to report that we are making good progress and our operating results significantly improved over the course of the first quarter. While performance in the first quarter was nowhere close to where we want and expect to be, our “back to basics” strategy is working and is driving a material recovery in our top-line trajectory.

Interestingly, the stock is up 27.4% since reporting and currently trades at $32.95.

Read our full report on Dave & Buster's here, it’s free.

Best Q1: Live Nation (NYSE: LYV)

Owner of Ticketmaster and operator of music festival EDC, Live Nation (NYSE: LYV) is a company specializing in live event promotion, venue management, and ticketing services for concerts and shows.

Live Nation reported revenues of $3.38 billion, down 11% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 2.8%. However, the business still had a very strong quarter with an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 9.7% since reporting. It currently trades at $143.94.

Is now the time to buy Live Nation? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q1: Lucky Strike (NYSE: LUCK)

Born from the transformation of traditional bowling alleys into modern entertainment destinations, Lucky Strike (NYSE: LUCK) operates bowling alleys and other entertainment venues with upscale amenities, arcade games, and food and beverage services across North America.

Lucky Strike reported revenues of $339.9 million, flat year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 5.5%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EPS and adjusted operating income estimates.

Interestingly, the stock is up 5.6% since the results and currently trades at $10.05.

Read our full analysis of Lucky Strike’s results here.

AMC Entertainment (NYSE: AMC)

With a profile that was raised due to meme stock mania beginning in 2021, AMC Entertainment (NYSE: AMC) operates movie theaters primarily in the US and Europe.

AMC Entertainment reported revenues of $862.5 million, down 9.3% year on year. This print lagged analysts' expectations by 0.7%. More broadly, it was actually a strong quarter as it produced an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

The stock is up 23.3% since reporting and currently trades at $3.34.

Read our full, actionable report on AMC Entertainment here, it’s free.

United Parks & Resorts (NYSE: PRKS)

Parent company of SeaWorld and home of the world-famous Shamu, United Parks & Resorts (NYSE: PRKS) is a theme park chain featuring marine life, live entertainment, roller coasters, and waterparks.

United Parks & Resorts reported revenues of $286.9 million, down 3.5% year on year. This number came in 2.4% below analysts' expectations. Overall, it was a disappointing quarter as it also recorded a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income and EPS estimates.

The stock is flat since reporting and currently trades at $47.46.

Read our full, actionable report on United Parks & Resorts here, it’s free.

Market Update

Thanks to the Fed’s series of rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has cooled significantly from its post-pandemic highs, drawing closer to the 2% goal. This disinflation has occurred without severely impacting economic growth, suggesting the success of a soft landing. The stock market thrived in 2024, spurred by recent rate cuts (0.5% in September and 0.25% in November), and a notable surge followed Donald Trump’s presidential election win in November, propelling indices to historic highs. Nonetheless, the outlook for 2025 remains clouded by potential trade policy changes and corporate tax discussions, which could impact business confidence and growth. The path forward holds both optimism and caution as new policies take shape.

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