How's LOBEX Doing?

Often, the location-based entertainment industry doesn't get the respect it deserves, despite its size. LBE venues include amusement parks, water parks, FECs, movie theatres and eatertainment. LBE's generate more in sales than do all forms of spectator sports.

To increase awareness of LBE's and to help track their fortunes, the White Hutchinson Leisure & Learning Group launched an index of publicly traded LBE stocks in January 2003 called LOBEX (LOcation-Based Entertainment indeX), which joins the ranks of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500 and other stock indexes. The index consists of eight public companies that derive all or a substantial portion of their revenues from the operation of amusement and water parks, eatertainment facilities and cinemas. LOBEX was launched January 1, 2003, at a value of 1,000. Since then, LOBEX has increased substantially. As of June 14, 2004, the index was up 49% at 1,487. That compares with a 28% increase for the S&P 500 over the same time period.