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.

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.

I'm now going to take a brief look at two stocks that were affected by earnings releases earlier today. The two companies are a study in completely different business models: one sells video games, the other sells drugs. Then again, video games are a drug to some, so maybe they aren't so different?

First up: Electronic Arts (ERTS). EA wasn't exciting during the regular session. It closed up fractionally to $15.62; volume was strong, though. And after looking at the extended-hours reaction to the earnings report that was released following the ringing of the bell, it might be understandable why so many players were intent on getting in on the stock.

Continue reading Two Quarterly Reports: Electronic Arts and Pfizer

Two Quarterly Reports: Electronic Arts and Pfizer originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Las Vegas Sands (LVS) overall option implied volatility is at 50, according to Track Data, below its 26-week average of 55 into its release of Q4 EPS on February 3, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Electronic Arts (ERTS) February and March option implied volatility is at 40, according to Track Data, near its 26-week average of 39 into its release of Q3 EPS on February 2, suggesting non-directional price movement.

Options Update is by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Options Update: Las Vegas Sands Volatility Low into EPS, Singapore and Macau Outlook originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 09:00:00 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 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.

Let's face it: the chart for Electronic Arts (ERTS) isn't encouraging. And Wednesday's price action, the day after the video-game publisher's fiscal second-quarter results were released to investors, was awful: the stock lost over 4%, settling on a quote of $15.50, not too far away from the 52-week low of $14.06.

Shareholders would love to see a breakout above $20.24. When will it happen? Difficult to say. Remember that the industry has been suffering.

Continue reading Electronic Arts: Buy or Sell After Latest Earnings?

Electronic Arts: Buy or Sell After Latest Earnings? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 04 Nov 2010 17:00:00 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.

Analyst Upgrades

• JPMorgan upgraded Smith Micro (SMSI) to overweight from neutral and raised its price target to $15 from $9, citing the release of a WiFi iPad with MiFi from Verizon and Apple.
• Jefferies upgraded Whole Foods (WFMI) to buy from hold and raised its price target to $45 from $36, citing checks that indicate sales are accelerating and the company has been focused on expense control.
• Wells Fargo upgraded Ensco (ESV) and raised its price target to $54 to $56 from $46 to $47, citing valuation, the lifted deepwater drilling ban and higher oil prices.
• Gran Tierra Energy (GTE) was upgraded to buy from hold at Wunderlich, citing the company's Moqueta oil discovery as well as other near-term exploration opportunities, and raised its price target to $12.50 from $7.00.
• Chico's FAS (CHS) was upgraded to buy from hold at KeyBanc and set a $13 price target.
• UR-Energy (URE) was upgraded to buy from hold at KeyBanc.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AMSC, CBOE, ERTS, ESV, JCP, PDE, SMSI, TTWO, UAL, WFMI ...

Analyst Calls: AMSC, CBOE, ERTS, ESV, JCP, PDE, SMSI, TTWO, UAL, WFMI ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I first discussed Hasbro Inc. (HAS) on June 22, 2009, at a price of $24.30. The toymaker has broken though resistance at $40 and powered higher, and obviously I still like the shares.

Look for Hasbro's revenue to rise 2% to 3% in 2010, as toy sales eek out a small gain from 2009's level, as the "frugal consumer" era in the United States continues. Hasbro's positives in 2010? Product diversity, strength in the Nerf brand, and royalties from its Electronic Arts (ERTS) agreement.

Continue reading Hasbro Powers Higher

Hasbro Powers Higher originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Is Electronic Arts Getting Interesting Again?

Is Electronic Arts Getting Interesting Again? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Electronic Arts (ERTS) was more than 2% higher Thursday morning, thanks mainly to news that the latest installation of its Medal of Honor franchise has set a presale record.

The newest game is based in Afghanistan and introduces players to a new class of warrior. Past iterations of the franchise have helped the company, and while specific sales data was not released, it seems that investors are assuming that sales of the game will be massive.

Continue reading Medal of Honor Presale Data Pushes Electronic Arts Higher

Medal of Honor Presale Data Pushes Electronic Arts Higher originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 11:30:00 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.

Continue reading Electronic Arts Reports Better-than-Expected Q1 Results

Electronic Arts Reports Better-than-Expected Q1 Results originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:30:00 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.

Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. (TTWO), whose competitors include Activision Blizzard, Inc. (ATVI) and Electronic Arts, Inc. (ERTS), has traded in a narrow range over the last twelve months. The 52-week low on the stock is an even $7; the 52-week high is $12.57. The stock closed Tuesday's session at $10.52. After the bell, the video-game publisher reported results for the second quarter. Shareholders can be thankful that the bottom line experienced a significant improvement.

On an adjusted basis, the company made 34 cents per share from continuing operations versus a loss of 4 cents per share from continuing operations in the year-ago period. Net revenue jumped over 50%.

Continue reading Take-Two Interactive Bounces Back with Adjusted Q2 Profit

Take-Two Interactive Bounces Back with Adjusted Q2 Profit originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Jun 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It's a tough trading and investing environment out there. But you've got to hang equally as tough and start processing as many stocks that are at or near 52-week lows as you can. Sure, you might be early, but then again, who can predict with any certainty where the market is heading? I know I can't.

Electronic Arts (ERTS) is not my favorite video-game company. That honor goes to Activision Blizzard (ATVI). Nevertheless, here's something of note: it closed Monday's session at $15.36. This after hitting a new 52-week low of $15.34 during intraday activities. Volume was about average.

Continue reading Electronic Arts: Buy Now or Wait?

Electronic Arts: Buy Now or Wait? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Jun 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Not the Time for Shanda Interactive?

Not the Time for Shanda Interactive? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 03 Jun 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage on BloggingStocks:

• Blockbuster Inc. (BBI) Q1 net loss was in line with estimates and same-store sales declined, shares also fell.
• CA Inc. (CA) shares sold off on high volume following the Q4 earnings miss and disappointing guidance.
• Cigna Corp. (CI) reported better-than-expected Q1 earnings and higher revenue, and reaffirmed its full-year outlook.
• Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) beat Q3 earnings and revenue expectations in the "strongest quarter in our history."
• Dean Foods Co. (DF) lower Q1earnings beat analysts' estimates, but shares fell on heavy volume afterward.
• Denny's Corp. (DENN) bested consensus estimates and year-ago EPS by a penny, but said same-store sales fell.

Continue reading Earnings Highlights: BBI, CI, CSCO, DIS, DISH, ERTS, JCP, M, NVDA, PCLN, WEN, WFMI ...

Earnings Highlights: BBI, CI, CSCO, DIS, DISH, ERTS, JCP, M, NVDA, PCLN, WEN, WFMI ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 15 May 2010 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.