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.

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.

Analyst Upgrades

• Electronic Arts (ERTS) to overweight from neutral at Piper Jaffray.
• Helix Energy (HLX) to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley.
• Quest Software (QSFT) to neutral from sell at Goldman.
• LTX-Credence (LTXC) to buy from hold at Needham.
• Anadarko (APC) to buy from hold at Canaccord.
• Walgreen (WAG) to hold from sell at Citigroup.
• Pericom (PSEM) to buy from hold at ThinkEquity.

I'm now going to take a brief look at two stocks that were affected by earnings releases earlier today. The two companies are a study in completely different business models: one sells video games, the other sells drugs. Then again, video games are a drug to some, so maybe they aren't so different?

First up: Electronic Arts (ERTS). EA wasn't exciting during the regular session. It closed up fractionally to $15.62; volume was strong, though. And after looking at the extended-hours reaction to the earnings report that was released following the ringing of the bell, it might be understandable why so many players were intent on getting in on the stock.

Friday's fourth-quarter GDP numbers offered more evidence that the economy is picking up steam, but one of the biggest obstacles to the recovery remains the stubbornly high unemployment rate. We'll find out whether there's been any movement on that front when employment data for January comes out this week. The Challenger Job-Cut report and ADP employment data are due Wednesday, and the government's unemployment rate on Friday. Another mild increase in jobs is expected, in line with the three-month average, but not enough to significantly reduce the unemployment rate.

Also look for the ISM manufacturing and nonmanufacturing indexes this week, as well as the Chicago PMI and the New York NAPM index. And Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke will speak to the National Press Club on Thursday.

Las Vegas Sands (LVS) overall option implied volatility is at 50, according to Track Data, below its 26-week average of 55 into its release of Q4 EPS on February 3, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Electronic Arts (ERTS) February and March option implied volatility is at 40, according to Track Data, near its 26-week average of 39 into its release of Q3 EPS on February 2, suggesting non-directional price movement.

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

Let's face it: the chart for Electronic Arts (ERTS) isn't encouraging. And Wednesday's price action, the day after the video-game publisher's fiscal second-quarter results were released to investors, was awful: the stock lost over 4%, settling on a quote of $15.50, not too far away from the 52-week low of $14.06.

Shareholders would love to see a breakout above $20.24. When will it happen? Difficult to say. Remember that the industry has been suffering.

It will be a busy week. Republicans are poised to gain control of the House of Representatives and gain governorships in Tuesday's mid-term elections. Also, the Federal Reserve is expected to announce another round of quantitative easing Wednesday, following the FOMC meeting. Major retailers are scheduled to report October same-store sales Thursday, while the October unemployment rate, announced on Friday, is expected to remain at 9.6%.

Toyota's (TM) fiscal second-quarter results will be one of the highlights on the earnings front this week. After three periods of way underestimating Toyota's earnings, have the analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters got it right this time? The stock sure could use a boost. Teva Pharmaceuticals (TEVA) is in a similar situation; i.e., high expectations for this week's quarterly results but a stock in need of a boost. Marathon (MRO) and Starbucks (SBUX) are also expected to post strong earnings growth this week, but both stocks are riding high.

Analyst Upgrades

• JPMorgan upgraded Smith Micro (SMSI) to overweight from neutral and raised its price target to $15 from $9, citing the release of a WiFi iPad with MiFi from Verizon and Apple.
• Jefferies upgraded Whole Foods (WFMI) to buy from hold and raised its price target to $45 from $36, citing checks that indicate sales are accelerating and the company has been focused on expense control.
• Wells Fargo upgraded Ensco (ESV) and raised its price target to $54 to $56 from $46 to $47, citing valuation, the lifted deepwater drilling ban and higher oil prices.
• Gran Tierra Energy (GTE) was upgraded to buy from hold at Wunderlich, citing the company's Moqueta oil discovery as well as other near-term exploration opportunities, and raised its price target to $12.50 from $7.00.
• Chico's FAS (CHS) was upgraded to buy from hold at KeyBanc and set a $13 price target.
• UR-Energy (URE) was upgraded to buy from hold at KeyBanc.

I first discussed Hasbro Inc. (HAS) on June 22, 2009, at a price of $24.30. The toymaker has broken though resistance at $40 and powered higher, and obviously I still like the shares.

Look for Hasbro's revenue to rise 2% to 3% in 2010, as toy sales eek out a small gain from 2009's level, as the "frugal consumer" era in the United States continues. Hasbro's positives in 2010? Product diversity, strength in the Nerf brand, and royalties from its Electronic Arts (ERTS) agreement.

Electronic Arts (ERTS) was more than 2% higher Thursday morning, thanks mainly to news that the latest installation of its Medal of Honor franchise has set a presale record.

The newest game is based in Afghanistan and introduces players to a new class of warrior. Past iterations of the franchise have helped the company, and while specific sales data was not released, it seems that investors are assuming that sales of the game will be massive.