Investors Buy Large Volume of Vail Resorts Put Options (NYSE:MTN)

Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE:MTN) saw some unusual options trading activity on Monday. Stock traders bought 4,660 put options on the company. This represents an increase of 499% compared to the typical volume of 778 put options.

Institutional Trading of Vail Resorts

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of MTN. MAC Alpha Capital Management LP boosted its stake in Vail Resorts by 35.3% in the second quarter. MAC Alpha Capital Management LP now owns 33,700 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,589,000 after buying an additional 8,800 shares in the last quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Vail Resorts during the second quarter worth approximately $32,000. Tidal Investments LLC raised its stake in shares of Vail Resorts by 29.7% during the second quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 10,965 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,493,000 after acquiring an additional 2,512 shares in the last quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC bought a new stake in shares of Vail Resorts in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $103,000. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Vail Resorts by 13,391.6% in the 2nd quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 16,055 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,186,000 after acquiring an additional 15,936 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 94.90% of the company’s stock.

Vail Resorts Stock Performance

NYSE MTN opened at $141.75 on Wednesday. Vail Resorts has a 52-week low of $118.51 and a 52-week high of $163.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.22, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 0.91. The company has a market capitalization of $5.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.24, a P/E/G ratio of 9.58 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a fifty day moving average of $143.80 and a 200-day moving average of $136.94.

Vail Resorts (NYSE:MTN) last released its earnings results on Monday, September 28th. The company reported ($5.34) EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of ($5.35) by $0.01. Vail Resorts had a return on equity of 21.82% and a net margin of 5.20%.The business had revenue of $278.07 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $269.30 million. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Vail Resorts will post 5.84 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Vail Resorts Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 27th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 8th will be given a dividend of $2.22 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 8th. This represents a $8.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.3%. Vail Resorts’s dividend payout ratio is 201.82%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts recently commented on the stock. BNP Paribas Exane cut shares of Vail Resorts from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and reduced their price objective for the company from $151.00 to $135.00 in a research note on Monday, September 21st. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Vail Resorts from $119.00 to $117.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday. Truist Financial cut their price target on shares of Vail Resorts from $195.00 to $191.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Vail Resorts from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, August 3rd. Finally, UBS Group reaffirmed a “neutral” rating on shares of Vail Resorts in a report on Friday, September 18th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Vail Resorts currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $145.67.

Key Headlines Impacting Vail Resorts

Here are the key news stories impacting Vail Resorts this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Vail Resorts reported fiscal fourth-quarter revenue of approximately $278.1 million, above analyst expectations, while its $5.34 per-share loss narrowly beat consensus. Management also projected fiscal 2027 resort EBITDA of $805 million to $865 million, offering a potential recovery path if skier demand improves. Vail Resorts fiscal 2026 results and fiscal 2027 outlook
• Positive Sentiment: JPMorgan raised its price target to $150 from $126 while maintaining a neutral rating, suggesting some analysts see improving valuation or earnings potential despite near-term uncertainty.
• Positive Sentiment: Vail launched Epic Ascent, a premium private-lesson and concierge offering at Vail Mountain and Beaver Creek. The initiative could lift spending per guest, while Epic Pass prices increase after October 7. Vail Resorts launches Epic Ascent
• Neutral Sentiment: Vail reaffirmed plans to install new eight-person chairlifts at Park City Mountain, targeting the 2027–28 season. The upgrades may improve capacity and the guest experience, but benefits are several seasons away. Park City Mountain lift upgrades
• Negative Sentiment: Fiscal 2026 profit fell sharply after an unusually difficult snow season. Vail posted a $190.2 million net loss, and management acknowledged continued risks heading into the next ski season. Vail Resorts loss widens after tough weather
• Negative Sentiment: Season-to-date pass-product sales are down 12%, raising concern about subscription demand, skier visits and revenue visibility. Analysts note that higher ticket prices and real-estate gains only partly offset weaker visitation. Vail Resorts reports reduced pass sales and profit
• Negative Sentiment: Deutsche Bank cut its price target to $132 from $138, and Wells Fargo raised its target only to $130 while retaining an equal-weight rating. The mixed analyst reaction underscores continued uncertainty around demand recovery.

About Vail Resorts

Vail Resorts, Inc is a mountain resort company that operates a portfolio of ski and summer resorts, primarily in the United States, Canada and Australia. Its properties offer skiing, snowboarding and other outdoor recreational activities, along with lodging, dining, retail, equipment rentals, lessons and related guest services.

The company’s resort portfolio includes well-known destinations such as Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado; Park City in Utah; Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia; and Perisher in New South Wales, Australia.