Great Wolf Resorts posts $42.1 million 1Q loss

Great Wolf Resorts Inc., which operates indoor waterpark resorts in North America, said Wednesday it posted a $42.1 million third-quarter loss as hefty charges offset an increase in revenue.

The company also released a fourth-quarter and full-year guidance well below analysts' average estimates and Great Wolf shares fell 4 cents, or 2.7 percent, to $2.89 in afternoon trading.

Great Wolf's per-share loss was $1.35, compared with a profit of $2.2 million, or 7 cents per share, for the same quarter last year. Revenue rose 11 percent to $76.8 million from $69.4 million.

The recent quarter's results included a tax-related charge of $28.5 million and an impairment charge of $24 million related to a resort in Sheboygan, Wis.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected a loss of 4 cents per share, excluding one-time items, on $77.9 million in revenue.

Revenue per available room at properties open at least a year fell 5.5 percent, or 4.7 percent excluding the effects of foreign currency. That compares with an overall U.S. hotel industry decline of 16.9 percent, the company said.

The average daily rate at properties open at least a year declined 2.9 percent, or 2.2 percent excluding currency effects.

Great Wolf said it expects to post a fourth-quarter loss of $17.2 million to $20.2 million, or 55 cents to 65 cents per share. The company also projected a full-year loss of between $70.8 million to $73.8 million, or $2.26 to $2.36 per share.

Analysts, on average, expect fourth-quarter and full-year losses of 33 cents per share and 59 cents per share, respectively.