Planet Fitness Reports Membership Growth and New Club Openings
Planet Fitness (PLNT) has seen a significant membership increase, now totaling approximately 20.8 million, while same-club sales rose by 6.7%, indicating strong demand in the fitness sector.
The company opened 181 new clubs in 2025, including 23 corporate-owned locations, showcasing its successful expansion strategy. Additionally, an agreement with franchisees to upgrade strength training equipment aims to enhance member experience and attract younger consumers through initiatives like the High School Summer Pass Program.
Despite the recent stock decline, the ongoing growth in membership and strategic marketing shifts position Planet Fitness favorably for future growth.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Analyst Views on PLNT
About PLNT
About the author

- Market Opportunity: Stifel reiterates its buy rating on Planet Fitness, believing that the popularity of GLP-1 drugs will attract more customers, with significant increases in gym memberships expected over the next few years.
- Price Target: The analyst maintains a $130 price target, implying a 31% upside from Thursday's close, reflecting confidence in the company's future growth.
- User Potential: A study found that about 50% of new GLP-1 users are considering joining a gym, indicating that gym membership sign-ups could rise significantly as drug usage increases.
- Brand Advantage: With its approachable brand positioning and dominant market share, Planet Fitness is well-positioned to attract GLP-1 users seeking gym memberships, further solidifying its market presence.
- Strong Industry Demand: The leisure and recreation industry is benefiting from robust bookings in North American and European sailings, driving overall demand growth and expected to enhance company profitability.
- Theme Parks and Live Entertainment: Theme park operators are gaining from increased visitation, with consumer spending at parks continuing to rise, indicating a strong recovery momentum in the industry.
- Digital Tools Enhancing Efficiency: The use of online booking systems and data analytics is enabling businesses to manage staffing and customer interactions more efficiently, thus maintaining profitability in a competitive market.
- Membership Models Driving Revenue Growth: Leisure operators are successfully increasing revenue per customer by offering premium options and membership services, enhancing customer loyalty and protecting profit margins.

Mid-Cap Companies: Mid-cap companies are often overlooked by investors who prefer large-cap or small-cap stocks for diversification.
Potential Growth in 2026: There is an expectation that 2026 may be a significant year for mid-cap companies, potentially leading to increased investor interest.

- Significant Membership Growth: Planet Fitness has grown its membership to approximately 20.8 million, with full-year same-club sales increasing by 6.7%, indicating a sustained demand in the fitness industry that enhances its competitive position.
- New Club Openings: In 2025, Planet Fitness opened 181 new clubs, including 23 corporate-owned locations, bringing the total to 2,896, showcasing the successful implementation of its expansion strategy and increasing brand market coverage.
- Equipment Upgrades and Member Experience: The company has reached an agreement with franchisees to enhance strength training equipment in gyms, aimed at improving member experience while attracting more young consumers through the High School Summer Pass Program, reflecting its focus on the youth market.
- Marketing Optimization: Planet Fitness is shifting a portion of contributions from the Local Ad Fund to the National Ad Fund to optimize and accelerate new marketing opportunities, which is expected to drive future member growth and further solidify its leadership in the fitness industry.
- Conference Dates and Location: The ICR Conference will take place from January 12-14 in Orlando, Florida, featuring over 250 public and private growth companies, expected to release significant holiday sales reports and guidance updates.
- Agenda Highlights: The agenda includes formal presentations, fireside chats, and small-group discussions where management teams will discuss strategy, financial outlook, growth initiatives, and capital allocation, alongside topical sessions on shareholder activism, M&A, and AI's impact on retail.
- Highlighted Companies: Analysts have identified five companies—Five Below, On Holdings, Planet Fitness, Abercrombie & Fitch, and SharkNinja—as having potential for share price gains following their presentations and updates during the conference.
- Retail Sector Performance: Historically, the retail sector outperforms the broader market during the ICR Conference, with major players like Walmart, Nike, and Lululemon also making significant appearances that could boost market confidence.
- Exit of Option Position: Yiheng Capital fully exited its put option position in Planet Fitness, comprising 270,000 shares with an estimated trade value of $29,443,500 in Q3 2025, indicating a cautious approach to market volatility.
- Change in AUM: This transaction resulted in a 4.342% decrease in Yiheng Capital's 13F reportable assets under management, reflecting a strategic adjustment in its portfolio management.
- Market Reaction: Although Planet Fitness's stock price experienced a modest decline during Q3, it did not reach levels that would make the options profitable, making Yiheng's exit a prudent decision to avoid potential losses.
- Portfolio Diversification: Yiheng Capital held 27 positions in Q3, including four options, demonstrating its ongoing efforts in a diversified investment strategy.








