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Earnings highlights: Ciena, Del Monte, Hovnanian, Krispy Kreme, Movado ...

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

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Ciena, Del Monte, Hovnanian, Krispy Kreme, Movado ...

Earnings highlights: Citigroup, Kroger, Staples, J. Crew, National Semiconductor and more

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

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Citigroup, Kroger, Staples, J. Crew, National Semiconductor and more

Is Activision Blizzard in a buying mood? Should it be?

According to speculation in various news outlets and blogs, Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI) may end up doing something with its huge cash position. The software publisher, most famous these days for its Guitar Hero property, has around $3 billion in its coffers. The question is, should Activision Blizzard spend its cash on an acquisition as opposed to doing other things with the money, like pay a special dividend or increase its buyback?

Considering that assets are cheap because of the recession, I'd say that a little shopping might not be such a bad idea. Here's an article that discusses the possibility of Activision Blizzard taking over Take-Two (NASDAQ: TTWO) distributor of Grand Theft Auto. Then there's the concept of buying up THQ (NASDAQ: THQI). Perhaps the company could take Mortal Kombat off the corporate hands of Midway Games.

Continue reading Is Activision Blizzard in a buying mood? Should it be?

Earnings highlights: Amgen, Big Lots, Cal-Maine, Piedmont, Take-Two

It was a quiet week, but here are highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

Also, a survey indicated that U.S. corporate profits in the fourth quarter probably fell for the sixth straight quarter. Interest cuts haven't helped bank earnings, will the Fed buying mortgage-backed securities do better? And, are food stocks still a defensive play?

Upcoming earnings releases include Bed Bath & Beyond (NASDAQ: BBBY), Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ), Family Dollar (NYSE: FDO), and Monsanto (NYSE: MON).

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Earnings highlights: Best Buy, FedEx, Goldman Sachs, Nike, RIM, Oracle and others

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

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Best Buy, FedEx, Goldman Sachs, Nike, RIM, Oracle and others

Options Update: Volatility elevated at gamers into ERTS outlook; TTWO, THQI, ATVI

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) is recently down $2.10 to $17.25 in pre-opening trading. ERTS lowered 2009 EPS & revenue targets. Smith Barney says: "ERTS is entering another period of negative earnings revisions with no positive catalysts on the horizon." ERTS overall option implied volatility of 81 is above its 26-week average of 62 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Activision (NADAQ: ATVI), an online and console game producer, closed at $10.09. ATVI December option implied volatility is at 109, January is at 94; above its 26-week average of 69 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

THQ Inc (NASDAQ: THQI) closed at $5.03. THQI is a developer & publisher of interactive entertainment software. THQI January option implied volatility of 94 is above its 26-week average of 70 according to Track Data, suggesting larger movement.

Take-Two (NASDAQ: TTWO), publisher, developer and distributor of interactive entertainment, closed at $12.12. TTWO rejected ERTS unsolicited bid in February 2008, but subsequently faced opposition from shareholders wanting to cash in on the deal. TTWO December option implied volatility is at 94, January is at 79; above its 26-week average of 74 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Earnings highlights: Toll Bros., Take-Two, Tiffany, Staples, Kraft, Corning and others

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

Also, Jim Cramer discusses a decline in earnings resulting from a collapse of oil and oil services.

Upcoming quarterly reports include Korn/Ferry (NYSE: KFY), Pep Boys (NYSE: PBY), Campbell Soup (NYSE: CPB), Krispy Kreme (NYSE: KKD), and Lululemon Athletica (NASDAQ: LULU).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

The week in preview: Have consumers turned to comfort food and used cars?

While the earnings crunch for this quarter is all but over, there is still plenty of action in the earnings arena this coming week. For instance, analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial are expecting America's Car Mart Inc. (NASDAQ: CRMT) and Campbell Soup Co. (NYSE: CPB) to be among this week's top earnings gainers.

Bentonville, Ark.-based America's Car Mart is expected to post net income of 38 cents per share (up 52.6% from the same period a year ago) on revenue of $73.8 million (up 25.8%). The used car dealer chain has tended in recent quarters toward positive surprises -- by 21 cents per share, or 73.5%, in the previous quarter. The long-term EPS growth forecast is 15%, about the same as the S&P 500. The consensus recommendation of analysts is to buy CRMT.

Campell is tentatively scheduled to report this week, and the world's biggest soup maker is expected to post net income of 25 cents per share (up 44.0% from a year ago) on revenue of $1.7 billion (up 7.5%). The Camden, N.J.-based company has just missed earnings estimates in the past three quarters. Its long-term EPS growth forecast is 7.5%, which is less than the industry average, but about the same as rivals Kraft Foods (NYSE: KFT) and Heinz (NYSE: HNZ). The analysts' consensus recommendation is currently to buy Campbell.

Other anticipated double-digit earnings gainers scheduled to report this week include brand name apparel maker Guess Inc. (NYSE: GES), mining equipment maker Joy Global (NASDAQ: JOYG), and chip maker National Semiconductor (NYSE: NSM). And Take-Two Interactive Software (NASDAQ: TTWO) is expected to swing to a profit.

Continue reading The week in preview: Have consumers turned to comfort food and used cars?

Earnings highlights: Wal-Mart, Lehman Bros., Take-Two, Ciena, Trina Solar and others

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

See also: Earnings highlights: Toll Bros., National Semiconductor, Dr Pepper, Guess and others

Also, continued real estate losses are expected to hurt the quarterly reports of banks such as like Wachovia (NYSE: WB), Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC), and National City (NYSE: NCC). And Steven Mallas wonders why Playboy (NYSE: PLA) shares have tanked since its last earnings report.

Upcoming results to watch for include Krispy Kreme (NYSE: KKD), Pall Corp. (NYSE: PLL), Pep Boys (NYSE: PBY), Korn Ferry (NYSE: KFY), and Casey's General Stores (NASDAQ: CASY).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

Earnings expectations: Take-Two, Lululemon, Williams-Sonoma, Toll Bros. and others

Here's a peek at what analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial are expecting from companies scheduled to report quarterly results in the first week of June, 2008.

The following companies are expected to post earnings growth, compared to the same period in the previous year:

Continue reading Earnings expectations: Take-Two, Lululemon, Williams-Sonoma, Toll Bros. and others

Electronic Arts (ERTS) may extend offer for Take-Two (TTWO)

Take-Two Interactive (NASDAQ: TTWO) has launched its important new "Grand Theft Auto IV" franchise and it has done remarkably well. It did not cause a big bump in the firm's stock, which has only moved from $26.62 three weeks ago to $27.10.

The company's one suitor, Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS), had already taken the shares up from from under $18 with its buyout offer. Most analysts believe that the offer will be extended because Take-Two has resisted a buyout.

According to The Wall Street Journal, there is a "belief among Take-Two management and some of the company's shareholders that the company deserves a higher offer from EA. "

No matter what Take-Two believes, EA's best move now is probably not to extend the offer but, instead, to walk away. The Take-Two share price would be very likely to move back below $20, which would pressure the company's board to do something to move the share price back up again.

EA's shareholders are ill-served if the company extends its offer. Without a buyer, Take-Two might have to come to the negotiating table and Electronic Arts could get a better deal.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com and author of the Ten Stocks Under $10 letter.

Activision heeds its call of duty to beat expectations

No matter how you slice it, whether you look at GAAP or non-GAAP statistics, Activision, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) kicked it during the quarter. And I mean really kicked it.

Net sales for Q4 set off at warp factor 11, rising 93% to $602.5 million. Earnings per diluted share on a reported basis came in at $0.14, reversing a year-ago loss of $0.05 per share. For the full fiscal year, Activision grew revenues by 92% -- again, sales growth in the 90's! -- to $2.9 billion. Earnings per diluted share were $1.10 in 2008 versus a measly $0.28 in 2007. Take that, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) and THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI)! Activision is truly taking advantage of consoles from Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT), Sony Corporation (NYSE: SNE), and Nintendo Co. Ltd. (OTC: NTDOY). Titles such as Call of Duty 4, Guitar Hero, and Transformers drove the results -- like I always say, it's always about the quality of the slate. On an adjusted basis, earnings beat expectations by a whopping $0.12, according to Briefing.com.

I bet EA is really wishing its deal went through for Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO) right about now! I believe Activision will continue to do well the rest of the year, and I love its fundamentals, but what about the stock? As of this writing, it's up about 3%. If you are looking to trade Activision, I'd probably wait until all the earnings excitement is over and be patient for pullbacks as the market may perceive that everything is priced in at the moment now that the news is out.

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

Analyst downgrades: EGP, TTWO and CLMT

MOST NOTEWORTHY: EastGroup Properties, Take-Two and Calumet Specialty were today's noteworthy downgrades:
  • After EastGroup (NYSE:EGP) reported slightly higher-than-expected Q1 FFO per share, Cantor Fitzgerald downgraded the stock to Hold from Buy on valuation. However, the firm still believes that the company's business model and dividend fundamentals are well-positioned.
  • Citigroup downgraded Take-Two (NASDAQ:TTWO) to Hold from Buy citing balanced risk/reward as the firm does not expect an aggressive competing bid process.
  • Raymond James downgraded Calumet (NASDAQ:CLMT) to Underperform from Market Perform following the company's reduction in distribution to 45c unit from 63c.
OTHER DOWNGRADES:

Earnings highlights: Blackstone, Caterpillar, Kroger, WellPoint, Boston Beer, and others

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

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Blackstone, Caterpillar, Kroger, WellPoint, Boston Beer, and others

Activision is playing the lawsuit blues

Activision (NASDAQ: ATVI) can rock its shareholders just as hard as a blood-spitting Gene Simmons at a Kiss concert. And we all know why -- the Guitar Hero franchise is, simply put, one of the most popular videogames out there, and it is available for all the major console systems from Sony (NYSE: SNE), Microsoft (NYSE: MSFT) and Nintendo (OTC: NTDOY). It's also a pain in the neck for other publishers such as Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS), Take-Two (NASDAQ: TTWO) and THQ (NASDAQ: THQI), since they have to put up with the franchise's dominating power. But guess what, the inevitable has come to pass -- Activision is being accused of patent infringement!

Yes, you can't be very popular, you can't rake in millions and millions of dollars in profit for shareholders and expect to get away unscathed. Gibson Guitar, according to this Associated Press piece, believes Guitar Hero infringes on a patent it holds for a rock-concert simulator. The patent apparently goes back to 1999 and it contains a description for a system that uses a 3-D headset in conjunction with a musical playback. Activision decided to file a suit to get a court decision declaring that it is not infringing on any existing patent.

Continue reading Activision is playing the lawsuit blues

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Last updated: November 10, 2009: 12:40 AM

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