Nexstar Preparing to Close Accretive Acquisition of Tribune

Nexstar Media Group (NXST) reported solid 1Q19 earnings with all important metrics matching Wall Street expectations.  Core advertising, retransmission fees, and profit margins all stayed on the recent positive trend.  Advertising has improved since last fall providing a nice boost to investor confidence.  Retransmission or subscription fees are now about half of revenues making NXST […]

Disney Transitioning to Direct-to-Consumer Future

Thanks to the 2Q19 earnings report, for a brief stretch, focus on Disney (DIS) turned back to the fundamentals of their current operating businesses.  It turns out the news is pretty good.  Theme parks are performing very well with growth prospects soon to be supported by new attractions in Orlando and Southern California.  The film […]

Still Pays to Wait on CBS

Despite reporting another solid quarter in line with Wall Street expectations, CBS shares remain in a tough spot.  The shares trade at 9X 2019 estimated earnings, barely more than half of the market multiple.  The overhanging issue, which has been so for over a year, is a potential merger with Viacom.  More recently, the company […]

Transition Year Underway at Activision Blizzard

Activision Blizzard (ATVI) confirmed it is facing a transition year in 2019 with its 1Q19 earnings report and guidance update.  First quarter earnings exceeded Wall Street expectations but management guided 2Q19 below current estimates and maintained full year guidance issued earlier this year.  The combination of exiting the Destiny franchise, tough competition from free-to-play games, […]

Mid Cap and Growth Themes Remain in Place

There are no changes to the recommendations form Northlake’s Market Cap and Style models for April.  Growth remains the favored Style as it has been since the start of January.  The Mid Cap signal also stays in place for the third consecutive month.  With no changes to the model signals, client positions in the S&P […]

Apple Shows Potential to Ripen

Apple (AAPL) reported weak but better than expected 2Q19 results and 3Q19 guidance.  Revenues fell -5% for the second consecutive quarter.  Operating profit fell -15% after declining -10% last quarter.  EPS exceeded expectations but still declined -10% boosted by additional share repurchases.  Net income fell -16%.  Guess what?  Amid all these negative numbers AAPL shares […]