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.

Analyst Upgrades

• Disney (DIS) to buy from hold at Wunderlich.
• Pike Electric (PIKE) to outperform from market perform at FBR Capital.
• Kindred Healthcare (KND) to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
• UBS (UBS) to hold from sell at Canaccord.
• Avery Dennison (AVY) and Take-Two (TTWO) to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Mercer (MERC) to outperform from market perform at Raymond James.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AVY, CSUN, DIS, INTU, KBH, KEY, LEN, NVTL, UBS, USNA ...

Analyst Calls: AVY, CSUN, DIS, INTU, KBH, KEY, LEN, NVTL, UBS, USNA ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 11:50:00 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.

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.

AIG (AIG) closed up on an interview with The Deal magazine and AIG Chairman Robert Miller, who said the insurer was beginning to think about acquiring insurance operations instead of selling them. December 55 and January 66 calls are active on total call option volume of 168K contracts (90K puts). January call option implied volatility is at 43, February is at 41, May is at 38, versus its 26-week average of 45, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Take-Two Interactive Software (TTWO) is scheduled to report Q4 EPS on December 16. December 12 straddle is priced at $1.00, January is at $1.60, according to Track Data, suggesting larger near-term price movement.

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

Options Update: AIG Options Active on Low Volatility as Shares Rally 8% originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 09:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If you are looking for clues telling you which stocks have a good chance of increasing in value, you might want consider watching what insiders are doing. After all, talk is cheap, but when insiders put their own money on the line, you should sit up and take note.

Take-Two Interactive Software Inc (TTWO) topped the insider-buying charts for the week ending July 9 as insiders snapped up 427,900 shares of company stock at a market value of $4,093,939. During the past six months, insiders have increased their overall holdings in the company by 64.15% and now own 2.74% of TTWO stock.

Continue reading Insiders Snapping Up Take-Two Interactive, Icahn Enterprises and More

Insiders Snapping Up Take-Two Interactive, Icahn Enterprises and More originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 12:20:00 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.

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.

Continue reading Electronic Arts in the Red: Is Stock a Value?

Electronic Arts in the Red: Is Stock a Value? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 12 May 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We all talk about the fundamentals behind an investment idea, but sometimes you have to pay more attention to the observed price action. That's what I was thinking today while checking out Activision Blizzard (ATVI).

I have been watching this publisher of entertainment software closely as of late, wondering if it was time for me to get back in. Compared to other similar companies such as Electronic Arts (ERTS) and Take-Two Interactive (TTWO), I think Activision Blizzard offers the best potential for both the console market and online gaming.

Continue reading Activision Blizzard's Interesting Price Action

Activision Blizzard's Interesting Price Action originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We all have our watch lists. I'm no different. Here are four companies that I monitor almost every single day, and a brief opinion on each of them.

Activision Blizzard (ATVI): I sold this one back in January. Some believe I was wrong to do so. I definitely comprehend the sentiment, because really, this is the best publisher in the sector. Compared to Electronic Arts (ERTS) and Take-Two Interactive (TTWO), Activision Blizzard has an enviable pipeline. Unfortunately, the video-game industry isn't firing on all cylinders; check out the most recent monthly-sales report, and you'll see what I mean. In addition, the company's Guitar Hero franchise isn't the fad it once was. I do want to get in on the stock again, though; lately, the price seems to be perking up. I'm not ready to send in the buy order just yet. I'm waiting for further strength to materialize in the shares.

Continue reading Stocks on My Watch List: ATVI, LGF, NTDOY, WWE

Stocks on My Watch List: ATVI, LGF, NTDOY, WWE originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Take-Two Interactive (TTWO) is the kind of stock I want to take a chance on but just can't bring myself to do so. The situation can be risky unless a fresh bit of Grand Theft Auto content is about to come out into the marketplace. Then again, those who bought ahead of the Q1 earnings report, released yesterday after the bell, are pretty overjoyed this afternoon, seeing that the stock is, at the time of this writing anyway, up well over 9%.

Net sales increased 9%. The adjusted loss from continuing operations was 31 cents per share. Last year at this time, shareholders were looking at a loss of 56 cents per share on the same basis. Reuters says the analyst call was for the red ink to equal 51 cents per share. Good job, management.

Continue reading Take-Two Trading Higher After Q1 Results: Is Stock a Buy?

Take-Two Trading Higher After Q1 Results: Is Stock a Buy? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Deutsche Bank upgraded Research in Motion (RIMM) to hold from sell to reflect the company's Q3 results and guidance. The firm raised its target price on shares to $75 from $60.
• Keefe Bruyette upgraded Northern Trust (NTRS) and State Street (STT) to outperform from market perform to reflect valuation and favorable longer-term secular trends. The firm keeps a $58 price target on Northern Trust and a $51 target on State Street.
• UBS upgraded Universal Health (UHS) to buy from neutral and raised its target to $38 from $31. The firm said hospital checks indicate bad debt has not increased vs. Q3 and that Universal Health should report an in-line to better-than-expected Q4.
• Take-Two Interactive (TTWO) was upgraded to hold from sell at Kaufman Bros.
• Whiting Petroleum (WLL) was raised to outperform from market perform at Wells Fargo.
• BP Plc (BP) was upgraded at Goldman to buy from neutral.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: RIMM, NTRS, STT, UHS, POT, BCR, O, JCI, GPS, WMG

Analyst Calls: RIMM, NTRS, STT, UHS, POT, BCR, O, JCI, GPS, WMG originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Aeropostale Inc. (ARO) strong Q3 results topped analysts expectations, and it offered Q4 earnings guidance.
• Cascade Corp. (CASC) reported a surprise Q3 profit but lower revenue fell short of expectations.
• Collective Brands Inc. (PSS) reported strong Q3 earnings as well as same-store sales growth.
• Cost Plus Inc. (CPWM) narrowed its net loss in Q3 but revenue and same-stores sales declined.
• Del Monte Foods Co. (DLM) posted strong Q2 results and raised its earnings outlook for the full year.
• Diamond Foods Inc. (DMND) posted better-than-expected Q1 earnings, but said that revenue declined.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Aeropostale, Del Monte, Guess, Shanda, Staples, Toll Bros. ...

Earnings highlights: Aeropostale, Del Monte, Guess, Shanda, Staples, Toll Bros. ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 05 Dec 2009 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

How about Take-Two Interactive (TTWO)? That stock was down 30% in afternoon trading at the time of this writing. 30%! According to The Wall Street Journal (subscription required), management issued some poor guidance that has shaken the confidence of market players. Add to that the general state of the retail environment, and you've got yourself a decidedly awful combination.

Continue reading Take-Two is yet another victim of video game malaise

Take-Two is yet another victim of video game malaise originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Fair or not, Take-Two Interactive (NASDAQ: TTWO) has a reputation for a shallow pipeline of shareholder-enhancing software. It is known simply as the Grand Theft Auto publisher. There's more to Take-Two, of course. There are sports titles, for example. There's BioShock. How about the big hit for the Nintendo (OTC: NTDOY) Wii, Carnival Games? What about Borderlands?

That's all well and good, but if you look at the company's latest earnings report, you'll have no choice but to conclude that the one-game reputation is firmly intact.

Take-Two's top line plummeted 68% during the fiscal third quarter. Net loss on an adjusted basis came to 66 cents per share. There was a huge profit of 93 cents per share in the year-ago period, driven by the fourth edition of Grand Theft Auto. Not a great comparison. At least the performance was a little better than expectations. According to Earnings.com, Wall Street was calling for a loss of around 68 cents per share.

Continue reading Take-Two Interactive reports Q3 loss

Take-Two Interactive reports Q3 loss originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Oh, I am so depressed! I was thinking of buying Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI) for an earnings trade, but unfortunately never got around to it. Those who did are pretty happy. The publisher released second-quarter results on Wednesday after the bell, and investors bid the stock over 10% higher today.

Adjusted revenues came in at a little over $800 million. Management's previous guidance called for $775 million to be booked. Adjusted earnings were 8 cents per share, 2 cents ahead of company expectations. According to Reuters, this was a penny better than what the actual analysts were forecasting.

Continue reading Investors love Activision Blizzard's Q2

Investors love Activision Blizzard's Q2 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS), a video-game publisher that competes with Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI), THQ (NASDAQ: THQI), and Take-Two Interactive (NASDAQ: TTWO), issued Q1 stats after the bell on Tuesday. Things are looking up for the company famous for its Madden brand of football software. Adjusted revenues increased over 30%, and the loss on the bottom line narrowed to 2 cents per share from a loss of 42 cents per share in the year-ago period.

The profit performance beat Wall Street's expectations, as Alex Salkever reports over at DailyFinance. You can check out his article to get the highlights of the quarter and a perspective on the current state of the video-game industry, which includes console makers Sony (NYSE: SNE), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), and Nintendo (OTC: NTDOY).

Continue reading Electronic Arts reduces red ink in Q1; should I be bullish on the stock?

Electronic Arts reduces red ink in Q1; should I be bullish on the stock? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.