Regal Entertainment Earnings Preview

Ahead of Monday’s earnings report, shares of Regal Entertainment (RGC) are within 1% of their 2006 high and up almost 9% so far this year. Given the $1.20 annual dividend, the total return is even better. Coming off the dismal 2005 box office performance, RGC shares have responded to renewed growth in attendance and revenue […]

Comcast Reports Another Good Quarter: Time For The Bears To Hibernate

Comcast (CMCSA/CMCSK) reported another strong quarter with most key financial and subscriber measures beating estimates. On top of similar strength in 1Q, management is raising guidance. Revenue growth in the cable division (well over 90% of the company) is going up to 10-11% from 9-10%. EBITDA growth is now projected “at least” 13% higher vs. […]

Scripps Looks Better Than Expected

E.W. Scripps (SSP) shares should rebound after the company reported better than expected 2Q06 EPS and provided guidance in line with current expectations. Most importantly, guidance for 2H06 advertising growth at Scripps Networks was not as bad as I and others had feared. Upside for SSP is limited, however, due to the premium valuation relative […]

NTL Update and Response to Sky’s “Free” Broadband Offer

NTL Holdings (NTLI), have been under severe pressure lately due investor fears about the intense competitive environment for broadband in the UK. As the largest cable company in the UK, NTLI has significant market share in broadband. Even though about 70% of its subscribers take the triple play bundle of cable TV, broadband, and telephony, […]

Confident Motorola Sharply Increases Share Buyback

Apparently, Motorola (MOT) believes its stock price is too cheap. The company just announced that it will complete its prior $4 billion, three year repurchase plan 2 years ahead of schedule by immediately buying $1.2 billion in shares. Additionally, a new $4.5 billion, 3 year repurchase has been approved by the Board. According to the […]

Weekend Box Office Still Looks Good For Disney and Regal

After 17 days in theatres, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest is the fastest grossing film in history. The movie remains comfortably on track to produce better than expected profits. In fact, benefits to Disney (DIS) relative to current expectations could begin as soon as the September quarter since the film seems likely to […]

Dell Blows Up – Little Impact on Apple

Apple Computer is trading off over 1% pre-market due to Dell Computer’s ugly preannouncement. While the health of the PC market is clearly in question, I would note this from Dell’s press release: “These estimates primarily reflect aggressive pricing in a slowing commercial market worldwide” For the time being AAPL’s fundamentals are driven by market […]

Some More Thoughts on Apple

My friend Jeff Bagley did his usual great job covering the Apple Computer (AAPL) earnings release and conference call. I fully endorse his bullish view but since I’ve written extensively on AAPL, I wanted to offer a few observations of my own. As I have been saying for some time, I think the key to […]

Apple is Back and There is More to Come

Thanks to my friend and fellow StreetInsight.com contributor, Jeff Bagley, for again allowing me to reproduce his excellent summary of Apple’s June quarter earnings report and conference call. All is well for Apple as I have been repeatedly saying despite all the gloom and the declining stock price. The shares have lots of upside left […]

Dow Jones Shows Signs of Life

Dow Jones (DJ) reported better than expected 2Q06 earnings. EPS rose 15% to 39 cents, ahead of the consensus estimate of 35 cents. Revenues actually came in a little light of expectations, growing just 6%, but margins expanded and operating income rose over 16%. This quarter showed evidence of the operating leverage that investors expect […]