Activision Blizzard (ATVI) Reports In-line Quarter

Activision Blizzard (ATVI 11.36 +0.50) reported third quarter earnings per share of $0.04. After excluding non-recurring items, this was in-line with the First Call consensus of $0.04.

Revenues rose 5% year/year to $755 million vs. the $724 million consensus.

Looking ahead, the company issued earnings per share guidance for the fourth quarter of $0.43, which was slightly below the $0.44 consensus. Also, the company issued revenue guidance of $2.2 billion vs. the $2.3 billion consensus.

The company said, "Our performance was driven by positive audience response to Activision Publishing's Guitar Hero 5, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2, and the Guitar Hero and Call of Duty franchises, as well as Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft. Year to date through September 30, the Guitar Hero franchise was the #1 best-selling third-party franchise in North America and Europe."