World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (NYSE:WWE) is scheduled to report first-quarter 2016 financial numbers, before the opening bell on May 10.
In the previous quarter, the company’s earnings crushed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 500%. Here’s a discussion on the determinants of first-quarter results.
Zacks Model Shows Unlikely Beat
Our proven model does not conclusively show that WWE is likely to beat estimates this quarter. This is because a stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) for this to happen. WWE has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% as both the Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate stands at 10 cents. The company holds a Zacks Rank #2 but an ESP of 0.00% makes a surprise prediction difficult.
Factors Influencing This Quarter
Contractual increase of television rights fees as well as the acquisition and retention of WWE Network subscribers are expected to be the primary growth drivers for the company. Moreover, in order to boost WWE Network’s revenues, the company has been implementing certain strategies including the development of fresh content, execution of customer acquisition and retention programs, increase in distribution platform, introduction of new features and foraying into new locations.
On the flip side, WWE operates in the highly competitive market of entertainment video. Further, decline in pay-per-view revenues over the past four years is another major concern for the company. Launch of the WWE Network was responsible for this sharp decline in pay-per-view revenues. The launch of WWE Network had altered the distribution of WWE’s pay-per-view programs and lowered the monetization of its assets via other platforms like pay-per-view as well as content distributed on digital platforms. The company still distributes programming via pay-per-view channels following the launch of WWE Network, however, some of the earlier distributors do not support such programming anymore.
Stocks Poised to Beat Earnings
Here are some companies you may want to consider as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat:
Prestige Brands Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:PBH) has an Earnings ESP of +4.08% and a Zacks Rank #2.
Tribune Media Company (NYSE:TRCO) has an Earnings ESP of +3.45% and a Zacks Rank #3.
Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. (NYSE:LGF) has an Earnings ESP of +300% and a Zacks Rank #3.
TRIBUNE MEDIA (TRCO): Free Stock Analysis Report
WORLD WRESTLING (WWE): Free Stock Analysis Report
LIONS GATE ETMT (LGF): Free Stock Analysis Report
PRESTIGE BRANDS (PBH): Free Stock Analysis Report
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