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☆ How Warner Bros. Discovery's games chief plans to build on 'Hogwarts Legacy' and give the company more much-needed wins
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Discovery's gaming division is on a winning streak with two of the biggest console games in 2023: "Hogwarts Legacy," the year's No. David Haddad is WBD's long-running games chief and the rare top WarnerMedia executive who survived the merger with Discovery (as well as the AT&T ownership era). In an interview with Business Insider, Haddad, who is president of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment — a position he's held since 2015 — framed the challenge and how he plans to keep WBD games' streak going. It can take the form of new events to keep people playing a strategy game like "Game of Thrones: Conquest" or new characters and tournaments in a fighting game like "Mortal Kombat." WBD's success with games separates it from other legacy media companies that have stumbled in the arena, most notably Disney.

Persons: —, execs, David Haddad, Haddad, We're, Harry Potter, it's, They've, Michael Pachter, Shaggy, David Zaslav, people's, Jefferies, Andrew Uerkwitz, LightShed, Haddad wouldn't, we've Organizations: Service, Warner, Business, Discovery, Warner Bros, Interactive Entertainment, Wedbush Securities, Disney, Netflix, Thrones, EA, Embracer Locations: WarnerMedia

☆ Warner Bros. Discovery's games chief shares plans to capitalize on 'Hogwarts Legacy' and boost the division's growth
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Discovery's gaming division is on a winning streak with two of the biggest console games in 2023: "Hogwarts Legacy," the year's No. In an interview with Business Insider, Haddad, who is president of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment — a position he's held since 2015 — framed the challenge and how he plans to keep WBD games' streak going. It can take the form of new events to keep people playing a strategy game like "Game of Thrones: Conquest" or new characters and tournaments in a fighting game like "Mortal Kombat." WBD's success with games separates it from other legacy media companies that have stumbled in the arena, most notably Disney. Nevertheless, analysts have speculated that given its past success and need for growth, WBD could buy another gaming company such as EA or Take-Two Interactive.

☆ Here's what Wall Street expects from the Apple iPhone event Tuesday and its meaning for the stock
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Apple's launch event, during which it's expected to introduce the iPhone 15 and Apple Watch Series 9, comes amid a tough backdrop for the stock in recent sessions. Long expects a $50 to $100 increase for the iPhone 15 Pro and a $100 to $200 hike for the Pro Max model. What it means for Apple shares Looking ahead, Wall Street sees a positive setup for Apple shares over the long term, but those tailwinds could take time to play out. AAPL YTD mountain Apple shares since the start of 2023. Data analyzed by Bernstein shows a similar pattern for Apple shares before and after a launch event.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Erik Woodring, Tim Long, Long, CFRA's Angelo Zino, Jefferies, Andrew Uerkwitz, referringto, it's, Wamsi Mohan, Morgan Stanley's Woodring, Bernstein, Toni Sacconaghi, Woodring, Apple, Morgan Stanley's, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Apple, Barclays, Apple Watch, Pro, Apple Vision, Bank of America, outperformance Locations: China, U.S

☆ Jefferies upgrades this marketing stock with nearly 30% upside
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Brian Evans | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Jefferies thinks investors should buy into AppLovin . The firm upgraded AppLovin to buy from hold and hiked its price target to $50 per share from $20. Jefferies' price target implies roughly 28% upside from Monday's $39.01 close. "Investors should have more confidence in sustainable growth (despite a weak mobile market), continued share shift, optionality on adjacent markets, and reasonable valuation. "The key question facing AppLovin and the entire mobile games market is: have Apple and macro fundamentally broken mobile gaming?"

Persons: Jefferies, Andrew Uerkwitz, Uerkwitz, AppLovin, — CNBC's Michael Bloom

☆ Barbie is everywhere this summer. Here are the stocks that can benefit from the highly anticipated film
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

But can the same be said for Mattel shares? Mattel stock is up more about 19% on a year to date basis after a mixed start to the year. Into the Barbie release, the stock reflects the growing buzz. Mattel shares moved from $17.59 on June 1 to breaking into the $20 range for the first time since February. Though Barbie is not a typical film in the space given its adult audience, Jefferies analyst Andrew Uerkwitz said, it can still help Mattel sales incrementally.

Persons: Gordon Haskett, Don Bilson, Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Bilson, Goldman Sachs, Stephen Laszczyk, Davidson, Linda Bolton Weiser, Bolton Weiser, Barbie, Brett Feldman, Jefferies, Andrew Uerkwitz, Roth, David Bellinger, Bellinger, Mario, Morgan Stanley, Benjamin Swinburne, ramped, Oppenheimer, Laszczyk, David Karnovsky, Karnovsky, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Mattel, Warner Bros, Lions, Lions Gate, Hasbro, MAT, Analysts, Universal Pictures, Mario Bros, Hollywood, JPMorgan, CNBC, Alliance, Television Producers, Guild of America Locations: 2H23

☆ Mattel’s Barbie gains may end by next year, warns Jefferies' Andrew Uerkwitz
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailMattel’s Barbie gains may end by next year, warns Jefferies' Andrew UerkwitzAndrew Uerkwitz, Jefferies analyst, joins 'Fast Money' to talk the upcoming Barbie movie and the impact it will have on Mattel as a company.

Persons: Mattel’s Barbie, Jefferies, Andrew Uerkwitz Andrew Uerkwitz Organizations: Jefferies, Mattel

☆ Analysts caution expectations may be too high for Netflix heading into earnings
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Some Wall Street analysts are raising the alarm on Netflix ahead of the streaming company's second-quarter earnings after the bell Wednesday. NFLX YTD mountain Netflix shares since the start of 2023 "We're raising #s into the print for NFLX, but also note very high buyside expectations," wrote Wells Fargo analyst Steven Cahall. "We actually think investors would buy a pullback on the [long-term] outlook in the event NFLX has [short-term] pressure on the print (de ja vue)." Jefferies analyst Andrew Uerkwitz is also bracing for a pullback, viewing any dip on the back of earnings as a buying opportunity. Early Netflix password crackdown data boosts his confidence in the company's short-term path, he added.

Persons: Wells, Steven Cahall, Jefferies, Andrew Uerkwitz, Cahall, Uerkwitz, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Netflix, Jefferies

☆ Microsoft is really serious about getting Activision deal done by Monday: Jeffries' Andrew Uerkwitz
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailMicrosoft is really serious about getting Activision deal done by Monday: Jeffries' Andrew UerkwitzAndrew Uerkwitz, Jefferies equity analyst, joins 'Closing Bell Overtime' to talk the latest news on the possible Microsoft-Activision merger and what it means for the gaming industry's future.

Persons: Jeffries, Andrew Uerkwitz Andrew Uerkwitz Organizations: Microsoft, Activision, Jefferies

☆ Apple's Vision Pro or Meta's Quest? Analysts dive into the future of VR tech
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

He told CNBC's "Tale of the Tape" that the superior technology of the Vision Pro compared to other virtual reality and augmented reality headsets justifies its high price. When asked about Meta's strategy and whether the $299 Quest could compete with Apple's Vision Pro, he said that the two companies are pursuing different approaches. Despite the excitement surrounding Apple's Vision Pro, other analysts have urged caution . AAPL META 1Y line Expected to hit the market in 2024, Apple's Vision Pro allows users to interact with content and popular iPhone apps without a controller. Although the Vision Pro is unlikely to produce tens of billions in sales immediately, Uerkwitz remains optimistic about the device's value creation over the long run.

Persons: Andrew Uerkwitz, David Vogt, Uerkwitz, it's, Jefferies, Tom Forte, DA Davidson, Forte, Davidson, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Apple, Jefferies, Apple's, Mac, UBS, Apple Watch, Unity, Pro, DA, VR, Meta Locations: Switzerland

☆ 'The technology blows anything that we've ever seen,' says Apple analyst
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via Email'The technology blows anything that we've ever seen,' says Apple analystAndrew Uerkwitz, an equity analyst at Jefferies, does not see Apple's $3,500 price tag as a misstep. Instead he sees the superior technology of the Vision Pro compared to other virtual reality and augmented reality headsets justifying the hefty sum.

Persons: Andrew Uerkwitz Organizations: Jefferies

June 8 (Reuters) - GameStop (GME.N) sank nearly 20% on Thursday and was set for its worst session in two years after the surprise exit of a CEO handpicked to lead its online expansion fanned concerns about the videogame retailer's ailing business. The ousting of former Amazon.com executive Matt Furlong came alongside top shareholder Ryan Cohen's appointment as the executive chairman of a company that he turned into a favorite of meme-stock traders with promises of a digital pivot. Over the last 5 years, GameStop has had 5 CEOs and 3 CFOs." The company's shares have dropped nearly 80% from the $120.75 peak they hit during that meme-stock saga of 2021. "The lack of a clear direction and the callous termination of Furlong all but ensures Cohen will have difficulty attracting a qualified replacement."

Persons: Matt Furlong, Ryan Cohen's, Andrew Uerkwitz, Jefferies, Michael Pachter, Furlong, Cohen, Akash Sriram, Devika Organizations: GameStop, Wedbush Securities, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ Apple headset is attempt to define post-iPhone platform, says Jefferies' Andrew Uerkwitz
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailApple headset is attempt to define post-iPhone platform, says Jefferies' Andrew UerkwitzAndrew Uerkwitz, Jefferies senior analyst, joins 'Closing Bell' to discuss Apple as the company nears a record high and gears up for its WWDC next week.

Persons: Jefferies, Andrew Uerkwitz Andrew Uerkwitz Organizations: Jefferies, Apple

☆ Morgan Stanley says Apple is about to unveil a $20 billion platform, raises price target
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Apple 's highly anticipated augmented and virtual reality product could generate a solid payoff for the iPhone maker over the long haul, according to Morgan Stanley. Given this setup, the analyst hiked his price target to $190 a share, reflecting about 5.5% upside from Thursday's close. AAPL YTD mountain Apple shares in 2023 The revised price target comes ahead of the company's Worldwide Developers Conference next week, where many expect the technology giant to reveal its mixed-reality headset. He expects the Apple headset will offer a range of specialized features over competitors. Other Wall Street firms also appear bullish on Apple's headset prospects, with Jefferies' analyst Andrew Uerkwitz lifting his price target on shares to $210 from $195.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Erik Woodring, Woodring, Jefferies, Andrew Uerkwitz, Ross Sandler, Sandler, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Apple, Conference, Apple Watch, Apple's, TAM, Barclays

☆ The gaming industry's incorporation of A.I. is still at an early stage, Jefferies says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThe gaming industry's incorporation of A.I. is still at an early stage, Jefferies saysAndrew Uerkwitz of the financial services firm says there could be a "seismic shift" in how games are made and played in five to 10 years.

☆ Don't chase meme stock GameStop here, says Jefferies
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Brian Evans | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

GameStop posted its first profitable quarter in two years, but the video game retailer still faces fundamental headwinds within its core business that will weigh on its stock, according to Jefferies. GME YTD mountain GameStop shares rallied Wednesday. Jefferies said software sales have been hurt by "the continued shift towards digital downloads and a lighter holiday release slate." And with 22.1% of GameStop's stock float being sold short, the short interest also could be boosting the share price Wednesday. When a stock is sold short , an investor borrows the shares with the hope the price will fall.

☆ GameStop jumps after swinging to profit, ignites rally in meme stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 22 (Reuters) - Meme stock GameStop Corp (GME.N) jumped nearly 40% in premarket trading on Wednesday after the video game retailer posted its first profitable quarter in two years, igniting a surge in other stocks popular among retail traders. GameStop posted an adjusted profit of 16 cents per share for the fourth quarter, compared to a loss of 47 cents a year ago, helped by a tight lid on costs including job cuts. Other popular stocks among retail traders also rose, with AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc (AMC.N) gaining 10%, while Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY.O) added 11%. The high interest rate regime of the past year has roiled stock markets, with speculative areas of the market such as meme stocks taking a severe blow. GameStop shares slid 25% in the past 12 months, compared to a 10.3% slide in the S&P 500 (.SPX).

☆ Jefferies upgrades Roblox, calls the video game stock one of the best internet names
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Hakyung Kim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

It's "time to respect the community" around Roblox , according to Jefferies. "With regular rollouts of new user and creator features, we are comfortable RBLX will grow through NT competitor and macro pressures. We expect it to remain among the fastest growing internet companies earning multiple expansion, higher estimates, and investor interest," he added. Uerkwitz raised his price target to $48 from $30, implying upside of more than 20% from Thursday's close price. "The high level narrative is simple: Fast growing internet company with incoming margin inflection plus an advertising revenue stream call option," Uerkwtiz said.

☆ Why some analysts are still worried about Roku even after it posted strong Q4 results
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Roku is not out of the woods yet, even after posting strong results for the fourth quarter, according to some analysts. The company's first-quarter revenue guidance of about $700 million also beat a StreetAccount estimate of $691.6 million. While those results and guidance are welcome by the market — Roku shares rallied 12% in the premarket — some analysts covering the stock remain skeptical about the company's prospects going forward. The ad market has taken a hit in recent months as companies pulled back as a way to save money. "Given mgmt's track record of conservative guidance ... we think investors will look past weaker 1Q revenue guidance," Helfstein said in a Wednesday note to clients.

☆ UBS says disinflation may be the big surprise of 2023 — 10 stocks to play the trend
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Disinflation could be the big surprise of 2023, according to UBS. From here, we think the pace of disinflation will also be faster than markets expect," UBS' strategist Nicolas Le Roux wrote in a Wednesday note. Here are the 10 stocks UBS noted. Netflix is positively correlated to disinflation, according to the note. Another firm that will benefit from a temporary slowing in price increases is Dollar General , which UBS says is positively correlated to disinflation.

☆ Jefferies upgrades Netflix as streaming giant cracks down on password sharing
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Carmen Reinicke | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Netflix should offer investors some safety in the wake of a looming recession as the company cracks down on password sharing, according to Jefferies. Netflix shares rose more than 1% in premarket trading following the upgrade. Password game Jefferies estimates that there are about 100 million households that steal passwords and another roughly 80 million that participate sharing a login. Jefferies estimates for adjusted EBIDTA is about 3% below the Street consensus in 2023 but roughly 27% above consensus in 2024. Netflix shares are coming off a terrible year, losing 51% in 2022.

☆ Roku's growth potential may be tempered by a tough macro environment, Jefferies says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Roku has potential growth areas, but it's in a tough industry and broader economic environment that will make it difficult for the stock to perform, Jefferies said. Analyst Andrew Uerkwitz initiated the stock as a hold with a price target of $45, which implies a downside of 6%. He said the companies growth potential from its operating system and streaming is tempered by an increasingly concerning outlook for advertising revenue. For Roku specifically, Uerkwitz predicted the ad business will decline each quarter in 2023 and come in below Wall Street expectations. The stock has lost about 75.7% so far this year, which Uerkwitz said means there's limited downside potential.

☆ Take-Two confirms GTA VI leak, says game development unaffected
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( Nivedita Balu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File PhotoSept 19 (Reuters) - Take-Two Interactive Software Inc (TTWO.O) on Monday confirmed that a hacker had leaked the early footage of Grand Theft Auto VI, the next installment of the best-selling videogame. The company, however, said it did not expect the incident to affect the game's development, helping its shares pare some of their losses from a 6% drop in premarket trading. We have already taken steps to isolate and contain this incident," Take-Two said in a statement. "The leaked footage simply confirms existing market rumors on the game's development that have been circulating for years," Benchmark analyst Mike Hickey said. "We are incrementally more confident the game can release in FY25 and provide a significant catalyst for revenue and profit growth."

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