Record profits for Activision
Activision has announced record net revenues for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007.
Net revenues for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007 were $1.51 billion, as compared to $1.47 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006. Net income for the fiscal year was $85.8 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, as compared to net income of $40.3 million, or $0.14 per diluted share reported for the last fiscal year. Excluding the impact of expenses relating to equity-based compensation, the company reported earnings per diluted share of $0.33 for the fiscal year. This compares to the company's previous outlook of $0.26 per share excluding equity-based compensation expense.
Net revenues for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2007 were $313 million, as compared to $188 million that the company reported for the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year. For the fourth quarter, the company reported a net loss of $14.4 million, or a loss per share of $0.05, as compared to a net loss of $9.1 million, or a loss per share of $0.03 for the fiscal year 2006 fourth quarter. Excluding equity-based compensation expense, the company reported a loss per share of $0.04 for the fourth quarter.
Additionally, the company has updated its preliminary financial results for the nine months ended December 31, 2006. The company's previous preliminary earnings per diluted share estimate for the nine months ended December 31, 2006 was $0.30 including equity-based compensation expense. Excluding the impact of equity-based compensation expense, the company's previous preliminary earnings per diluted share for the nine months were $0.33.
As a result of updating its financial statements for charges related to its review of historical stock option practices, and subsequent events adjustments primarily related to a change in the company's effective tax rate, the company's updated nine month earnings per diluted share, including equity-based compensation expense, increased to $0.33. Excluding the impact of equity-based compensation expense, the company's updated nine month earnings per diluted share were $0.37.
Robert Kotick, Chairman and CEO of Activision, Inc., commented, "Activision's fiscal year 2007 net revenues, which were the highest in the company's history, totaled $1.5 billion, marking 15 consecutive years of revenue growth. We delivered solid results for the fourth quarter driven by the success of Guitar Hero II and Call of Duty 3, as well as better than expected performance of the company's distribution business. Our balance sheet remains one of the strongest in the industry with nearly $1 billion in cash and short-term investments and $1.4 billion in shareholders' equity.
"We expect fiscal 2008 to be our largest and most profitable year ever. The combination of our first quarter slate and superb release schedule for the balance of the year, Guitar Hero's rapid rise as a popular cultural phenomenon and our solid leadership position on all of the major gaming platforms, should provide us with a competitive advantage as we enter the growth phase of the new hardware cycle. We remain focused on expanding operating margins by growing our balanced franchise portfolio, increasing our international publishing capabilities and continuing to improve operational efficiencies worldwide," Kotick added.
