Smartfit Escola de Ginastica e Danca SA
BOVESPA:SMFT3
Smartfit Escola de Ginastica e Danca SA
Smartfit Escola de Ginástica e Dança SA, often recognized simply as Smart Fit, has carved out a prominent niche in the bustling fitness industry across Latin America. Founded in 2009 by Edgard Corona, the company set its sights on democratizing access to fitness through affordability and accessibility. Guided by its mission to make fitness an achievable part of everyday life, Smart Fit strategically positioned itself as a no-frills, cost-effective gym chain catering to a broad demographic. This strategic position allowed Smart Fit to quickly expand its footprint, leveraging a high-volume, low-cost business model to attract a wide range of customers. By focusing on essential fitness services without the additional amenities that drive up costs in traditional gyms, the company could offer memberships at competitive prices, thus broadening its market reach.
Smart Fit's revenue model is straightforward yet effective, primarily relying on membership fees. The company structures its offerings around two main types of memberships: a basic plan granting access to a single location and a premium plan offering multi-location access within the chain, providing flexibility for more mobile clients. This tiered pricing strategy enables Smart Fit to cater to different consumer needs and increase customer retention by accommodating lifestyle variances. Additionally, embracing technology with an app integrated into the customer journey allows for seamless management of bookings and personalized training plans, increasing engagement and overall customer satisfaction. This focus on operational efficiency and personalized service, coupled with a substantial and growing market presence, positions Smart Fit not only as a leader in the Latin American gym market but as a transformative force in the global fitness industry landscape.
Smartfit Escola de Ginástica e Dança SA, often recognized simply as Smart Fit, has carved out a prominent niche in the bustling fitness industry across Latin America. Founded in 2009 by Edgard Corona, the company set its sights on democratizing access to fitness through affordability and accessibility. Guided by its mission to make fitness an achievable part of everyday life, Smart Fit strategically positioned itself as a no-frills, cost-effective gym chain catering to a broad demographic. This strategic position allowed Smart Fit to quickly expand its footprint, leveraging a high-volume, low-cost business model to attract a wide range of customers. By focusing on essential fitness services without the additional amenities that drive up costs in traditional gyms, the company could offer memberships at competitive prices, thus broadening its market reach.
Smart Fit's revenue model is straightforward yet effective, primarily relying on membership fees. The company structures its offerings around two main types of memberships: a basic plan granting access to a single location and a premium plan offering multi-location access within the chain, providing flexibility for more mobile clients. This tiered pricing strategy enables Smart Fit to cater to different consumer needs and increase customer retention by accommodating lifestyle variances. Additionally, embracing technology with an app integrated into the customer journey allows for seamless management of bookings and personalized training plans, increasing engagement and overall customer satisfaction. This focus on operational efficiency and personalized service, coupled with a substantial and growing market presence, positions Smart Fit not only as a leader in the Latin American gym market but as a transformative force in the global fitness industry landscape.
Expansion: Smart Fit ended 4Q25 with 2,084 clubs in 16 countries, adding 341 new units in 2025 (the highest annual openings in the company's history) and guiding to 300–350 net new clubs in 2026 (~80% owned).
Revenue: Net revenue was BRL 1.9 billion in 4Q25 (up 26% YoY) and Smart Fit exceeded BRL 7 billion in net revenue for 2025 (up 30% YoY).
Profitability: 4Q25 EBITDA was BRL 610 million (31.3% margin) and full-year 2025 EBITDA was BRL 2.3 billion (31.7% margin); adjusted 4Q25 EBITDA before pre-op was BRL 669 million (34.3% margin).
TotalPass traction: TotalPass expanded rapidly — >32,000 partner clubs in Brazil (up 52% YoY), >8,000 in Mexico (up 46% YoY), and ~1.7 million end users (up 62% YoY); TotalPass accounted for ~15% of Smart Fit Brazil attendance in 2025 (vs. 11% prior year).
Returns & unit economics: Mature-unit ROIC was 28% in 2025; average annualized net revenue per owned club reached BRL 4.3 million and annualized gross profit per club in the quarter was BRL 2.5 million.
CapEx & leverage: CapEx intensity rose with expansion: CapEx per Smart Fit unit was BRL 6.3 million; adjusted net debt increased BRL 993 million in 2025 and adjusted net debt/EBITDA (ex-IFRS16) ended 4Q25 at 1.78x (annualized 1.65x).
Management / succession: Board transition completed: Edgard Corona is Chairman, Diogo Corona CEO and José Rizzardo CFO; management emphasized continuity and disciplined, scalable growth.