So the video-game data report for February is out. According to InvestorPlace's survey of NPD figures, consoles systems saw a 10% increase in sales. Microsoft's (MSFT) Xbox 360 was particularly robust. The Nintendo (NTDOY) Wii didn't do badly, either.

As you might imagine, there were other companies mentioned in the article. Electronic Arts (ERTS) scored pretty well, as did Activision Blizzard (ATVI). In fact, the latter's latest Call of Duty entry is apparently still selling a bunch of copies in retail shelves even though the holiday season is long gone.

Continue reading Video Games Do All Right in February: Which Stock Should an Investor Buy?

Video Games Do All Right in February: Which Stock Should an Investor Buy? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Activision Blizzard: Buy the Dip?

Activision Blizzard: Buy the Dip? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (TTWO) reported earnings for the fiscal third quarter yesterday after the bell. Today, the market expressed its pleasure with the results. In fact, a new 52-week high of $15.50 was set this session.

At the time of this writing, the quote going across my screen was $14.82, a price that was representative of a 2% gain. Volume conviction is definitely present. Looking at the one-year chart, it can be seen that the uptrend in the shares continues on following the making of a low point near the end of August.

Continue reading Take-Two Trades Up on Earnings News

Take-Two Trades Up on Earnings News originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Electronic Arts: How Does the Stock Look?

Electronic Arts: How Does the Stock Look? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Is Take-Two a Trade?

Is Take-Two a Trade? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Dawn Kawamoto over at DailyFinance wrote an article discussing THQ Inc. (THQI). She brings into focus a licensing deal between the video-game publisher and Mattel, Inc. (MAT). There was also mention of the incredible price action in the stock. So, what are investors to make of the thesis? What about traders?

This is a tricky one. And I've been wrong about THQ's prospects before. It's certainly difficult to predict the movement of a stock that's priced in the single digits. At the time of this writing, the shares were trading at a quote of $6.26.

Continue reading THQ: Is It Time to Buy or to Take Profits?

THQ: Is It Time to Buy or to Take Profits? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I've written a lot about Blizzard (ATVI). It's a fun stock to watch. And the company is pretty fun, too. How can you not like the business behind both Call of Duty and Pitfall?

Those who've read my prior pieces on this subject probably know what I'm about to say in regard to the recent bullishness in the shares: Take profits now. Yes, the stock continues to scare me a bit. Well, maybe more than a bit. I know that the latest Call of Duty title is doing incredibly well at retail, but I also know that Guitar Hero is no longer on every teenager's Christmas wish list. Offsetting elements can be a problem, keep in mind.

Continue reading Activision Blizzard: Are the Bulls Right?

Activision Blizzard: Are the Bulls Right? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Take-Two Has a Great Quarter: Should You Buy?

Take-Two Has a Great Quarter: Should You Buy? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

There are always interesting stories in the marketplace. Today, I'm going to briefly comment on the price movements of three that I am watching.

Activision Blizzard (ATVI) is currently down 3% to $11.52, with significant volume backing the sell-off. Down, is that right, you ask? Yes, I'm afraid it is. I know: Call of Duty: Black Ops is doing excellent business. Millions of copies have been sold, and hundreds of millions of dollars have been grossed. Unfortunately, when it comes to trading on such news, the best bet is to sell out on any anticipatory rise that manifests itself before the event finally occurs.

Continue reading A Look at Three Stocks: ATVI, DWA, INTC

A Look at Three Stocks: ATVI, DWA, INTC originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 12 Nov 2010 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Time to Check In on THQ

Time to Check In on THQ originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Activision Blizzard (ATVI) was, at the time of this writing, off by 3% to a quote of $11.28. Strong volume accompanied the dip. It's a shame, because the latest earnings report wasn't all that bad.

According to the Associated Press, adjusted income of 12 cents per share was three pennies ahead of the consensus estimate. The top line, after taking into account some items, also beat projections. Furthermore, management raised its outlook for the full fiscal year.

Continue reading Activision Blizzard Down Following Third-Quarter Results

Activision Blizzard Down Following Third-Quarter Results originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Activision Blizzard (ATVI) will be issuing its third-quarter earnings release on Thursday, November 4. How should investors view the stock?

Right now, I'm not so positive on the shares. They were trading at a quote of $11.39 at the time of this writing. The 52-week low for the shares is $9.93; the 52-week high is $12.58. The chart shows an up-down pattern that probably doesn't inspire a lot of confidence in investors. You get the feeling that putting capital to work in this name will inevitably lead to a dead-money situation.

Continue reading Activision Blizzard Set to Report Earnings: Buy the Stock?

Activision Blizzard Set to Report Earnings: Buy the Stock? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Video Game Industry Remains Challenged

Video Game Industry Remains Challenged originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Activision Blizzard Inc. (ATVI) is trading down this afternoon. At the time of this writing, the video-game publisher behind the Call of Duty series was off by over 4% to $10.82. Volume was heavy.

That's an interesting move for the stock, because it may be an opportunity for very short-term traders who are willing to take on extremely significant risk. I haven't felt comfortable about an Activision Blizzard trade for a long time. I would love for the shares to dip below $10 at some point; then, I might have reason to start a position.

Continue reading Activision Blizzard Trading Down

Activision Blizzard Trading Down originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Should You Take a Position in Take-Two?

Should You Take a Position in Take-Two? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading THQ's Q1 Earnings: Not Impressive

THQ's Q1 Earnings: Not Impressive originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Activision Blizzard (ATVI) is under pressure this afternoon. At the time of this writing, a quote of $10.95 came by on the ticker. This was representative of a 6.8% decline in share price. And volume was very strong.

Second-quarter numbers were released yesterday after the bell. According to Reuters, adjusted net income of 6 cents per share came in a penny ahead of the estimate. Unfortunately, third-quarter guidance wasn't so hot: management predicts the business can make somewhere around 8 cents per share, also with adjustments, during that frame. This number was four pennies under Wall Street's expectations. Another problem for the publisher during the second quarter was the top line. It was relatively weak.

Continue reading Activision Blizzard Down After Q2 Numbers

Activision Blizzard Down After Q2 Numbers originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Activision Blizzard (ATVI) has had a rocky ride over the last year. The following chart illustrates the sideways motion of the video-game superstar's stock. The 52-week range has been a narrow one: the low is $9.93, and the high is $13. Lately, the shares have received a new burst of energy after falling to the $10 level in May. At the time of this writing (it's a little over one hour until the market closes up shop), a quote of $12.02 went by on my screen.

A catalyst currently exists for the publisher. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty is set to be released on Tuesday. This is the highly-anticipated game from the Blizzard portion of the company. And when I say highly-anticipated, I mean it.

Continue reading Activision Blizzard Up Ahead of StarCraft II Release

Activision Blizzard Up Ahead of StarCraft II Release originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Take-Two Interactive (TTWO), whose competitors in the video-game industry include Activision Blizzard (ATVI) and Electronic Arts (ERTS), is doing good business with its Red Dead Redemption title. But is that enough to make you want to buy the stock?

According to the AP, the game sold 1.5 million copies in the month of May. That's relatively impressive, but it unfortunately did not meet the expectations of Michael Pachter, who is an analyst for Wedbush Morgan. He was thinking 1.8 million copies was doable. Even so, you have to hand it to management for a robust launch.

Continue reading Take-Two Interactive: Buy or Sell?

Take-Two Interactive: Buy or Sell? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Will New Video-Game Technology Help Microsoft?

Will New Video-Game Technology Help Microsoft? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.