Discovery Communicaitons Provides Some Good News

I finally got something right. Discovery Communications (DISCA) reported another positive surprise (EBITDA +23%, margins +700 basis points) and provided upbeat 2009 guidance. The stock responded by jumping 15%, leaving it within 10% of its mid-September, pre-crash level. 4Q08 benefited from continued strength in domestic and international advertising, ongoing growth in domestic and international distribution […]

Sold Dreamworks as Weak Quarter Raises Long-Term Issues

Despite my hopes that Dreamworks Animation (DWA) had a good set up going into last night’s earnings reports, the stock is going to trade down sharply this morning. Adjusted for a one-time tax benefit, EPS missed estimates due to higher costs associated with new ventures to diversify revenue (TV, virtual worlds, Broadway) and an adjustment […]

Dreamworks Animation Earnings Preview

Several of Northlake’s long positions report this week beginning tonight with Dreamworks Animation (DWA). DWA has been very weak as the collapse in DVD sales has crushed estimates and compacted long-term valuation. However, the stock may be a good setup for a rebound. Getting past the earnings report could allow investors to look forward where […]

Time Warner Break Up Approved

Back in late November when Time Warner was trading just over $9, I wrote a column for Real Money explaining Why You Should Own the shares. Today the stock stands at $7.56, down about 16%, a bit worse than the S&P 500 which is down almost 13%. During this time, Disney (DIS) and News Corporation […]

Both Dreamworks in the News

Dreamworks is in the news. First, Dreamworks SKG, the privately held, live action movie studio that is home to Steven Spielberg, is changing plans and will use Disney (DIS) as a distribution partner as opposed to Universal Pictures (owned by GE). Second, Dreamworks Animation (DWA), the publicly held animation company, was the subject of a […]

Time Warner: Relatively Good Earnings But Murky Outlook

Given the circumstances, Time Warner (TWX) reported decent 4Q08 results and provided better than expected guidance. However, to be perfectly honest, there are so many charges and related future cost savings that it is very difficult to tell whether guidance for “about flat” results in 2009 fairly reflects underlying operating trends. I fear that guidance […]

Time Warner 4Q08 Earnings Preview

Time Warner effectively preannounced 4Q08 results when it updated its guidance for 2008 last month. The guidance brought 2008 EBITDA to a gain of just 1% but several items were legitimately one-time so the headlines off the guidance update were more negative than management intended. Underlying growth in 2008 is probably closer to 3% which […]

CETV Update

CETV shares are approaching their November low including a 2-day drop of over 20% last Thursday and Friday. I received a bunch of emails asking for an update. CETV has been closely tracking currency. As the euro and CEE currencies weaken the stock goes down. The December rally (more than a double) coincided with those […]

Apple Acting Better

Apple is now up about 10% this year and almost 20% from just before it reported its December quarter. I think there a few things at work and that the stock still has “all clear” for another 60 days. That means I think AAPL can be a market leader and outperform the market over that […]

Apple Comes Through

I have to admit a sense of great relief following Apple’s December quarter earnings. The numbers were great and guidance for the March quarter was much better than feared. A lot of stocks I like, including Apple, are really struggling and it makes me question my analysis. In this case, I got it right and […]