Disney Earnings Growth Continues Unabated

Disney (DIS) reported another strong quarter. EPS of 58 cents exceeded the 55 cent consensus estimate with revenues in line with expectations at $9.05 billion. The upside came from margins with Broadcasting being unusually strong with operating income up 127%. Cable Networks also had higher margins than analysts were expecting. The only shortfall was operating […]

Central European Media Enterprises Earnings Preview

Central European Media Enterprises (CETV) reports second quarter earnings tomorrow morning. CETV is the largest TV broadcaster dedicated to serving Central and Eastern Europe and owns leading TV stations in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, and Ukraine. CETV is a sizable US company controlled by Ronald Lauder and Apax Partners. The current market […]

Disney 3Q07 Earnings Preview

Disney (DIS) faces a tough comparison when it reports its 3Q07. Projected EPS of 55 cents are up just 4% vs. a year ago. Analysts have long expected this to be the toughest comparison so it should not come as a surprise. Given ongoing concerns that DIS’ best financial performance is behind it, the report […]

Good Quarter, Bad Reaction For Rogers Communications

Rogers Communications (RCI) reported 2Q07 earnings on July 31st. The results were at the upper end of expectations and management raised the high end of the guidance range for many key metrics. Nevertheless, the shares traded off as much as 4% initially, cut the loss in half as the conference call was occurring, and closed […]

Apple 3Q07 Earnings Preview

My friend and Real Money colleague, Bob Faulkner, is handling the Apple conference call for the website this quarter. Bob specializes in technology so his input is especially interesting. I’ll be listening to the call as well. In the “Continue Reading” section I have reporduced Bob’s preview. I generally agree with him across the board. […]

Comcast Bidding for Virgin Media?

Big headline is something called City A.M. in the UK claims an inside source says that Comcast is considering a bid for Virgin Media. While Comcast may have requested info from the bankers running the auction I’ll be shocked if they bid. I think the Comcast-Virgin Media rumors are being planted by the Virgin Media […]

Financial Times Writes Up Central European Media Enterprises

The Financial Times posted an interesting article on CETV and its role in consolidation of European TV stations. The article touched on CETV as a seller and buyer and included some surprisingly frank comments by Wallace Macmillan, the company’s CFO. As a reminder, last year private equity firm Apax Partners bought control of half off […]

Good News: Central European Media Enterprises Acquires Minority Interests in Slovakia

Central European Media Enterprises (CETV), a name familiar to former Street Insight subscribers as my favorite long-term growth idea in media, announced some good news on Friday. CETV purchased the remaining 21% minority interest in Markiza, its TV station in Slovakia for $79 million. CETV now owns 100% of its Slovakian operations. The purchase price […]

Purchasing Comcast At Last

After writing positively about Comcast (CMCSA) for two years on Media Talk and in my contributions for theStreet.com, I finally decided it was time to buy the stock for Northlake clients. The main reason I had not bought Comcast previously was that I was very satisfied with the current portfolio of stocks held by clients. […]

Central European Media Enterprises Joins Russell and Receives Good News In The Czech Republic

Central European Media Enterprises (CETV) rose to a new all-time high on Friday. The shares have been unusually strong over the last few weeks even as the market has pulled back. I suspect that much of the strength is related to the fact that CETV is being added to the Russell indices on this year’s […]