What happened
Shares of Planet Fitness (PLNT -1.98%) climbed more than 12% on Thursday after the fitness center chain delivered strong third-quarter earnings.
So what
Planet Fitness' revenue surged 46.4% year over year to $154.3 million. New store openings and a 7.2% rise in same-store sales helped the company pump out these impressive gains.
"We are emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic stronger than ever," CEO Chris Rondeau said in a press release. "In the third quarter, we returned to positive systemwide same-store sales growth and achieved the highest sequential net member growth of any third quarter in company history."
Image source: Getty Images.
Planet Fitness also showed a marked improvement in profitability as its gyms reopened. The company's adjusted net income improved to $22 million, or $0.25 per share, compared to $1.6 million, or $0.02 per share, in the year-ago quarter.
Now what
These solid results and positive ongoing membership trends prompted Planet Fitness to offer a more optimistic full-year outlook. Management now expects:
- Between 110 and 120 new store openings, compared to a previous forecast of 75 to 100.
- Revenue of $570 million to $580 million, up from $530 million to $540 million.
- Adjusted earnings per share of $0.75 to $0.80, up from $0.65 and $0.70.
Shareholders cheered the news. Planet Fitness' strong operational performance and heightened growth forecast helped to reduce fears that coronavirus-related concerns would drive people to exercise at home rather than in gyms.
Moreover, with vaccinations steadily increasing and COVID-19 case counts moderating, investors are growing more excited about Planet Fitness' stock -- and bidding up its share price in kind.
