Como secuela a la información que adelantábamos que THQ recibió una advertencia de Nasdaq, ahora la empresa productora de juegos de video reporto un Q3 de pérdidas.
THQ reportó una pérdida neta en el tercer trimestre de $55.9 o $ 0.82 millones por acciones, más alta que la pérdida del año pasado de $ 14.9 millones o $ 0.22 por acción en el mismo período el año pasado.
La empresa señaló que las ganancias de juegos de Saints Row: The Third y WWE ’12 se vieron como exitoso a pesar de los malos resultados para el hardware y el software de uDraw. Bajo los ingresos de uDraw, las reservas, protección de precios, y las concesiones al por menor tuvo un aproximado de $33.0 millones impactando en los ingresos operativos de la compañía en el trimestre.
Recordarán que mencionamos que Nasdaq le dio un plazo a THQ de hacer por lo menos que sus acciones se cotizan al menos por $1 por acción en un periodo de 180 o serían removidos de su lista en Wall Street.
Comunicado de prensa:
Holiday Results Exceed Guidance on Shipments of 1.2 Million uDraw GameTablets(TM)
Company Well Positioned for FY12 Growth with Robust Product Pipeline
AGOURA HILLS, Calif., Feb 02, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) –
THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) today announced financial results for the three months ended December 31, 2010, that exceeded the company’s guidance due to strong sales of its new uDraw GameTablet.
For the fiscal third quarter ended December 31, 2010, THQ reported net sales of $314.6 million, compared with $356.7 million in the prior-year period. On a non-GAAP basis, for the three months ended December 31, 2010, the company reported net sales of $323.1 million, compared with $357.0 million a year ago.
For the three months ended December 31, 2010, the company reported a net loss of $14.9 million, or $0.22 per share, compared with net income of $542,000, or $0.01 per share, in the prior-year period. On a non-GAAP basis, the company reported net income of $28.5 million, or $0.37 per share, compared with net income of $26.6 million, or $0.35 per share, in the same period a year ago. Fiscal 2011 and 2010 third quarter non-GAAP earnings per share would have been $0.42 and $0.39, respectively, if the company had not been required to use the “if-converted” method of calculating earnings per share.
A reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP results is provided in the accompanying financial tables.
“We posted a strong holiday quarter led by our new uDraw GameTablet, which shipped 1.2 million units. This owned intellectual property provides THQ with a new growth opportunity focused on innovative and creative game play,” said THQ President and CEO Brian Farrell. “Our fiscal fourth quarter continues our robust release schedule of high quality, high profile games including Homefront, WWE All Stars, andde Blob 2.”
Farrell added, “THQ is poised for significant net sales and earnings growth in fiscal 2012 as a result of aggressive investment in owned intellectual properties and major franchises, a lean cost structure, and growing digital revenues. Fiscal 2012 will be driven by the strongest core games line-up in our history, including: Red Faction Armageddon, Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine, MX vs. ATV Alive and the newest installment of our Saints Row franchise.”
FISCAL 2011 THIRD QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Product Performance
- In November, THQ launched in North America the uDraw GameTablet, a first-of-its-kind, innovative gaming accessory, which quickly became one of the top-ranked gaming products of the 2010 holiday season. THQ shipped 1.2 million units of the uDraw GameTablet during the holiday quarter. The company plans to release the uDraw GameTablet in international territories during the March quarter.
- During the holiday quarter, THQ shipped approximately 2.7 million units of WWE(R)SmackDown(R) vs. Raw(R) 2011.
New Intellectual Property Agreements
- Furthering its strategy to partner with top creative talent, in December, the company announced a new multi-year agreement with Guillermo del Toro, writer and director of Hellboy and the Oscar-winning Pan’s Labyrinth, to create inSANETM, an original trilogy of triple-A titles to be developed by THQ’s Volition, Inc.(R) studio.
Q3 Accounting Charges
- The company reevaluated the sales potential of games based on its kids movie-based licenses during the preparation of its fiscal third quarter financial statements. Consistent with recent industry trends, the company lowered expectations for this category, which resulted in an impairment of $30.3 million of kids movie-based licenses for games that are expected to be released in fiscal 2012 and beyond. This impairment was excluded from the company’s fiscal 2011 third quarter non-GAAP results.
- In the fiscal third quarter, the company reevaluated its strategy of adapting certain Western content for free-to-play online games in Asian markets. As a result, the company’s fiscal third quarter non-GAAP results exclude a charge of $9.9 million related to the cancellation of Company of Heroes(R) Online and WWE(R) Online.
Repositioning of Kids, Family and Casual Business
- THQ’s Kids, Family and Casual Business Unit is increasing its focus on popular new play patterns and devices such as Kinect(TM) for Xbox 360(R), PlayStation(R)Move, the uDraw GameTablet and Nintendo 3DS, with a strong fiscal 2012 line-up scheduled for these platforms, as well as online network games and games for mobile devices.
- In January 2011, THQ and Mattel, Inc. announced an alliance whereby THQ plans to produce and distribute interactive entertainment based on Mattel’s leading brands. THQ plans to publish these brands on the uDraw GameTablet as well as other popular gaming platforms, including mobile devices and social networks.
BUSINESS OUTLOOK
Fiscal Fourth Quarter 2011
THQ issued new guidance for fiscal fourth quarter non-GAAP net sales in the range of $245 – $260 million, and non-GAAP EPS of $0.05 – $ 0.15, before applying the “if converted” method of calculating EPS; after applying the “if converted” method of calculating EPS, the top end of the range would decline by one cent.
The new guidance primarily reflects the move of UFC(R) Personal Trainer into fiscal 2012, and lower expected sales of kids movie-based licensed games.
Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2011
THQ expects to report non-GAAP fiscal 2011 net sales in the range of $800 – $815 million and a non-GAAP net loss per share for fiscal 2011 in the range of $0.25 – $0.35.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to results determined in accordance with GAAP, the company discloses certain non-GAAP financial measures that exclude the following:
- stock-based compensation expense,
- the impact of certain deferred revenue and related costs,
- business realignment expense,
- other-than-temporary impairment on investments and any subsequent realized gains on those investments, and mark-to-market adjustments on investments, and
- other significant charges and benefits.
For non-GAAP purposes, the company uses a fixed, long-term projected tax rate of 15% to evaluate its operating performance, as well as to forecast, plan and analyze future periods.
THQ may consider whether other significant items that arise in the future should also be excluded in calculating the non-GAAP financial measures it uses.
The company excludes these expenses from its non-GAAP financial measures primarily because its management does not believe they reflect the company’s primary business, ongoing operating results or future outlook. THQ’s management believes that the use of non-GAAP financial measures provides meaningful supplemental information regarding its financial condition and results of operations, and helps investors compare actual results to its long-term operating goals as well as to its performance in prior periods. The non-GAAP financial measures included in this earnings release have been reconciled to the comparable GAAP results in the accompanying tables, and should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, but should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, GAAP results.
In addition to the reasons stated above, which are generally applicable to each of the items THQ excludes from its non-GAAP financial measures, the company’s management uses certain of the non-GAAP financial measures for the following reasons:
Stock-Based Compensation. THQ does not consider stock-based compensation charges when evaluating the performance of its business or formulating its operating plans. Stock-based compensation charges are subject to significant fluctuation outside of the control of management due to the variables used to estimate the fair value of a share-based payment, such as THQ’s stock price, interest rates and the volatility of the company’s stock price. Further, when considering the impact of equity award grants, THQ places a greater emphasis on the use of such grants as retention tools for long-term stockholder value creation, as well as overall stockholder dilution, rather than the accounting charges associated with such grants.
Deferred Revenue/Costs. The company recognizes the revenue and related costs from the sale of certain titles for which the online service is determined to be a deliverable over the estimated online service period. Although the company defers the recognition of all or a portion of its net revenue and costs with respect to these titles, there is no impact to its operating cash flow. THQ’s management excludes the impact of deferred net revenue and costs when evaluating the company’s operating performance, when planning, forecasting and analyzing future periods, and when assessing the performance of its management team.
Business Realignment Expense. Although THQ has incurred business realignment expenses in the past, each charge relates to a discrete event based on a unique set of business objectives. Management does not believe these charges reflect the company’s primary business, ongoing operating results or future outlook. As such, the company believes it is appropriate to exclude these expenses from its non-GAAP financial measures.
Other significant charges and benefits. THQ does not consider certain significant charges and benefits that are related to discrete events or market conditions to be indicative of ongoing operating results or future outlook. As a result, the company believes it appropriate to exclude expenses and benefits such as legal settlements or market-related impairments, from its non-GAAP financial measures.
Fiscal Periods
The company reports its fiscal year on a 52/53 week period with its fiscal year ending on the Saturday nearest March 31st. For simplicity, the company presents all fiscal periods as ending on a calendar month end. The company’s fiscal 2011 third quarter ended on January 1, 2011, and its fiscal 2010 third quarter ended on January 2, 2010. The fiscal three month periods ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 consisted of 13 and 14 weeks, respectively.
Investor Conference Call
THQ will host a conference call to discuss fiscal 2011 third quarter results today at 2:00 p.m. Pacific/5:00 p.m. Eastern. Please dial (877) 356-8075 domestic or (706) 902-0203 international, conference ID 36888172 to listen to the call or visit the THQ Inc. Investor Relations Home page at http://investor.thq.com. The online archive of the broadcast will be available approximately two hours after the live call ends. In addition, a telephonic replay of the conference call will be provided approximately two hours after the live call ends through February 4, 2011, by dialing (800) 642-1687 domestic, or (706) 645-9291 international, conference ID 36888172.
About THQ
THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) is a leading worldwide developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software. The company develops its products for all popular game systems, personal computers and wireless devices. Headquartered in Los Angeles County, California, THQ sells product through its global network of offices located throughout North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. More information about THQ and its products may be found at www.thq.com. THQ, de Blob, Homefront, MX vs. ATV Alive, Red Faction Armageddon, Saints Row, uDraw GameTablet and the THQ logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc.
Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, the Xbox logos, and the Xbox LIVE Arcade logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.
“PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Wii, Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi are trademarks of Nintendo.
All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
THQ Inc. Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains statements that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, the company’s expectations for the fourth quarter and full fiscal year ending March 31, 2011, and for the company’s product releases in future periods. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the business of THQ Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as “THQ”) and are based upon management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by management. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, economic, competitive and technological factors affecting the operations, markets, products, services and pricing of THQ. Unless otherwise required by law, THQ disclaims any obligation to update its view on any such risks or uncertainties or to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements. Readers should carefully review the risk factors and the information that could materially affect THQ’s financial results, described in other documents that THQ files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2010, and particularly the discussion of risk factors that may affect results of operations set forth therein. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.
Yo en lo personal espero que no sea algo que se contagioso para la industria de los video juegos.
