Fitness Stocks Surge as EPS Surprises Near 52-Week Highs, $400 Million Market Cap Increase in a Day

U.S. fitness chain Life Time Group Holdings (LTH) closed at $33.97 on the New York Stock Exchange on May 12, up 5.04%, roughly KRW 51,000 per share. The company’s market capitalization swelled to about $7.56 billion (around KRW 11.3 trillion), with a one-day increase of roughly $400 million (approximately KRW 600 billion). Trading volume topped 3.1 million shares.

In its Q1 2026 earnings report released on May 5, Life Time posted earnings per share of $0.42, beating market expectations, and delivered double-digit year-over-year revenue growth, underscoring solid operational momentum.

In February, Life Time unveiled a share repurchase program of up to $500 million. It recently repurchased 2.19 million shares valued at about $62.7 million through a private transaction, while insiders—including director John Kristofer Galashan—disclosed sales exceeding $150 million via open-market and block trades.

Headquartered in Chanhassen, Minnesota, Life Time operates fitness and wellness clubs across North America, generating membership-based revenue through large sports clubs and premium gyms. Led by founder and CEO Bahram Akradi, the company targets upper-middle-class consumers with premium services and leverages high member retention to boost per-member revenue and profitability even amid economic slowdowns.