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.

This winter should be an exciting time for video game companies. Unfortunately, at the moment fan favorite Nintendo (NTDOY) is powering down.

Nintendo announced revenues of only ¥189 billion, much lower than the consensus estimate of ¥212 billion. Earnings came in at a ¥197 loss, widely missing the consensus estimate of ¥34 billion.

Continue reading Nintendo Powering Down Ahead of 3DS Launch

Nintendo Powering Down Ahead of 3DS Launch originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:20:00 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.

After a failed gambit with video game vending machines in 2009, Walmart (WMT) is looking to jump back into the used PlayStation, Wii and Xbox business.

The King of Retail confirmed this week it has inked a deal with a small, used game retailer to test used video game sales, buybacks and trade-ins in five stores. There are rumors the deal also involves DVD and Blu-Ray disc sales too.

Continue reading Walmart Toying with Trading Used Video Games

Walmart Toying with Trading Used Video Games originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 12 May 2010 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading MLB Games Coming to Sony PS3

MLB Games Coming to Sony PS3 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Don't Expect Much Upside for Video Game Stocks

Don't Expect Much Upside for Video Game Stocks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 16 Apr 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.

The video-game retailer rallied on the Q4 report (at the time of this writing, shares were 7% higher). Earnings were down: they came in at $1.29 per diluted share, a dime less than what was made in the previous year's similar quarter (this latter period included 5 cents of merger-related income, so take that into account). But expectations were slightly beaten: according to our earnings preview, the call was for $1.28 per share.

Continue reading GameStop Up on Q4 News: Time to Get Back In?

GameStop Up on Q4 News: Time to Get Back In? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Markets Remain Muddled (C, GME, TM, POT)

Closing Bell: Markets Remain Muddled (C, GME, TM, POT) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:20:00 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.

Earlier in the week, I discussed the disappointing reaction concerning Electronic Arts (ERTS) and its most recent quarterly report. Just a couple days later, Activision Blizzard (ATVI) released its own three-month numbers, and the situation was completely different. The market liked the data, deciding to give the stock a bid.

There are three very positive elements to the fourth-quarter story that are obviously intriguing investors. First, on an adjusted basis, the publisher delivered 49 cents per share on the bottom line, which, according to Reuters, is six pennies ahead of projections. Second, shareholders have a $1 billion repurchase initiative to look forward to. Third, management believes it's time to directly distribute some of the cash-flow spoils to its true believers: A 15-cent annual dividend has been declared.

Continue reading Activision Blizzard Posts Successful Q4: Is Stock a Buy?

Activision Blizzard Posts Successful Q4: Is Stock a Buy? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 11 Feb 2010 08:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Electronic Arts Inc. (ERTS) was down in the after-hours session by over 9% on the heels of the gaming publisher's Q3 report. Non-GAAP sales were off by over 20%. Adjusted income came in at 33 cents per share. This was two cents higher than expectations according to my earnings preview, but a lot less than the 56 cents per share earned in the comparable frame.

The press release mentions the lower quantity of titles released during the holiday season as being a driver of the decline in revenue (a tough European market was also cited). That may be, but it doesn't absolve EA of its fundamental challenges.

Continue reading Electronic Arts Down Big in After-Hours Following Q3 Report

Electronic Arts Down Big in After-Hours Following Q3 Report originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

THQ (THQI), a video game publisher whose colleagues include Activision Blizzard (ATVI) and Electronic Arts (ERTS), reported very good news this week. For the third quarter, non-GAAP income was 35 cents per share. In the comparable frame, a loss of 14 cents per share was posted.

This obviously represents a vast improvement, although it should be noted that it didn't come on the back of a big sales increase. On a reported basis, the top line was flat, and on a non-GAAP basis, it was down more significantly. This is important to note, because it would have been nice to have read about a revenue expansion, considering the way the gaming industry has been suffering.

Continue reading THQ Reports Adjusted Profit in Q3

THQ Reports Adjusted Profit in Q3 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

However, net profit rose over 80% because of currency issues. This was pretty cool, since the effect of the yen had been a previous concern. Also cool was the fact that Nintendo came in ahead of estimates.

Continue reading Nintendo: Not Necessarily a Buy After Report

Nintendo: Not Necessarily a Buy After Report originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

My trade on GameStop Corp. (GME) has come to an inauspicious end. Today, I sold out of my position, realizing a significant loss.

It's always difficult to turn a paper loss into an authentic one. You worry if the stock is going to suddenly rise after you sold out. I'm sure that could happen in my case. In fact, at the time of this writing, shares were higher than the price at which I sold them. I ditched them at around $19.60 per share.

Continue reading Trade Update: Realized Loss on GameStop

Trade Update: Realized Loss on GameStop originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Well, I finally did it. Last week, I sold my position in Activision Blizzard (ATVI), at a price of $10.62 per share. I thought about it long and hard, but in the end, I felt it was the right thing for me to do at this time.

In case you haven't noticed, shares of the video game publisher have been in something of a downtrend as of late. The industry isn't what it used to be. Gaming isn't going away, certainly, but those who follow this sector will no doubt agree that the growth is possibly no longer there, at least for the short term.

Continue reading Why I Sold Activision Blizzard

Why I Sold Activision Blizzard originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Take-Two Interactive (TTWO), a video game publisher whose competitors include Activision Blizzard (ATVI) and Electronic Arts (ERTS), actually held up well Thursday after the company issued its Q4 report. I was honestly expecting a sell-off after the news. Why? The video game industry just isn't popular these days, so I figured the market would have found some excuse to send the shares packing. To my surprise, Take-Two gained over 1.8% in the regular session and then another 3% in the after-hours following the release.

Revenues increased 6%, but the action was in the per-share profit line. On an adjusted basis, Take-Two brought home 9 cents per share versus 2 cents per share in the fourth quarter of 2008. But I don't think the market cared too much about the data. After all, guidance for Q4 had already been announced near the beginning of the month. At that time, the stock was punished for the bad outlook and the upcoming GAAP loss. And I mean really punished. It lost 30% of its value at one point.

Continue reading Take-Two Reports Much Higher Adjusted Income

Take-Two Reports Much Higher Adjusted Income originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Short City Update: GameStop - cover short

Short City Update: GameStop - cover short originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The video game industry, as we are all aware, has taken a sharp turn from momentum growth. The various stocks in the sector, from my standpoint at least, are now becoming value-oriented plays. When this happens, the concept of consolidation comes into focus.

Trying to pick a stock that will experience a pop on a buyout is not for the faint of heart, or the impatient. And depending on the stocks you own, you might be hoping that you don't become involuntarily involved in an arbitrage scenario. That's why I was pleasantly relieved when I read an article stating that The Walt Disney Company (DIS) CEO Bob Iger may not be interested in purchasing a software publisher.

Continue reading Consolidation in the video game sector: Too soon to think about?

Consolidation in the video game sector: Too soon to think about? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Great jobs data, dud of a market (AAPL, DD, SWHC, TTWO, BAC)

Closing Bell: Great jobs data, dud of a market (AAPL, DD, SWHC, TTWO, BAC) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.