SeaWorld theme parks were reeling from declining attendance and bad publicity when money manager Scott Ross showed up in 2017 and started agitating for change.
Shares of the Orlando, Fla., company surged to an all-time high in March of this year, far outperforming rivals Six Flags Entertainment Corp. and Cedar Fair LP, before a broad market selloff in May. SeaWorld’s sales and profits also notched records last year, as visitors bought pricier tickets to try out new rides and spent more on food, drinks and souvenirs than ever before.