Seaworld Spikes After Report It Will Ditch Killer Whale Show

• Shares of SeaWorld Entertainment Inc SEAS spiked around mid-day on Monday, before declining once again in the afternoon, and recuperating yet again closer to the market close.
• The initial surge seems to have been triggered by an article published on the San Diego Union-Tribune, which said the company will phase out its much-criticized killer whale show. The second spike came after a call with investors held by CEO Joel Manby.
• The decision is a part of a wider strategy aimed at re-positioning the company and its public image, the source informed.

It seems like the San Diego water theme-park will finally put an end to its longstanding, yet much-criticized killer whale show. Animal rights activists had been complaining about how SeaWorld treats its orcas for quite some time now, and this had taken a big toll on the company’s public image and park attendance, and, consequently, on its stock.

The San Diego Union-Tribune informed that the park would be inaugurating a “new orca experience” in 2017. Instead of offering tricks, the new attraction will -allegedly- feature a more “informative” experience, which will take place in “a more natural setting that would carry a ‘conservation message inspiring people to act.’” The information was originally posted in a company document explaining a new strategy aimed at re-positioning the beaten down company.

However, the document did not say anything about ending the killer whale shows at the SeaWorld theme-parks of Orlando and San Antonio.

Disclosure: Javier Hasse holds no positions in any of the securities mentioned above.