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

• 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.

U.S. stock futures are lower Wednesday morning as investors await comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 22 points to 12,174.00, while those for the S&P 500 index declined 4.9 points to 1,316.80. Futures for the Nasdaq 100 index fell 7.50 points to 2,355.25.

U.S. stocks closed higher Tuesday, with the Dow gaining 0.59% to close at 12,233.

MetLife (MET) is expected to post Q4 EPS of $1.10 on revenue of $13.50 billion. Coca-Cola (KO) is projected to report Q4 EPS of 72 cents on revenue of $9.75 billion. Northrop Grumman (NOC) is projected to report its Q4 earnings at $1.01 per share on revenue of $8.80 billion.

Things look to be pretty quiet on the economic calendar this week. Here are the highlights:

• Tuesday: Weekly chain-store sales
• Wednesday: Federal budget balance for January
• Thursday: Wholesale trade data in December
• Friday: Trade balance in December and the weekly inflation survey

However, three iconic companies -- Walt Disney (DIS), Coca-Cola (KO) and Hasbro (HAS) -- highlight this week's quarterly results. Here's a look at what analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are anticipating from these and others.

Last time I wrote about Take-Two Interactive (TTWO), I mentioned how the stock was getting interesting. I think the shares remain interesting, and I'm wondering if they could be a viable trade idea at this point.

This idea is not without significant risk. To begin with, the video-game industry still has its challenges: we're getting along in the current console cycle, and now, not a few gamers/investors are wondering when the next one will begin. Plus, Take-Two is arguably a candidate for profit-taking after its recent run-up (please see the chart). Management will issue its next quarterly report on February 8. Do you want to be in the stock ahead of this event? It's an important question to ask.

Take-Two Interactive (TTWO), a video-game publisher whose competitors include Activision Blizzard (ATVI) and Electronic Arts (ERTS), reported excellent results for its latest quarter Thursday after the bell. The numbers sent the stock higher in the extended-hours session: Shares gained over 6%, rising to $12.68. Is it time to buy?

Take-Two is getting interesting, I have to admit. I was bearish on the company back in July. Now, the recent price action and the strong stats have got me looking quite seriously at the bull case.

U.S. stock futures are lower this morning, as investors await data on leading indicators. Moody's Investors Service downgraded Ireland's credit rating by five notches. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 7 points to 11,424, while those for the S&P 500 lost 1.20 points to 1,237.30. Futures for the Nasdaq 100 moved down 3.25 points to 2,216.00.

US stocks closed higher on Thursday, driven by better-than-expected economic reports. The DJIA gained 0.36% yesterday.

Data on leading economic indicators for November will be released 10 a.m. ET.

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.

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.

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.

Hain Celestial Group (HAIN) topped the insider-buying charts for the week ending July 9th as insiders snapped up 174,602 shares of company stock at a market value of $4,120,368. Insiders now own 6.44% of HAIN stock.

Ulta Salon Cosmetics & Fragrance (ULTA) was not far behind, with insiders buying 94,800 shares at a market value of $2,668,620. Insiders now own 23.76% of the company's stock after decreasing their overall holdings by 67.37% during the past six months.

Analyst Upgrades

• FBR Capital upgraded Franklin Resources (BEN) to outperform from market perform and raised its target price for shares to $127 from $105 to reflect its belief the company is well positioned in the current environment.
• UBS upgraded Nuance (NUAN) to buy from neutral and has an $18 price target on the stock. The firm upgraded shares based on valuation and believes the company could be an acquisition target.
• Morgan Stanley upgraded DryShips (DRYS) to equal weight from underweight and has a $5.50 target on the stock. The firm cites the firmer ultra-deepwater drilling market for the upgrade.
• Becton Dickinson (BDX) was upgraded to neutral from sell at Goldman.
• Edwards Lifesciences (EW) was upgraded to market perform at Rodman & Renshaw.
• Arkansas Best (ABFS) was upgraded to neutral from underperform at BofA/Merrill.

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.

Unemployment and non-Farm payrolls managed to keep the bears in hibernation this Friday, although that post-release gain and cheer was a bit more muted through most of the trading day. The fact that most trading desks were light and that a hurricane was off the east coast and most investors were either not in at all or gone by 11 AM made for a quiet rest of the day.

Here were the unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow Jones 10,447.86 +127.76 (1.24%)
S&P 500 1,104.44 +14.34 (1.32%)
Nasdaq 2,233.75 +33.74 (1.53%)

Top Analyst Calls

Analyst Upgrades

• Hudson Square upgraded Take-Two (TTWO) to buy from hold, citing the better-than-expected Q3 report and increased guidance.
• Keybanc upgraded The Buckle (BKE) to hold from underweight given the potential for a special dividend in the near term.
• Stifel Nicolaus upgraded K-Sea Transportation (KSP) to hold from sell, citing KA First Reserve's $100M equity investment.
• Gold Fields (GFI) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley.
• James Hardie NV (JHX) was upgraded to neutral from reduce at Nomura.