Ardent Leisure has lifted third quarter revenues by 17 per cent, with strong performances by its US family entertainment division offsetting weakness at its local gyms.
Ardent's group revenues rose to $444.9 million in the March quarter, with earnings up 11 per cent at $101.6 million.
Shares in Ardent soared on the news, with the stock closing up 22.5 cents, or 11.3 per cent, at $2.21.
The result was largely driven by another solid performance by its Main Event family entertainment division, which increased revenues by 58.3 per cent and like-for-like earnings 10 per cent.
The division opened its 20th centre in April and plans to open another seven in fiscal 2016 and another eight the following year.
Strong trading conditions continued in April, Ardent said, with like-for-like revenues up 3.9 per cent.
But while the US business continues to fire, Ardent's Goodlife Health Clubs suffered a fall in earnings and revenue.
Like-for-like revenues dropped 4.9 per cent while earnings fell 6.4 per cent amid a rise in competition from rival health clubs.
Ardent said its acquisition of the Fitness First health clubs in Western Australia had not delivered the expected increases in memberships.
The group's theme parks, which include Dreamworld on Queensland's Gold Coast, recorded fairly flat revenues and earnings during the quarter.
Ardent described the result as solid given unprecedented rainfall during its key summer trading month of January and the impact of Cyclone Marcia in February.
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