THQ Raises Earnings Guidance and Stock Soars

Just a short time ago, THQ Incorporated (THQI) received a delisting notice from the Nasdaq if it could not maintain a price above a $1 a share. Shares have not seen a $1 since December of 2011 but appear destined to hit the key share price after upbeat earnings from the company.
The fourth quarter loss will now be smaller than the company and analysts once projected. The net loss is expected to now be in the $0.10 to $0.20 range. Previously, the loss was predicted to be in a range of $0.35-$0.50. Net sales will now be reported as $160-$170 million versus projected $130-$150 million.
Saints Row: The Third sales greatly increased once the company did several price cuts to attract buyers. The uDraw segment has weighed down shares and hurt revenue. Stronger sales of the UFC Undisputed game also helped the earnings beat. A blog post I wrote back in January highlighted the new UFC game and the company’s potential. Here’s a look at sales of some recent releases:

North America/Europe/Japan/Rest of World/Total

UFC Undisputed 3 XBOX 360 0.36million 0.08 million 0 0.04 million 0.49 million

UFC Undisputed 3 PS3 0.28 million 0.12 million 0.01 million 0.06 million 0.48 million



Saints Row 3 XBOX 360 0.89 million 0.92 million 0.03 million 0.22 million 2.07 million

Saints Row 3 PS3 0.55 million 0.69 million 0.09 million 0.28 million 1.62 million

Saints Row 3 PC 0.07 million 0.11 million 0 0.03 0.21 million



Sales figures from www.vgchartz.com


Earnings will now be reported on May 15th and this could lead to an increased share price once guidance for the rest of the year is reported. An update on the game release schedule could also push shares back over $1. The company will also report $76 million in cash balances. Along with its cash balance, the company still maintains a $50 million level of credit that can be utilized to release several games in 2012 and 2013.

The company will likely update the status on the highly anticipated Darksiders II game. The game will be a follow-up to 2010’s Darksiders, which sold close to a million copies on the XBOX 360 platform. The company’s recent UFC game is also helping earn the company additional revenue with downloadable character packs, including the recent International Fighters pack. The WWE games also have made extra money from downloadable character packs. In my recent blog post, I also mentioned how the company was expanding into social gaming including UFC and Margaritaville.



The fifty two week share price of the company is a wide $0.45-$4.67. Shares once traded for over $35 a share. I bought shares of this stock under $1 as I believe the company is producing enough money from several minor hits to keep its studio going. New releases will power the company further along or will lead to a buyout. A buyout is also very realistic as larger Take Two (TTWO), Electronic Arts (EA), or Activision (ATVI) looks to strengthen its portfolio and will gain the Saints Row, Darksiders, and UFC brands as well as others. I remain bullish on shares of THQI and think they are worth buying below a $1 a share.

*Disclosure - I own shares of THQI and ATVI

Buy the Company Behind the Tupac Hologram

Over the weekend, attendees of the annual Coachella Music Festival were treated to a suprise appearance from Tupac Shakur. Now I know what you're thinking, yes Tupac was shot and killed in 1996. This Tupac was a hologram that was made by Digital Domain Media Group (DDMG). The Tupac hologram performed "Hail Mary" and "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" with Snoop Dogg.

Digital Domain Media Group went public in November of 2011. The stock is trading below its IPO price, even with a nice runup from the Tupac hologram. I wrote an article on Seeking Alpha today analyzing other parts of the business and the potential for other holograms.

Check out the article here.

*Disclosure - I own shares of Digital Domain Media Group*

Recommended Stock Dreams Incorporated (DRJ) Receives Buyout Offer From Fanatics

Today, one of my most recommended stocks over the last year on Seeking Alpha shot up 30% from a buyout announcement. Dreams Incorporated, owner of the Fansedge.com website and other sports assets, was offered a $3.45 per share buyout from Fanatics.

In my most recent Dreams article on Seeking Alpha, I recommended buying shares while they were trading at $3.04. In that article I gave a price target of $4.00. In an earlier article, I recommended buying shares when they traded at $2.16. Buying shares at either of those prices would have yielded a nice short term profit for readers.

Here is a look at Dreams articles I have written:

July 31st 2011 - 15 Companies Breathing a Sigh of Relief From the New NFL Deal
Share Price $2.63, Price Target N/A

December 2nd 2011 - Dreams Incorporated is a Double in 12 Months at Today's Share Price
Share Price $2.19, Price Target $4.00

December 23rd 2011 - A 12 Stock Tim Tebow Portfolio for the Holidays
Share Price $2.30, Price Target N/A

March 19th 2012 - Nike, Dreams Incorporated Big Winners in Peyton Manning Sweepstakes
Share Price $2.85, Price Target N/A

March 30th 2012 - Web Syndication Deals, Growing E-Commerce Will Help Dream Shares Jump
Share Price $3.04, Price Target $4.00

All these articles offered entry points below today's buyout price. If you read my articles here and are not familiar with Seeking Alpha, you should make the jump over there. On Seeking Alpha, I offer many more in depth articles with trading recommendations. Head over to the site, sign up and begin following me so you can profit from your trading.

A Stock That Can Benefit From The Mega Millions Jackpot

I played the Mega Millions several weeks ago when it crossed the $500 million mark. Like others, I had dreams of how to spend the money once I won. Buy a boat, pay off the house, finally invest millions, travel the world, and the list goes on. Unfortunately I did not cash in and am left without the millions of dollars. I did however find a company that could hit the jackpot from the increased numbers of players.

Scientific Games holds the rights to nine state lotteries and is also one of the largest instant scratch off ticket producers in the world. This article will point you in the right direction in this winning stock pick.

Scientific Games Could Benefit From Mega Millions Jackpot

Facebook's Instagram Acquisition Doesn't Add Up