Думаю, этот материал заинтересует всех, кому не безразлично будущее Pixar.
Доходы Pixar в третьем квартале выросли.
Pixar Animation Studios 3Q Earnings Rise
Tuesday November 8 6:42 PM ET
Pixar Animation Studios Inc., which produced such films as "The Incredibles" and "Finding Nemo," reported Tuesday that its third quarter earnings rose 22 percent on robust home video sales of older titles.
The company also sounded a hopeful note about reaching a new distribution deal with longtime partner The Walt Disney Co. by year's end.
"We are in deep discussions with Disney," Pixar CEO Steve Jobs said during a conference call with analysts. He noted that Pixar would have liked to have had a new deal in place by now.
Talks between the two companies ended late last year due to personal tensions between Jobs and former Disney CEO Michael Eisner. Serious negotiations resumed soon after Robert Iger succeeded Eisner last month.
"It's worth the few extra months of effort if there is a chance of continuing our relationship with Disney and our discussions right now are very productive," Jobs said.
Pixar, based in Emeryville, Calif., said it earned $27.4 million, or 22 cents per share, for the three months ended Oct. 1 compared to $22.4 million, or 19 cents per share, in the same period last year.
Revenue rose slightly to $45.8 million from $44.5 million in the third quarter of 2004.
Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial had expected earnings of 11 cents per share. The results were also higher than the 8 cents to 12 cents per share the company had previously forecast for the quarter.
Pixar shares surged 5.6 percent, or $2.86, in aftermarket trading Tuesday after the report was released. Earlier, the stock fell $1.87, or 3.5 percent, to close at $50.88 on the Nasdaq Stock Market.
Pixar said 3 cents per share of the upside surprise was due to higher than expected revenue from home video sales of "Finding Nemo." The rest was due to a lower than expected tax rate and a one-time reduction in expenses.
The company said it expected fourth quarter earnings of 13 cents to 17 cents per share, mainly from revenue generated by the broadcast of its films on television.
Disney will rerelease "Toy Story 2" on Dec. 26. Pixar Chief Financial Officer Simon Bax explained the unusual timing, saying the idea is to take advantage of one of the strongest shopping days of the year, when people were looking to spend gift cards received for Christmas.
The company had warned earlier in the year that home video sales of its most recent film, "The Incredibles," were not as strong as expected. Pixar found itself with more returns of unsold copies from retailers than it had expected.
Other studios, including DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc., found a similar change in the DVD market this year as retail shelves became overloaded with offerings.
Pixar's next film, "Cars," is due out next June. It will be the last film released under a distribution and co-financing partnership with Disney under which Disney owns half of the films Pixar produces.
"I think it will be either a triumphant cap on a successful relationship with Disney or the huge beginning of a bountiful new chapter in our relationship with them," Jobs said.
Pixar has said that it would like to own 100 percent of its films in the future. The company has amassed cash of more than $1 billion as it prepares to fully finance its own films.
For the first nine months of the year, Pixar reported net income of $122 million, or 99 cents per share, compared with $86.5 million, or 73 cents per share in the same period last year.
Revenue for the first nine months was $233.5 million compared with $165 million in the same period last year.
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