Continue reading Market Down on DreamWorks Animation After 'Megamind' Debut

Market Down on DreamWorks Animation After 'Megamind' Debut originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

News Corp. (NWS), a media conglomerate whose colleagues include CBS (CBS), Disney (DIS), General Electric's (GE) NBC Universal, Time Warner (TWX), and Viacom (VIA), issued its Q3 report Tuesday after the bell. I thought things looked pretty good.

Net sales increased 19%, and net income calculated out to 32 cents per share; Bloomberg Businessweek says the expectation was for around 23 cents per share of profit. Very cool. If you reference the actual press release, you'll see that just about all the operating segments performed extremely well on a year-over-year basis.

Continue reading News Corp.'s Q3: Good Enough to Buy?

News Corp.'s Q3: Good Enough to Buy? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 05 May 2010 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Everyone dreams of making it big in Hollywood (hey, I wouldn't mind selling a screenplay or two). Such a goal is elusive. You can, however, trade stocks associated with the glitz and glamor of Tinseltown. Let's look at the earnings reports of two businesses involved in motion pictures that were released on Thursday.

IMAX Corporation (IMAX) is famous for its 3D-theater technology. It's also been notable lately for its stock. Like a solid script, the one-year chart tells a good story. The shares have risen mightily over the last twelve months, fighting their way to victory by defeating all the Wall Street bears (I admit, I've been bearish on the company in the past) and basking in the triumphant glory of new 52-week highs.

Continue reading A Tale of Two Hollywood Stocks: IMAX and Viacom

A Tale of Two Hollywood Stocks: IMAX and Viacom originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 30 Apr 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Time Warner (TWX) had a nice weekend. According to Box Office Mojo, the studio's Clash of the Titans spectacle retained its number-one position, bringing in $26.6 million at domestic theaters. At first, it seemed as if News Corp.'s (NWS) Date Night was going to be the top picture, but it ended up settling for second place after the final numbers came in (it was eventually credited with $25.2 million).

Besides that, the other news story this week is the apparent deal between Time Warner's TBS and Conan O'Brien; he'll create a new talk show for that network to debut sometime this November. This got me thinking about Time Warner and its stock: is it a buy right now?

Continue reading Is Time Warner a Buy?

Is Time Warner a Buy? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

While searching through the news, I caught an item highlighted by theflyonthewall. It was a piece on the economic science of advertising a feature movie. And it mentioned DreamWorks Animation's (DWA) How to Train Your Dragon. That film hasn't done as well as management probably expected; it certainly didn't do as well as the market expected, judging by the price action of DWA after the flick's first weekend at bat.

According to Reuters, all the studios are trying to deal with the inflationary aspects related to opening a movie. Whether you're a Disney (DIS) or a Time Warner (TWX), it makes no difference; if you want a big debut weekend for a tent-pole production, you're probably going to put a lot of capital to work (and, by definition, at risk).

Continue reading Did DreamWorks Animation Fumble 'How to Train Your Dragon' Marketing?

Did DreamWorks Animation Fumble 'How to Train Your Dragon' Marketing? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 10 Apr 2010 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

What an interesting weekend at the box office. There was a lot to watch for those who invest in the media sector. Let's have a look at what went on.

First, Time Warner Inc. (TWX) scored with Clash of the Titans. I think most observers were expecting this one to reign supreme. According to estimates available at the time of this writing over at Box Office Mojo, Titans made over $60 million in the domestic marketplace. Shareholders are hoping that this will be the start of another good run for the studio. As you'll probably recall, Time Warner was very successful in the celluloid game during 2009.

Continue reading Time Warner and Lions Gate Clash at Box Office

Time Warner and Lions Gate Clash at Box Office originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 05 Apr 2010 17:20:00 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.

Carmike Cinemas (CKEC) reported a much-improved fourth quarter yesterday after the bell. Total revenue increased 17%. The bottom line recorded 48 cents per share in terms of income from continuing operations. This compares to a loss of $2.75 per share in the relevant period.

According to Reuters, the net income figure completely obliterated the analysts. The call was for 9 cents per share. I don't think there was any question that the theater chain was going to beat. As management stated in the release, the multiplex industry generated incredible business in Q4.

Continue reading Carmike Cinemas Soars Past Expectations

Carmike Cinemas Soars Past Expectations originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In its second weekend out in the domestic theatrical marketplace, Viacom's (VIA) Shutter Island thriller, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, demonstrated that it has some resilience. This is good news, considering the budget on the film is a healthy $80 million.

Island made $22.6 million, according to Box Office Mojo. The cumulative gross so far for the flick is better than $75 million. Viacom beat out Time Warner's (TWX) new entry Cop Out, directed by Kevin Smith, and horror picture The Crazies, a remake of a George Romero project from the early 1970s, which is distributed by Liberty Capital Group's (LCAPA) Overture Films.

Continue reading Viacom's 'Shutter Island' Retains Top Spot

Viacom's 'Shutter Island' Retains Top Spot originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Over the long Valentine's weekend, according to estimates from Box Office Mojo at the time of this writing, Time Warner's (TWX) Valentine's Day made over $50 million, good for number one. How appropriate, right?

News Corp.'s (NWS) Avatar dropped to fourth place. Last week, the film was in second place. I know it's been out for a while, and the lower rank is to be expected by this point no matter how much of a phenomenon it is, but I thought it would have made a stop at slot three before hitting the one below it. No huge deal, though, since it's already made tons of money.

Continue reading Time Warner Gets Lucky Over Valentine's Day Weekend

Time Warner Gets Lucky Over Valentine's Day Weekend originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Viacom, Inc. (VIA) recorded a significant increase in per-share profit in the fourth quarter. On an adjusted basis, earnings from continuing businesses increased over 40% to $1.09 per share. The call on Wall Street was for only 88 cents per share.

Sure, that's a wide margin for the beat, but in many ways, the Viacom story is a precarious one to buy. There are two major divisions in this company: media networks and movies. Operating income at the former went up 3% in Q4, while profit at the latter increased over 250%. Viacom had a strong theatrical film slate in 2009, and it is reaping the financial windfall from that slate in the ancillary markets.

Continue reading Viacom Delivers Great Q4, but Are the Shares Attractive?

Viacom Delivers Great Q4, but Are the Shares Attractive? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Lions Gate Entertainment (LGF), a content studio operating in the same industry as The Walt Disney Company (DIS), Sony Corporation (SNE), Time Warner Inc. (TWX), and Viacom, Inc. (VIA), released third-quarter results to the market on Tuesday after the bell. The numbers weren't spectacular, but there were some definite improvements.

Lions Gate lost 55 cents per diluted share in Q3. According to my earnings preview, Wall Street was hoping for a loss closer to 23 cents. On the bright side, the company lost 84 cents per share in last year's report, so at least execs stopped the red ink from getting any redder.

Continue reading Lions Gate Reduces Loss, Increases Cash Flow in Q3

Lions Gate Reduces Loss, Increases Cash Flow in Q3 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Disney (DIS), a major media company that competes with CBS (CBS), General Electric's (GE) NBC Universal, News Corp. (NWS), Sony (SNE), Time Warner (TWX), and Viacom (VIA), offered up fiscal Q1 data after the bell on Tuesday. From the looks of things, the Mouse had a good quarter.

According to my earnings preview, the call was for net income to come in at 39 cents per share on an adjusted basis. Disney actually made 47 cents per share. Not only was that a more than acceptable beat, but it represents growth of 15%.

Continue reading Disney Starts Off the New Fiscal Year with Solid Results

Disney Starts Off the New Fiscal Year with Solid Results originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

News Corp. (NWS), the media conglomerate that competes with Disney (DIS), Time Warner (TWX), and General Electric's (GE) NBC Universal, posted Q2 data after the bell on Tuesday. Shareholders should have few complaints on this one.

Revenues went up 10%, and earnings on an adjusted basis jumped well over 60% to 25 cents per share. According to Reuters, the estimate was 20 cents per share. Besides the beat, cash from operations was a lot better in the current six-month period. In the comparable frame, cash was used to fund operating activities.

Continue reading News Corp. Reports Fantastic Second Quarter

News Corp. Reports Fantastic Second Quarter originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Did you think Mel Gibson had a chance this past weekend? Probably not. By now, we're all used to seeing News Corp.s (NWS) Avatar take the top spot. And for those keeping score, this is the seventh victory in a row for James Cameron (who, by the way, may offer lessons for entrepreneurs, according to Tom Taulli).

According to early estimates from Box Office Mojo, Avatar made another $30 million at domestic theaters over the past three days. At the time of this writing, the worldwide gross was just under $2 billion (it will definitely go over $2 billion, don't worry). Time Warner's (TWX) Edge of Darkness, starring the aforementioned Gibson, wasn't even close to a challenge for the 3-D aliens. Give it some credit, though: It came in second with $17 million.

Continue reading News Corp.'s 'Avatar' Isn't Ready to Step Down

News Corp.'s 'Avatar' Isn't Ready to Step Down originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 01 Feb 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Time Warner's (TWX) The Book of Eli did a commendable job of attempting to dethrone News Corp.'s (NWS) Avatar from the top spot. In the end, it failed. James Cameron has produced a hit that will simply not be stopped. At the time of this writing, early estimates from Box Office Mojo credited the picture with capturing another $41 million over the past weekend at domestic theaters. Avatar is closing in on $500 million, an accomplishment which makes you wonder if this is the wintertime or the summertime.

Eli came in second with $31 million. A reasonably good start for Time Warner considering the power of News Corp.'s new Titanic; word of mouth is now key to propelling the apocalyptic project into solid blockbuster status. The film reportedly has a budget of $80 million attached to it, so hopefully the worldwide gross will be stellar even if the domestic take falters.

Continue reading Time Warner's 'Eli' Not Holy Enough to Defeat News Corp.'s 'Avatar'

Time Warner's 'Eli' Not Holy Enough to Defeat News Corp.'s 'Avatar' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading HootSuite Rakes in Close to $2 Million in New Venture Round

HootSuite Rakes in Close to $2 Million in New Venture Round originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

You just can't stop News Corp.'s (NWS) Avatar. James Cameron's epic 3D picture grossed $48 million at domestic theaters over the weekend, as of early estimates from Box Office Mojo. This puts the grand total at almost $430 million (worldwide, Avatar has made well over a billion bucks). Amazing for this time of year.

News Corp. is also counting its money from Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, which is ranked in third place at the time of this writing; its total gross now stands at roughly $178 million. Coming in second is Time Warner's (TWX) Sherlock Holmes action adventure. It's possible Holmes and Squeakquel could change places once final numbers are released, since both are credited with similar weekend amounts. Nevertheless, Holmes has now raked in about $165 million.

Continue reading News Corp.'s Avatar Refuses to Yield Top Spot

News Corp.'s Avatar Refuses to Yield Top Spot originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 11 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

News Corp.'s (NWS) Avatar is exploding like a blinding supernova at the box office. Although I have no interest in seeing it, I undoubtedly must be one of the only people on the planet who lacks the need to become immersed in the 3-D adventure. According to early estimates at Box Office Mojo, James Cameron's "titanic" cinematic beast scored another $68 million at domestic theaters over the New Year's weekend. Total so far: better than $350 million.

Time Warner's (TWX) take on a famous literary detective had to settle for second place yet again. Sherlock Holmes pulled in $38 million. Coming in third was the Alvin and the Chipmunks sequel, also released by News Corp. Indeed, there's no shortage of excitement at the multiplex.

Continue reading Should Studios Adopt the James Cameron Model of Moviemaking?

Should Studios Adopt the James Cameron Model of Moviemaking? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Time Warner (TWX), whose colleagues include The Walt Disney Company (DIS), General Electric Corporation's (GE) Universal, and Sony Corporation (SNE), did an incredible job at the box office in 2009. It could even end up being the top studio, although there is currently some ambiguity on that count. This article over at Variety says that News Corp. (NWS) might come out ahead once all is said and done.

Nevertheless, according to Moviefone, Time Warner's movie operations captured an estimated $3.99 billion at multiplexes around the globe. Yes, it's an impressive feat, and it was done with the help of a major franchise. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince grossed well over $900 million on a worldwide basis. Even more amazing was the performance of surprise comedy hit The Hangover. And to think, that one had an R rating, something that tends to limit the potential for big success.

Continue reading Thoughts on Time Warner's 2009 Box Office Performance

Thoughts on Time Warner's 2009 Box Office Performance originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.