Welcome to Theme Park Insider! Join the community or log in
Theme Park Insider
Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube

It's official: Six Flags off the New York Stock Exchange

By Robert Niles
Published: April 9, 2009 at 2:29 PM
In a long-anticipated development, Six Flags' stock will be booted off the New York Stock Exchange, effective April 20.

The stocks has been trading under $1 per share since last fall. That's the minimum price for a stock to be eligible for listing on the NYSE.

Six Flags will not appeal the decision, and had been warned that this day was coming, if the stock price did not rise. Shares were trading around 26 cents today.

Six Flags' stock will now trade on the over the counter market, along with so-called "penny stocks." While the move is typically considered a blow to a company's prestige, corporate prestige is in pretty short supply around Wall Street these days. So NBD there.

Six Flags is playing that angle, too.

"The delisting of our common stock is a by-product of the inherited debt load on our balance sheet and the overall financial markets. In no way does it reflect the operational strength or turnaround of this company," said Six Flags chief Mark Shapiro said in a statement. "This development will have zero impact on our park operations, the guest experience this summer or our vendor relationships."

Readers' Opinions

From Jacob Sundstrom on April 9, 2009 at 3:06 PM
It's a bummer to see this happen, but as Shapiro said, every company is taking a major blow around now. My Disney stock is lower right now than it was when I bought it nearly four years ago!

If I had the money to invest, I'd be putting some into Six Flags right now...

From Raul Araoz on April 9, 2009 at 3:22 PM
My gut tells me that they will be alright for now. After all, Mr. Six is back in their commercials.
From Derek Potter on April 9, 2009 at 4:17 PM
Look on the bright side. Six Flags stock has doubled in the last couple weeks. I've seriously been thinking about investing. The loss would be minimal, while the gain could pay off. I really don't think Six Flags is done.

Being on the New York Stock Exchange isn't exactly the mark of a great company these days..it's very volatile, and I don't think that some investors are thinking straight. It raises a point that going public may not always be the best thing for some companies.

Six Flags seems to be turning things around, but it takes time and money and they are at the mercy of the stockholders, which isn't a good thing these days.

From Anthony Murphy on April 9, 2009 at 5:10 PM
And I thought it would turn around.... It would have been a risky, but perhaps rewarding stock to have. Glad I didn't listen to myself, but big whoop! They knew it was going down
From Joshua Counsil on April 9, 2009 at 5:42 PM
Sweatin' yet, Shapiro? Or still cool as a cucumber?
From Anthony Murphy on April 10, 2009 at 7:10 AM
I don't understand why Shapiro got rid of Mr. Six? It was a great marketing ploy! That floating Asian Head was really annoying. Sure, Mr. Six is annoying, but it was silly and fun!
From Chris Danger on April 13, 2009 at 6:49 AM
Mr Six is pretty much back as spokesman. I was at SFoT Friday and it was all Mr. Six all the time while waiting in queue to ride.

On the delisting, this may play to SFs advantage. Seeing the parks are doing well with attendance, it maybe the leverage it needs to get things uprighted properly.

This article has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.

More Theme Park News

Previous article: Crowds pack Disney World theme parks for spring break

April 2009 Archive