Moody's downgrades Six Flags' credit ratings

By Matt Tracy

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Moody's downgraded Six Flags Entertainment's (FUN) credit ratings further into junk-grade territory on Monday, citing the amusement park owner's weak operating results.

The two-notch rating downgrade, with a stable outlook, follows Six Flags' third-quarter results on November 7.

Moody's analysts in a report cited weaker earnings and "integration challenges" following the company's merger with peer Cedar Fair in July 2024.

"Six Flags' weak operating performance resulted in credit metrics that are substantially worse than what we expected at the time of the merger," the analysts wrote.

Recent rises in operating costs and revenue declines have contributed to Moody's forecast for Six Flags to increase its debt leverage by year-end 2025.

Six Flags' upcoming maturing debt presents urgent cash needs over the next year and a half, Moody's said. The company has $1 billion worth of senior unsecured notes coming due in April 2027, the analysts noted.

However, it forecast that Six Flags will maintain sufficient liquidity over that period to address the debt.

(Reporting by Matt Tracy in Washington, D.C.; Editing by Richard Chang)