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 […]

Liberty Media Looking to Close The Gap with Sirius

Liberty Media (LMCA/LMCK) reported a typically quiet quarter.  Over 80% of the value in Liberty is represented by the company’s controlling stake in Sirius XM Satellite Radio (SIRI).  SIRI reported a great quarter a few weeks ago with better than expected subscriber growth and financial results.  Management raised 2015 guidance and we still think the […]

CBS Well Protected Amid Cord Cutting Fears

CBS reported most inline results for 2Q15 with a bias slightly above Wall Street estimates.  In a rough week for media stocks due to cord cutting fears triggered by Disney’s report, CBS share held up much better than average.  Northlake agrees as CBS is much less exposed to cord cutting fears than other media stocks.  […]

ESPN hits Disney’s Otherwise Good Outlook

Disney (DIS) reported slightly better than expected earnings for the quarter ending June 2015.  The results continue a string of results above expectations driven primarily by the incredible success of the company’s content strategy including hit films from Marvel, Pixar, and Disney Animation.  This success is projected to continue later this year with another Pixar […]

Mixed Report from La Quinta Does Not Change Bullish Story

La Quinta (LQ) reported solid operating results for the second quarter despite some headwinds and investor worries.  Revenue and EBITDA matched Wall Street estimates despite three unexpected issues.  First, the massive rainfall and flooding in Texas impacted occupancy in the state, which contains 25% of LQ’s hotels.  One LQ hotel in San Marcos was flooded […]

Comcast Story Intact Despite a Mixed Quarter

Comcast reported mostly in line results for its 2Q15. Nothing changes in the long-term story, which we continue to like very much.  Comcast offers steady and predictable, if modest growth, a great balance sheet, double digit growth in free cash flow, and shareholder friendly management that acts with an element caution.  Comcast is composed of […]

Still Bullish as Apple Enters Transitional Period

Apple (AAPL) reported slightly disappointing earnings relative to very high expectations.  iPhone shipments of 47.5 million fell a little short of 50 million plus expectations and while the company did not breakout Watch sales,  it is easy to infer a range of 2-3 million, short of the 3-4 million  consensus.  Guidance for the September quarter […]

Google Finally Delivers and Breaks Out

Google (GOOG/GOOGL) reported slightly better than expected 2Q15 earnings.  Revenue growth picked up slightly after a long string of decelerating growth quarters.  This proved reassuring to investors concerned about Google’s long-term growth rate amid a shift to mobile where app usage theoretically hurts traditional search which Google dominates.  Equally important for the stock, expense growth […]

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 […]

Fairly Quiet at Liberty Media and Liberty Broadband

It was quarter at Liberty Media (LMCA/LMCK) and Liberty Broadband (LBRDA/LBRDK).  This was no surprise at Media as the slimmed down company is mostly now just a holding company for its 58% stake in Sirius XM Satellite Radio (SIRI).  SIRI had already reported a strong first quarter, including raising full year guidance on a number […]