Swiss National Bank Sells 16,500 Shares of SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:SEAS)

Swiss National Bank lessened its position in SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:SEAS) by 15.6% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 89,600 shares of the company’s stock after selling 16,500 shares during the period. Swiss National Bank owned 0.14% of SeaWorld Entertainment worth $5,493,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in SEAS. Raymond James & Associates grew its holdings in SeaWorld Entertainment by 142.8% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 15,104 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,124,000 after acquiring an additional 8,882 shares during the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in SeaWorld Entertainment by 45.9% in the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 26,767 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,993,000 after acquiring an additional 8,417 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its holdings in SeaWorld Entertainment by 4.1% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,059,041 shares of the company’s stock worth $78,833,000 after acquiring an additional 42,031 shares during the last quarter. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC bought a new stake in SeaWorld Entertainment in the 1st quarter worth $14,678,000. Finally, Allianz Asset Management GmbH grew its holdings in SeaWorld Entertainment by 94.7% in the 1st quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 51,947 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,867,000 after acquiring an additional 25,268 shares during the last quarter.

SeaWorld Entertainment Stock Performance

Shares of SeaWorld Entertainment stock opened at $49.21 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.15 billion, a PE ratio of 12.82 and a beta of 1.94. SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. has a 52-week low of $44.38 and a 52-week high of $68.19. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $53.14 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $56.62.

SeaWorld Entertainment (NYSE:SEAS) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, August 8th. The company reported $1.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.78 by ($0.43). The firm had revenue of $496.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $513.71 million. SeaWorld Entertainment had a negative return on equity of 60.15% and a net margin of 14.56%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was down 1.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.62 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. will post 4.03 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on SEAS shares. Citigroup lifted their target price on shares of SeaWorld Entertainment from $58.00 to $60.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 10th. B. Riley reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $80.00 target price on shares of SeaWorld Entertainment in a research note on Friday, July 21st. Macquarie cut their target price on shares of SeaWorld Entertainment from $80.00 to $75.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, August 21st. Rosenblatt Securities cut their target price on shares of SeaWorld Entertainment from $69.00 to $62.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their target price on shares of SeaWorld Entertainment from $84.00 to $77.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, August 9th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, SeaWorld Entertainment presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $70.89.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Kyle Robert Miller sold 1,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $55.12, for a total transaction of $55,120.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 30,709 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,692,680.08. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, insider Kyle Robert Miller sold 1,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $55.12, for a total transaction of $55,120.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 30,709 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,692,680.08. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Marc Swanson sold 4,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $48.91, for a total transaction of $195,640.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 152,537 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $7,460,584.67. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 53,873 shares of company stock valued at $2,678,251 over the last three months. Insiders own 1.10% of the company’s stock.

About SeaWorld Entertainment

SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a theme park and entertainment company in the United States. It operates SeaWorld theme parks in Orlando, Florida; San Antonio, Texas; and San Diego, California, as well as Busch Gardens theme parks in Tampa, Florida, and Williamsburg, Virginia.