"Viacom (NYSE: VIA.B), the cable, movie and video game empire of longtime chairman Sumner Redstone, is a solid media stock that we think can be accumulated on dips," suggests Geoffrey Seiler.

In his always-excellent BullMarket.com, he looks to the upcoming release of Star Trek and the new Beatles-based music video game as potential catalysts for improved results. Here's his update.

"Viacom, which spun off CBS in 2007, describes itself as an entertainment content company that operates in two segments: Media Networks and Filmed Entertainment.

Continue reading Viacom (VIA.B): Star Trek to the Beatles

Viacom (VIA.B): Star Trek to the Beatles originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"There are always stocks that can buck the trend and go up when most others are going down; one such issue is Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX)," says Sean Broderick.

In Money and Markets, he explains, "Netflix has exceptional growth prospects as it ventures into streaming movies and games over the Internet.

"Netflix is doing bang-up business, and if history is any guide, should continue to do so. During the Great Depression, movies were one of the few growth industries, as a weary world turned to escapist entertainment.

"Netflix had an excellent recent quarter. Revenues jumped 19% and earnings rose 58%. EBITA, a widely used measure of a company's efficiency and profitability, hit a six-year high, and was up 18% over the year earlier.

Continue reading Netflix: A new world for video

Netflix: A new world for video originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Companies dependent on consumer spending have been under a cloud on Wall Street," cautions Chuck Carlson, the industry's leading expert on dividend reinvestment plans.

"However, Disney (NYSE: DIS) is one of those consumer-dependent stocks where conventional wisdom may not be correct," he adds in his The DRIP Investor.

"With $4-per-gallon gasoline, one would think that the high cost of travel would take some steam out of the firm's theme park attendance. However, recent results on this front were decent, and the firm's other businesses have held up, too.

"To be sure, a prolonged recession would impact business. Still, Disney has done a nice job of positioning its theme parks as an affordable vacation for families, and that should help it continue to weather
economic weakness.

"Disney surprised Wall Street with the resiliency of its theme-park and resort business in the fiscal second quarter. Revenue for the unit jumped 11% in the quarter. Results were aided by a boost in international visitors taking advantage of the weak dollar.

Continue reading Disney (DIS): Resiliency and value

Disney (DIS): Resiliency and value originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.