From Video to Casino Games

Northlake is taking partial profits in Activision Blizzard (ATVI) after the shares have doubled since the initial purchase in November 2014.  The outstanding performance of ATVI against minimal change in the broader market led to position sizes up to 2X what Northlake usually targets.  Northlake still likes ATVI and sees upside to the upper $40s […]

Activision Blizzard Gets Back on Track

Activision Blizzard (ATVI) bounced back from a disappointing end to 2015 with a strong beat on sales and earnings in the first quarter of 2016. ATVI also increased guidance for 2016. Based on the first quarter and management commentary on the conference call, we believe analyst estimates could be revised higher throughout the year as […]

Activision Blizzard Hits a Bump in the Road

Activision Blizzard, Inc. (ATVI) reported disappointing quarterly results with revenue, earnings, and guidance all worse than expected. The shortfall in the fourth quarter was driven by unfavorable foreign exchange rates and weakness in ATVI’s casual franchises on consoles, Skylanders and Guitar Hero. The underwhelming guidance for next year was mainly due to a delayed release […]

Activision: The New KING of Mobile

Activision Blizzard (ATVI) announced strong quarterly results that beat street estimates on sales and earnings per share while raising full year guidance. The updated full year guidance is slightly below street consensus estimates, but seems understandably conservative ahead of ATVI’s launch of the next iteration of their most important franchise, Call of Duty: Black Ops […]

Activision Blizzard to New Highs on Upcoming Titles and Improving Margins

For the second straight quarter, ATVI beat street expectations on the top and bottom line and raised full year guidance for both. The strong results were driven by a continuing shift to higher margin digital revenues and ATVI’s increasingly diversified franchise portfolio. The market responded by sending ATVI’s shares up over 10%. Our investment thesis […]

Activision Benefits from Robust Product Pipeline, Shift to Digital

ATVI announced results that came in above street expectations on the top and bottom line, and raised full year guidance for both as well. The stock reacted positively and broke out of its recent trading range to the upside. ATVI continues to make progress transitioning their business model to focus on high-margin digital sales driving […]

Activision Blizzard: Fewer Worries Equals Blue Skies

Activision Blizzard (ATVI) reported slightly better than expected holiday quarter results driven by good sell through of next generation video games.  Along with reported results from competing video game publishers, it appears that the better than expected sales of new video game consoles in 2013 and 2014 are now driving sales of software.  The game […]

Activision Blizzard: Attractive Play on Video Game Cycle

Activision Blizzard, Inc. (ATVI) is a new buy for Northlake clients. Now is a good time to invest in ATVI following recently announced better than expected third quarter results. In addition, there have been concerns about growth at ATVI for 2015, but the worries seem to be easing due to the just reported better than […]