FUN vs PLNT vs PRKS vs XPOF

For growth investors, Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (FUN) is the stronger pick with 14.

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 6% for United Parks & Resorts Inc. (PRKS). United Parks & Resorts Inc. (PRKS) offers the better valuation at 12. 1x trailing P/E (10. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (FUN) a "Buy" — based on 29 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, United Parks & Resorts Inc.

(PRKS) is the cheapest at 12. 1x versus Planet Fitness, Inc. at 16. 8x. On forward P/E, United Parks & Resorts Inc. is actually cheaper at 10. 0x.

Over the past 5 years, United Parks & Resorts Inc.

(PRKS) delivered a total return of -31. 0%, compared to -48. 0% for Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (FUN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PLNT returned +203. 6% versus XPOF's -46. 6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Planet Fitness, Inc.

(PLNT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 31β versus Xponential Fitness, Inc. 's 1. 94β — meaning XPOF is approximately 520% more volatile than PLNT relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (FUN) is pulling ahead at 14.

4% versus -3. 6% for United Parks & Resorts Inc. (PRKS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Xponential Fitness, Inc. grew EPS 35. 2% year-over-year, compared to -591. 3% for Six Flags Entertainment Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, FUN leads at 19. 5% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Planet Fitness, Inc.

(PLNT) is the more profitable company, earning 16. 5% net margin versus -50. 8% for Six Flags Entertainment Corporation — meaning it keeps 16. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PLNT leads at 29. 8% versus -43. 7% for FUN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PRKS leads at 92. 3%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, United Parks & Resorts Inc.

(PRKS) trades at 10. 0x forward P/E versus 13. 0x for Planet Fitness, Inc. — 3. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PLNT: 170. 8% to $119. 17.

In this comparison, XPOF (2.

5% yield) pays a dividend. FUN, PLNT, PRKS do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Planet Fitness, Inc.

(PLNT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 31), +203. 6% 10Y return). Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (FUN) carries a higher beta of 1. 83 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (PLNT: +203. 6%, FUN: -33. 1%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Consumer Cyclical sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: FUN is a small-cap quality compounder stock; PLNT is a small-cap deep-value stock; PRKS is a small-cap deep-value stock; XPOF is a small-cap quality compounder stock. XPOF pays a dividend while FUN, PLNT, PRKS do not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.