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

• Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE: BMY) Q1 profit fell despite strong sales of Plavix and Abilify.
• Check Point Software Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: CHKP) was downgraded based on its guidance.
• Domino's Pizza Inc. (NYSE: DPZ) strong Q1 results were boosted by early debt retirement.
• DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. (NYSE: DWA) strong Q1 results were driven by Madagascar 2.
• Endo Pharmaceuticals Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ENDP) Q1 results led to an analyst's downgrade.
• E*Trade Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: ETFC) widened its Q1 loss, sending shares sharply lower.

I think we all knew which film would come out on top this past weekend. Sony's (NYSE: SNE) new James Bond adventure, Quantum of Solace, grossed an estimated $70 million at domestic theaters over the last three days according to Boxofficemojo. Excellent showing, Jimbo. As far as I'm concerned, though, I think you have to give the number-two film even more credit.

DreamWorks Animation (NYSE: DWA) and its distributor, Viacom (NYSE: VIA), need to be given major kudos for their work on Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. The first Madagascar took in about $193 million in total at the domestic box office back in 2005. It was released during the summertime. The sequel is definitely going to hit $200 million. This past weekend it took in roughly $36 million, and its total stands at approximately $118 million. With the Thanksgiving holiday still to come, I figure there will be plenty of business for DreamWorks Animation's cartoon.

The wild card here is Disney's (NYSE: DIS) Bolt project. That one will do well, judging by the commercials I've seen so far. How much thunder will it steal from the second Madagascar when it is released this Friday? A lot, I think. Still, I'll keep to my $200 million prediction. I believe there will be enough discretionary dollars left for both cartoons.

Without a doubt, DreamWorks Animation (NYSE: DWA) really nailed it with its latest computer-cartoon sequel, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. According to estimates at Boxofficemojo, the film, which is distributed by Viacom (NYSE: VIA), was number one at the box office over the weekend at domestic theaters.

That was expected. But I have to give kudos to the studio's marketing department for improving the previous film's opening weekend. Madagascar, which was released in May 2005, took in $47 million during its opening weekend. As of this writing, Escape 2 Africa has been credited with about $63 million. Considering that this isn't the summertime, I thought the sequel's debut performance was pretty cool.

And here's another equally cool fact: if the estimates hold, then Escape 2 Africa's first-weekend take will be slightly higher than Kung Fu Panda's opening weekend of $60.2 million. You've got to call that a success. Disney's (NYSE: DIS) Pixar brand definitely better take notice, especially if DreamWorks Animation can consistently put out blockbusters during both the summer and fall.

DreamWorks Animation (NYSE: DWA), the computer-cartoon studio that competes with the animation product of other entities such as Disney (NYSE: DIS), News Corp. (NYSE: NWS) and Sony (NYSE: SNE), posted Q3 results after the close on Tuesday. Revenues saw a modest decrease of almost 6%, coming in at $151.5 million. I am categorizing a 6% decrease as modest in this case because the studio had a Shrek sequel out in the previous year. The drop was expected. Net income was 41 cents per diluted share, a figure which includes a $0.03 tax benefit. Even so, DreamWorks Animation beat expectations. Wall Street was counting on only 32 cents per share.

Operational cash flow isn't faring too badly. It increased 9%, and the company seems to be doing well enough in terms of generating revenues from its portfolio of films. Kung Fu Panda helped to drive the quarter, but it isn't done yet, as the home-video release should affect Q4 in a most positive manner.

Now that the data is out, DreamWorks Animation is really readying itself for its next big test. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, the sequel to the hit Madagascar, is waiting in the wings. In fact, the wait is almost over. The film is due November 7, and the company needs to post big numbers on this one.

DreamWorks Animation (NYSE: DWA) reported Q1 earnings Tuesday after the market close, and I have a funny feeling that its shareholders were pretty pleased. Revenues were like a fairy tale (that's a Shrek reference), increasing 67% to $156.6 million. Earnings per share kicked it like a black-belt martial artist (that's a Kung Fu Panda reference), increasing 87% to 28 cents per share on a reported basis; on an adjusted basis, the growth was more like 73%.

Wow; talk about growth rates! Even on an adjusted basis, you've got to like the bottom-line appreciation. And it should be noted that DreamWorks beat the street by three pennies according to Briefing.com. Want more good news? Operational cash flow soared like a bee in flight (that's a Bee Movie reference), expanding 22% to $107.7 million.

The DreamWorks story is very much driven by the company's film slate, as opposed to conglomerate competitors such as Time Warner (NYSE: TWX), Disney (NYSE: DIS), and News Corp. (NYSE: NWS), which have a lot more in terms of moving parts. Shrek the Third, as well as library titles, helped drive the quarter. Coming up is Kung Fu Panda and a sequel to Madagascar. Those wishing to buy the stock ahead of the company's upcoming titles should look for pullbacks. I really like DreamWorks Animation's prospects, but it bothers me that I haven't heard too much buzz surrounding the Panda project. I'm sure it's coming, though, but I'm also sure that I would really love the stock a lot more if it were closer to the 52-week low. But don't get me wrong, I'm not a growling bear on the company. I think the Q1 earnings and cash flow performance are top notch. Tthe company is building out an enviable library of product, and I think traders and long-term investors alike will get something out of DreamWorks Animation's stock.

Disclosure: I own shares in Disney; positions can change at any time.