Activision Results
Company down in the fourth quarter but breaks Fiscal Year net revenue records.
Date: Thursday, May 31, 2007
Author: James Fudge

Activision (Nasdaq:ATVI) today announced record net revenues for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007. Net revenues for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007 were $1.51 billion, as compared to $1.47 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006. Net income for the fiscal year was $85.8 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, as compared to net income of $40.3 million, or $0.14 per diluted share reported for the last fiscal year. Excluding the impact of expenses relating to equity-based compensation, the company reported earnings per diluted share of $0.33 for the fiscal year. This compares to the company's previous outlook of $0.26 per share excluding equity-based compensation expense.

Net revenues for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2007 were $313 million, as compared to $188 million that the company reported for the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year. For the fourth quarter, the company reported a net loss of $14.4 million, or a loss per share of $0.05, as compared to a net loss of $9.1 million, or a loss per share of $0.03 for the fiscal year 2006 fourth quarter. Excluding equity-based compensation expense, the company reported a loss per share of $0.04 for the fourth quarter.

Additionally, the company has updated its preliminary financial results for the nine months ended December 31, 2006. The company's previous preliminary earnings per diluted share estimate for the nine months ended December 31, 2006 was $0.30 including equity-based compensation expense. Excluding the impact of equity-based compensation expense, the company's previous preliminary earnings per diluted share for the nine months were $0.33.

As a result of updating its financial statements for charges related to its review of historical stock option practices, and subsequent events adjustments primarily related to a change in the company's effective tax rate, the company's updated nine month earnings per diluted share, including equity-based compensation expense, increased to $0.33. Excluding the impact of equity-based compensation expense, the company's updated nine month earnings per diluted share were $0.37.

Activision's fiscal year results were driven by strong worldwide consumer response to Call of Duty 3, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, Tony Hawk's Project 8 and Guitar Hero II, as well as the strength of its distribution business. During the fiscal year, the company grew its U.S. console market share, was the #2 U.S. third-party software publisher overall, and had two top-10 best-selling titles overall in the U.S., Call of Duty 3 and Guitar Hero II, according to The NPD Group.

For fiscal 2008, Activision increased its net revenues outlook to $1.8 billion. The company expects operating income to grow in excess of 100% over fiscal 2007. The company also expects earnings per diluted share of $0.45, including the impact of equity-based compensation expense. Excluding the impact of equity-based compensation expense, the company expects earnings per diluted share of $0.55. The company also announced that it would move the release of Enemy Territory: Quake Wars into the second quarter.

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