Investing in Marvel's Future. [Archive] - The SuperHeroHype Forums

Advanced Dark

02-22-2006, 11:47 AM

I have quite a few shares of Marvel and I'm actually up a huge % from where I bought most of my shares but the shares are well off their highs from what has been a relatively "event free" 2005 & 2006 so far. Sure X3 is coming up but the stock has sagged recently but everything is unfolding for a killer 2007. If your'e even thinking about investing in this company these are great levels to get in at now.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://money.cnn.com/2006/02/22/commentary/mediabiz/index.htm?source=yahoo_quote

Simply Marvel-ous
This year should be a lousy one for Marvel Entertainment but watch out in 2007: here comes Spider-Man 3!
By Paul R. La Monica (paul.lamonica@turner.com), CNNMoney senior writer
February 22, 2006: 12:30 PM EST

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) – Comic book fans know that the hero doesn't always save the day. Sometimes, the evil villain wins.
And for shareholders of comic book publisher Marvel Entertainment, these past few months have been like those dark times when their favorite character temporary loses his or her superpowers.
http://money.cnn.com/2006/02/22/commentary/mediabiz/spiderman2.03.jpg

The first two Spider-Man movies have helped lift sales and profits for Marvel and Wall Street is hoping for more of the same when "Spider-

http://money.cnn.com/2006/02/22/commentary/mediabiz/marvel_comics.03.jpg

Man 3" comes out in 2007.Marvel is taking a big risk by prodcuing its own movies in-house. But the move may lead to more predictable http://money.cnn.com/2006/02/22/commentary/mediabiz/mvl0222.bc.gif
earnings and revenue for the company.Comic book carnage: Shares of Marvel Entertainment nosedived after an earnings warning in November.•••••••••
In November, Marvel shocked Wall Street with sales and earnings guidance for 2006 that was substantially below consensus estimates.
Shares of Marvel (http://money.cnn.com/quote/quote.html?symb=MVL) (Research (http://cnnfn.investor.reuters.com/Reports.aspx?ticker=MVL)) plunged 22 percent on the news. If Comic Book Guy from "The Simpsons" were a shareholder of the company, he would undoubtedly declare that it was the Worst...Earnings Announcement...Ever.
Not a heroic 2006...
So with the company set to report its fourth-quarter results for 2005 on Thursday, should investors turn the page on Marvel or is the company set to do its best Jean Grey imitation? (For those of you not in the know, she's the character from Marvel's X-Men series that dies and returns as the Phoenix.)
The fourth quarter numbers should actually be pretty healthy. Analysts are expecting sales to jump 12 percent and profits to surge 46 percent.
But nobody really cares about these results. Investors are worried about how lousy of a year 2006 is shaping up to be. Revenues are expected to drop 24 percent and earnings are expected to plunge 51 percent.
However, as the company continues to generate more and more of its revenue from lucrative licensing deals and less from its low margin publishing and toy businesses, the company seems primed to bounce back sharply in 2007.
Marvel has transformed itself during the past few years from a stodgy publisher of comic books into a legitimate entertainment company that has realized the value of its vast library of popular characters, such as Spider-Man, Captain America and the X-Men.
During the first nine months of 2005, Marvel generated more than half of its sales and 70 percent of its operating profits from licensing.
The company has struck deals with movie studios, video game software firms and other consumer oriented companies to receive a cut of revenue and profits from the sale of products using Marvel characters. Movies in particular have been a big factor behind Marvel's growth as the company as shared in the box office success of hits like the first two Spider-Man films.
This year, however, Marvel has only one movie based on its characters due out in theaters, "X-Men: The Last Stand," the third movie in that series. Fox, the movie studio owned by News Corp. (http://money.cnn.com/quote/quote.html?symb=NWS) (Research (http://cnnfn.investor.reuters.com/Reports.aspx?ticker=NWS)), is making this movie and was the producer for the first two, which grossed more than $370 million in the U.S. according to movie tracking service Box Office Mojo.
...but Spidey saves the day
But next year should be a lot better for the company.
A movie based on the company's Ghost Rider character is due out in February 2007. "Spider-Man 3" is tentatively set to be released in May and "Fantastic Four 2" should hit theaters in July. Sony (http://money.cnn.com/quote/quote.html?symb=SNE) (Research (http://cnnfn.investor.reuters.com/Reports.aspx?ticker=SNE)) is producing the Ghost Rider and Spider-Man films while Fox is the studio behind the Fantastic Four sequel.
Analysts are currently predicting that Marvel will report revenue of $487.8 million in 2007, an increase of 67 percent from estimated 2006 sales and a 26 percent improvement over 2005's projected results.
Profits are expected to rebound by nearly 140 percent next year. What's more, consensus estimates of $1.21 a share are a 13 percent increase from expected earnings per share for 2005.
For this reason, Anthony Gikas, an analyst with Piper Jaffray, said that he expects Marvel's stock to rally later this year on anticipation of a strong 2007. What's more, beginning in 2007, a new five-year licensing deal with toy maker Hasbro (http://money.cnn.com/quote/quote.html?symb=HAS) (Research (http://cnnfn.investor.reuters.com/Reports.aspx?ticker=HAS)) will kick in. Marvel said it will receive a guaranteed $205 million in royalty and service fee payments over the life of the deal from Hasbro, which will produce action figures, games and puzzles based on Marvel characters, and that $70 million of this is payable upon release of "Spider-Man 3."
"I do think the stock will get a lift in the back half of this year," Gikas said. "The vast majority of bad news was in the stock and the worst is behind them."
But investors might also be worried by a big gamble that Marvel is going to take in the next few years.
Last September, the company announced that it had borrowed $525 million to finance the in-house production of up to 10 movies based on characters such as Captain America, Nick Fury and the Avengers. Paramount, a subsidiary of Viacom, will distribute the movies and the first movie is tentatively scheduled for 2008.
The upside is obvious. If these movies are hits, Marvel reaps almost of all the gains instead of having to negotiate for a cut from the larger movie studios. But if these movies flop, they will have a bigger impact on Marvel's revenue and earnings than a failure of a film that Marvel is merely partnering with a studio on.
This risk might already be priced in the stock though. Shares trade at about 13 times 2007 earnings estimates.
And Gikas thinks that Marvel will benefit from making its own movies since it will make them less reliant on other Hollywood studios' schedules. He argues that Marvel may be in a better position to produce a film or two a year, which should lead to more predictable earnings and revenue streams.
"The issue is the sustainability of earnings," Gikas said. "What this does is give Marvel the flexibility to set their own schedule so they are not the mercy of the studios."
So yeah, Marvel's stock may be acting like mild-mannered Peter Parker right now. But there's a good chance that before long, shares will once again be scaling new heights just like Spidey.
For more about Marvel's heroic turanround, click here. (http://money.cnn.com/2002/05/02/pf/investing/q_marvel/index.htm)
For a look at the profitable world of anime, click here. (http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2005/12/12/8363101/index.htm)
Gikas does not own shares of Marvel and his firm has no investment banking relationship with the company. http://i.cnn.net/money/images/bug.gif (http://money.cnn.com/2006/02/22/commentary/mediabiz/index.htm?source=yahoo_quote#TOP)

co2

02-22-2006, 04:16 PM

thanks. I was going to look into this.

Advanced Dark

02-22-2006, 04:24 PM

Erundur

02-22-2006, 07:23 PM

I invested in Marvel's company 4 years back, that invest is paying my way through college :up:

we'll my undergraduate degree anyway.

ShadowBoxing

02-22-2006, 07:25 PM

I've lost money with them....bad investment property for long term. I expect it to go down in the next few years

YJ1

02-22-2006, 09:28 PM

I invested in Marvel's company 4 years back, that invest is paying my way through college :up:

we'll my undergraduate degree anyway.

I bought shares back in 2001 and have been grinning ever since. I made my profit and I'm still holding a majority of those initial purchases. Advanced Dark is absolutely right. Just ride out this current lull and/or buy more now. MVL will start to gain notice later this year and surge accordingly. I really like most of MVL's licensing and entertainment business moves. (The new Hasbro toy deal, the Paramount movie distribution deal, etc.)

Advanced Dark

02-23-2006, 02:04 AM

And MSFT's MMORPG which is gonna be a big deal. Marvel got to where it is now making a minimal share from movie revenue. This Paramount deal and getting Iron Man and maybe Hulk rights back is just HUGE>

Advanced Dark

02-23-2006, 02:14 AM

I've lost money with them....bad investment property for long term. I expect it to go down in the next few years

You're completely uninformed to use kind words. It might not great for the next few months (so you buy during the lull) but the next few years how could anyone in their right mind say it's a bad investment. Back up your words as to why? The stock has already priced in a horrible 2006 forecast. Next year is huge with Spiderman 3, Ghost Rider, and Fantastic Four. That's the first year with 3 tentpole pictures for Marvel...ever. 2007 is also the first year that Marvel starts the Paramount deal and starts producing it's own films. 2008 is when the MSFT MMORPG deal comes out and the ATVI games. Look at all the movies in development that will fill the pipeline up till as far as the eye can see. The Hasbro deal is also vital to their future which is a 5 year deal guarantee of 210 mill to Marvel. They're dominating the Publishing segment, and most of their video games are top sellers and the quality is getting only better. How can you say it's a bad investment long term? When did you lose money on them? You must have bought at one of the recent peaks because I got in at 6.08 with most of my shares before the stock split and bought more on the ride up. There is not a single financial analyst on the planet who thinks Marvel is a bad company long term or that 2007 won't be a much bigger year than ever.

Are you referring to MRV from years ago before Avi Arad? If that's the case you're talking about a totally different company. Otherwise there is not one possible scerio out there for saying MVL will go down from these levels in the next couple years except a doomsday scenerio of X3, Spiderman 3, FF2, Wolverine, and the rest of the films all crashing , and Marvels ownl slate failing. LOL

I'm rambling and ranting but the statement you made has nothing to back it up. I could sell my shares now and make an enormous profit however I bought Marvel not for what is going to happen this year or next but because of the significant long term growth potential. Marvel is still a little baby that used to rely on others to get their product out...not anymore. Again, short term we'll have up's and downs or stay flat till X3 comes out and 2007 approaches...then blast off.

Advanced Dark

02-23-2006, 02:15 AM

I invested in Marvel's company 4 years back, that invest is paying my way through college :up:

we'll my undergraduate degree anyway.

That's about when I bought and I have no plans on selling till I think Marvel has reached their fullest potential but I think Viacom will buy them out before then.

zer00

02-23-2006, 02:34 AM

You're completely uninformed to use kind words. It might not great for the next few months (so you buy during the lull) but the next few years how could anyone in their right mind say it's a bad investment. Back up your words as to why? The stock has already priced in a horrible 2006 forecast. Next year is huge with Spiderman 3, Ghost Rider, and Fantastic Four. That's the first year with 3 tentpole pictures for Marvel...ever. 2007 is also the first year that Marvel starts the Paramount deal and starts producing it's own films. 2008 is when the MSFT MMORPG deal comes out and the ATVI games. Look at all the movies in development that will fill the pipeline up till as far as the eye can see. The Hasbro deal is also vital to their future which is a 5 year deal guarantee of 210 mill to Marvel. They're dominating the Publishing segment, and most of their video games are top sellers and the quality is getting only better. How can you say it's a bad investment long term? When did you lose money on them? You must have bought at one of the recent peaks because I got in at 6.08 with most of my shares before the stock split and bought more on the ride up. There is not a single financial analyst on the planet who thinks Marvel is a bad company long term or that 2007 won't be a much bigger year than ever.

Are you referring to MRV from years ago before Avi Arad? If that's the case you're talking about a totally different company. Otherwise there is not one possible scerio out there for saying MVL will go down from these levels in the next couple years except a doomsday scenerio of X3, Spiderman 3, FF2, Wolverine, and the rest of the films all crashing , and Marvels ownl slate failing. LOL

I'm rambling and ranting but the statement you made has nothing to back it up. I could sell my shares now and make an enormous profit however I bought Marvel not for what is going to happen this year or next but because of the significant long term growth potential. Marvel is still a little baby that used to rely on others to get their product out...not anymore. Again, short term we'll have up's and downs or stay flat till X3 comes out and 2007 approaches...then blast off.
Tool.:eek:

YJ1

02-23-2006, 05:09 PM

That's about when I bought and I have no plans on selling till I think Marvel has reached their fullest potential but I think Viacom will buy them out before then.

The "secret" may be out judging by today's activity. Quarterly earnings report came out today and the stock price jumped. Someone liked something they saw. Great day for MVL long term investors. I agree and still think this stock will keep trending upward. I expect a few bumps in the road later this year but, long term, MVL is gold.

Advanced Dark, what do you think a buy out will mean in terms of the price of the stock and its ramifications to current stock holders?

pickleweed

02-23-2006, 05:37 PM

ShadowBoxing

02-23-2006, 08:40 PM

ShadowBoxing

02-23-2006, 08:47 PM

2007 doesn't seem to be that big of an up for marvel. back in 2000 or whenever you initially bought the stock, marvel was in the slumps. spider man hadn't hit, x-men didn't either. now they're an inflated company riding a trend of superhero pop revival. ghost rider isn't really a draw (even with nick cage), fantastic four isn't a top draw either. spider man is marvels bread and butter, and 3 is where the train stops. most of the creative personnel are gone after this one, and furthermore, can the american attention span hold for a couple more flicks? now im not saying spidey will flop, but as in an investment it's not as strong a buy as it would be in 2000. iron man is another good property, but honestly how many more quality lisences does marvel have?

in a nutshell - the time to buy was 6 years ago. this puppy peaked.bingo...entertainment companies are not good long term investments because they are unreliable. They are at the whims of an uncontrollable public who is on one thing and then of to the next. If you were smart you'd never touch Marvel and focus on stable companies like Lowes, Home Depot, Steel and other manufactured goods. Those things never go "out of style". As I said "investors don't give a sh** about movies and toys". They only care about "the next big thing" and what is "always big". Short term investments are things like Marvel that experience big but fleeting moments of popularity. Long term investments would be something like steel companies. A product that is necessary and always needed (for the foreseeable future).

If you want to invest in Marvel 6 years ago was the time. If you like getting the quarterly reports invest 15 bucks....you'll still get em. I had 1000 dollars in their....now its down to the low 800s if that gives you any impression how great a long term investment it is. Invest in Marvel if you want to, don't go deluding yourself its some awesome stock though.

jaydawg

02-23-2006, 09:24 PM

BIGGUN

02-23-2006, 09:44 PM

Marvel is a bad investment.

yup...gotta agree w/ this one. (GR will be PG13 though :))
the time to get this stock was when it was 1st offered...i wouldnt invest much (or any) in it now. stick to oil/natural gas companies, health care, some tech, ect.
Marvel MIGHT be ok for short term trading...like hold it until a newly superhyped movie is about to be released and then sell it once it goes up a few bucks.

ShadowBoxing

02-23-2006, 10:12 PM

yup...gotta agree w/ this one. (GR will be PG13 though :))
the time to get this stock was when it was 1st offered...i wouldnt invest much (or any) in it now. stick to oil/natural gas companies, health care, some tech, ect.
Marvel MIGHT be ok for short term trading...like hold it until a newly superhyped movie is about to be released and then sell it once it goes up a few bucks.exactamundo....face it X3 will probably tank...especially in the face of SR. SM3 looks like it might rock the box office. Ghost Rider will win over no one except die hard fans unless its nothing short of spectacular. Luke Cage, Shang Chi, Hulk, FF2, and X-spinoffs are not reliable money makers especially since two of those movies initial movies tanked hard. Captain America may bring back some stuff in 2009....but you better pray by then people aren't dog tired of Marvel movies

Actually for entertainment....you'd be better switching to DC :D (I'm being facicious....)

jaydawg

02-23-2006, 10:42 PM

The Punisher

02-23-2006, 11:01 PM

I highly doubt X3 will tank... but its not going to do that much for stocks. After two weeks, forget about it. But SM3... I really think with the black suit and Venom happening, its going to totally out do SM2.

Yep, it's looking that way for sure.

TheVileOne

02-24-2006, 12:51 AM

Ugh, I hope Viacom doesn't buy out Marvel.

I really think its bad enough that Time Warner owns DC comics.

Advanced Dark

02-24-2006, 03:37 AM

^^^You and me both Vileone. After these Paramount (division of Viacom) films get rolling, Blade TV on Spike (division of Viacom), I wouldn't mind Viacom snatching them up in like 2012-2015 but now would suck as an investor and a fan. I like the way Marvel is setting it's future up now and don't want it f'd with by a company that just reorganized. However Viacom's earnings were bad thanks to Paramount's lousy slate in 2004/2005. Marvel will save it down the road and owning MVL would ensure more profit. I really hope it doesn't happen before 2012.

zanos

02-24-2006, 10:52 AM

^ It's one of the best "long term" plays out there. If you have the funds buy it and forget about selling it for years. The foundation is just being built for this company now. After 2008 they start making their own films on top of all the yearly revenue from the old licenses, plus MSFT has the big MMORPG coming out based on Marvel characters. :)

2007 is gonna be huge though.

I don't know much about stocks but I don't see marvel as a huge long term investment especially at their current price. By the time they start making their own films most of them will have been made by other studios already. Big hitters like Spider-man and X-Men will have been long done. All they'll be left with is a few crappy second or third tier superheroes. Who's the say the public will even embrace the genre anymore. This isn't to say you won't make some money but at 17 dollars a share forget it.

ShadowBoxing

02-24-2006, 01:06 PM

Advanced Dark

02-24-2006, 04:15 PM

I don't know much about stocks but I don't see marvel as a huge long term investment especially at their current price. By the time they start making their own films most of them will have been made by other studios already. Big hitters like Spider-man and X-Men will have been long done. All they'll be left with is a few crappy second or third tier superheroes. Who's the say the public will even embrace the genre anymore. This isn't to say you won't make some money but at 17 dollars a share forget it.

You clearly have no idea what you're saying. Please tell me how MOST of the characters are at other studios. Other studios have very few characters:

Lionsgate: Punisher
New Regency: Daredevil/Elektra
Fox: X-Men & spin offs, Fantastic Four, Silver Surfer
Sony: Spiderman & Luke Cage
Paramount has Deathlok
New Line: Blade

The rest of the hundreds...no make that thousands of characters are at Marvel. You might think they're small unheard of characters but aren't ALL characters unknown before they're revealed to the world?

Of the above Marvel will very likely get Daredevil and Elektra back, and if Sony doesn't get moving you'll see Luke Cage back at Marvel too.

Marvel has tons of characters to make movies from that could surprise you like Blade. Then they have live TV. They just began expanding into the international market too. And to make a stupid statement like Spiderman and X-Men will be long gone is just laughable. Spiderman, X-Men, Batman, Superman and characters like that are around long past me or you will be around. To think thank X-Men 3 or Spiderman 3 is the last of the franchise is just plain ignorant. Marvel's rolling out their first films in 2008/2009 which is right around the bend. Now Spiderman is a SUPER franchise which might make the others look small...but they're not. Even Blade generated over a billion dollars as a franchise. Marvel also isn't only about movies. They have toys, video games, role playing games, clothing, merchandise, action figures, etc...There's not a single type of product that you can't find without a Marvel character on it. Lunch boxes, thermuses, beach blankets, frisbees, balls, bed sheets, jackets, shirts, sleepingbags, paper plates, napkings, video game hardware skins, cell phone screen savers, etc... They strike licensing deals every week on something or another and the contracts are very specific. If you dont' know alot about stocks then you clearly don't know anything about whether the current price is good or not. You have to think about where the company is now and what price it's at. Now look at what's in store for 2007 and beyond. 2007 is another studio year for MVL but it's a huge one with 3 major films. Between 2007 and 2008 the Marvel produced films come out which is where the real money is for them in the theatrical segment. Marvel made very little money directly from movies before. Most was from merchandise and toys. Do some research. I have 11,000 shares and could sell now and walk away with a huge profit but I bought Marvel for where it's going...not for where it is.

adamcz

02-24-2006, 04:59 PM

Wow, interesting thread...

Investing in stocks is my hobby, and I spend a lot of time studying different methods, and reading books about the most succesful investors. I believe very strongly that you should never act on the advice of others when investing your money (unless that advice is to read a particular book, or consider a new method of valuating a business). You never know how much research that person has actually done, whether they have a bias, or whether they have the same investing goals you do.

In the interest of full disclosure, I have made what to me is a good amount of money from Marvel, and I continue to hold for the long term. I think it is still an attractive investment, but I really hope that nobody would consider putting their own money into it without doing some research of their own. There are countless companies out there, and you have to decide if this is the best one for your money.

I really have to laugh at the posters who think certain sectors are great or terrible though. There is no such thing as a can't-miss investment, and that is especially true when you say increadibly general things like "Invest in health care," or "invest in steel/natural gas."

What you should be saying, is "invest in a company whose future earnings will be greater than the rate of return you can get from other investments."

Advanced Dark

02-27-2006, 08:27 AM

http://home.businesswire.com/images/icons/icon_print.gif (javascript:print())Print this Release (javascript:print())

February 27, 2006 07:00 AM US Eastern Timezone
Marvel Entertainment To Present at Bear Stearns 19th Annual Media Conference, Wednesday March 1st at 8:00 a.m. ET
Bear Stearns 19th Annual Media Conference

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 27, 2006--Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: MVL), a global character-based entertainment and licensing company, today announced that its Vice Chairman, Peter Cuneo, will be presenting at the Bear Stearns 19th Annual Media Conference on Wednesday, March 1st at 8:00 am ET. The conference is taking place in Palm Beach, FL at The Breakers Hotel.

Live Webcast and Replay:
To listen to the webcast of this presentation, please visit http://www.marvel.com/company/webcasts.htm (http://www.marvel.com/company/webcasts.htm). An archived version of the webcast will be available at the same location for thirty days.
About Marvel Entertainment, Inc.
With a library of over 5,000 characters, Marvel Entertainment, Inc. is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies. Marvel's operations are focused on utilizing its character franchises in licensing, entertainment, publishing and toys. Areas of emphasis include feature films, DVD/home video, consumer products, video games, action figures and role-playing toys, television and promotions. Rooted in the creative success of over sixty years of comic book publishing, Marvel's strategy is to leverage its character franchises in a growing array of opportunities around the world.

Note from AD: Not very exciting but if you're an interested investor you can learn how things work at Marvel to give you a better understanding of the company. Just like this site gives investors a heads up on MVL products to help their investment decisions too.

adamcz

02-27-2006, 09:39 AM

Just like this site gives investors a heads up on MVL products to help their investment decisions too.Main reason I'm here. I've found that information always hits here before it hits the mainstream investment sites. I've found similar fan-websites for most of the companies I invest in.

Advanced Dark

02-28-2006, 06:53 AM

Of analyst notes, J.P. Morgan upgraded Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (MVL : marvel entertainment inc com
News , chart, profile, more
Last: 17.53+0.28+1.62%

6:31am 02/28/2006
MVL17.53, +0.28, +1.6%) to overweight from neutral, saying it believes hefty share repurchases and a strong movie slate in 2007 should allow the company to perform better than its peers as the year progresses. The broker told clients said it expects the stock to outperform due to the release of 'Spider-Man 3', 'Fantastic Four 2' and 'Ghost Rider.'

adamcz

02-28-2006, 09:11 AM

Guess that would explain the 4% hike.

Advanced Dark

02-28-2006, 11:36 AM

Yep. Should have a nice run up to X3 and then it's gonna depend on how strong that is. Hopefully FF2 will remain a 2007 film I'd like to hear some more progress on that one.

AP
Marvel Shares Surge on Upgrade
Tuesday February 28, 1:11 pm ET
Marvel Entertainment Shares Surge After Analyst Lauds Company's Buybacks, Strong Movie Slate

NEW YORK (AP) -- Shares of comic book publisher Marvel Entertainment Inc. rose sharply on Tuesday after an analyst said the company's share repurchases and strong 2007 movie slate should allow it to outperform its peers.
ADVERTISEMENT

Marvel shares rose 89 cents, or 5.1 percent, to $18.42 in midday trading on the New York Stock Exchange, putting the stock up nearly 13 percent since the year began.

The gains followed a report by JP Morgan analyst Barton Crockett who upgraded Marvel's stock to "Overweight" from "Neutral."

"Marvel's share repurchase activity has been surprisingly strong, and we believe has risen to a level that we see it as an effective hedge against earnings disappointments," Crockett said in a client note Tuesday.

In the fourth quarter, Marvel, creator of Spider-Man, X-Men and other characters, repurchased 6.9 million of its shares, and it has bought back another 5.1 million shares so far during the first quarter, Crockett said. Since launching its buyback program in July 2004, Marvel has purchased 25.5 million shares, or 26 percent of its float.

In addition, Crockett said Marvel's 2007 movie slate is shaping up to be "unusually strong," with "Spider-Man 3" slated for May, "Fantastic Four 2" for July and "Ghost Rider" for February.

"We believe this will drive improved earnings," said Crockett, who pegs Marvel's 2007 profit at $1.13 per share versus 56 cents per share in 2006. "We also believe it will drive increased interest in Marvel's stock," he added.

Advanced Dark

03-13-2006, 05:44 AM

Why comicbook type films are more attractive in an increasingly competitive and overcrowded market. They're moer attractive because the contain characters that help sell/market products to a wide variety of people that can offset studio costs and increase awareness. Example: You're not going to see Mr. & Mrs. Smith happy meals, or commerical rights to characters from Failure to Launch being used to sell cell phones.

Posted: Thurs., Mar. 9, 2006, 5:49pm PT

Pic biz does the splits
More spent to tout titles …but at what cost?
By GABRIEL SNYDER

Hollywood spent more money marketing movies that were seen by fewer people.
In advance of ShoWest, which begins next week in Las Vegas, the Motion Picture Assn. of America issued its market statistics for 2005's soft year at the box office.

Despite the average marketing costs on a studio film rising last year by 5.2% to $36.2 million per picture, U.S. ticket sales fell 6% and total attendance drooped 9% -- the third straight year of decline -- according to the MPAA's tally.

Because of a slight decline in the cost of production from $62.4 million to $60 million, the overall costs of making and marketing a studio film stayed steady from 2005 to 2004, at $96.2 million last year compared with $96.8 million in 2004.

In a tradition started by former MPAA prexy Jack Valenti, the economic report has been presented as part of the org prexy's address at ShoWest. His successor, Dan Glickman -- who is skedded to appear at the confab first on Monday and then with National Assn. of Theater Owners prexy John Fithian on Tuesday -- chose to get the bad news out of the way in advance of the confab.

Glickman was busy lobbying Congress on Thursday, according to an MPAA rep, and unavailable for comment.

The rep said the release shift was done to prevent Glickman from having to dwell on last year at the upcoming confab. "We want to use ShoWest to talk about the industry and the challenges we face, where we're headed and how we're going to preserve the great strength we have," an MPAA rep said, "and not about facts and figures from last year."

In a statement, Glickman put a positive spin on last year's biz. "Despite increasing competition for consumers' time and entertainment dollars, theatergoing remains a satisfying constant in people's lives. That said, we can't bury our heads in the sand. We have to do more to attract customers and keep regulars coming back. It is no secret that our industry faces new challenges, but with every challenge, there is an exciting opportunity."

Next week's confab is Glickman's second since taking the reins of the studio trade org.

Last year's bump in marketing costs follows a decline in 2004, when the average marketing cost per film dropped 12%. The rise in 2005 appears to have been driven by bigger spending by studio's specialty labels. MPAA figures show the studio subsidiaries spent on average $15.2 million to market their pics, a 33% climb from 2004, when costs were $11.4 million.

That rise in P&A costs came despite a 19% drop in the cost of production of the specialty pics, which carried an average pricetag of $23.5 million.

Overall, studios said their ad dollars were steady in 2005, though there were small declines in newspaper ad buys and online ad spending was up slightly.

Changes were more dramatic among specialty units. Spending in newspapers dropped significantly from 19.7% in 2004 to just 15.5% of ad expenditures, as television, online and other media all showed gains.

While the MPAA figures are one of the few industrywide measures of how much it costs to make and release feature films, they are not entirely representative of studio economics.

For instance, studios now rely heavily on promotional partners to complement their own marketing dollars. For instance, last year 20th Century Fox turned to a wide variety of sponsors who aired "Fantastic Four"-themed ads in connection with their own products. Those third-party numbers are not counted by the MPAA.

Likewise, its production figures do not include outside financiers, such as Legendary Pictures, which put up half the budget of "Batman Begins." Though the total budget reportedly was $150 million, because Legendary co-financed half, that pic would cost $75 million in the eyes of the MPAA bean counters.

The MPAA reported the average cost of a movie ticket again increased last year, by 3% to $6.41, up from $6.21. Since 2002, when admissions peaked at 1.64 billion, the MPAA reported ticket costs have risen 10%. Over that same time period, attendance has shrunk by 15%.

In a new twist, the MPAA commissioned Nielsen NRG to analyze moviegoer behavior. When asked if they thought their last moviegoing experience was worth the time and money, almost a fifth said no, with 15% saying they would have preferred to wait for the DVD and 4% saying they wish they had skipped the film.

And while a majority of moviegoers say they still believe theaters are the best places to see films, a significant 31% said their home offered the "ultimate movie-watching experience."

Older women were more likely to prefer staying in to going out to a theater. Among women ages 25 and over, 36% said home was where they preferred to see their movies.

Younger men, 25 and under, were the most die-hard theater fans, with 81% saying they preferred the theater over homevid.

While a record eight titles grossed more than $200 million last year, it continued to be hard going for R-rated fare. The only R-rated film among last year's top 20 grossers was "Wedding Crashers." There were three in 2004 and five in 2003.

Advanced Dark

04-22-2006, 09:08 PM

Since I started this thread the stock has gone up to a close of 20.19 on Friday and earnings are May 4th. Earnings are expected to go up well over 100% from 2006 to 2007 and with a PE for an average company in the industry being about 22, and earnings in 07 expected to be around 1.37 (that # will be raised) then you do the math. The stock will be at 30 by late 07. However Marvel isn't an "average" company in it's industry. It's a leader and has humongous growth potential since it's gonna start making it's own movies it's profit is going to grow considerably and the loans for the films they have in place are non-recourse. It's a win win situation. I highly advise everyone and their mother to buy Marvel shares and in my opinion you'll make a heft % gain on your investment by the end of 07. 2008 and beyond is even more promising if you have patience. And I'm just talking movies. There are video games, tv shows, theme parks, dvd's, and more merchandise than you can imagine.

See my sig for more info and research on MVL.

hippie_hunter

04-23-2006, 10:07 PM

Advanced Dark

05-03-2006, 02:03 PM

Don't forget...earnings tomorrow morning for Marvel guys! Hopefully we'll get even more info on the recent news. See my sig for the yahoo forums where you'll find links to the conference call tomorrow at 9:00 AM.

Edit: Or actually just click below. :)

Marvel Enterprises, Inc. Earnings Conference Call (Q1 2006)
Scheduled to start Thu, May 4, 2006, 9:00 am Eastern

Check back at the scheduled start time for
the audio link to appear in this spot. http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/cal/seed.gif (http://calendar.yahoo.com/?v=60&ST=20060504T0500Z-0800&TYPE=21&REM1=1h&TITLE=Marvel+Enterprises,+Inc.+Earnings+Conference +Call+%28Q1+2006%29&URL=http://biz.yahoo.com/cc/4/67874.html&VIEW=w&DESC=Click+on+the+%22Event+Link%22+above+to+listen +to+the+Earnings+Conference+Call%0afrom+Marvel+Ent erprises,+Inc.,+live+on+the+internet.&REM2=24h&DUR=0100) Add This Event To Your Yahoo! Calendar (http://calendar.yahoo.com/?v=60&ST=20060504T0500Z-0800&TYPE=21&REM1=1h&TITLE=Marvel+Enterprises,+Inc.+Earnings+Conference +Call+%28Q1+2006%29&URL=http://biz.yahoo.com/cc/4/67874.html&VIEW=w&DESC=Click+on+the+%22Event+Link%22+above+to+listen +to+the+Earnings+Conference+Call%0afrom+Marvel+Ent erprises,+Inc.,+live+on+the+internet.&REM2=24h&DUR=0100)
After the event has finished, the audio will be available
from this page until Sat, May 5, 2007

Advanced Dark

05-03-2006, 02:06 PM

I wouldn't invest in Marvel yet. It's just not a smart decision. Marvel has been making some really stupid decisions with their comics lately and have allowed the competition to release a far superior product. Wait and see how Marvel's movie business if it is a success or not before investing in my opinion.

I'm accumulating more and more. It's a very smart decision. I suggest you actually do some research before saying that because earnings will be going up 100-125% year over year in 2007 over 2006 with 3 major movie releases in 2007, and producing their own slate starting in 2008. There aren't many sure things in the market but Marvel is as close as you can get if you buy now and hold through 2008 to make at the very least 50% on your money by the end of 2007. I'll never eat those words. And as far as Marvel making inferior product...they dominate the publishing division and are always ahed of DC in sales and market share. Again...do your DD.

Mr. Magoo

05-03-2006, 02:13 PM

Isn't there a conference on this tomorrow?

adamcz

05-03-2006, 02:50 PM

Marvel has been making some really stupid decisions with their comics latelyAs a Marvel investor, I don't even follow what they do with their comics. I'd like them to continue increasing awareness of their characters through the comic books, but really, it's all about the movies and the licensing deals that go along with them.

I heard recently that Spiderman got a new suit, and I don't care. Not only do I not care, but neither do the little 6 year old kids I saw running around McDonalds yesterday with their faces painted like traditional Spiderman. They will probably buy a couple Spiderman toys, video games, see the movies, etc, without knowing or caring that he has a new costume in the comics. Hell, he could quit rescuing people, and become a fricking lumberjack for 12 issues, and I don't think much of the general public would be effected by it.

Advanced Dark

05-03-2006, 03:55 PM

The link to the Coference call is in my last post right above you.

Also Adamcz you share my same thoughts. MVL is as strong as a buy you can get right now at these levels going into 2007 which is a breakthrough year for MVL, however 2008 is when their business model shifts to a potentially far more profitable company in control of there own destinty.

Here's the CC Link again:

Quote:
Marvel Enterprises, Inc. Earnings Conference Call (Q1 2006)
Scheduled to start Thu, May 4, 2006, 9:00 am Eastern

Check back at the scheduled start time for
the audio link to appear in this spot. http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/cal/seed.gif (http://calendar.yahoo.com/?v=60&ST=20060504T0500Z-0800&TYPE=21&REM1=1h&TITLE=Marvel+Enterprises,+Inc.+Earnings+Conference +Call+%28Q1+2006%29&URL=http://biz.yahoo.com/cc/4/67874.html&VIEW=w&DESC=Click+on+the+%22Event+Link%22+above+to+listen +to+the+Earnings+Conference+Call%0afrom+Marvel+Ent erprises,+Inc.,+live+on+the+internet.&REM2=24h&DUR=0100) Add This Event To Your Yahoo! Calendar (http://calendar.yahoo.com/?v=60&ST=20060504T0500Z-0800&TYPE=21&REM1=1h&TITLE=Marvel+Enterprises,+Inc.+Earnings+Conference +Call+%28Q1+2006%29&URL=http://biz.yahoo.com/cc/4/67874.html&VIEW=w&DESC=Click+on+the+%22Event+Link%22+above+to+listen +to+the+Earnings+Conference+Call%0afrom+Marvel+Ent erprises,+Inc.,+live+on+the+internet.&REM2=24h&DUR=0100)
After the event has finished, the audio will be available
from this page until Sat, May 5, 2007

hippie_hunter

05-03-2006, 08:57 PM

I'm accumulating more and more. It's a very smart decision. I suggest you actually do some research before saying that because earnings will be going up 100-125% year over year in 2007 over 2006 with 3 major movie releases in 2007, and producing their own slate starting in 2008. There aren't many sure things in the market but Marvel is as close as you can get if you buy now and hold through 2008 to make at the very least 50% on your money by the end of 2007. I'll never eat those words. And as far as Marvel making inferior product...they dominate the publishing division and are always ahed of DC in sales and market share. Again...do your DD.

Marvel's earnings go up because of licensing. This movie deal could either make or break Marvel. Big time either way. If their movies do well, Marvel is going to be one hell of a company. If their movies fail, then expect problems. However with the way Iron Man is going, I expect that Marvel is indeed going to treat their movies right. It gives me good hope on Captain America, the Incredible Hulk, and Thor. It makes me want to have Marvel reclaim more movie rights such as Daredevil and Black Widow.

As for their comics, the market share means nothing. Most of the comic book buying people are ignorant, hence why crap like New Avengers and All-Star Batman and Robin are in the top 5. Marvel's main products the X-books, New Avengers, Ultimate Marvel, and the Spider-Man books need some serious refreshing. Lateness plagues Marvel as bad as DC, but unlike DC, they're not giving an attempt to fix it (DC is giving Johns less books, Loeb is gone, and Infinite Crisis is now over). DC has the better exclusive writers compared to Marvel (Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Judd Winnick, Gail Simone, Kurt Busiek, and Mark Waid). Fans are getting more satisfaction out of DC than Marvel and some theorize that DC will soon take over the leadership in the market share. Also Dan Didio is far better in selling his product than that idiot Joe Quesada.

Advanced Dark

05-03-2006, 10:27 PM

Marvel's earnings go up because of licensing. This movie deal could either make or break Marvel. Big time either way. If their movies do well, Marvel is going to be one hell of a company. If their movies fail, then expect problems. However with the way Iron Man is going, I expect that Marvel is indeed going to treat their movies right. It gives me good hope on Captain America, the Incredible Hulk, and Thor. It makes me want to have Marvel reclaim more movie rights such as Daredevil and Black Widow.

As for their comics, the market share means nothing. Most of the comic book buying people are ignorant, hence why crap like New Avengers and All-Star Batman and Robin are in the top 5. Marvel's main products the X-books, New Avengers, Ultimate Marvel, and the Spider-Man books need some serious refreshing. Lateness plagues Marvel as bad as DC, but unlike DC, they're not giving an attempt to fix it (DC is giving Johns less books, Loeb is gone, and Infinite Crisis is now over). DC has the better exclusive writers compared to Marvel (Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Judd Winnick, Gail Simone, Kurt Busiek, and Mark Waid). Fans are getting more satisfaction out of DC than Marvel and some theorize that DC will soon take over the leadership in the market share. Also Dan Didio is far better in selling his product than that idiot Joe Quesada.

Marvel's earnings going up in 2007 over 2006 have nothing to do with them making their own movies. MVL's earnings will more than double due to 3 films and various video game projects coming out in 2007 from other studios.

There's no reason to beleive theire movies will go wrong. 11 of 12 theatrical releases were very profitable for Marvel. 10 of those 11 we're #1 in DVD sales when they were released. The one flop "Elektra" was out of Marvel's hands. We've had our first glipse of the talent Marvel is hiring for their studio films and it's all solid talent.

In 2008 when there movies come out there is very little risk at all. Why?

#1) The movie deal means the 10 films must fail as a group for Marvel to lose.
#2) As I mentioned above history tells us Marvel films make profit.
#3) Marvel has no monetary risk. It's a non-recourse loan. They'd lose the movie rights but that would mean they're projects would have to fail as a group.

Do you honestly think more than 50% of the 10 movies will be flops and not make a profit. This film deal enabled Marvel to get the best terms ever in a credit line facility due to the value of their content and history at the box office.

But let's forget 2008 for now and just focus on 2007. Marvel's earnings are expected to go up 100-125% and the PE for an average company in Marvel's niche is about 22. Marvel is far from average and is a much stronger company than most any of their peers, however let's maintain the 22 PE. 2007 estimates are calling for 1.25-1.39 EPS or somewhere right in that range. Multiply that by 22 and that's where this stock should trade if Marvel was an average company by the 2nd half of 2007.

So as a 12-18 month investment Marvel is as good as Gold. Pretty much assured a 50% gain minimum. After 2008 the risk of losing movie rights is there but extremely unlikely to the point of being unrealistic. However the profit potential for Marvel is extremely high and will result in a huge growth in earnings to the likes that Marvel has never seen. Plus they'll still be getting the money they've always been getting from licensing and the 3rd party studio films at Fox and Sony. Avi's now in control and you're not gonna see him hiring hack directors and rushing scripts out.

Not to mention between now and 2007 we have 8 analysts who have a hold rating on Marve waiting to make an adjustment. With earnings expected to double there is no doubt that all of them will raise there rating soon after earnings. I expect Marvel to annouce earnings that are "in line" with estimates for this QTR but give a very upbeat forecast for the rest of the year, 2007, 2008, and beyond. THe stock is back up to 20 after hours and I expect it to approach all time highs by the end of this month with at least one correction before starting the run towards 2007.

I've done quite a bit of research on it and have invested a pretty big chunk for a reason. 13,100 shares might be small potatoes to Avi Arad but not to me.

Advanced Dark

06-07-2006, 03:26 AM

http://www.newyorkbusiness.com/news.cms?id=13807

Stocks: Films are just the ticket for Marvel
by NewYorkBusiness.com
Now is a good time to invest in Marvel Entertainment Group Inc.. The company’s share price has stalled at around $20 for the last two years, but a string a good news could spark a rally.

Last year’s poor financial results – a 17% drop in profit and 24% decline in sales – were due to underlying problems with Marvel’s previous toy licensee.

But earlier this year, the company signed a $205 million licensing deal with Hasbro, giving the big toy maker the rights to make toys based on Marvel's army of 5,000 comic book characters, including Spider-Man and The Thing.

continued below
advertisement

Marvel is in the news for its latest successful movie release. Over the Memorial Day weekend, X-Men: The Last Stand pulled in a whopping $103 million at movie box offices.

Instead of licensing its characters to film studios for a paltry 7% or less of the profits, Marvel has raised $525 million with help from Merrill Lynch to finance the production of its own movies.

Ten are planned, with Marvel getting total control of earnings. The first film under this arrangement should be ready for release in 2008. Earlier films based on Marvel heroes have hit it big. The X-Men trilogy, for instance, is closing in on a total take of $1 billion.

“Everything is going well for the company now,” says Robert Routh, an analyst at Jefferies & Co., who forecasts a $25 share price for the company by year's end. “I don't understand why investors can't see that.”

hippie_hunter

06-07-2006, 02:31 PM

Marvel's earnings going up in 2007 over 2006 have nothing to do with them making their own movies. MVL's earnings will more than double due to 3 films and various video game projects coming out in 2007 from other studios.
Marvel's earnings are obviously going to go up considering that Ghost Rider, Spider-Man 3, and Fantastic Four 2 will be comming out along with various other products based on their licensing. Wolverine might be comming out either in 2007 or 2008.

There's no reason to beleive theire movies will go wrong. 11 of 12 theatrical releases were very profitable for Marvel. 10 of those 11 we're #1 in DVD sales when they were released. The one flop "Elektra" was out of Marvel's hands. We've had our first glipse of the talent Marvel is hiring for their studio films and it's all solid talent.
I don't blame Marvel for the bad Marvel movies. I do know that they don't have much control over them.

In 2008 when there movies come out there is very little risk at all. Why?

#1) The movie deal means the 10 films must fail as a group for Marvel to lose.
#2) As I mentioned above history tells us Marvel films make profit.
#3) Marvel has no monetary risk. It's a non-recourse loan. They'd lose the movie rights but that would mean they're projects would have to fail as a group.
Again it's a make it or break it deal. As a group if they're a success, then Marvel is going to have a "golden age" if not, it will look bad.

Do you honestly think more than 50% of the 10 movies will be flops and not make a profit. This film deal enabled Marvel to get the best terms ever in a credit line facility due to the value of their content and history at the box office.
I do think that Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Incredible Hulk, Black Panther, and the Avengers will be a success. I wonder about Ant-Man, Cloak and Dagger, Hawkeye, Shang-Chi, Dr. Strange, and the Power Pack though.

But let's forget 2008 for now and just focus on 2007. Marvel's earnings are expected to go up 100-125% and the PE for an average company in Marvel's niche is about 22. Marvel is far from average and is a much stronger company than most any of their peers, however let's maintain the 22 PE. 2007 estimates are calling for 1.25-1.39 EPS or somewhere right in that range. Multiply that by 22 and that's where this stock should trade if Marvel was an average company by the 2nd half of 2007.
Marvel's profit will no doubtedly go up due to movies such as Spider-Man 3 and Fantastic Four

So as a 12-18 month investment Marvel is as good as Gold. Pretty much assured a 50% gain minimum. After 2008 the risk of losing movie rights is there but extremely unlikely to the point of being unrealistic. However the profit potential for Marvel is extremely high and will result in a huge growth in earnings to the likes that Marvel has never seen. Plus they'll still be getting the money they've always been getting from licensing and the 3rd party studio films at Fox and Sony. Avi's now in control and you're not gonna see him hiring hack directors and rushing scripts out.
After Elektra and X-Men the Last Stand, anyone would be better than 20th Century Fox.

However I do have a question, now that Lion's Gate Films is no longer making the Black Widow movie, will Marvel soon regain the rights to it. And when the hell will Daredevil return to Marvel.

Advanced Dark

06-07-2006, 04:14 PM

^ If LGF says they're not making it...the rights go back to Marvel. They can't just hold the rights and do nothing. If they're outspoken about not doing it we get it back. Sony's still developing Luke Cage and will do it after Ghost Rider. Just a heads up. :)

Advanced Dark

06-07-2006, 06:52 PM

They peaked. They made on or two movies...got investors ravenous...and now they're sick of them. Investors don't give a sh** about what movies you're making...you obviously no nothing about the stock market

Oh ok I'm a licensed broker. By the way Marvel hasn't made a movie yet so how could they have peaked. You aint seen nothing yet. Perhaps when you have 2 dimes to rub together you can try investing.

hippie_hunter

06-10-2006, 12:12 AM

Advanced Dark

06-10-2006, 12:13 AM

^ I think Black Widow would be more suitable and make more financial sense as a TV series on HBO.

hippie_hunter

06-10-2006, 10:29 AM

^ I think Black Widow would be more suitable and make more financial sense as a TV series on HBO.

Black Widow is more deserving of a movie than Ant-Man, Cloak and Dagger, Shang-Chi, Hawkeye, and the Power Pack combined :o

In my opinion, in order for the Avengers movie to work, all the characters need to have their own movie first (hence why I support the Ant-Man, which will likely star Wasp, and the Hawkeye movies). If Black Widow does appear in the Avengers (which she should now that Marvel will regain the rights soon), she needs to get her own movie!

Also there is already a script and a director. Just transfer all the work that Lion's Gate has done and move it to Marvel Studios. Production would go just as fast as Iron Man and the Incredible Hulk have. Also, for once, we would probally get a movie staring a female hero, that would not suck ass (Elektra, Catwoman, Aeon Flux, Ultraviolet, Tomb Raider, Tomb Raider 2).

Advanced Dark

06-10-2006, 11:17 AM

Black Widow is more deserving of a movie than Ant-Man, Cloak and Dagger, Shang-Chi, Hawkeye, and the Power Pack combined :o

In my opinion, in order for the Avengers movie to work, all the characters need to have their own movie first (hence why I support the Ant-Man, which will likely star Wasp, and the Hawkeye movies). If Black Widow does appear in the Avengers (which she should now that Marvel will regain the rights soon), she needs to get her own movie!

Also there is already a script and a director. Just transfer all the work that Lion's Gate has done and move it to Marvel Studios. Production would go just as fast as Iron Man and the Incredible Hulk have. Also, for once, we would probally get a movie staring a female hero, that would not suck ass (Elektra, Catwoman, Aeon Flux, Ultraviolet, Tomb Raider, Tomb Raider 2).

I say you're wrong about Black Widow no matter how cool the character is. Look at what happened to Elektra, Bloodrayne, Aeon Flux, Catwoman, etc...We all know they failed because the scripts sucked and the movies sucked but the studios can't just assume that all together. The studios can't throw out the fact that pretty much 100% of the female superhero flicks crash at the box office. Even Kill Bill 2 underperformed the first film though it had awesome reviews. It's not easy to sell a femal hero in a genre that's 90% supported by young male viewers looking to see action not boobs. They can see that elsewhere. So while Black Widow and Elektra might have great characters in print it's a huge risk. I'm shocked that DC is foolish enough to spend a penny on a Wonder Woman film. That's gonna be a joke. Another thing is Lionsgate makes low budget films only. They don't spend money and no studio with a brain is gonna invest a big budget in black widow in today's market. As crazy as you think it might be a Ant-Man movie would be very unique and probably highly entertaining especially with the director they have, and Shang Chi could do well with movies like Hero, Flying Daggers, & Crouching doing so well. They're visually stunning films with great action and simple stories...and they've proven themselves at the worldwide box office. The last female heroine movie to really do superb might be the Alien films. Terminator 2 might be considered one but nobody went to that movie because of the girl. They wanted to see Arnold kick ass, and see the liquid terminator guy, and they loved James Cameron. Now if we got James Cameron to direct Black Widow and he gave it a healthy budget...he might be able to pull it off.

hippie_hunter

06-10-2006, 11:37 PM

I say you're wrong about Black Widow no matter how cool the character is. Look at what happened to Elektra, Bloodrayne, Aeon Flux, Catwoman, etc...We all know they failed because the scripts sucked and the movies sucked but the studios can't just assume that all together. The studios can't throw out the fact that pretty much 100% of the female superhero flicks crash at the box office. Even Kill Bill 2 underperformed the first film though it had awesome reviews. It's not easy to sell a femal hero in a genre that's 90% supported by young male viewers looking to see action not boobs. They can see that elsewhere. So while Black Widow and Elektra might have great characters in print it's a huge risk. I'm shocked that DC is foolish enough to spend a penny on a Wonder Woman film. That's gonna be a joke. Another thing is Lionsgate makes low budget films only. They don't spend money and no studio with a brain is gonna invest a big budget in black widow in today's market. As crazy as you think it might be a Ant-Man movie would be very unique and probably highly entertaining especially with the director they have, and Shang Chi could do well with movies like Hero, Flying Daggers, & Crouching doing so well. They're visually stunning films with great action and simple stories...and they've proven themselves at the worldwide box office. The last female heroine movie to really do superb might be the Alien films. Terminator 2 might be considered one but nobody went to that movie because of the girl. They wanted to see Arnold kick ass, and see the liquid terminator guy, and they loved James Cameron. Now if we got James Cameron to direct Black Widow and he gave it a healthy budget...he might be able to pull it off.

If done right, Black Widow could be like the only female hero movie (I don't count Kill Bill to be a hero movie), that doesn't actually suck (if Wonder Woman isn't made before Black Widow).

Anyways, my point is that if Marvel is willing to put a penny down for lower-tier heroes such as Cloak and Dagger, Shang-Chi, and the Power Pack. They'll do the same for Black Widow. And since it already has a director and a script, it could be done pretty quickly while being done correctly (assuming if the script is done right, but come on it's David "Solid F**king Snake" Hayter of X-Men and X-2: X-Men United fame, of course it is going to be done right)

Advanced Dark

06-10-2006, 11:48 PM

^ We'll see but Marvel has other priorities now. Hopefully we'll see Black Widow as a character in another Marvel film first and then spin her off.

hippie_hunter

06-10-2006, 11:55 PM

^ We'll see but Marvel has other priorities now. Hopefully we'll see Black Widow as a character in another Marvel film first and then spin her off.

Black Widow should be made after Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, and Nick Fury (have her as a character in that film). But have her movie come before the Avengers.

Advanced Dark

06-10-2006, 11:57 PM

Yeah she would be cool in a Fury film.

ms.marvelous

06-20-2006, 02:43 PM

Hey, what is all this Microsoft's MMORPG everyone's talking about? I have no clue..

Advanced Dark

06-20-2006, 02:58 PM

It's the online Marvel game set for release in 2008. Google it and you'll find out more but it's a really big big deal. It's gonna be huge.

Advanced Dark

08-04-2006, 01:29 PM

http://money.cnn.com/2006/08/04/news/companies/marvel/

Here comes the Spider-Man
Comic book company Marvel should have a banner year in 2007, but some worry about its ambitious plans to start making its own movies.
By Paul R. La Monica (paul.lamonica@turner.com), CNNMoney.com senior writer
August 4 2006: 12:57 PM EDT

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- When comic book company Marvel Entertainment reports its second-quarter results Monday, it's safe to say that few will care about how Marvel actually did in the second quarter.
Everyone who follows the company closely knows that this is not going to be a good quarter (or year, for that matter) for Marvel. That's because Marvel generates the bulk of its sales and profits from licensing the rights to its characters for use in movies, television shows, video games and other merchandise.
http://i.cnn.net/money/2006/08/04/news/companies/marvel/marvel_comics.03.jpgMarvel makes the most of its profits from licensing the rights to its large stable of comic book characters such as the X-Men, the Incredible Hulk and the Fantastic Four to movie studios and video game publishers.http://i.cnn.net/money/2006/08/04/news/companies/marvel/spiderman2.03.jpgWall Street has high hopes for "Spider-Man 3", which comes out in May 2007. In addition to licensing fees, Marvel has received a small cut of the box office for the first two Spidey films from the movies' producer, Sony.http://i.cnn.net/money/2006/08/04/news/companies/marvel/mvl0804.mkw.gifA rocky ride: Shares of Marvel surged earlier this year but have lost some of their luster lately due to concerns about management departures and plans to finance its own movies.http://i.cnn.net/money/.element/img/1.0/launcher/irc_insert.gif http://i.cnn.net/money/.element/img/1.0/launcher/fun_money_220_insert.gif (http://money.cnn.com/news/funny/) And Marvel (http://money.cnn.com/quote/quote.html?symb=MVL) (Charts (http://money.cnn.com/quote/chart/chart.html?symb=MVL)) has only one major movie tied to one of its comic book franchises this year, "X-Men: The Last Stand." Granted, "X-Men", released in May, has been a huge blockbuster for Marvel and News Corp's Fox, the studio that released the film.
Still, it won't be enough to substantially lift Marvel's results this year. Wall Street expects the company to report a revenue and profit decline for the second quarter and for the whole year.
But 2007 is expected to be a different story. At least three movies based on Marvel's characters are due out next year, most notably "Spider-Man 3," which will be released next May.
Yeah, it may seem too early for Wall Street to get excited about "Spider-Man 3" (although have you seen how cool Venom looks in the trailer?) but now actually is the time for investors to start paying attention to how much of a lift this movie will give to Marvel's sales and profits.
"People are looking at the story for next year with 'Spider-Man 3' coming out. How could you not? That's where the growth is going to be," said Arvind Bhatia director of research with Sterne, Agee & Leach.
2007: Superheroic sales and profits?
Let's rewind to this time three years ago. When Marvel reported its second quarter results back in August 2003, the release of "Spider-Man 2" was still nine months away.
But partly due to expectations about how well that movie would do, Marvel issued sales and profit guidance for all of 2004 that was higher than what Wall Street was expecting and Marvel's stock surged more than 15 percent on the news.
So will history repeat itself when Marvel reports its second quarter results Monday? Could the company significantly raise its 2007 guidance thanks to some optimistic Spidey forecasts?
Robert Routh, an analyst with Jefferies & Co., said he's not sure if Marvel is ready to issue 2007 guidance just yet. But even if it doesn't, he said it's clear that with "Spider-Man 3" coming out next year as well as a "Fantastic Four" sequel and a movie based on Marvel's "Ghost Rider" character, next year could be the company's most successful in its history.
Analysts currently expect Marvel to report sales of $460.9 million in 2007 and earnings per share of $1.18.
So if Routh is right about 2007 potentially being Marvel's best ever, then Wall Street estimates would appear to be way too low, particularly on the sales side. In 2004, Marvel reported revenue of $513.5 million and a profit of $1.04 per share. (Marvel's earnings peak was not 2004 though. The company posted earnings of $1.11 a share in 2005 even though sales fell.)
Despite this, many on Wall Street are still wary of Marvel. The stock has fallen nearly 15 percent since late June. And there are some legitimate concerns.
Could be a takeover target
Some investors appear to be worried about recent management departures at Marvel.
Avi Arad, who had been the head of Marvel's new studio unit, left in May to form his own movie production firm.
And Marvel announced in mid-July that Tim Rothwell, its president of worldwide consumer products and Bruno Maglione, president of Marvel International, were both leaving and that their responsibilities would be handled by other Marvel senior executives.
But Routh said that instead of worrying, Marvel investors might want to read between the lines. He speculates that maybe Rothwell and Maglione left because Marvel might be getting ready to shop itself to another larger media company.
"These defections may point to something going on with the company that's bigger than people realize," Routh said. "The only reason you leave is if you have a position that's significantly better or if that something is going on where you wouldn't be needed."
As such, Routh said that Marvel could be a good fit for Viacom (http://money.cnn.com/quote/quote.html?symb=VIAB) (Charts (http://money.cnn.com/quote/chart/chart.html?symb=VIAB)), whose Paramount movie studio will distribute a film based on Marvel's "Iron Man" in 2008, News Corp (http://money.cnn.com/quote/quote.html?symb=NWS) (Charts (http://money.cnn.com/quote/chart/chart.html?symb=NWS))., which has produced all three X-Men movies and last year's "Fantastic Four," or Time Warner (http://money.cnn.com/quote/quote.html?symb=TWX) (Charts (http://money.cnn.com/quote/chart/chart.html?symb=TWX)), which owns rival comic book publisher DC Comics. (Time Warner is also the parent company of CNNMoney.com)
And each of these media giants has a lot more global marketing muscle than Marvel. "These bigger entities already have people doing licensing all over the world," Routh said.
Evan Wilson, an analyst with Pacific Crest Securities, agreed that Marvel could be attractive to a larger media firm.
"Marvel has inroads into a very difficult to reach demographic. Their movies are typically geared to 16-to-24 year old males and that's a market that bigger media companies and advertisers are having a tough time reaching," Wilson said.
Both Routh and Wilson also pointed out that Marvel has been aggressively buying back its own stock over the past few months and that this could be a possible signal of some sort of good news in the offing.
Making its own films is a risk
Bhatia isn't convinced that an imminent Marvel sale is in the works though. He points out that Arad, who filed to sell 3.15 million Marvel shares after his departure, probably would not have left if the company was about to be acquired.
"Arad would have stayed around in my opinion if a sale was imminent since a sale would probably be at a premium to the stock's price," he said.
Arad's departure leads to other concerns. With its in-house studio, Marvel is taking steps to produce its own films instead of having to rely on larger firms such as Fox or Sony (http://money.cnn.com/quote/quote.html?symb=SNE) (Charts (http://money.cnn.com/quote/chart/chart.html?symb=SNE)), which produced the "Spider-Man" movies and is also the studio behind "Ghost Rider," to make them.
While this could be extremely lucrative for Marvel, it also substantially adds to the financial risks for the company.
To help ease some concerns, Marvel is holding a separate investor meeting next Thursday to talk about its studio business and some of that division's projects, which include "Iron Man", a new film adaptation of "The Incredible Hulk," and a movie based on "Ant-Man."
"It is safe to say that this is the number one thing are investors trying to get their hands around, the economics of the studio business," Wilson said.
But Bhatia is concerned about the company's decision to make its own films since Arad, widely recognized as one of the top creative forces at Marvel, is no longer there to oversee the running of the studio.
"I'm a little bit skeptical about the longer-term strategy, especially since Avi Arad has left," he said.

Advanced Dark

08-07-2006, 07:00 AM

Marvel's stock is gonna rocket today!

Adds details)

NEW YORK, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Marvel Entertainment Inc. (MVL.N: Quote, Profile, Research), which licenses comic book characters such as Spider-Man and Captain America, on Monday said quarterly profit fell 37 percent on weaker sales, but the company raised its full-year forecast.

Net income for the New York-based company declined to $16.3 million, or 19 cents per share, from $25.8 million, or 24 cents, a year earlier. Analysts polled by Reuters Estimates on average forecast profit per share of 11 cents.

Net sales fell to $84.4 million from $88.1 million. A 23 percent drop in licensing sales fueled the decline, including lower revenue from a Spider-Man merchandising venture with Sony.

Marvel also raised its full-year 2006 earnings forecast to a range of 50 cents and 60 cents per share from a previous view of 46 cents to 57 cents due to a one-time tax benefit and the positive effect of share buybacks.

The average Reuters estimate is 55 cents for the year.

hippie_hunter

08-07-2006, 09:36 AM

I wonder if the rumors of Marvel selling itself to another media company is true.

Advanced Dark

08-07-2006, 10:03 AM

adamcz

08-07-2006, 10:54 AM

I think the buy-out rumors are largely fueled by short term investors who are dreaming of making a quick buck. I'd rather own MVL long-term than most of the other companies that I could buy with the money I'd receive, so I don't really share that dream.

hippie_hunter

08-07-2006, 11:51 AM

^ I doubt it but Viacom is the most likely canidate to buy them out. The Studios conference is on the 10th so that'll be interesting and I think anyone considering buying them out is waiting to see how Iron Man does being there first in-house production. Marvel won't be bought out for less than 30/share.

Marvel's stock is worth less than $20. Being bought out over $30/share would be too overpriced. If Marvel sells it won't be anymore than $25/share.

Advanced Dark

08-07-2006, 11:56 PM

http://img.timeinc.net/time/daily/2006/0608/marvel0807.jpg PHOTO-ILLUSTRATION FOR TIME BY AARON GOODMAN
[/URL]From the Magazine | Time Bonus Section August 2006: Inside Business
Marvel Unmasked

The incredible tale of how the comic-book company escaped disaster. Next: Can our hero survive its own ambitions?
By [URL="javascript:void(0)"]KATHLEEN KINGSBURY (http://www.superherohype.com/forums/)
http://img.timeinc.net/time/home/images/c_arrows.gifSUBSCRIBE TO TIME (https://subs.timeinc.net/CampaignHandler/tdsplit?source_id=15)http://img.timeinc.net/time/home/images/c_print2.gifPRINT (http://www.time.com/time/insidebiz/printout/0,8816,1223385,00.html)http://img.timeinc.net/time/home/images/c_email.gifE-MAIL (http://www.time.com/time/insidebiz/article/0,9171,1223385,00.html#)http://img.timeinc.net/time/home/images/c_author.gifMORE BY AUTHOR (http://www.time.com/time/searchresults?query= KATHLEEN KINGSBURY)
Posted Monday, Aug. 7, 2006
For most, it was simply a poignant moment in June's World Cup. Scoring his team's third goal to seal a victory over Costa Rica, Ecuador's Ivan Kaviedes pulled out a Spider-Man mask from his shorts, donned it and danced across the field, to the cheers of Ecuadorian fans. He did so in the memory of teammate Otilino (Spider-Man) Tenorio, killed in a 2005 car crash. But Marvel Entertainment executives took Kaviedes' tribute as their own. For a comic-book publisher, it marked a feat of superhero proportions: in less than a decade, the company had pulled itself out of bankruptcy to re-establish its global brand. "We've made Spider-Man beloved in even the farthest corners of rural Ecuador," says David Maisal, a vice chairman of Marvel Studios.
Not to mention more locally--on Wall Street. Marvel stock has leaped to $20 a share, from $1 in 2000. The films it produces with studio partners have grossed $3.6 billion. Licensing deals for its 5,000 characters, including Spider-Man and the X-Men, are worth $5 billion in retail sales. Next year could be even better, with Sony's release of Ghost Rider and Spider-Man 3.
Yet Marvel's future remains a cliff-hanger. "It's definitely one of the more--if not the most--difficult companies out there to forecast," says Bear Stearns analyst Glen Reid. In late May, just as Marvel kicked off what may be the greatest test of its powers yet--a slate of 10 independently financed films--the firm stunned investors and Hollywood alike by announcing that Avi Arad, the man behind the Spider-Man and X-Men film franchises, would leave to start his own production company. Not six weeks later, two more key execs departed unexpectedly--Tim Rothwell and Bruno Maglione, heads of Marvel's licensing and international divisions, respectively, perhaps Marvel's most important priorities.
That tumult has some analysts thinking Marvel is prepping itself for sale. "These are guys who'd be squeezed out by a merger," says Jefferies & Co. analyst Robert Routh, who owns Marvel stock. "A major move would make sense by the year's end."
What a potential buyer would get is a Marvel unrecognizable from the cartoonish operation it was eight years ago. First, owner Ron Perelman pillaged Marvel for cash and floated $250 million in high-yield debt. The weakened company couldn't make the payments and went bankrupt in 1996. Perelman had also sold off much of the company's most valuable intellectual property.
In 1999, Ike Perlmutter, who had bought control of the distressed outfit the previous year, hired as CEO Peter Cuneo, who had turned around such companies as Remington, Clairol and Black & Decker. Under the duo's guidance, Marvel slowly transformed itself into a conservative but lucrative licensing business. "I always tell people that when you come out of bankruptcy, it's like chemotherapy. You may be cured of cancer, but you're still very weak," says Cuneo, now a Marvel vice chairman. "But then along came Spider-Man."
The huge success of the first Spider-Man movie, in 2001, not only saved the day for Marvel but also set its business model in motion. Because Spider-Man's theatrical rights had been sold to Sony, Marvel received just 5% of the $400 million U.S. box office. But it raked in millions by licensing the Spider-Man brand, including $155 million from toys in the first year.
Page 1 of 3 1 | 2 (http://www.time.com/time/insidebiz/article/0,9171,1223385-2,00.html) | 3 (http://www.time.com/time/insidebiz/article/0,9171,1223385-3,00.html) Next (http://www.time.com/time/insidebiz/article/0,9171,1223385-2,00.html) >>

Marvel soon replicated that model with hundreds of its heroes, now bringing in nearly $230 million annually from more than 500 licensing partners. Today the Marvel brand adorns everything from toys, games and apparel to hotels and theme parks. "Marvel has the best array of characters of any licensor in the business," says Brian Goldner, president of Hasbro's U.S. toy division, whose company in January guaranteed Marvel at least $205 million for its toy licenses over the next five years.
The key to Marvel's future, though, is not trinkets but storytelling. Marvel's most iconic characters were created in the 1960s by comic-book legend Stan Lee, but 30 years on, the stories had become tired, and comic-book sales were miserable. So in 2002 Marvel began to hire writers and artists from outside the comic business, turning instead to TV and film writers and novelists. The results have reinvigorated the industry, says Gerry Gladston, a co-owner of New York City's Midtown Comics. "The stories have gotten better and better, fans are thrilled, and sales are climbing," he says. Marvel produces about 70 titles a month these days, and its market share of the $450 million industry has nearly doubled since 1999. Gladston adds, "Marvel's pretty much rocketed all publishers into a new age."
Buoyed by its hits, the company has turned its attention to frontiers previously left unexplored. Many of its comics now arrive from cyberspace, and the amount of interactive features and user-created content on its website increases daily. Marvel is also exporting its characters. In Japan, Spider-Man is a 4-ft. version of himself. In India, he exchanges his blue-and-red suit for more native garb. "Our strategy is to find best-in-class partners in those respective parts of the world and use their expertise and cultural knowledge," said Rothwell before exiting Marvel in late July. "We allow our characters to transform for the local culture."
Marvel management still sensed it was leaving money on the table. For years it watched studio partners reap billions while the company took home only a small percentage of movie profits, especially on DVDs. "If we wanted to control our own destiny, we'd have to make our own movies," says Michael Helfant, president of Marvel Studios. That was a leap Marvel's risk-averse board was loath to make on its own dime.
Instead, Marvel secured a $525 million nonrecourse credit facility--other people's money--from Merrill Lynch to make 10 films by 2012. Production is under way for the first, Iron Man, to be released in May 2008. Marvel's new studio can spend up to $165 million a flick--still relatively low for the production of an action film with sophisticated special effects, warns media analyst Harold Vogel. "And they've got to create excellent stories to stick out in the oversaturated superhero genre," Vogel says. If the studio goes over budget on a film, Marvel could be forced to use some of its own cash or seek out a partner.
Page 2 of 3 <<Previous (http://www.time.com/time/insidebiz/article/0,9171,1223385-1,00.html) 1 (http://www.time.com/time/insidebiz/article/0,9171,1223385-1,00.html) | 2 | 3 (http://www.time.com/time/insidebiz/article/0,9171,1223385-3,00.html) Next (http://www.time.com/time/insidebiz/article/0,9171,1223385-3,00.html) >>

The biggest risk is that a dud at the start could imperil the value of the 10 characters Marvel plans to use in subsequent movies, including the Incredible Hulk. So while Marvel isn't risking any of its own cash, "there's no question that there would be a perceptual impact on the stock," says Cowen & Co. analyst Lowell Singer. Which is why Marvel left many scratching their heads when it let producer Arad strike off on his own. "Avi's contract was up in November, and Marvel couldn't afford the compensation he can demand," Cuneo explains. "So we thought we'd let him leave on our terms." One being that Arad will be involved in at least the first three Marvel films.
Others see Arad's exit as a sure sign that Marvel will soon change hands. Perlmutter is a candidate to buy some 20% of the company that he doesn't own; so is a private equity firm. Another logical buyer is Paramount, which will distribute Marvel's film slate. The studio is revamping, having recently bought rival DreamWorks SKG. Other names thrown out include Disney, which owns a large chunk of the Marvel library, and even TIME's parent, Time Warner, which owns Marvel rival DC Comics.
For now, Marvel must focus its energy on making its movies successful. That means getting its house in order and curtailing further executive turnover. As the Motley Fool's Tim Beyers noted, "There's simply no way the comic-book publisher will become a movie mogul with a mishmash organization." Even if it does have superhuman strength on its side.

Great read huh?

hippie_hunter

08-08-2006, 09:07 AM

Great read huh?

I think Viacom would higly benefit from buying out Marvel. And Marvel would benefit from Viacom. Viacom has the ability to buy back the rights to characters such as Spider-Man, the X-Men, and Fantastic Four

Advanced Dark

08-08-2006, 09:58 AM

And they own Nickalodeon, Spike, and Paramount.

hippie_hunter

08-08-2006, 10:11 AM

And they own Nickalodeon, Spike, and Paramount.

Excellent way to bring Marvel characters onto the TV format. The Power Pack would work much better as a live action Nickelodeon show than a movie.

Advanced Dark

09-12-2006, 02:44 PM

He he he to those who didn't listen to me. Marvel broke through 52 wk highs and busted the all time high a few minutes ago with a big upgrade from Citigroup. :) The party boat has a long ride ahead of it. These prices are still cheap for long term investment. Should be double these levels by 2008.

Advanced Dark

09-12-2006, 02:50 PM

Marvel's stock is worth less than $20. Being bought out over $30/share would be too overpriced. If Marvel sells it won't be anymore than $25/share.

Please humor me in how you came to that valuation. What a stock's future worth has nothing to do with current price levels. LOL Marvel's stock is worth what someone is willing to pay for it...the problem is it's a difficult target to aquire for many reasons and without cooperation it'd be practically impossible. I wouldn't sell my shares for 20 bucks or 30 bucks. Hell if someone offered to buyout Marvel for 40 bucks I'd hesitate because i plan on owning this well after 2010 where it should be closing in on 80/share. This is one of the best long term investments out there. It's so undervalued even at 23.70 where it is now BTW. It's PE ratio is just catching up to the average media company and Marvel is far from average...yet if it maintains this PE in 2007 it'll be over 30 share, and in 2008 over 45 share, and analysts across the board realize if Marvels own studio films are a success like Iron Man & The Hulk this stock is going to skyrocket far beyond these levels and judging from past history that's very likely since in those films we get all the money, all the dvd profits, etc...whereas before they received much much less.

Read this:

http://www.fool.com/news/commentary/2006/commentary06082305.htm?source=eptyholnk303100&logvisit=y&npu=y&bounce=y&bounce2=y

Advanced Dark

09-14-2006, 08:47 AM

SeekingAlpha
Marvel Entertainment: Superheroic Comeback
Thursday September 14, 3:01 am ET

Travis Johnson submits: Marvel Entertainment (NYSE: MVL - News), home of my childhood favorites the X-Men, has quietly had a spectacular month in the stock market, rising from depths of around $17 to Tuesday's close well above $23.
ADVERTISEMENT

This recovery was expected by many folks, though I had thought and hoped it would take longer, and thus I missed the recent opportunity to buy at the bottom.

The past twelve months have been weak ones for Marvel, as they redid their toy licensing program and moved manufacturers, which brought with it some short term costs. They also offered up a small movie slate for 2006 as analysts debated their decision to take some additional financial risk by producing their own films starting in 2008. Even the expected blockbuster status of X-Men 3 didn't really move the needle for the company this year.

So we were left to spend the summer pondering just how weak the shares might get during a movie-less fall and how strong they might get as soon as investors begin to look forward to 2007, which will include one guaranteed blockbuster (Spiderman 3 in May, one likely one, (Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer in June), and one possible hit,( Nicholas Cage's Ghost Rider in February), and to 2008 which will bring the first of Marvel's self-produced films,( Iron Man, scheduled for May). The full projected slate, out a few years, is here.

I've heard investors say that a six-month time horizon is fairly typical of Wall Street investors, and that Wall Street is predicting that the company will begin performing well right about when Ghost Rider hits the theaters in mid-February, since that's six months from when this upward move will begin. There's also word that the Q1 report will be great next year, perhaps because of strong X-Men DVD sales. I was thinking that Ghost Rider would be likely to fly under the radar, and that a big move like this would be more likely later in the winter, when the Spiderman hype will begin in earnest.

But a nice earnings release in early August helped to spur interest in the shares again, and more visibility of their new film financing deal certainly helped. Marvel beat some pretty low benchmarks that had been lowered over the winter, and increased their guidance slightly for the year, due mostly to the fact that they've been borrowing lots of money for a stock buyback. I'm not crazy about that decision, but it's certainly working so far.

And today, Citigroup (NYSE: C - News) initiated coverage at a buy on no "new news," and published a $27 price target, which is currently the highest analyst's target out there. It sounds to me like the analyst, who specifically noted the likely boost in the share price that Spiderman 3 will bring next May, wanted to be the first one to talk aggressively about this now that the hype is only a few months away.

Marvel is a company that I probably won't ever sell entirely, partly for sentimental reasons, but if the share price returns to the levels we saw in early August, well under my cost basis of about $18, I'll probably try to be a little more aggressive in picking up additional shares.

MVL 1-yr chart:

Seeking Alpha

18 won't be seen again guy! The Namor news alone is quite big considering the merchandising opportunities that will bring as it add greatly to the already impressive slate. By the end of 2007 it'll be well over 30.

Advanced Dark

09-14-2006, 10:50 AM

Marvel to Present at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia XV Conference Tuesday, Sept. 19th at 4:40 p.m. EDT
Business Wire - September 14, 2006 11:29

NEW YORK, Sep 14, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: MVL), a global character-based entertainment and licensing company, today announced that Peter Cuneo, the Company's Vice Chairman, and David Maisel, Marvel's Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and Vice Chairman of the Company's Marvel Studios division, will be presenting at the Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research Communacopia XV Conference on Tuesday, September 19th at 4:40 p.m. EDT. The conference is being held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City.

Live Webcast and Replay:

Via http://cc.talkpoint.com/GOLD006/091906a_cs/?entity=marvel or via www.marvel.com/company/index.htm?sub=webcasts_current.php. An archived version of the webcast will be available at these locations for thirty days.

Slide Presentation:

The slide presentation that Marvel management will use at the conference is available for download at www.marvel.com/company/index.htm?sub=webcasts_current.php.

About Marvel Entertainment, Inc.

hippie_hunter

09-14-2006, 04:45 PM

Please humor me in how you came to that valuation. What a stock's future worth has nothing to do with current price levels. LOL Marvel's stock is worth what someone is willing to pay for it...the problem is it's a difficult target to aquire for many reasons and without cooperation it'd be practically impossible. I wouldn't sell my shares for 20 bucks or 30 bucks. Hell if someone offered to buyout Marvel for 40 bucks I'd hesitate because i plan on owning this well after 2010 where it should be closing in on 80/share. This is one of the best long term investments out there. It's so undervalued even at 23.70 where it is now BTW. It's PE ratio is just catching up to the average media company and Marvel is far from average...yet if it maintains this PE in 2007 it'll be over 30 share, and in 2008 over 45 share, and analysts across the board realize if Marvels own studio films are a success like Iron Man & The Hulk this stock is going to skyrocket far beyond these levels and judging from past history that's very likely since in those films we get all the money, all the dvd profits, etc...whereas before they received much much less.

Read this:

http://www.fool.com/news/commentary/2006/commentary06082305.htm?source=eptyholnk303100&logvisit=y&npu=y&bounce=y&bounce2=y

I made that comment when it's stock was under $20/share. They've been doing pretty well in the past couple of weeks. If this keeps up I can definetly see your prediction of $30/share.

Advanced Dark

09-14-2006, 05:04 PM

^ Gotcha. Yeah it is but this is still super cheap. If you don't know when a company is bought out even when it's under 20 it's likely to pay a huge premium especially for a company like Marvel. 30%+ premiums on the stock prices are quite normal and since I didn't expect the company to be bought out the day I made that post you'll see my point. It'll be over 25 pretty soon.

Advanced Dark

09-18-2006, 11:59 AM

Just crossed 24. Yeah I know I"m talking to myself but who cares. LOL

These are still low levels. Of course their could be a pullback but if you're investing long term you don't want to risk missing out on the huge gains to come.

Advanced Dark

10-04-2006, 12:42 PM

Heading towards 25. Buy, and hold through 2010 or later if you can. IMO you'll make huge returns. Just don't get scared when it doesn't go up every single day. There will be down days on the way up. X3 DVD sales news should pop up any day.

Advanced Dark

10-04-2006, 12:45 PM

Seriously. I love Marvel, but anyone with half a brain wouldnt invest in them now. Just cause your a fan and put a bunch of money in it, dont get mad cause other people did the smart thing and pulled out. X3 isnt going bring in that much. You really think something like Blade on Spike TV is going to raise revenue? An R-Rated movie like Ghost Rider? Its hardly as sure fire as Spider-man 3. Thats when you want to invest, a couple of months before SM3 comes out and all that merchandise is being sold. Lets be honest here. Marvel is a bad investment.

Say again. LOL Check the price back then and now. LMFAO all the way to the bank. But I still won't sell. Not till the Marvel Studios films start bringing in money. You buy when nobody wants it. You have much to learn about the stock market.

X3 isn't going to make that much? LOL
Blade is irrelevant it's just exposure.
Ghost Rider rated R?

Oh boy.

Advanced Dark

10-05-2006, 11:17 AM

Record Start for X-Men: The Last Stand DVD
Source: The Hollywood Reporter October 4, 2006

The Hollywood Reporter says that X-Men: The Last Stand has become the biggest October DVD debut ever:

The fourth quarter reportedly got off to a bang this week, with both high-profile DVD releases that streeted Tuesday -- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment's "X-Men: The Last Stand" and Buena Vista Home Entertainment's platinum edition of "The Little Mermaid" -- exceeding sales expectations.

Industry sources peg combined consumer spending on the titles to be more than $80 million, making Tuesday the biggest fourth-quarter opening day in the history of home video.

" 'X-Men' is outperforming our projections," Fox senior vp marketing communications Steve Feldstein said. "We had high hopes, and it's even outperforming those. This is a terrific start for the quarter. These two titles created a perfect demographic storm at retail."

Industry sources put first-day sales of "X-Men" at 2.6 million units and "Mermaid" at 1.6 million units. Those figures include sales to rental dealers and account for about 30% of inventory, significantly higher than normal.

Hit the link above for more on this.

Bang! Remember Marvel is not just an entertainment company but a studio, publisher, and most importantly and IP company/licensing machine. There's money coming in from 300 different sources daily.

NigerExtraho

10-05-2006, 11:38 AM

When are we finally going to see Cap. On the big Screen? What happened to the G.I.Joe Movie. (Lord Help us not that Sigma six crap)?

Advanced Dark

10-05-2006, 12:00 PM

Cap I would imagine 2010.

Advanced Dark

10-10-2006, 02:36 PM

<H2>Marvel to Report Q3 Results and Host Webcast Monday, November 6TH AT 9:00 a.m. EST

Business Wire - October 10, 2006 13:00
NEW YORK, Oct 10, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:MVL), a global character-based entertainment and licensing company, will release financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2006 prior to the market's opening on Monday, November 6th. Marvel will then host a webcast at 9:00 a.m. EST that day to provide an overview of its financial results.
WEBCAST / REPLAY URL: www.marvel.com/webcasts or at www.earnings.com. An archived version of the webcast will be available for 30 days.
</H2>
Head's up. First real earnings annoucement since marvel studios has been in places with all these movies on the slate and in production.

Advanced Dark

10-12-2006, 11:50 AM

He he he analyst recommendation today at "accumulate" at these levels and off we are to new highs again screaming towards 26. Hell we had a analyst downgrade 2 weeks ago yet that analyst raised their price target.

See you at 30.

Advanced Dark

10-18-2006, 02:20 PM

Marvel Enterprises "equal weight," target price raised

Wednesday, October 18, 2006 2:11:04 PM ET
Lehman Brothers

NEW YORK, October 18 (newratings.com) - Analysts at Lehman Brothers reiterate their "equal weight" rating on Marvel Enterprises (ticker: MVL). The target price has been raised from $24 to $27.

So in 2 weeks that's 3 analysts raising their price targets from 27-30 range.

Advanced Dark

10-27-2006, 03:32 PM

Things have settled and are a bit quiet for the past few days waiting for Marvel's earnings on November 6th where they'll annouced their 2007 outlook for the first time.

Here's a great read today from Motley Fool:

http://www.fool.com/news/commentary/2006/commentary06102717.htm?source=eptyholnk303100&logvisit=y&npu=y

Fool on the Street: Marvel's Super Powers
Here at The Motley Fool, we believe individual investors should have the same access to information that Wall Street has. In that spirit, we've listened in on some investment-bank conferences with major companies and are giving you the rundown. We call this feature "Fool on the Street."

By Anders Bylund (TMFZahrim)
October 27, 2006

Last month, Marvel Entertainment (NYSE: MVL) executives held a presentation at Merrill Lynch's Media and Entertainment Conference, and their comments were quite enlightening. To give you the inside scoop on what these analysts know, I listened in and wrote up my thoughts.

My spider-sense is tingling
If you get nothing else out of this report, you should gain an appreciation for the extremely light business model under which Marvel currently works, and the company's genuine focus on making great stories. The company's portfolio of comic book characters, coupled with an innovative capital structure, leads to a low-risk, high-reward business model that should leave many competitors gamma-radiation-green with envy.

Vice Chairman Peter Cuneo pointed out that this library contains more than 5,000 characters at various stages of audience exposure, and most of those characters have yet to be monetized beyond the occasional comic book.

He outlined the six essential stages to making money from intellectual property, as the company sees it. Marvel took the first three steps long ago, meaning that it owns, controls, and creates content of its own. A stable of creative talent keeps the hungry content beast well-fed, and there are decades of stories to fall back on in cases of severe writer's block.

Marvel is now moving onto the fourth step, which is to produce content. A novel financing structure that places rights to certain characters as collateral to a large credit facility now lets the company make movies on its own terms, with full creative control and no need to please a partnering studio. Production by committee was arguably the downfall of Marvel's biggest bombs, such as Daredevil and Elektra, both coproduced and distributed by News Corp.'s (NYSE: NWS) 20th Century Fox studio.

What's important, according to Cuneo, is that "Marvel is not using any of its own capital in these production activities. And the fact that we're able to do this, I think, really reflects the tremendous power that our partners and other people see in our brands and our franchises for the future." The Spider-Man franchise is one of the biggest moneymakers in the history of movies, and Sony (NYSE: SNE) subsidiary Columbia Pictures gave director Sam Raimi loose reins in that endeavor.

Now that Marvel itself gets the final say on greenlighting a movie or approving a script, it can take the necessary creative risks, which is exactly how Disney (NYSE: DIS) division Pixar became great to begin with. Stories like Spider-Man and Toy Story cannot be made without a certain appetite for artistic risk, just like American Idol was rejected by every major studio -- some of them twice -- before Fox agreed to let the British originators do their thing in their own controversial way.

The final two steps of Cuneo's ladder will remain the domain of partners like Hasbro (NYSE: HAS), Electronic Arts (Nasdaq: ERTS), and Lions Gate Entertainment (NYSE: LGF), because they are much better at packaging and marketing the final product than Marvel itself is. Marvel got out of the toy business a couple of years ago because it didn't fit its new, lean business model, and both of these final steps are quite capital-intensive.

Look out! Profits!
There's a clear flow inside Marvel explaining how the company makes money. It all starts with an original comic book hero (or villain) and the substantial amount of stories built around that character over the years. Characters like Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and Iron Man have very large and very loyal followings around the world, and a wealth of backstory to draw from. Comic books are also a very predictable business, since the company doesn't accept returns from its retailers -- a sale is a sale, and operating margins hover around 40%.

Comic books, however, are just the start for these heroes. The next logical step is into movies, TV series, and direct-to-DVD productions. Marvel's library of comic-book stories makes it easy to find great ideas to build a script around. Most of these efforts have traditionally been animated, but the success of live-action superhero material over the past five years -- much of it Marvel's to claim -- only encourages more of the same. The outsourced movie franchises are made with other companies' money, leaving Marvel to rake in its share of the profits at little financial risk.

Marvel Studios vice chairman David Maisel explained that in the case of the newly launched Fantastic Four TV series, "Lions Gate recoups their costs in the distribution fee, and then we get 60%-70% of the profits. It's a very attractive model for us, and obviously, we get to keep the project in our library and return on capital is very attractive."

The new credit facility changes that game a little bit, but it's all good. "Economically, Marvel will receive 100% of the profits for the movies," Maisel explained. "There are no equity participants, besides ourselves, in these movies." On top of that, the company receives a 5% producer fee of the total revenues generated by these movies. Licensing and merchandising right also remain in-house. The worst that can happen is that a particular movie bombs out at the box office, and the creditor -- conference host Merrill Lynch -- forgives the debt on that movie's budget in exchange for the rights to that character. A $100 million U.S. box office gross makes a breakeven movie for Marvel, according to Cuneo, and the historical $200 million domestic average and $400 worldwide gross taken in by Marvel's movies will put $117 million or so directly in its net profit coffers.

And after the silver screen, the same story becomes a line of toys, video games, toddler outfits, and lunch boxes, all of which contribute licensing and royalty revenue for Marvel at little or no cost to the company. Maisel said that toy and merchandising revenues for its existing films have totaled between $17 and $80 million per film, and it's all gravy.

In total, Maisel drew up a future roadmap of 10 movies produced under the credit facility in the next three years, using average box office and budget numbers for his estimates, and came up with $1.5 billion of pure profits "without any meaningful cash risk to Marvel."

A hero can save us
The first two movies planned for release under the new terms are based on Iron Man and the Hulk. Waiting in the wings are Captain America, Thor, Nick Fury, Ant-Man, and the Avengers, all what David calls "hall of fame characters for Marvel. These rank up with our other characters -- the X-Men, The Fantastic Four, and Spider-Man -- in what we call our top tier of characters." Not all of these characters will get their own movies, but the successful ones will get a healthy dose of spinoffs and sequels, just like X-Men before them.

Maisel's closing remarks really hit home, with the clear focus on genuine creativity they describe. "The creative team are all fans of Marvel," he said. "We're passionate about the characters, we've been thinking about these movies for years and years. We have decades of stories and these are already in storyboard form. And so we can have the luxury of sitting there and looking at all these comics and drawing what we think is the best for the first movie, for the second movie, for the third movie -- many times we can plan them out that far in advance. And many writers in town are big Marvel fans, and directors, too."

That's how you become great in the entertainment business, and it's exactly what Disney is doing, too. Focus on great stories, and the rest follows, including profits and cash flow.

That wraps up our report from this presentation with Marvel Entertainment. Stay on the lookout for more "Fool on the Street" reports that bring you juicy information to which only the analysts have paid attention.

Iceman

10-29-2006, 12:00 AM

^ Very interesting article above.

Marvel's future is looking good.

I saw the link on the front page and almost created a new thread. Then I saw the source of the article which eventually led me here. :woot: :up:

Advanced Dark

10-29-2006, 10:46 AM

^ He he he. Thanks.

Advanced Dark

10-29-2006, 01:50 PM

LOS ANGELES, Oct 27 (Reuters) - A video game which lets players pick a dream team of Marvel super heroes flew in its debut week into the No. 1 slot on UBS Securities' weekly U.S. list of best-selling video games.
Activision Inc.'s (ATVI.O: Quote (http://stocks.us.reuters.com/stocks/overview.asp?symbol=ATVI.O&WTmodLoc=InvArt-C1-ArticlePage1), Profile (http://stocks.us.reuters.com/stocks/fullDescription.asp?symbol=ATVI.O&WTmodLoc=InvArt-C1-ArticlePage1), Research (http://stocks.us.reuters.com/stocks/analystResearch.asp?symbol=ATVI.O&WTmodLoc=InvArt-C1-ArticlePage1)) "Marvel: Ultimate Alliance" pits Marvel teams against Dr. Doom and the newly reformed Masters of Evil, who have launched a bid for global domination.
Available on most currently available systems, the title has won strong critical reviews. Versions for Sony Corp.'s (6758.T: Quote (http://www.superherohype.com/forums/), NEWS (http://www.superherohype.com/forums/), Research (http://www.superherohype.com/forums/)) PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Co. Ltd.'s (7974.OS: Quote (http://www.superherohype.com/forums/), NEWS (http://www.superherohype.com/forums/), Research (http://www.superherohype.com/forums/)) Wii are expected next month, when those consoles are also expected to be released. The latest game in the Tom Clancy series "Splinter Cell: Double Agent," published by Ubisoft (UBIP.PA: Quote (http://stocks.us.reuters.com/stocks/overview.asp?symbol=UBIP.PA&WTmodLoc=InvArt-C1-ArticlePage1), Profile (http://stocks.us.reuters.com/stocks/fullDescription.asp?symbol=UBIP.PA&WTmodLoc=InvArt-C1-ArticlePage1), Research (http://stocks.us.reuters.com/stocks/analystResearch.asp?symbol=UBIP.PA&WTmodLoc=InvArt-C1-ArticlePage1)) for Microsoft Corp.'s (MSFT.O: Quote (http://stocks.us.reuters.com/stocks/overview.asp?symbol=MSFT.O&WTmodLoc=InvArt-C1-ArticlePage1), Profile (http://stocks.us.reuters.com/stocks/fullDescription.asp?symbol=MSFT.O&WTmodLoc=InvArt-C1-ArticlePage1), Research (http://stocks.us.reuters.com/stocks/analystResearch.asp?symbol=MSFT.O&WTmodLoc=InvArt-C1-ArticlePage1)) Xbox 360 fell to second place from No. 1.

Take-Two Interactive Software Inc.'s (TTWO.O: Quote (http://stocks.us.reuters.com/stocks/overview.asp?symbol=TTWO.O&WTmodLoc=InvArt-C1-ArticlePage1), Profile (http://stocks.us.reuters.com/stocks/fullDescription.asp?symbol=TTWO.O&WTmodLoc=InvArt-C1-ArticlePage1), Research (http://stocks.us.reuters.com/stocks/analystResearch.asp?symbol=TTWO.O&WTmodLoc=InvArt-C1-ArticlePage1)) much-anticipated schoolyard brawler "Bully," rose to No. 3 from its debut spot at No. 7 last week.
Following is a list of the best-selling games in the week ending Oct. 27, according to UBS which devises its ranking from a survey of about 100 retail stores as well as input from online sites and video game Web site editors. Rank Title Publisher Platform Genre 1 Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Activision PS2,XB,XB360
GBA,PSP,PC Action 2 Splinter Cell:Double Agent Ubisoft PS2,XB,GC
XB360 Action 3 Bully Take-Two PS2 Action 4 Phantasy Star Universe Sega PS2,XB360,PC RPG 5 Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 EA PS2,XB,XB360 PSP,PC Golf 6 Mortal Kombat: Armageddon Midway PS2,XB Fight 7 Scarface VU Games PS2,XB,PSP
Continued... (http://javascript<b></b>:ArticlePagingView('/news/articleinvesting.aspx','CN','','2006-10-27T213514Z_01_NAR473837_RTRIDST_0_LEISURE-GAMING-SALES.XML','1','InvArt-C1-ArticlePage1');)

Advanced Dark

11-05-2006, 12:04 AM

Marvel reports earnings on Monday November 6th and releases 2007 guidance. We will hear about several things here. Linke below:

Press Release

Source: Marvel Entertainment, Inc.

Marvel to Report Q3 Results and Host Webcast Monday, November 6TH AT 9:00 a.m. EST
Tuesday October 10, 1:00 pm ET
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:MVL (http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=mvl&d=t) - News (http://finance.yahoo.com/q/h?s=mvl)), a global character-based entertainment and licensing company, will release financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2006 prior to the market's opening on Monday, November 6th. Marvel will then host a webcast at 9:00 a.m. EST that day to provide an overview of its financial results.

WEBCAST / REPLAY URL: www.marvel.com/webcasts (http://www.marvel.com/webcasts) or at www.earnings.com (http://www.earnings.com/). An archived version of the webcast will be available for 30 days.

About Marvel Entertainment, Inc. With a library of over 5,000 characters, Marvel Entertainment, Inc. is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies. Marvel's operations are focused on utilizing its character franchises in licensing, entertainment, publishing and toys. Areas of emphasis include feature films, DVD/home video, consumer products, video games, action figures and role-playing toys, television and promotions. Rooted in the creative success of over sixty years of comic book publishing, Marvel's strategy is to leverage its character franchises in a growing array of opportunities around the world. More information about Marvel can be found at www.marvel.com (http://www.marvel.com/).

Contact:Jaffoni & CollinsRichard Land, David Collins, 212/835-8500mvl@jcir.com (mvl@jcir.com)</SPAN>

Retroman

11-05-2006, 03:39 PM

^^Nice.:yay:

Advanced Dark

11-05-2006, 03:55 PM

^ Yeah I imagine we'll hear something on Punisher 2 if the script was only weeks away from completion...3 weeks ago. LOL Though LGF should be the one annoucing that.

Retroman

11-05-2006, 04:06 PM

I hope they finally say who is writing the script.At the very least.:o

Advanced Dark

11-06-2006, 06:22 AM

Marvel Reports Q3 2006 EPS of $0.16 and Initiates 2007 EPS Guidance Range of $1.35 - $1.55
Monday November 6, 6:58 am ET
Raises 2006 EPS Guidance Range to $0.61 - $0.64
Marvel will host a webcast today for all investors at 9:00 a.m. EST available at: www.Marvel.com/webcasts or www.fulldisclosure.com

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: MVL - News), a global character-based entertainment and licensing company, today initiated financial guidance for 2007 and revised its financial guidance for 2006. The financial guidance was provided in conjunction with the reporting of operating results for the third quarter and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2006.
For Q3 2006, Marvel reported net income of $13.2 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, net of a $0.7 million charge for FAS 123R share-based payments. This compares to net income of $23.4 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, in the year-ago third quarter period, which did not include any stock option expense.

Marvel Entertainment, Inc.
Segment Net Sales/Operating Income
(in Millions)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
9/30/06 9/30/05 9/30/06 9/30/05
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Licensing: Net Sales 28.3 33.2 101.7 148.3
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating Income (1) 13.4 20.0 57.1 88.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Publishing: Net Sales 30.9 25.8 79.9 69.1
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating Income 13.1 11.0 32.5 27.7
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Toys: Net Sales 33.0 22.1 85.0 56.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating Income 7.4 10.5 14.6 28.1
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Corporate Overhead: (6.3) (6.1) (18.0) (17.4)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL NET SALES $92.2 $81.1 $266.6 $273.4
----------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL OPERATING INCOME $27.6 $35.4 $86.2 $126.4
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) The nine-month period in 2005 includes the impact of a $10
million, one-time charge related to the settlement of litigation with
Stan Lee.

Marvel's Chairman, Morton Handel, commented, "The framework for Marvel's strategic transformation into a global entertainment company is largely complete, and we are excited about the outlook for our business in the coming years. We have refined the 2006 guidance as a result of better than expected operating results for the remainder of 2006. We have also initiated financial guidance for 2007 that demonstrates the strong line-up of entertainment and marketing exposure that should drive consumer awareness and sales of our licensed products. 2007 should be a pivotal year for Marvel, marked by three licensed feature film releases as well as the first full year of our toy license agreement with Hasbro.

"Of particular note in 2007, our Marvel Studios subsidiary expects to commence principal photography on our first Marvel-produced feature film, Iron Man, in the first quarter of 2007, and we anticipate filming on The Hulk to begin later in the year for its newly announced June 27, 2008 release date. In addition, Marvel Studios will continue development on several films targeted for 2009 and beyond."

Financial Guidance:

As reflected in the table below, Marvel today revised its financial guidance for 2006 and initiated financial guidance for 2007. A few key drivers behind Marvel's 2007 guidance are highlighted below.

Marvel Entertainment, Inc. - Financial Guidance
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(in millions,
except per- Updated 2006 Previous 2006 Initial 2007 2005
share amounts) Guidance Guidance (2) Guidance Actual (1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Net sales $330 - $340 $320 - $350 $375 - $435 $391
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income (3) $53 - $56 $43 - $53 $115 - $132 $103
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Diluted EPS (3) $0.61 - $0.64 $0.50 - $0.60 $1.35 - $1.55 $0.97
----------------------------------------------------------------------

(1) FY 2005 net income and diluted EPS include a one-time charge of
approximately $12.5 million associated with the early termination
of Marvel's toy licensee, Toy Biz Worldwide Ltd.
(2) Previous 2006 guidance ranges were provided on August 2, 2006.
(3) 2006 net income and diluted EPS reflect $5.9 million (pre-tax) of
non-cash expenses related to the implementation of FAS 123R.

Primary 2007 Financial Guidance Drivers:

Expected strong Spider-Man movie merchandise licensing, triggered by the theatrical release of the Spider-Man 3 movie.
Toy license contributions related to Marvel's toy license agreement with Hasbro.
Initial film license revenue contributions from three feature films slated for release in 2007: Ghost Rider, Spider-Man 3, and Fantastic Four 2.
Contributions from domestic and international licensing revenues from "classic" brands.
Strong growth in interactive revenues.
Continued, modest top-line and bottom-line growth from the publishing division.
An effective tax rate of 37% in 2007 with only a marginal amount payable in cash for the year.
Marvel's guidance is based on 85.0 million diluted shares outstanding for 2007 and does not reflect any share repurchase activity in 2007.
Marvel cautions investors that variations in the timing of licenses and entertainment events, the timing of their revenue recognition, and their level of success result in variations and uncertainty in forecasting the Company's financial results. These factors could have a material impact on year-over-year and sequential quarterly results comparisons as well as Marvel's ability to achieve the financial performance included in its financial guidance.

Third Quarter Segment Review:

Licensing Segment net sales declined 15% from the year-ago period to $28.3 million, primarily due to lower contributions from domestic licensing and Marvel's Spider-Man merchandising joint venture (JV) with Sony. These declines were partially offset by gains in international licensing and the Marvel Studios operations. The $6.2 million reduction in domestic merchandise licensing sales resulted from lower anticipated new and renewal contract sales in the third quarter, which was partially offset by gains in overages. The Spider-Man JV had sales of only $0.8 million in Q3 2006, which were primarily related to licensing overages associated with catalog sales of the Spider-Man 2 video game. Studio media licensing sales increased to $4.3 million in Q3 2006, with the gain from the prior year predominantly generated from animated television and Direct-to-DVD projects.
Marvel Entertainment, Inc.
Licensing Sales by Division (Unaudited)
(in millions)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
9/30/06 9/30/05 9/30/06 9/30/05
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Domestic Consumer Products 14.3 20.5 52.9 76.3
----------------------------------------------------------------------
International Consumer Products 8.9 7.5 32.4 30.1
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Spider-Man L.P. (Domestic and
International) 0.8 2.3 3.5 20.4
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Marvel Studios 4.3 2.9 12.9 21.5
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Licensing Segment $28.3 $33.2 $101.7 $148.3
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Operating margins in the licensing division were 47% in Q3 2006, below margins of 60% in the prior-year period, resulting from higher compensation and related expenses, coupled with lower revenues in the Q3 2006 period.

Marvel's Publishing Segment net sales increased $5.1 million or 20% from the year-ago period to $30.9 million, due to higher sales of trade paperbacks and hard cover books sold into the direct and book market channels. Comic book sales were bolstered by strong sales associated with Civil War, a high-profile special series that has tie-ins across many established comic book series. Publishing results also benefited from strong year-over-year growth in custom publishing. Publishing segment operating income in Q3 2006 was $13.1 million with an operating margin of 42%, compared to $11.0 million in operating income and an operating margin of 43% in the prior-year period.
The transition in Marvel's Toy Segment net sales from toys produced by a master toy licensee in 2005 to toy production by Marvel in 2006 contributed to an expected year-over-year increase in segment revenues. Sales in the quarter increased 49% versus the prior year, consisting primarily of core classic Marvel character lines. The shift from sales recorded in 2005 as royalty and service fee income, with no corresponding Cost of Revenues expense, to sales recorded in 2006 as wholesale sales subject to the corresponding Cost of Revenues expense, was the principal factor in operating margins decreasing to 22% for the third quarter of 2006, as compared to 48% in last year's period.
Marvel Entertainment, Inc.
Toy Sales Summary (Unaudited)
(in millions)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
9/30/06 9/30/05 9/30/06 9/30/05
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Marvel Toy Net Sales 33.0 4.9 85.0 12.8
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Toy License:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
- Toy Royalties -- 8.3 -- 21.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------
- Fees for Services Rendered -- 8.9 -- 22.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Toy Segment $33.0 $22.1 $85.0 $56.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Balance Sheet Update:

As of September 30, 2006, Marvel had cash and equivalents of $34.9 million and $79.7 million in borrowings under its $125 million credit facility with HSBC Bank. During the third quarter of 2006 Marvel did not repurchase any additional shares under the repurchase program. As of September 30, 2006, the Company had $50.0 million remaining under its $100 million share repurchase authorization announced June 5, 2006.

Marvel Studios Entertainment Pipeline
(Development and release dates for licensed properties are controlled
by studio partners)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Licensed Marvel Character Feature Film Line-Up For 2007
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Film/Character Studio/Distributor Status
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ghost Rider Sony In post-production,
February 16, 2007
release
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Spider-Man 3 Sony In production, May 4,
2007 release
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fantastic Four 2 Fox In production, June 15,
2007 release (1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Film Projects Being Developed by Marvel (Partial List)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Film/Character Studio Status
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Iron Man Marvel Writer & director
engaged, slated for May
2, 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Incredible Hulk Marvel Writer and director
engaged, slated for June
27, 2008 release (1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ant-Man Marvel Writer and director
engaged
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Captain America Marvel Writer engaged
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nick Fury Marvel Writer engaged
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thor Marvel Writer engaged
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Avengers Marvel Writer engaged (1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Black Panther, Cloak & Dagger, Doctor Strange, Hawkeye, Power Pack and
Shang-Chi are other projects that may be developed by Marvel. (1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Licensed Marvel Character Film Development Pipeline (Partial List)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Film/Character Studio/Distributor Status
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Wolverine Fox TBD
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Punisher 2 Lions Gate TBD
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Magneto Fox TBD
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Namor Universal TBD
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Marvel Character Animated TV Projects in Development
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Character Studio Status
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fantastic Four Moonscoop SAS (France) 26, 30 minute episodes
airing in 2006; U.S.
distribution started on
Cartoon Network on
September 2, 2006.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Wolverine First Serve Toonz 26, 30 minute episodes in
(India) development
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Iron Man Method Films (France) 26, 30 minute episodes in
development
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Marvel Character Animated Direct-to-Video Projects in Development
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Partnership with Lions Gate to develop, produce and distribute
original animated DVD features. Titles include: Ultimate Avengers
(released February 21, 2006), Ultimate Avengers 2 (released August 8,
2006), Iron Man (scheduled for release in 2007) and Doctor Strange.
(1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Marvel Character Live Action TV Projects (Partial List)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Alter Ego, Moon Knight and Skrull Kill Krew in development. (1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
2006 Video Game Releases
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Publisher Character group Release
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Activision X-Men 3 Released Q2 2006
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Activision Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Released Q4 2006
----------------------------------------------------------------------
2007 Video Game Releases
(Release dates controlled by Publishing partner)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Take-Two Ghost Rider Q1 2007 (1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Konami Marvel Vs. Card Game Q1 2007 (1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Activision Spider-Man 3 Q2 2007 (1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Take-Two Fantastic Four II Q2 2007 (1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Electronic Arts Marvel Nemesis 2 Q4 2007 (1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Activision Spider-Man Trilogy Q4 2007 (1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Nothing new on P2 yet. Expectations were for .12/cents a share! They raised 2006 estimates, and initiate 2007 ahead of analyst expectation...and 2006 was a freaking boring year! Cha-Ching!

Advanced Dark

11-09-2006, 03:37 PM

Marvel closed at an all time "closing" high of 26.95 today up almost 100% from the lows earlier in the year! The great things is...these prices will seem cheap at this time next year. 3 major studio films next year, and then Marvel starts filming their first two efforts Hulk & Iron Man after that all of which will have DVD releases, video games, toys, merchandise etc...This was a lull year. MVL will be at $100/share within 48 months. It's worth the wait and considering the growth potential is still undervalued. I bought 400 more shares today!

Advanced Dark

11-09-2006, 03:40 PM

Advanced Dark

11-10-2006, 01:37 AM

http://www.businessweek.com/investor/content/nov2006/pi20061109_856806.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index _investing

Marvel Shows Its Might
The publishing and entertainment outfit's recent moves have boosted its revenues and share price. Can it sustain the superpowered surge?
by Ronald Grover

Want to see pent-up demand? There was plenty to spare at the San Diego Convention Center in July, when Marvel Entertainment (MVL) titillated the faithful at the annual Comic-Con convention. With nearly 1,000 die-hard comic-book fans in attendance, the company that makes Spider-Man swing and X-Men mutate unveiled plans for its next Incredible Hulk as well as new flicks based on its Ant Man and Iron Man franchises. Since then, Marvel shares have been supercharged, jumping 41%, to $26.52, on Nov. 9.

How much higher Marvel can leap is another story. The company beat Wall Street estimates on Nov. 6, announcing a 13.5% hike in revenue, to $92.2 million, although earnings declined by 43.5%, to $13.2 million. More important, the home to the Fantastic Four hiked both its guidance for 2007 and the rest of this year, sending analysts scurrying to boost the earnings targets. Raymond James analyst Joseph Hovorka, who rates Marvel outperform, hiked his 12-month target to $31.50, from $28, saying the number "is justified by the high free cash flow generation of the company."

Not everyone completely agrees, however. Although he boosted his own target price to $25 from $19 a share, Bank of America analyst Michael Savner maintained his neutral rating for the stock. Savner voices concern that the company's boost earlier in the year was likely fueled by stock buybacks, and he still worries that the company's "lack of transparency" about future prospects might make earnings the rest of the year "more risky." He also says management changes—the company's top international and consumer-products executives, and its primary film executive left this summer—have "made us increasingly skeptical."

Action Figures
Still, no one can fault Marvel for the steps it has taken to potentially boost its earnings. Late last year, it closed on a $525 million credit facility that it says will give it greater control over—and hopefully more revenue from—the production and timing of its films. That enables Marvel to make films on its own—such as Iron Man, which Paramount (a unit of Viacom (VIA)) will distribute in 2008—as well as to continue to license some of its films to studios like Sony (SNE), which will release Spider-Man 3 next summer. The downside is that Marvel must shell out money for the films that it intends to produce, which Marvel Executive Vice-President David Maisel said would cost between $100 million and $160 million apiece.

Marvel has taken other steps to boost its earnings. Late last year, it terminated its existing toy-licensing agreement with Toy Biz Worldwide and signed instead with Hasbro (HAS), which has already paid Marvel a $105 million advance for a deal that begins in January. The company hasn't yet booked much of the $75 million guarantee for Spider-Man 3, Marvel Chief Financial Officer Ken West told analysts. That advance is roughly double the guarantee for Spider-Man 2 and four times what the company got in 2001 for the original Spider-Man, West adds.

The expected revenue boost from next year's release of Spider-Man 3 by Sony and Fantastic Four 2 by Fox prompted the company to hike its 2007 net sales number to a range of $375 million to $435 million, according to West. The company is expected to have 2006 sales of $338 million in 2006, according to BoA analyst Savner's report. Savner also expects Marvel's operating margins to jump to 48.4% in 2007, from 30% this year and 43.8% in 2005, when its numbers were boosted by the release of the first Fantastic Four film and sales of Spider-Man 2 DVDs.

Those are superhero-like numbers—and a big reason why Wall Street has sent Marvel's stock skyward. Can the company that lives and dies by guys in masks continue to knock 'em dead? The market is there. Just ask the comic-book fanatics who gathered this summer in San Diego to cheer on Iron Man this summer. And that film's at least two years away from hitting the big screen.

Grover is Los Angeles bureau chief for BusinessWeek.

Reader Discussion

Advanced Dark

11-15-2006, 03:14 PM

Another new high closing today at 28.06!!! See ya at 30!!!

Advanced Dark

11-29-2006, 01:36 PM

Almost hit 30 went to 29.70's and then profit taking came in. Around 27.70-28.70 range today. Here's some new news:

Press Release
Source: Marvel Entertainment, Inc.

Marvel to Present at UBS Global Media and Communications Conference Monday, December 4th at 3:30 P.M. EST
Wednesday November 29, 1:58 pm ET
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: MVL (http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=mvl&d=t) - News (http://finance.yahoo.com/q/h?s=mvl)), a global character-based entertainment and licensing company, today announced that Marvel Vice Chairman, Peter Cuneo, will present at UBS' 34th Annual Global Media & Communications Conference on Monday, December 4th at 3:30 p.m. EST. The conference is being held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City.

Live Webcast and Replay:
Via http://events.streamx.us/us/event/eventdetails.aspx?id=ubs20061204 (http://events.streamx.us/us/event/eventdetails.aspx?id=ubs20061204) or via http://www.marvel.com/company/index.htm?sub=webcasts_current.php (http://www.marvel.com/company/index.htm?sub=webcasts_current.php). An archived version of the webcast will be available at these locations for thirty days.
Slide Presentation: The slide presentation that Marvel management will use at the conference will be available for download that day at www.marvel.com/company/index.htm?sub=webcasts_current.php (http://www.marvel.com/company/index.htm?sub=webcasts_current.php).

About Marvel Entertainment, Inc.
With a library of over 5,000 characters, Marvel Entertainment, Inc. is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies. Marvel's operations are focused on utilizing its character franchises in licensing, entertainment, publishing and toys. Areas of emphasis include feature films, DVD/home video, consumer products, video games, action figures and role-playing toys, television and promotions. Rooted in the creative success of over sixty years of comic book publishing, Marvel's strategy is to leverage its character franchises in a growing array of opportunities around the world.

Contact:
Jaffoni & CollinsRichard Land or David Collins, 212-835-8500mvl@jcir.com (mvl@jcir.com)</SPAN>Source: Marvel Entertainment, Inc.

Advanced Dark

11-29-2006, 01:39 PM

Advanced Dark

01-08-2007, 11:04 PM

Press Release

Source: Marvel Entertainment, Inc.

Marvel to Present at Citigroup Entertainment, Media & Telecom Conference Wed. Jan. 10th at 9:45 AM PST
Wednesday January 3, 7:00 am ET

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: MVL (http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=mvl&d=t) - News (http://finance.yahoo.com/q/h?s=mvl)), a global character-based entertainment and licensing company, today announced that David Maisel, Executive Vice President, Office of the Chief Executive, and Peter Cuneo, Vice Chairman, will present at Citigroup's 17th Annual Entertainment, Media & Telecommunications Conference on Wednesday, January 10th at 9:45 a.m. PST. The conference is being held at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Live Webcast and Replay:
Via http://www.veracast.com/webcasts/citigroup/emt07/75205116.cfm (http://www.veracast.com/webcasts/citigroup/emt07/75205116.cfm)

or via http://www.marvel.com/company/index.htm?sub=webcasts_current.php (http://www.marvel.com/company/index.htm?sub=webcasts_current.php).

An archived version of the webcast will be available at these locations for thirty days.
Slide Presentation:
The slide presentation that Marvel management will use at the conference will be available for download that day at www.marvel.com/company/index.htm?sub=webcasts_current.php (http://www.marvel.com/company/index.htm?sub=webcasts_current.php).
About Marvel Entertainment, Inc.
With a library of over 5,000 characters, Marvel Entertainment, Inc. is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies. Marvel's operations are focused on utilizing its character franchises in licensing, entertainment, publishing and toys. Areas of emphasis include feature films, DVD/home video, consumer products, video games, action figures and role-playing toys, television and promotions. Rooted in the creative success of over sixty years of comic book publishing, Marvel's strategy is to leverage its character franchises in a growing array of opportunities around the world.

Contact:
Jaffoni & CollinsRichard Land or David Collins212-835-8500mvl@jcir.com (mvl@jcir.com)</SPAN>

Source: Marvel Entertainment, Inc.

Advanced Dark

01-09-2007, 10:23 AM

http://digital50.com/news/items/BW/2001/07/14/20070109005077/pixfusion-signs-licensing-deal-with-marvel-for-spider-man.html

<H1>PixFusion Signs Licensing Deal with Marvel for Spider-Man

NEW YORK-(Business Wire)-January 9, 2007 - PixFusion LLC (www.pixfusion.com), creator of personalized, branded video products, has signed a multi-year licensing deal with Marvel/Spider-Man(TM) Merchandising L.P. (NYSE: MVL) (www.marvel.com), one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, for the licensing of Spider-Man(TM) and his family of characters. Under terms of the agreement, PixFusion is using its patented technology to publish a photo-personalized Spider-Man video, "I Am the Amazing Spider-Man."
"I Am the Amazing Spider-Man," available through PixFusion's Kideo brand Web site (www.kideo.com), joins current licensed titles starring Dora the Explorer, Care Bears and Arthur. Using its patented process, PixFusion takes a child's color photo sent by e-mail or via regular mail and transforms it into a 25-minute action packed adventure based on "Spider-Man-The Animated Series" (MTV) and starring the featured child as the "web-slinger" himself, battling many of the legendary Spider-Man(TM) villains such as Electro and Lizard. The DVD also contains exciting bonus features including educational content and a music video set to the classic theme song from the 1960s animated cartoon with the child swinging into action "Spidey Style."
"I Am the Amazing Spider-Man" is a wonderful addition to our current product line," said Marc E. Jaffe, PixFusion CEO. "Children and fans alike will love watching themselves as Spider-Man taking on his arch enemies."
About PixFusion LLC
PixFusion LLC (www.pixfusion.com), established in 2001 with offices in both New York City and Palm Beach, Florida, creates personalized branded video products and services and uses its patented technology to automate the production of its finished products. PixFusion, recently awarded an iParenting Media Award, has proprietary content agreements and is continuing to expand its distribution networks to offer its personalized products direct to consumers and through retailers, manufacturers and other indirect channels. The company has commercialized children video products through its Kideo brand (www.kideo.com), a successful enterprise selling DVD videos to parents and grandparents of children ages one to seven. Kideo's existing content is licensed from some of the most prominent and respected pre-school brands including Dora the Explorer and Arthur. In addition to its consumer entertainment division, PixFusion has also entered into several licenses of its proprietary intellectual property platform based on the strength of its long standing patent portfolio.
About Marvel Entertainment, Inc.
With a library of over 5,000 characters, Marvel Entertainment, Inc. is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies. Marvel's operations are focused on utilizing its character franchises in licensing, entertainment, publishing and toys. Areas of emphasis include feature films, DVD/home video, consumer products, video games, action figures and role-playing toys, television and promotions. Rooted in the creative success of over sixty years of comic book publishing, Marvel's strategy is to leverage its character franchises in a growing array of opportunities around the world. More information at www.marvel.com.
Send this news item to a friend (javascript://).
Print This Page (http://digital50.com/news/items/BW/2001/07/14/20070109005077/pixfusion-signs-licensing-deal-with-marvel-for-spider-man/print)
</H1>
:)

Advanced Dark

01-10-2007, 02:01 PM

http://www.veracast.com/webcasts/citigroup/emt07/75205116.cfm

View the slide show from today. Short.

Advanced Dark

01-18-2007, 10:38 AM

AP
Ahead of the Bell: Marvel Entertainment
Thursday January 18, 9:15 am ET
Marvel Set to Benefit From Film Production, Should See Strong 2007, Analyst Says

NEW YORK (AP) -- A Susquehanna Financial Group analyst predicts a strong 2007 for Marvel Entertainment Inc., creator of the X-Men and Superman comic book heroes, partly from a self-financed film initiative.
ADVERTISEMENT

Analyst Michael A. Kelman in a client note initiated coverage on Marvel with a "Positive," or "Buy," rating.

"In our opinion, Marvel Entertainment should experience strong earnings momentum for the foreseeable future, driven by the success of licensed properties in the near term, and the release of its own feature film slate over the long term," he wrote.

The company gets a large part of its revenue from licensing its characters to film and toy makers. It is currently working on its first self-financed film, "Iron Man," expected for release in summer 2008. The film's cast includes Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert Downey Jr.

"Further, although we expect earnings volatility to remain high, Marvel now has an opportunity to participate directly in the success of its films, which should improve margins in its other businesses," added Kelman.

Even given a recent run-up in shares, the analyst believes the stock has not yet priced in potential from the film initiative. He predicts significant earnings growth in 2007.

Shares added 14 cents to $28.49 in premarket trading after closing at $28.35 a day earlier on the New York Stock Exchange.

Source: Business Wire

hippie_hunter

01-18-2007, 12:20 PM

I don't think that anyone will doubt Marvel's success in 2007 due to Spider-Man 3 and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.

I am curious about 2008 though. Marvel is going to do really, really good or really, really bad depending on the success of its movies.

Advanced Dark

01-18-2007, 01:32 PM

hippie_hunter

01-18-2007, 03:46 PM

2008 should be solid. Iron Man will make over 150 million and perhaps close to 200 million domestic. It has too much going for it. Hulk seems to me like it's going to move to a Winter 08 release. That's my speculation but that May/June timeframe is getting too crowded. No 3rd party studios have announced a Marvel licensed film yet but I think Daredevil will revert to Marvel in 08/09 if New Regency is still sitting on their ass. Don't be surprised to see Nick Fury suddenly appear on the radar, and Namor is likely for 09/10. This is a 35+ dollar stock by the end of this year and well into the 40's next year.

Superman Returns was expected to be the #1 grossing movie of the year by many publications and look at how that turned out. No one expected Pirates of the Carribean 2 to be one of the highest grossing movies of all time. Warner Bros. expected Poseidon and Lady in the Water to be successes yet they bombed. Just because a movie is made, doesn't mean that it will automatically be a success, the same can be said about it being an automatic failure. We can't just simply predict how much a movie will make.

As I said, if Marvel's movies as a whole (including Captain America, Thor, Nick Fury, the Incredible Hulk, etc.) do well, then Marvel is going to experience degrees of success unimaginable. If they don't, then Marvel is going to go through some tough times.

I too expect Daredevil to revert back to Marvel. 20th Century Fox practically has no interest in working on the franchise anymore since both Daredevil and Elektra weren't that successful.

Advanced Dark

01-18-2007, 05:12 PM

hippie_hunter

01-18-2007, 08:38 PM

I knew Superman wasn't going to be #1 grossing film of the year, and I know Iron Man won't be the #1 grossing film of the year either. Brian Singer is not as Godly as everyone seems to think he is, Poseidon was the worst film of the year though it had the potential to be the biggest and they made a horrible film, and Lady in the Water...didn't have the same interest as Signs or 6th sense. The studio thought just the directors name was good enough to make money...they were wrong. I knew that. Iron Man has too much going for it not to make 150-200 million. Anything under or over that is shocking to me. I can predict that with relative ease. The release date is key, the director is a talent, and they're hiring actors to give the film instant cred. None of the stars in the film are major box office draws but the genre is...the stars are a little booster shot.

I'm just saying there is no way we can definetely say that a movie is going to be successful. Look at the Punisher, that movie rocked but it underwhelmed in the box office due to Kill Bill. Then take a look at X-Men: The Last Stand, that movie sucked hardcore yet that movie was extremely successful.

That's not saying that I'm not looking foward to Iron Man, I am extremely looking foward to it.

Arkady Rossovich

01-18-2007, 08:38 PM

Im going to say that Marvel`s up trend will continue with Spider-Man 3,but i think Iron Man will be a failure and Marvel will suffer because of this.Similar to the result of the first Fantastic Four movie and Daredevil.

hippie_hunter

01-18-2007, 08:55 PM

Advanced Dark

01-18-2007, 10:42 PM

Exactly. Fantastic Four's box office was above all analysts expectations, and Daredevil made good money considering the release date and the character. Marvel's only true dud was Elektra. Every other film turned them a profit...most quite handsomely. Punisher made a bundle on DVD.

Advanced Dark

01-25-2007, 12:26 PM

Analyst initiations 1-25-07: Marvel's superheroes are a Buy

Posted Jan 25th 2007 11:43AM by Kevin Shult (http://www.bloggingstocks.com/bloggers/kevin-shult/)
Filed under: Before the bell (http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/before-the-bell/), Analyst initiations (http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/analyst-initiations/)
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.bloggingstocks.com/media/2007/01/aol-fly-logo.gif (http://www.theflyonthewall.com/splashPage.php?source=AOL)MOST NOTEWORTHY: Marvel Entertainment Inc (MVL) and Affymetrix Inc (AFFY) were today's most notable initiations:

Sanders Morris started Marvel Entertainment Inc (NYSE: MVL (http://finance.aol.com/quotes/marvel-entertainment-inc/mvl/nys?tabs=quotesandnews)) with a Buy rating and $34 target on the belief that 2007 guidance is conservative.

hippie_hunter

01-25-2007, 12:36 PM

For a minute there I thought it said the guys name was Kevin ****

Noir

01-25-2007, 05:00 PM

I'm going to invest also..

Advanced Dark

01-25-2007, 05:29 PM

The thing is to buy and hold and not freak out when it goes down a buck one day cause if you sit there and worry over day to day action you'll forget about the long term prospects of the company. This isn't a slot machine it's a long term investment. Marvel will peak when it's consisentenly churning out self financed films as well as the other studio films, has video games coming out timely with each film, etc...However I think Marvel's likely to merge with a larger company or buy out some smaller ones along the way. This is a 100% strong buy for the next few years. Hell even if it went up to 32 tomorrow it's still a buy and hold. I think 2008 we'll have Iron Man & Hulk with Hulk moving to a slightly later date. 2009 and beyond is huge. It'll be even bigger news when Marvel works out what's next for Spidey after part 3, once Namor get's off the ground, and if GR proves to be a bankable franchise. All of these films have potential spin-off's on film or tv.

Noir

01-25-2007, 05:34 PM

if I buy it, I'm going to keep it for a long time.
I want to be able to say I own a fraction of a percent of Marvel.

Advanced Dark

01-25-2007, 05:37 PM

I've built up a load of shares I mean thousands and thousands...and I'm buying more. It's actually a steal right now at 28.

Noir

01-25-2007, 05:41 PM

28 Dollars?
Where can I buy a share?
and how can I buy a share?

Do I get a cool certificate or anything?

How much are they? I'm a n00b at stock market.

Advanced Dark

01-25-2007, 05:48 PM

^ I'd say so. LOL

Anyways you need to fund an account by sending money to somebody like E-Trade, TD-Americtrade, Schwabb, etc...I find TD to be very good. Then investment money that you can tie up long term without effecting your finances. You don't want to be forced to sell because you need the money. Do your research or ask people who know and that you trust for advice and then grab some shares. It's 28 bucks a share. Depending on how old you are even if it's a small amount of money you may wish to stick in in a form of IRA. If your'e young just do that and use it as a long term savings account so you can't ever touch it. Dont' forget to factor in commissions into your cost average. The discount brokerages are the way to go if you know what you're gonna invest in. The best companies for you to invest in are always the one's you know. That's why I love Marvel cause I can find out about details of their pipeline online and get information here and other sites that can help my investment. You can't do that with other companies. There's no websites where you have 40,000 fans digging up info all over the place like this. It's like legal inside info. LOL If I see something's coming out that's exciting and news is iminent...I'll buy more. etc...It's worked out well. My original investment was at $6.08 a share...BEFORE it split 3 for 2. :) That's about a 700% gain.

Noir

01-25-2007, 05:52 PM

Okay.
Cool, let me get online and do some googling.
I'm gonna make money off Marvel? That is great.

hippie_hunter

01-25-2007, 05:54 PM

I'm now wishing that I invested in Marvel during my Junior year when it was about $16.00/$17.00 per share or something close to that

Advanced Dark

01-25-2007, 05:56 PM

Just make sure again to use only money you can afford to tie up. Also if you have any questions don't invest without getting them answered to your satisfaction. Also once invested dont' panic over daily moves or if one analyst comes out and downgrades it. This has been happening yearly since the stock came out as it does for most other stocks. You have to believe in the company to invest yourself...but don't marry the company either. If things aren't going like you thought (not with the stock price but with the company) then re-evaluate. We all know Spiderman 3 and FF2 are going to be money makers. GR is a question mark and many peoples minds so if it's a hit then that really helps Marvel's brand name quite a bit. Marvel doesn't make a load of money off GR but they do make money off of it and it gives the studios the confidence to keep making comics to film titles from 2nd and sub-tier characters.

Cadetak4712

01-26-2007, 02:37 AM

You also have to take into consideration the general popularity of the character in question...is Iron-Man recognizable by the general public?

I personally don't think so...but the action and the special effects could sell the movie.

Spidey, X-Men, FF, and Supes are all very recognizable characters. They have had cartoons and video games made about them, their on luchboxes, etc.

Lets face most of the people who see Super hero movies don't read comics...personally I didn't get back into comics until the movies revived my interests.

I'm not sure that Iron man is going to make as much money as everyone thinks...it won't flop though.

Advanced Dark

01-26-2007, 04:16 AM

^ Popularity of the character means nothing. It's all in the marketing, and then how good the character is presented on screen. Please tell me Shrek was popular before the 1st film.

Advanced Dark

01-26-2007, 11:52 AM

http://blog.newsarama.com/2007/01/26/marvel-sues-former-toy-contractor-for-6-million/

Marvel sues former toy partner. :)

Cadetak4712

01-26-2007, 10:33 PM

^ Popularity of the character means nothing. It's all in the marketing, and then how good the character is presented on screen. Please tell me Shrek was popular before the 1st film.

That is true. I'm going to guess its going to be presented as a super hero movie like SM and X-Men. One of the big appeal of super hero films is that people recognize the character...would Spider-man have made any money if there wasn't a costume and the main character was a guy named Rob instead of Peter?

Just think about it...why did you see Spider-man? It was because you knew the character. Nobody went to go see SM for the story or any of the regular reason's people see movies...they saw because it was Spider-man. People will see Transformers based on name alone...normally people would laugh at the idea of cars turning into robots.

Iron Man is a different type of super hero though...he's just a guy in a suit with cool weapons. And Tony Stark isn't from the traditional "I'ma good guy and I stop bad guys" type of hero mold.

It depends on how the movie is presented...they have to show people that Iron Man isn't just another super hero.

Advanced Dark

01-29-2007, 09:48 AM

http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/plus/bgscommentary.aspx?ID=18169

Research update.

Advanced Dark

01-31-2007, 04:22 PM

http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/01/31... (http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/01/31/marvel-a-breakout-buy-for-spiderman/)

Marvel: A breakout buy for Spiderman
Posted Jan 31st 2007 3:50PM by Steven Halpern
Filed under: Newsletters

Over the past 12 months, Marvel Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: MVL) has lived up to its name, with the stock climbing from $16 to above $27; the stock is now setting up for a breakout and a rally, says Leo Fasciocco -- a technical analyst who looks specifically for stocks that are breaking out from previous resistance areas.

The editor of the Ticker Tape Digest, explains, "The company's success swings on the strength and marketability of its characters. Net income is poised to rise sharply this year, which suggests accumulation of MVL in anticipation of a move higher."

Marvel publishes and licenses products based on its cartoon characters. Fasciocco notes that the firm lends its more than 5,000 characters (Daredevil, Spider-Man, X-Men) to toy development, publishing, and licensing.

The company also licenses its characters to makers of movies, TV shows, clothing, video games, and other products such as toy action figures. Annual revenues are currently $390 million.

Fasciocco explains, "Technically, the stock looks good long-term. After climbing from the 16 level, the stock is now in a 10-week, cup-and-handle base. The base is well defined between 30 and 26. The stock's momentum indicator is bullish."

What most impresses the adviser is that the accumulation - distribution line recently hit a new peak. He notes, "We see that as indicating money is coming into the stock and that MVL is well placed to stage a breakout."

Meanwhile, he believes that the company is poised for an earnings turnaround. He notes that Wall Street analysts are currently predicting a 127% rebound in profits in 2007. He also observes that the stock currently sells with a price-earnings ratio of 19 based on projected 2007 net. He sees that multiple as reasonable.

Fasciocco is also impressed with the institutional ownership of the company, noting that the largest fund holder is 5-star rated Janus Growth & Income Fund with a 4.6% stake. The largest recent buyer, he says, was 4-star rated Oppenheimer Small and Mid Cap Value Fund, which purchased 1 million shares. Also, he notes, 5-star rated Baron Small Cap Fund picked up 700,000 shares, while the company's CEO Isaac Perlmutter owns 28% of the stock.

The adviser recommends the stock for aggressive investors, and suggests starting with a partial position. He would then add to one's position on a breakout above the 30 level.

Steven Halpern follows the financial newsletter advisors and features their latest stock ideas each day on his free website, TheStockAdvisors.com.

Sentiment : Strong Buy

the a1ant

02-01-2007, 01:39 PM

Advanced Dark

02-01-2007, 03:08 PM

^ No problem. It's not hard either. Just dont' screw around. Alot of people think long term and they buy a stock because they think it'll rise bigtime over the next couple years then the stock goes down a buck one week and they panic and sell. LOL I just bought more today at 27.97 and added to my position. I'm accumulating whenever I can here under 30.

jrpstarwars

02-02-2007, 03:46 PM

Time Warner is the company to invest in.

Advanced Dark

02-02-2007, 04:30 PM

TWX is ok and I have some but it has nothing near the growth potential of Marvel.

jrpstarwars

02-02-2007, 05:06 PM

TWX is ok and I have some but it has nothing near the growth potential of Marvel.

Not so much as an investment but for the simple fact they control all the media and technology in the world. I may want a couple shares just for that fact alone.

Advanced Dark

02-02-2007, 05:13 PM

Get Viacom as well then. :)

YJ1

02-02-2007, 11:07 PM

Posted 2/24/06 ... Seriously. I love Marvel, but anyone with half a brain wouldnt invest in them now. Just cause your a fan and put a bunch of money in it, dont get mad cause other people did the smart thing and pulled out. X3 isnt going bring in that much. You really think something like Blade on Spike TV is going to raise revenue? An R-Rated movie like Ghost Rider? Its hardly as sure fire as Spider-man 3. Thats when you want to invest, a couple of months before SM3 comes out and all that merchandise is being sold. Lets be honest here. Marvel is a bad investment.

Did someone say half a brain? Bad investment?

February 1, 2006 Price: $16.17
February 1, 2007 Price: $28.50

But who in their right mind could've foreseen it?

Oh yeah...

Posted 2/23/06 ... I bought shares back in 2001 and have been grinning ever since. I made my profit and I'm still holding a majority of those initial purchases. Advanced Dark is absolutely right. Just ride out this current lull and/or buy more now. MVL will start to gain notice later this year and surge accordingly. I really like most of MVL's licensing and entertainment business moves. (The new Hasbro toy deal, the Paramount movie distribution deal, etc.)

Advanced Dark

02-05-2007, 02:06 PM

Press Release

Source: Marvel Entertainment, Inc.

Marvel to Report Q4 Results and Host Webcast Monday, February 26th at 9:00 a.m. EST
Monday February 5, 11:34 am ET
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: MVL (http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=mvl&d=t) - News (http://finance.yahoo.com/q/h?s=mvl)), a global character-based entertainment and licensing company, will release financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2006 prior to the market's opening on Monday, February 26(th). Marvel will then host a webcast at 9:00 a.m. EST that day to provide an overview of its financial results.
WEBCAST / REPLAY URL: www.marvel.com/webcasts (http://www.marvel.com/webcasts) or at www.earnings.com (http://www.earnings.com/). An archived version of the webcast will be available for 30 days.
About Marvel Entertainment, Inc.
With a library of over 5,000 characters, Marvel Entertainment, Inc. is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies. Marvel's operations are focused on utilizing its character franchises in licensing, entertainment, publishing and toys. Areas of emphasis include feature films, DVD/home video, consumer products, video games, action figures and role-playing toys, television and promotions. Rooted in the creative success of over sixty years of comic book publishing, Marvel's strategy is to leverage its character franchises in a growing array of opportunities around the world. More information about Marvel can be found at www.marvel.com (http://www.marvel.com/).

Contact:
Jaffoni & CollinsRichard Land or David Collins, 212-835-8500mvl@jcir.com (mvl@jcir.com)</SPAN>

Cha-Ching!

Advanced Dark

02-05-2007, 02:06 PM

Did someone say half a brain? Bad investment?

February 1, 2006 Price: $16.17
February 1, 2007 Price: $28.50

But who in their right mind could've foreseen it?

Oh yeah...

This is just the beginning too. LOL Good post. There wasn't a single part of his post that was correct. R rated GR??? X3 won't make any money? I'm mad cause I didn't pull out? LOL

Advanced Dark

02-07-2007, 03:22 PM

Newscorp's sales rise thanks to X-Men DVD

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/financialpost/story.html?id=842c6c8a-ceea-4ce8-b38e-370876e53870&k=43042

Advanced Dark

02-18-2007, 11:22 AM

This weekend proves the value of Marvel's brand and content. Ghost Rider looking to set many records for the weekend, nic cage, and the year so far. :)

Chaos Bringer

02-18-2007, 12:08 PM

TWX is ok and I have some but it has nothing near the growth potential of Marvel.

well ... what rises falls and with Marvels new plans to make awful features of loved properties I doubt they'll stick around long. Live Action Iron Man HAS to be much greater than the dreadful animated version. Ghost Rider stank. I've literaly quit being a fan of Marvel so I'm jaded.

Advanced Dark

02-18-2007, 12:22 PM

FlameHead

02-19-2007, 02:01 PM

Just postin' to subscribe. I've been thinking about doing this for years but have no freakin' idea about the stock market. This'll help. Thanks!

Advanced Dark

02-19-2007, 02:04 PM

Anything worthwhile I'll post here, on my myspace, or at Yahoo Finance under MVL message boards. Though there's a load of short selling bashers there thinking they can make the stock go down. What they don't realize it there just helping the stock go up. :)

Earnings next week and Ghost Rider should be near 100 million by then.

Donald Thomas

02-19-2007, 08:12 PM

^ Don't be an idiot. Yeah Marvel has plans to make "awful features". That's they're business plan to fail that's why they have such horrible talent surrounding the Iron Man feature which is their first Marvel Studios film. Marvel's revenue isn't dependent upon whether you thought the film stank or not. It depends on whether or not the general public likes the product. The same general public that resulted in an increase over opening day on Ghost Rider by 12%.

Aloha,
Great thread. I was an investor during the Bankruptcy days:csad: and recently got back into being an investor along with Hasbro and Electronic Arts.I definitley think that this is the way of the modern fan man or woman. We can moan and rant all we want, but the more we are a part of the company, the greater our potential to influence. Ghost Rider,FF,Punisher,Elektra,DD.Hulk,Punisher and of course Spidey and X-Men. Even if you think any of those movies were crap-Marvel got paid UP FRONT for the use of the character on top of other revenues.Iron Man will be Marvel's first Marvel Made product and it will be a barometer of Marvel's ability to produce it's own content.I've seen the stock rise steadily in the past few months. I'm in for the long haul.
Spidey rules

Advanced Dark

02-19-2007, 09:44 PM

^ Thanks. It's pretty much the safest bet out there with such huge potential return. Content is King. I remember the MRV days when Perlman was in charge and the IPO at 21 zoomed up and split how many times. Perlman raped that company though and never utilized the characters as they should have been. There was no confidence in them at the time anyways and the technology just wasn't there for most of these characters to even be presented right. Fortunately for us fans Avi Arad grabbed Marvel and with his heart turned it into a Hollywood Heavy hitter. Up until now Marvel only got a small share of the studio profit...now we get it all from the Marvel Studios deal. Yeah the stock has gone up 7-10 fold since it first came out...but there was no confidence in the company and it was "TOO" low back then. It's almost doubled again in 12 months because it was undervalued and still people didn't have confidence. Shorts ruled this stock for the 2 years prior to this run-up. Now they're all screwed. This stock will see bumps here and there but I honestly think it'll triple or quadruple the value it's at now within 5-6 years and that's if it's not bought out first by Viacom, Newscorp etc...It's a great pure play. Very little risk even as they play studio because the financing is non-recourse and only movie rights of failed properties would be at risk in the worst case scnerio. It'll be at 30+ possibly as early as tomorrow but surely in the run-up to spidey, then after that FF2, but none of this is even big money till the revenue from Iron Man and Hulk come out. Those films don't need to make spiderman dollars for Marvel to make big money. Marvel only gets 5% of Spidey theatrical revenue...whereas they get it all on Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Avengers, Cap, etc...5% of 800 million is a lot less than 55%+ of 200-400 million. :)

The Incredible Hulk

02-19-2007, 10:08 PM

I owned Marvel stock back in 2002 when I bought a few hundred shares before the release of Spider-man at around $6/share. It shot up like a beast after SM exploded, and got up into the mid 20's. I put a stop loss order in if it ever went down to $21. Wouldn't you know, that happened while I was in the theater watching Hulk. Made a few thousand on the deal and was pretty pleased.

I thought about getting back in but up until very recently the stock market has sucked and Marvel was pretty range bound. I saw Marvel's had a nice rebound recently like certain other entertainment stocks have although I've gotten out of the stock market for the most part. There's much better investments elsewhere in some of the various mutual funds and futures. Last year I believe the market was averaging a 9% ROI which isnt all that great.

Advanced Dark

02-19-2007, 10:26 PM

Marvel was bound range because they were stuck. They were just licensing everything out and the layering effect doesn't have huge compounded effects on revenue. When they started the studio division that changed everything. Marvel is NOT the same company it was 3 years ago. I too bought at 6.08 before the 3/2 split. :) I continued to buy all the way up to just a few weeks ago where I bought a couple hundred more shares at 28.24 or something like that. I have thousands and thousands of shares. Cost average around 13-14 range without factoring in that I sold and bought back cheaper a dozen times on the way up which would average my cost down more. All of that trading was in my IRA. I won't sell Marvel...period. Not until it's bought out or peaked. It's far far from that.

Advanced Dark

02-20-2007, 08:09 AM

Anyone interested should read this:

http://www.marvel.com/company/pdf/marvel_studio_present.pdf

Advanced Dark

02-20-2007, 11:19 AM

Just broke through $30.00 a share and we're still going now at $30.12. This stock is still cheap. And for those who say what goes up must come down take a look at 90% of the biggest company in each business sector as it's performed over it's lifetime...even over the last 30 years on the DOW or NASDAQ. So much for the "down" theory. Of course the stock doesnt' go straight up. There's dips, sell-off's etc...The TREND is your friend w/Marvel though and it's going up long long long term.

Advanced Dark

02-21-2007, 12:48 PM

Hit a new all time high today of 30.87 and now it looks like Marvel might be relocating in NY to hopefully more state of the art offices.

News briefs: Marvel’s rent

§ Will Marvel have to move office again? According to this piece in the New York Observer, their office building has just been purchased by a new buyer who could be well advised to raise the well-below-market rents.

417 Fifth Avenue is an 11-story, 392,000- square-foot building at the corner of 38th Street and across the street from the Lord & Taylor. It’s a building that was constructed in 1912, and includes Atari and Marvel Entertainment as its main tenants.

The building also has 80,000 square feet of air rights available, which was included in the deal, a source said.

One of the first things that Mr. Moinian may want to do is push up rents, since they’re far below market now. The asking rent for the only available floor is $32 per square foot, according to CoStar (whereas average rents for class-B midtown south buildings are $40 per square foot, according to Cushman & Wakefield).

Advanced Dark

02-21-2007, 05:14 PM

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/258/bigvk4.gif

Quote from Zanos Feb 2006 in this thread:

I don't know much about stocks but I don't see marvel as a huge long term investment especially at their current price. By the time they start making their own films most of them will have been made by other studios already. Big hitters like Spider-man and X-Men will have been long done. All they'll be left with is a few crappy second or third tier superheroes. Who's the say the public will even embrace the genre anymore. This isn't to say you won't make some money but at 17 dollars a share forget it.

Marvel was at 17 dollars a share at that time.

Quote from Pickleweed Feb 2007 in this thread:

2007 doesn't seem to be that big of an up for marvel. back in 2000 or whenever you initially bought the stock, marvel was in the slumps. spider man hadn't hit, x-men didn't either. now they're an inflated company riding a trend of superhero pop revival. ghost rider isn't really a draw (even with nick cage), fantastic four isn't a top draw either. spider man is marvels bread and butter, and 3 is where the train stops. most of the creative personnel are gone after this one, and furthermore, can the american attention span hold for a couple more flicks? now im not saying spidey will flop, but as in an investment it's not as strong a buy as it would be in 2000. iron man is another good property, but honestly how many more quality lisences does marvel have?

in a nutshell - the time to buy was 6 years ago. this puppy peaked.

Quote from Shadowboxing Feb 2006 in this thread:

They peaked. They made on or two movies...got investors ravenous...and now they're sick of them. Investors don't give a sh** about what movies you're making...you obviously no nothing about the stock market.

If you were smart you'd never touch Marvel and focus on stable companies like Lowes, Home Depot, Steel and other manufactured goods. Those things never go "out of style". As I said "investors don't give a sh** about movies and toys". They only care about "the next big thing" and what is "always big". Short term investments are things like Marvel that experience big but fleeting moments of popularity. Long term investments would be something like steel companies. A product that is necessary and always needed (for the foreseeable future).

If you want to invest in Marvel 6 years ago was the time. If you like getting the quarterly reports invest 15 bucks....you'll still get em. I had 1000 dollars in their....now its down to the low 800s if that gives you any impression how great a long term investment it is. Invest in Marvel if you want to, don't go deluding yourself its some awesome stock though.

exactamundo....face it X3 will probably tank...especially in the face of SR.

Note the stock is up almost 100% since these posts and X3 made more than Superman Returns. :)

Quote from Jaydawg Feb 2006 in this thread:

Seriously. I love Marvel, but anyone with half a brain wouldnt invest in them now. Just cause your a fan and put a bunch of money in it, dont get mad cause other people did the smart thing and pulled out. X3 isnt going bring in that much. You really think something like Blade on Spike TV is going to raise revenue? An R-Rated movie like Ghost Rider? Its hardly as sure fire as Spider-man 3. Thats when you want to invest, a couple of months before SM3 comes out and all that merchandise is being sold. Lets be honest here. Marvel is a bad investment.

Again almost 100% gains since then. :)

Quote from Hippiehunter in April 2006 in this thread:

I wouldn't invest in Marvel yet. It's just not a smart decision. Marvel has been making some really stupid decisions with their comics lately and have allowed the competition to release a far superior product. Wait and see how Marvel's movie business if it is a success or not before investing in my opinion.

08/2006 Marvel's stock is worth less than $20. Being bought out over $30/share would be too overpriced. If Marvel sells it won't be anymore than $25/share.

09/2006 I made that comment when it's stock was under $20/share. They've been doing pretty well in the past couple of weeks. If this keeps up I can definetly see your prediction of $30/share.

Hippies got that right picture now. :)

^ Toldya! :) Note: I highlighted some of the comments in each post that was amusing to me.

If you guys think 30 is too high you're gonna crap your pants at the end of next year when it's at 50-60, and in 2009 when it's over 80/share. The only way that doesn't happen is if it's bought out.

YJ1

02-22-2007, 07:12 PM

Earnings next week and Ghost Rider should be near 100 million by then.

....

none of this is even big money till the revenue from Iron Man and Hulk come out. Those films don't need to make spiderman dollars for Marvel to make big money. Marvel only gets 5% of Spidey theatrical revenue...whereas they get it all on Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Avengers, Cap, etc...5% of 800 million is a lot less than 55%+ of 200-400 million.

Do you expect a spike in the stock when Earnings is reported on Monday? From what I've read, Marvel should exceed estimates. Doesn't that always send the stock price up even if it is short term?

I remember reading that Marvel gets 5% of Spidey's theatrical revenue up to certain levels. After those levels are reached, I thought Marvel got a larger percentage. Everything over a certain total means a larger piece of the pie for Marvel. Wasn't a better deal for Marvel part of that Sony/Marvel lawsuit settlement?

Regardless, these revenue streams will still all be in place as Marvel creates their own films. Spider-Man, FF, etc. will still be in place and kicking them revenue even as Iron Man and Hulk look to land them higher profits. This seems like the best of both worlds to me.

Advanced Dark

02-22-2007, 10:43 PM

I expect the to exceed earnings and possibly raise guidance for 07 a bit. I expect the stock "may" settle down for a day or two and then start rising up. Generally after good earnings with Marvel the stock settles down and then within a few weeks is up 10-15%. Last time though that didn't happen...the stock just kept going up. This is not the same Marvel as last year or the year before. It's a totally different company with the studio division. I think if they give a glimpse into 2008, talk about the success of GR2, things will be awesome. They should also talk about Spidey 4 as well which would really keep things hot. My honest thoughts are this stock will be over 40 before the end of the year, and by the end of 2008 it could be closing in on 50-60 range. After that the sky is the limit. It'll be over 100 one day if it's not bought out not counting splits.

Advanced Dark

02-23-2007, 09:50 AM

Marvel stock: Still a hero?

Stock Spotlight: 'Spider-Man 3' is expected to spin a web around the box office this summer, but is Marvel's stock a buy?

By David Ellis (david.ellis@turner.com), CNNMoney.com staff writer
February 23 2007: 8:41 AM EST

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Who knew that Wall Street could get this excited about a bunch of guys in superhero costumes?
With an impressive opening weekend at the box office for "Ghost Rider" and the third installment of the popular "Spider-Man" series hitting theaters in May, it's easy to see why there's a lot to love about comic book company Marvel Entertainment.
http://i.cnn.net/money/2007/02/23/markets/spotlight_marvel/ghost_rider.03.jpg"Ghost Rider," starring Nicolas Cage, is the latest hit movie based on a Marvel comic book character.
http://i.cnn.net/money/2007/02/23/markets/spotlight_marvel/marvel1b.gif
http://i.cnn.net/money/2007/02/23/markets/spotlight_marvel/marvel2b.gif

More on media

Marvel Comics leaps into movie-making (http://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2006/05/01/8375925/index.htm)
[/URL] The comic-book king is tired of taking a safe but small cut from licensing its characters for blockbuster films - so now it's going to make the movies itself. ([URL="http://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2006/05/01/8375925/index.htm"]more (http://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2006/05/01/8375925/index.htm))

Videohttp://i.cnn.net/money/.element/img/1.0/misc/plus_green.gifMore video (http://money.cnn.com/services/video/)
http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/video/showbiz/2007/02/16/ghost.story.jpg

Nicolas Cage and Eva Mendes talk about their new superhero film 'Ghost Rider.' (February 16)Play video
(http://javascript<b></b>:cnnVideo('play','/video/showbiz/2007/02/16/moviefone.ghost.rider.cnn');)

Spidey and Ghost Rider are both Marvel characters, and the company gets a cut of the box office for films based on its comic books.
This year alone, Marvel (http://money.cnn.com/quote/quote.html?symb=MVL) (up $0.02 to $30.49, Charts (http://money.cnn.com/quote/chart/chart.html?symb=MVL)) shares are up about 13 percent, building upon the heroic run the stock's had since the release of the first "Spider-Man" film in 2002.
Investors will soon get a better idea of how the company is faring when it reports earnings for the last quarter of 2006 on Monday.
Marvel is expected to report profit of 10 cents a share on $72.5 million in revenue, according to analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call - a big drop from 33 cents a share and $117 million in sales a year ago.
But 2007 is what really matters, and it's expected to be a banner year for New York-based Marvel. Profits are expected to more than double, to $1.47 a share, based on consensus estimates.
Still, trouble may be lurking. Some analysts say the stock is already factoring in the hype about "Spider-Man 3," while Marvel is about to undertake a big gamble by bankrolling many of its future films, instead of partnering, as it has in the past, with a major Hollywood studio.
'It's clobberin' time!'
It may be Marvel's performance at the box office that always seems to grab headlines, but the company's publishing business has also done well.
Its publishing division, typically known for slow, steady growth, booked revenue gains of more than 10 percent in the most recent quarter, helped by expansion into big chain bookstores Borders and Barnes and Noble and the success of such titles as "Civil War."
Toy sales, which have also been a big driver for the company, should only improve after Marvel kicks off a new deal with Hasbro (http://money.cnn.com/quote/quote.html?symb=HAS) (up $0.17 to $29.65, Charts (http://money.cnn.com/quote/chart/chart.html?symb=HAS)) this spring, after ditching its previous partner Toy Biz Worldwide.
"I think it should certainly improve the business on the toy side," said Michael Kelman, an analyst with Susquehanna Financial Group. "Hasbro has a much broader international reach in terms of distribution and that should bode well for them."
But it is Marvel's licensing business that is really a money minting plant for the company. Right now, more than 50 percent of Marvel's sales and profits come from licensing the rights to its characters for use in movies, television shows, video games and other merchandise.
And if Marvel can successfully manage its stable of more than 5,000 characters, there is the potential for more and possibly bigger licensing deals, said Joe Hovorka, an analyst with Raymond James & Associates, pointing at the success Walt Disney Co. (http://money.cnn.com/quote/quote.html?symb=DIS) (up $0.02 to $35.16, Charts (http://money.cnn.com/quote/chart/chart.html?symb=DIS)) has had promoting its cartoon characters.
Marvel gets ready for its close-up
It only took a couple bungled partnerships with Hollywood, but Marvel has finally realized its characters could be a celluloid goldmine.
Up to this point, Marvel has partnered with major Hollywood studios, getting anywhere between 2 and 7 percent of box office receipts. Sony (http://money.cnn.com/quote/quote.html?symb=SNE) (Charts (http://money.cnn.com/quote/chart/chart.html?symb=SNE)), for example, is the studio behind "Ghost Rider" and the "Spider-Man" films.
But that's about to change as the company will both finance and produce its own films, starting with next year's "Iron Man" and "The Incredible Hulk."
If successful, Marvel would no longer have to share the box office or DVD revenue with another studio.
But if the endeavor fails, Marvel stands to lose the theatrical rights to characters used in its upcoming films since the company used them as collateral for a $525 million financing deal.
Still, even if Marvel can't hack it in Hollywood, they can continue to put out comic books based on its characters or skip the big screen altogether and go direct to DVD with its films.
"The way they have it structured, they were really able to take out a lot of the risk and still maintain the upside," said Steve Roberts, director of research for the Troy, Mich.-based money management firm NorthPointe Capital, which recently sold its stake in Marvel to cash in on some gains in the stock.
And then there's the web slinger.
Right now, most of Wall Street is expecting "Spider-Man 3" to blow away the box office after the first two films pulled in $403.7 million and $373.6 million in the U.S. alone.
Susquehanna's Kelman, who has a positive rating on the stock, admits that some of those expectations have nudged up the stock. But investors also realize there will be some fierce competition for box office dollars this summer as "Shrek the Third" and the latest "Pirates of the Caribbean" are both slated for release later in May.
"It's a relatively crowded line up for family friendly feature films right around that time," said Kelman. "I think that's baked into expectations as well."
Swing ahead on Marvel
Since 2006 was largely a transition year for Marvel, the comic book publisher probably won't wow Wall Street when it reports its fourth-quarter results.
Right now most analysts seem to believe the stock is fairly priced but that there is some upside, particularly with the release of "Spider-Man 3" and a "Fantastic Four" sequel on the horizon.
Marvel shares currently trade at roughly at 11 times estimated earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), which seems reasonable when compared to other small media stocks like Lionsgate (http://money.cnn.com/quote/quote.html?symb=LGF) (up $0.04 to $11.53, Charts (http://money.cnn.com/quote/chart/chart.html?symb=LGF)) or Playboy (http://money.cnn.com/quote/quote.html?symb=PLA) (up $0.04 to $10.64, Charts (http://money.cnn.com/quote/chart/chart.html?symb=PLA)), said David Bank, an analyst with RBC Capital Markets.
"For a small-cap media company it's not overwhelmingly expensive," Bank said.
Certainly, Marvel's ability to produce its own films remains a concern and investors should prepare for more volatility in the stock.
But Marvel's core businesses continue to drive growth while its studio venture, albeit a notable risk, will substantially increase the company's profit margins if they can mimic the success they had at the box office with other characters.
Sure, there are naysayers who believe Marvel has already milked its marquee comic book characters. But the company still has not tapped some of the more well-recognized characters in the Marvel universe, including Captain America, Thor and Nick Fury.
And while many have argued that comic book movies are a fad and that people will grow tired of them, Bank points to the success of NBC's breakout television hit "Heroes" this year as evidence that people are still interested in comic book-inspired stories.
"This is a genre that goes beyond 12-year-old boys," said Bank. "It's a popular culture phenomenon."
None of the analysts or experts quoted in this story own shares of Marvel Entertainment. None of the firms have an investment banking relationship with the company.

Source: http://money.cnn.com/2007/02/23/markets/spotlight_marvel/index.htm?source=yahoo_quote

Advanced Dark

02-25-2007, 12:21 PM

Marvel Entertainment Inc. Earnings Conference Call (Q4 2006)
Scheduled to start Mon, Feb 26, 2007, 9:00 am Eastern

Check back at the scheduled start time for
the audio link to appear in this spot. http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/cal/seed.gif (http://calendar.yahoo.com/?v=60&ST=20070226T1300Z+0&TYPE=21&REM1=1h&TITLE=Marvel+Entertainment+Inc.+Earnings+Conferenc e+Call+%28Q4+2006%29&URL=http://biz.yahoo.com/cc/8/77478.html&VIEW=w&DESC=Click+on+the+%22Event+Link%22+above+to+listen +to+the+Earnings+Conference+Call%0afrom+Marvel+Ent ertainment+Inc.,+live+on+the+internet.&REM2=24h&DUR=0100) Add This Event To Your Yahoo! Calendar (http://calendar.yahoo.com/?v=60&ST=20070226T1300Z+0&TYPE=21&REM1=1h&TITLE=Marvel+Entertainment+Inc.+Earnings+Conferenc e+Call+%28Q4+2006%29&URL=http://biz.yahoo.com/cc/8/77478.html&VIEW=w&DESC=Click+on+the+%22Event+Link%22+above+to+listen +to+the+Earnings+Conference+Call%0afrom+Marvel+Ent ertainment+Inc.,+live+on+the+internet.&REM2=24h&DUR=0100)
After the event has finished, the audio will be available
from this page until Wed, Feb 27, 2008

Advanced Dark

02-26-2007, 07:13 AM

Marvel Beats earnings by 40% and maintains 2007 guidance. :)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Press ReleaseSource: Marvel Entertainment, Inc.

Marvel Reports 2006 EPS of $0.67
Monday February 26, 6:33 am ET - Maintains Upper End of 2007 EPS Guidance Range at $1.55 and Adjusts Low End to $1.30, to Reflect Higher Effective Tax Rate - - Marvel's First Self-Produced Feature Film, Iron Man, Scheduled to Begin Principal Photography on March 12 - Marvel will host a webcast today for all investors at 9:00 a.m. EST available at: www.Marvel.com/webcasts or www.earnings.com
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: MVL (http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=mvl&d=t) - News (http://finance.yahoo.com/q/h?s=mvl)), a global character-based entertainment and licensing company, today reported operating results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2006.
For Q4 2006, Marvel reported net income of $11.7 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, net of a $0.6 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, charge for FAS 123R stock option-based payments. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2006 Marvel reported net income of $58.7 million, or $0.67 per diluted share, net of a $3.5 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, charge for FAS 123R stock option-based payments. These results compare to net income of $25.9 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, and net income of $102.8 million, or $0.97 per diluted share, in the year-ago fourth quarter and full year 2005, respectively, which did not include any share-based payment expense. Marvel Entertainment, Inc. Segment Net Sales/Operating Income (in Millions)---------------------------------------------------------------------- Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended 12/31/06 12/31/05 12/31/06 12/31/05----------------------------------------------------------------------Licensing: Net Sales $25.5 $81.7 $127.2 $230.1---------------------------------------------------------------------- Operating Income (1) 14.5 55.4 76.1 143.4----------------------------------------------------------------------Publishing: Net Sales 28.6 23.4 108.5 92.4---------------------------------------------------------------------- Operating Income 11.6 8.6 44.1 36.4----------------------------------------------------------------------Toys: Net Sales 31.1 12.0 116.1 68.0---------------------------------------------------------------------- Operating Income (2) 6.5 (12.5) 21.1 15.5----------------------------------------------------------------------Film Production: Operating Costs (3) (1.5) 0.0 (6.0) 0.0----------------------------------------------------------------------Corporate Overhead: (4.7) (6.7) (22.7) (24.1)---------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL NET SALES $85.2 $117.1 $351.8 $390.5---------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL OPERATING INCOME $26.4 $44.8 $112.6 $171.2----------------------------------------------------------------------(1) The 2005 twelve-month period includes the impact of a $10 million, one-time charge related to the settlement of litigation with Stan Lee.(2) The 2005 three and twelve-month periods include the impact of a $12.5 million, one-time charge related to the early termination of a license agreement with Toy Biz Worldwide.(3) These costs principally consist of compensation related to personnel devoted to the Company's film production efforts, which efforts commenced late in the fourth quarter of 2005.
Marvel's Chairman, Morton Handel, commented, "We are pleased with the strong cash flows generated by our operations during 2006, a transitional year for the Company. Reflecting the unique strengths of our intellectual property assets and business model, in 2006 Marvel generated approximately $158 million in operating cash flow, inclusive of $15 million spent on pre-production for future feature film slate productions.
"We remain optimistic about the outlook for 2007 and beyond. 2007 has three feature films produced in conjunction with studio partners including Ghost Rider, which easily captured the #1 spot in its opening and second weekends and set an all-time domestic box office record for President's Day weekend. Ghost Rider has achieved total domestic box office receipts of over $76 million since its February 16th release and worldwide box office of approximately $95 million. We believe Ghost Rider's performance highlights the power of the Marvel brand and consumer demand for films based on our comic book characters. Later this year, we should benefit from high-profile sequels to our Spider-Man and Fantastic 4 movie franchises. Operating results in 2007 should also benefit from strong contributions from Marvel-branded toys distributed by Hasbro. "We are pleased to announce that we intend to launch the next stage of our evolution as a global entertainment company by commencing principal photography on our Iron Man film on March 12th. The profile of the Iron Man character and the Marvel brand have been instrumental in attracting top-tier talent to this project. Later this year, we also plan to commence principal photography on our second self-produced feature film, The Incredible Hulk. With both of these movies scheduled for summer 2008 release and work on other Marvel-produced films also underway, future growth prospects for Marvel are strong."

Advanced Dark

02-26-2007, 07:14 AM

continued...

Fourth Quarter Segment Review: As anticipated, Licensing Segment net sales declined 69% from the year-ago period to $25.5 million, primarily due to lower contributions from domestic licensing and Marvel's Spider-Man merchandising joint venture (JV) with Sony. The $56.1 million reduction in domestic merchandise licensing sales primarily reflects the inclusion of a $50 million license fee for the extension of the Activision license in Q4 2005. The Spider-Man JV had sales of only $0.6 million in Q4 2006, which were primarily related to licensing overages associated with sales of the Spider-Man 2 video game. International licensing sales increased approximately $3.2 million from Q4 2005 levels, principally due to more robust overages. Marvel Entertainment, Inc. Licensing Sales by Division (Unaudited) (in millions)---------------------------------------------------------------------- Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended 12/31/06 12/31/05 12/31/06 12/31/05----------------------------------------------------------------------Domestic Consumer Products $12.0 $68.1 $65.1 $145.3----------------------------------------------------------------------International Consumer Products 10.3 7.1 42.5 36.5----------------------------------------------------------------------Spider-Man L.P. (Domestic and International) 0.6 4.3 4.1 24.7----------------------------------------------------------------------Marvel Studios 2.7 2.2 15.6 23.6----------------------------------------------------------------------Total Licensing Segment $25.5 $81.7 $127.2 $230.1----------------------------------------------------------------------
The lower operating margin in the licensing division of 57% in Q4 2006, as compared to a margin of 68% in the prior-year period, reflects higher expenses, coupled with lower revenues in the Q4 2006 period.
Marvel's Publishing Segment net sales increased 22% or $5.2 million from the year-ago period to $28.6 million principally due to higher sales of trade paperbacks and hard cover books sold into the direct and book market channels. Comic book sales were bolstered by strong sales associated with Civil War, a high-profile special series that has tie-ins across many established comic book series. Publishing results in the period also benefited from strong year-over-year growth in custom publishing. Publishing segment operating income in Q4 2006 was $11.6 million with an operating margin of 41%, compared to $8.6 million in operating income and an operating margin of 37% in the prior-year period. The improvement in operating margin principally reflects the benefit of higher sales on a relatively stable cost structure.
The transition in Marvel's Toy Segment net sales from toys produced by a master toy licensee in 2005 to toy production by Marvel in 2006 contributed to an expected year-over-year increase in segment revenues. Sales in the quarter increased 159% versus the prior year, consisting primarily of core classic Marvel character lines. In addition, there was $5.2 million in royalties and service fees related to initial shipments made by Hasbro, Marvel's new toy licensee. Sales recorded in 2006 as wholesale sales subject to the corresponding Cost of Revenues expense were the principal factor in operating margins of 21% for the fourth quarter of 2006. Operating margins in Q4 2005 were negative due to the inclusion of a non-recurring expense of $12.5M in Q4 2005 for the early termination of a license agreement with Toy Biz Worldwide. Marvel Entertainment, Inc. Toy Sales Summary (Unaudited) (in millions)---------------------------------------------------------------------- Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended 12/31/06 12/31/05 12/31/06 12/31/05----------------------------------------------------------------------Marvel Toy Net Sales 25.9 $3.4 110.9 $16.2----------------------------------------------------------------------Toy License:---------------------------------------------------------------------- - Toy Royalties 2.9 4.3 2.9 25.3---------------------------------------------------------------------- - Fees for Services Rendered 2.3 4.3 2.3 26.5----------------------------------------------------------------------Total Toy Segment $31.1 $12.0 $116.1 $68.0----------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance Sheet Update:
As of December 31, 2006, Marvel had cash and equivalents of $40.5 million (including $8.5 million in restricted cash) and $17 million in borrowings under its $125 million credit facility with HSBC Bank. During the fourth quarter of 2006 Marvel did not repurchase any additional shares under its repurchase program. As of December 31, 2006, the Company had $50.0 million remaining under its $100 million share repurchase authorization announced June 5, 2006. Marvel Studios Entertainment Pipeline(Development and release dates for licensed properties are controlled by studio partners)----------------------------------------------------------------------Licensed Marvel Character Feature Film Line-Up For 2007----------------------------------------------------------------------Film/Character Studio/Distributor Status----------------------------------------------------------------------Ghost Rider Sony Released February 16, 2007----------------------------------------------------------------------Spider-Man 3 Sony Post-production, May 4, 2007 release----------------------------------------------------------------------Fantastic Four: Rise of Fox Post-production, June 15, the Silver Surfer 2007 release----------------------------------------------------------------------Film Projects Being Developed by Marvel (Partial List)----------------------------------------------------------------------Film/Character Studio Status----------------------------------------------------------------------Iron Man Marvel Principal photography to begin March 12th; May 2, 2008 release----------------------------------------------------------------------The Incredible Hulk Marvel Pre-production, June 13, 2008 release----------------------------------------------------------------------Ant-Man Marvel Writer and director engaged----------------------------------------------------------------------Captain America Marvel Writer engaged----------------------------------------------------------------------Nick Fury Marvel Writer engaged----------------------------------------------------------------------Thor Marvel Writer engaged----------------------------------------------------------------------The Avengers Marvel Writer engaged----------------------------------------------------------------------Marvel Character Animated TV Projects in Development----------------------------------------------------------------------Character Studio Status----------------------------------------------------------------------Fantastic Four Moonscoop SAS 26, 30 minute episodes (France) airing in 2006/2007; U.S. distribution started on Cartoon Network on September 2, 2006 and should continue in 2007. (1)----------------------------------------------------------------------Wolverine and the X-Men First Serve Toonz 26, 30 minute episodes in (India) development----------------------------------------------------------------------Iron Man Method Films 26, 30 minute episodes in (France) development----------------------------------------------------------------------Marvel Character Animated Direct-to-Video Projects in Development----------------------------------------------------------------------Partnership with Lions Gate to develop, produce and distribute original animated DVD features. Recent and future titles include:The Invincible Iron Man (released January 2007)Doctor Strange (scheduled for release in 2007). (1)---------------------------------------------------------------------- 2007 Video Game Releases (Release dates controlled by Publishing partner)----------------------------------------------------------------------Take-Two Ghost Rider Released Q1 2007----------------------------------------------------------------------Konami Marvel Vs. Card Game Q1 2007----------------------------------------------------------------------Activision Spider-Man 3 Q2 2007----------------------------------------------------------------------Take-Two Fantastic Four II Q2 2007----------------------------------------------------------------------(1) Represents a change from the previously supplied schedule

Advanced Dark

02-26-2007, 07:15 AM

continued...

Updated Financial Guidance:
As noted in the table below, Marvel maintained its 2007 upper guidance ranges and revised the low end of its net income and diluted EPS guidance ranges based on an expectation for a higher full-year effective tax rate. The effective tax rate currently anticipated for 2007 is 40%, compared to the effective rate of 37% on which the Company's 2007 guidance was previously based. This change reflects an expected effective tax rate that is in line with our 2006 actual rate and reflects a continuing trend in higher state and local taxes. It also includes the anticipated effects of the January 1, 2007 adoption of the FASB's Interpretation No. 48 "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes." At the time Marvel gave initial 2007 guidance, the Company noted that it was evaluating the effect of the adoption of the FASB's Interpretation No. 48 and had not yet given effect to any change in its tax provision resulting from that new rule. Marvel expects to continue to refine its tax provision as it implements this new rule during its first year in effect. A few key drivers behind Marvel's 2007 guidance are highlighted below.Marvel Entertainment, Inc. - Financial Guidance----------------------------------------------------------------------(in millions, Updated 2007 Previous 2007 2006except per-share amounts) Guidance Guidance (1) Actual----------------------------------------------------------------------Net sales $375 - $435 $375 - $435 $352----------------------------------------------------------------------Net income $111 - $132 $115 - $132 $59----------------------------------------------------------------------Diluted EPS $1.30 - $1.55 $1.35 - $1.55 $0.67----------------------------------------------------------------------(1) Previous 2007 guidance ranges were provided on November 6, 2006.
Primary 2007 Financial Guidance Drivers:
Expected strong Spider-Man movie merchandise licensing triggered by the theatrical release of the Spider-Man 3 movie.
Toy license contributions related to Marvel's toy license agreement with Hasbro.
Initial film license revenue contributions from feature films slated for release in 2007.
Strong contributions from domestic and international licensing revenues.
Strong growth in interactive revenues from anticipated license fees in excess of minimum guarantees.
Continued, modest top-line and bottom-line growth from the publishing division.
An estimated effective tax rate of 40% in 2007 as noted above.
Marvel's guidance is based on 85.2 million diluted shares outstanding for 2007 and does not reflect any prospective share repurchase activity in 2007.
Marvel cautions investors that variations in the timing of licenses and entertainment events, the timing of their revenue recognition, and their level of success may result in variations and uncertainty in forecasting the Company's financial results. These factors could have a material impact on year-over-year and sequential quarterly results comparisons as well as Marvel's ability to achieve the financial performance included in its financial guidance.
About Marvel Entertainment, Inc.
With a library of over 5,000 characters, Marvel Entertainment, Inc. is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies. Marvel's operations are focused on utilizing its character franchises in licensing, entertainment, publishing and toys. Areas of emphasis include feature films, DVD/home video, consumer products, video games, action figures and role-playing toys, television and promotions. Rooted in the creative success of over sixty years of comic book publishing, Marvel's strategy is to leverage its character franchises in a growing array of opportunities around the world. For more information visit www.marvel.com (http://www.marvel.com/).
Except for any historical information that they contain, the statements in this news release regarding Marvel's plans are forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including a decrease in the level of media exposure or popularity of Marvel's characters, financial difficulties of Marvel's licensees, changing consumer preferences, delays and cancellations of movies and television productions based on Marvel characters, transition difficulties between licensees, toy-production delays or shortfalls, continued concentration of toy retailers, toy inventory risk, significant appreciation of Chinese currency against other currencies and the imposition of quotas or tariffs on products manufactured in China.
In addition, in connection with Marvel Studios' film production operations, including those related to the slate of feature films Marvel plans to produce on its own with proceeds from its $525 million film slate facility (the "Film Facility"), the following factors, among others, could cause Marvel's or Marvel Studios' financial performance to differ materially from that expressed in any forward-looking statements: (i) Marvel Studios' potential inability to attract and retain creative talent, (ii) the potential lack of popularity of Marvel's films, (iii) the expense associated with producing films, (iv) union activity which could interrupt film production, (v) that Marvel Studios has not, in the past, produced film projects on its own, (vi) changes or disruptions in the way films are distributed, including a decline in the profitability of the DVD market, (vii) piracy of films and related products, (viii) Marvel Studios' dependence on a single distributor, (ix) that Marvel will depend on its distributor for the implementation of internal controls related to the accounting of film-production activities, (x) Marvel's potential inability to meet the conditions necessary for an initial funding of a film under the Film Facility, (xi) Marvel's potential inability to obtain financing to make more than four films if certain tests related to the economic performance of the film slate are not satisfied (specifically, an interim asset test and a foreign pre-sales test) and (xii) fluctuations in reported income or loss related to the accounting of film-production activities. These and other risks and uncertainties are described in Marvel's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Marvel's Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Marvel assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.

Advanced Dark

02-26-2007, 07:16 AM

continued...

MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
December 31, December 31,
------------------ -------------------
2006 2005 2006 2005
-------- --------- --------- ---------

Net sales $85,216 $117,095 $351,798 $390,507
-------- --------- --------- ---------
Costs and expenses:
Costs of revenue (excluding
depreciation expense) 27,147 12,972 103,584 50,517
Selling, general and
administrative 26,888 58,859 123,130 166,456
Depreciation and
amortization 5,089 1,159 14,322 4,534
-------- --------- --------- ---------
Total costs and expenses 59,124 72,990 241,036 221,507
Other income, net 274 674 1,798 2,167
-------- --------- --------- ---------
Operating income 26,366 44,779 112,560 171,167
Interest expense 3,631 3,037 15,225 3,982
Interest income and other
expense, net 232 745 1,465 3,863
-------- --------- --------- ---------
Income before income taxes and
minority interest 22,967 42,487 98,800 171,048
Income tax expense (11,116) (15,699) (39,071) (62,820)
Minority interest in
consolidated Joint Venture. (153) (869) (1,025) (5,409)
-------- --------- --------- ---------
Net income $11,698 $25,919 $58,704 $102,819
======== ========= ========= =========

Basic earnings per share
attributable to common stock $0.14 $0.27 $0.71 $1.03
======== ========= ========= =========
Weighted average number of
basic shares outstanding 81,496 94,612 82,161 99,594
======== ========= ========= =========

Diluted earnings per share
attributable to common stock $0.14 $0.26 $0.67 $0.97
======== ========= ========= =========
Weighted average number of
diluted shares outstanding 85,120 100,534 87,230 106,058
======== ========= ========= =========

MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands, except share data) (unaudited) December 31, --------------------- 2006 2005 ---------- ---------- (in thousands, except share data)ASSETSCurrent assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 31,945 $ 24,227 Restricted cash 8,527 8,383 Short-term investments - 15,139 Accounts receivable, net 59,392 59,108 Inventories, net 10,224 9,177 Income tax receivable 45,569 - Deferred income taxes, net 22,564 19,553 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 7,231 4,785 ---------- ---------- Total current assets 185,452 140,372Molds, tools and equipment, net 4,444 5,659Product and package design costs, net 1,497 1,023Film production costs 15,055 -Goodwill 341,708 341,708Accounts receivable, non-current portion 12,879 20,290Deferred income taxes, net 36,406 36,460Deferred financing costs 15,771 20,751Advances to joint venture partner 8,535 3,489Other assets 2,118 3,794 ---------- ---------- Total assets $ 623,865 $ 573,546 ========== ==========LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITYCurrent liabilities: Accounts payable $ 5,112 $ 3,724 Accrued royalties 68,467 65,891 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 38,895 57,360 Income taxes payable - 12,295 Deferred revenue 140,072 10,865 ---------- ---------- Total current liabilities 252,546 150,135Accrued royalties, non-current portion 12,860 5,908Deferred revenue, non-current portion 35,667 24,787Credit facility 17,000 -Film slate facility obligation 33,200 25,800Income tax payable, non-current portion 10,999 -Other liabilities 6,702 6,316 ---------- ---------- Total liabilities 368,974 212,946 ---------- ----------Commitments and Contingencies (Note 12)Stockholders' equity:Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, none issued - -Common stock, $.01 par value, 250,000,000 shares authorized, 128,420,848 issued and 81,326,627 outstanding in 2006 and 121,742,534 issued and 90,205,853 outstanding in 2005 1,284 1,217Deferred stock compensation - (6,242)Additional paid-in capital 710,460 594,873Retained earnings 228,466 169,762Accumulated other comprehensive loss (2,433) (3,474) ---------- ---------- Total stockholders' equity before treasury stock 937,777 756,136Treasury stock, at cost, 47,094,221 shares in 2006 and 31,536,681 shares in 2005 (682,886) (395,536) ---------- ---------- Total stockholders' equity 254,891 360,600 ---------- ---------- Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 623,865 $ 573,546 ========== ========== MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands) (unaudited) Years Ended December 31, ------------------------ 2006 2005 ----------- -----------Net income $ 58,704 $ 102,819Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 14,322 4,534 Amortization of deferred financing charges 4,980 1,660 Unrealized (gain) loss on interest rate cap 1,504 (347) Non-cash charge for stock based compensation 11,040 4,832 Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation (64,802) 7,382 Gain from sales of equipment (133) - Impairment of fixed assets 962 - Deferred income taxes (2,957) (13,573) Minority interest of joint venture (net of distributions of $6,071 in 2006 and $17,326 in 2005) (5,046) (11,917) Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable 7,127 31,896 Inventories (1,047) (2,590) Prepaid expenses and other current assets (2,446) (2,051) Film production costs (15,055) - Other assets 172 (56) Deferred revenue 140,087 (6,093) Income taxes payable 17,937 2,166 Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities (7,174) 19,075 ----------- -----------Net cash provided by operating activities 158,175 137,737 ----------- -----------Cash flow provided by investing activities: Payment of administrative claims and unsecured claims, net - (50) Purchases of molds, tools and equipment (10,034) (3,193) Expenditures for product and package design costs (6,252) (1,096) Proceeds from sales of fixed assets 1,876 - Sales of short-term investments 80,671 442,394 Purchases of short-term investments (65,532) (302,814) Change in restricted cash (144) 22,514 ----------- -----------Net cash provided by investing activities 585 157,755 ----------- -----------Cash flow used in financing activities: Proceeds from film slate facility 7,400 25,800 Borrowings from credit facility 169,200 - Repayments of credit facility (152,200) - Deferred financing costs - (24,526) Purchase of treasury stock (287,350 (297,128) Exercise of stock options 46,882 5,532 Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation 64,802 - ----------- -----------Net cash used in financing activities (151,266) (290,322) ----------- -----------Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 224 (117) ----------- ----------- Net increase (decrease in cash and cash equivalents) 7,718 5,053 Cash and cash equivalents, at beginning of year 24,227 19,174 ----------- ----------- Cash and cash equivalents, at end of year $ 31,945 $ 24,227 =========== ===========

Contact:
Marvel Entertainment, Inc.SVP Corporate DevelopmentMatt Finick, 212-576-4035mfinick@marvel.com (mfinick@marvel.com)orJaffoni & CollinsDavid Collins or Richard Land, 212-835-8500mvl@jcir.com (mvl@jcir.com)</SPAN>Source: Marvel Entertainment, Inc.

Advanced Dark

02-26-2007, 07:59 AM

Conference Call notes of interest to investors & fans:

-- this event starts soon--
http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/my/sound.gif Click here to connect to the live event audio stream (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/finance/confcall/streetevents/SIG=13cv9b7k9/*http%3a//web.servicebureau.net/conf/meta?i=1112854717&c=2343&m=was&u=/w_ccbn.xsl&date_ticker=2_26_2007_MVL)
After the event has finished, the audio will be available
from this page until Wed, Feb 27, 2008

Net sales exceeded guidance.
Internation Licensing Increased.
Revenues increased 22% in publishing segment.
Toy Revenues almost tripled in Q4 due to initial shipments of Hasbro their new licensee.
.14/share earnings. Analysts expected .09-.10 :)
Purchased 287 million of their common stock in 2006.
No outstanding borrowing on facility yet.
2007 Guidance drivers: Licensed toy sales, publishing, Spider-man 3, FF2, etc...
Full Slate: Ghost Rider #1 again after setting record last weekend, doing very well in international markets and speaks well of continued film receptivity to our characters.
Spider-Man 3 (may 4), FF2 (june 15)
Own slate: Iron Man & Hulk in 08. Completed major casting. Starting filming on March 12th. May 2 release. Hulk start filming in 2nd quarter and release date June 13.
Investing in new projects for 2009 (see earnings above).
Iron Man animated film: Opened #3 of all DVD sales in opening week, Dr. Strange August release.
FF animation back on air in cartoon network around movie launch, actively developing Iron Man and Wolverine.
Ultimate Alliance very successful, 4 other projects: Spidey 3, FF2, Marvel Card Game, and Ghost Rider games.
Guarantees for Spidey 3 double Spidey 2, too early to say about FF2. Business strong but gotta watch sell-thru.
Custom Publishing strong in Q406 & Q107.
Ghost Rider no material impact on earnings...yet.
Update Iron Man & Hulk: Will have funding requirements for both film in time.
Kept high end of guidance...very optimistic about business for 2007 with all areas going along very well. Strong in most areas. Can offset most if not all effects of the tax rate but only in February so early to know more.
Budgets for Hulk and Iron Man will be spent this year. (majority)
In overages now in ATVI video games.
New Publisher for HULK game...announced soon!
Detailed Budgets won't be revealed ahead of time on films due to competition. Gave range 100-160 million.
Box office expecations won't be commented on in advance. Commercial success of Ghost Rider encouraging.
Guidance initiated assumes Toy sales for FF and licensing will be less than first film due to log jam of films and related toys around it's release.
Only listing projects with directors. Working w/licensed partners with scripts already licensed out and directors hired it'll be added to list. Beyond 2007 none of those franchises have initial greenlights yet. Assumption is they'll all continue including Spidey, FF, Ghost Rider.
Avi Arad is producer of Iron Man & Hulk and no change in his level of involvement from before his change of role to now. That's it.

Advanced Dark

03-02-2007, 12:44 AM

A must read:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070301.REDGE01/TPStory/Business

INVESTOR'S EDGE

Marvel hoping super friends come through
Strong revenue expected from new movies
SHIRLEY WON

Marvel Entertainment Inc. shares have made a superheroic comeback as investors expect a flood of toy and other licensing revenue from the coming Spider-Man 3.

The comic book publisher's stock, which dropped 54 cents (U.S.) to end yesterday at $27.79 on the New York Stock Exchange, has surged 58.5 per cent over the past year.

Some analysts are bullish on Marvel now that it has Hollywood ambitions, and will make its own movies -- such as Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk -- to be released next year. But others are cautious because of the villain of uncertainty in the hit-driven film world.

Susquehanna Financial Group analyst Michael Kelman is a fan of Marvel stock, saying he believes there is "more room to grow" because the market is still valuing the stock as it has done historically.

The market "hasn't given it much credit for its longer-term strategy, which is predicated on the launch of its proprietary film slate," Mr. Kelman said in an interview.

On Monday, Marvel reported a fourth-quarter profit of 14 cents a share that beat analysts' expectations of 10 cents. The jump was largely driven by early shipments of toys under a new licensing deal with U.S.-based Hasbro Inc.

Marvel, which has a collection of about 5,000 characters, has traditionally licensed their rights to studios such as Sony Corp., as in the case of Spider-Man. But the superhero powerhouse has negotiated a $525-million loan package to make 10 movies, including The Incredible Hulk to be filmed in Toronto.

Although Marvel benefits substantially from toy and merchandise sales on the back of its licensed movies, it gets little cash from box-office sales, Mr. Kelman said.

"If [Marvel's] film performs well, they are going to keep all of the profit from the film itself, as well as the merchandising and licensing," said the analyst, who has a "buy" on Marvel but no price target.

Marvel-character based Ghost Rider starring Nicolas Cage -- the top North American box-office performer, pulling in more than $72-million for the past two weekends despite bad reviews -- shows "the market's appetite" for superhero films," Mr. Kelman added.

Rhonda Chang, a portfolio manager at Toronto-based Elliott & Page Ltd., is also upbeat on Marvel, saying she accumulated shares of the company for her U.S. mid-cap fund within the past six months.

"The company has strong earnings momentum," Ms. Chang said. "And there are lot of good catalysts coming up for the stock. The real driver of their earnings will be the licensing from the toys and the other products like apparel, games, stationary and food-like cereals coming from the characters."

Marvel's forecast for sales of up to $435-million and profit of up to $132-million this year is likely to be "conservative," Ms. Chang said. And Marvel's deal with Hasbro will provide "additional upside" because of the toy giant's "great marketing and great distribution."

RBC Dominion Securities analyst David Bank described Marvel as one of the best pure-play intellectual property companies, but is cautious on its stock after running up on the "Spider-Man trade."

"It's fairly valued," and investors should wait for a pullback after the market gets over the May release of Spider-Man 3, said Mr. Bank, who has "sector perform" on Marvel with a one-year target of $30.

Mr. Bank said he is unsure how Marvel's two films slated for 2008 will do. It is also unclear whether its other characters slated for future films -- such as Captain America, Nick Fury and Thor -- will garner the popular appeal of the Spider-Man movies, he added.

"We have limited visibility in not just the movies, but also the toy sales associated with the movies."

Sterne Agee & Leach analyst Arvind Bhatia rates Marvel a "hold," with a one-year target of $30 because he expects its stock to drop after the release of Spider-Man 3.

But the decline may not be as dramatic as the roughly 25-per-cent pullback in Marvel shares after the first two Spider-Man movies, he said. The stock, he added, will get some lift from 20th Century Fox's Fantastic Four 2, a sequel set to come out in June.

While Marvel plans to release two movies in 2008, that will not be enough to offset an expected earnings decline next year, Mr. Bhatia said. "They won't match up to the success that Spider-Man is going to have this year. Spider-Man is in a league of its own."

^ That last comment is ridiculous. Of course Spidey is in his own league but the analyst forgets to mention Marvel gets about 5% of what Spidey makes at the box office maybe a little more...but get's most of it's money off toy sales. However with Hulk & Iron Man they don't have to match spidey since Marvel gets ALL the profit (after the theatre's cut), dvd profits, & toys etc...So those two films alone will make WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY more than Spiderman could make for Marvel directly if they do half as much at the box office. :)

Advanced Dark

03-06-2007, 11:50 PM

RAYMOND JAMES & ASSOCIATES' 28TH ANNUAL INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS CONFERENCE
Mr. Cuneo will present at Raymond James & Associates' 28th Annual Institutional Investors Conference on Tuesday, March 6th at 4:35 p.m. EST. The conference is being held at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Hotel in Orlando, FL.
Live Webcast and Replay: Mr. Cuneo's presentation will be available to investors via http://www.wsw.com/webcast/rj26/mvl/ (http://www.wsw.com/webcast/rj26/mvl/) or via http://www.marvel.com/company/index.htm?sub=webcasts_current.php. An archived version of the webcast will be available at these locations for thirty days. Slide Presentations: Slide presentations used at the conferences will be available for download at www.marvel.com/company/index.htm?sub=webcasts_current.php (http://www.marvel.com/company/index.htm?sub=webcasts_current.php) beginning at the approximate starting time of each presentation.

Wolvie in 2008/09.

Advanced Dark

03-20-2007, 07:06 AM

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070320/20070320005583.html?.v=1

The Al Ahli Group & Marvel Entertainment Announce Partnership to Bring Marvel's Renowned Super Heroes to Major New Theme Park in Dubai
Tuesday March 20, 6:34 am ET
NEW YORK & DUBAI, UAE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--United Arab Emirate-based Al Ahli Group and Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: MVL (http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=mvl&d=t) - News (http://finance.yahoo.com/q/h?s=mvl)) announced today a partnership that will bring Marvel's full library of Super Heroes -- including Spider-Man, Iron Man, The X-Men, Incredible Hulk, The Fantastic Four and Silver Surfer -- to Dubai for a major new theme park destination being developed by AAG. The development is in line with the vision set by HH Shk. Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, through his innovative entertainment and hospitality driven expansion projects for Dubai and the UAE.
The Al Ahli Group, under the leadership of Chairman Nasser Ali Khammas and driven by the idea and dedication of CEO Mohamed Khammas, is poised to bring the region's first and only global theme park destination directly to the heart of the Emirates. AAG and Marvel are also in initial stages of discussions about additional projects throughout the greater Pan Arabia region.
AAG has been in discussions for more than two years with the owners of the world's top intellectual properties in the entertainment arena and is extremely proud of its new long-term partnership with the world renowned Marvel brand. The Project will open in 2011 with a direct investment of over $1 billion USD. The creative team, which consists of some of the most spectacular creative minds from around the globe, will be based in Hollywood, Orlando and Dubai throughout the four year development process. New technology and unparalleled visitor experiences will be the hallmark of the theme park, creating a new standard for theme parks around the world.
David Maisel, Chairman of Marvel Studios and a member of the Office of the Chief Executive, Marvel Entertainment, said, "We are launching a long term relationship with the Al Ahli Group to bring the Marvel Universe to Dubai with this exciting new theme park development. Al Ahli Group has both an impressive team of theme park, entertainment and hospitality executives and the financial strength to leverage that expertise into a world-class destination resort experience unparalleled in the region. We are very pleased to be a part of this exciting initiative and look forward to a successful partnership with Mohamed Khammas and the Al Ahli Group."
Mohamed Khammas, CEO of Al Ahli Group commented "Al Ali Group's partnership with Marvel Entertainment serves a long pursued quest of creating the ultimate entertainment destination for families and children of the region and the world, a destination where they can live their childhood fantasies and create new memories for the entire family to cherish and remember. Family destinations have not evolved in Pan Arabia and thus it's time that we cater to that demand and make the investment required for global tourism.
"Marvel is a brand that is recognized globally via its ever expanding list of 'Super Hero' characters. Now, it won't be much longer until the children in Pan Arabia and the world can experience new and exciting rides with Marvel's Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk, the Fantastic Four and many other Super Heroes right here in the UAE.
"This partnership is a result of the appreciation and loyalty that Marvel has internationally, and was realized through the dedication and management of the Marvel team led by my friend David Maisel. Without his personal efforts and dedication, it would have been a long time before the world would be able to experience the Marvel Super Heroes in what we aim to be the best entertainment destination in the world. In 2011, Spider-Man and the rest of the Marvel Super Heroes will set their first steps in Dubai."
About the Al Ahli Group
The Al Ahli Group established its first activity in late 1960's and, throughout its 39 years of operation, AAG has become the region's most dynamic, innovative and multi-disciplined business entities. The Al Ahli Group has been instrumental in steering the cement industry throughout the region to unprecedented levels of production and sales. Other industries and services that the Al Ahli Group is involved in range from the largest plastic film manufacturing factory in the region, to printing and publishing, to an extensive transportation division, turnkey construction, engineering products, factories, their partnership with the Dubai Shopping Festival via the first ever Dubai Hot Air Balloon Festival imported from Albuquerque New Mexico to their latest 10 million sq. ft. real estate mix-use development within Dubailand containing the region's first ever factory-outlet stores in a premium mall setting, never before seen boutique hotels, office towers, lifestyle developments and themed restaurants and entertainment promenade with the US$1 billion Dubai Outlet City Project, (phase one mall opens May 1st, 2007).
About Marvel Entertainment, Inc.
With a library of over 5,000 characters, Marvel Entertainment, Inc. is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies. Marvel's operations are focused on utilizing its character franchises in licensing, entertainment, publishing and toys. Areas of emphasis include feature films, DVD/home video, consumer products, video games, action figures and role-playing toys, television and promotions. Rooted in the creative success of over sixty years of comic book publishing, Marvel's strategy is to leverage its character franchises in a growing array of opportunities around the world. More information about Marvel can be found on the company's World Wide Web site, which is located at www.marvel.com (http://www.marvel.com/).
(TM) & ©: 2007 Marvel Entertainment, Inc. and subsidiaries, all rights reserved. Super Heroes is a co-owned registered trademark.

Contact:
DAN KLORES COMMUNICATIONSJeffrey Klein, Ann Hinshaw212-981-5189 / 212-981-5160jeff_klein@dkcnews.com (jeff_klein@dkcnews.com)ann_hishaw@dkcnews.com (ann_hishaw@dkcnews.com)orNettRESULTSTarek Lasheen+971 4 331 1593 / +971 50 2584510tarek@nettresults.com (tarek@nettresults.com)</SPAN>

Advanced Dark

03-20-2007, 10:37 AM

Press ReleaseSource: Marvel Entertainment, Inc.

Marvel to Present at Bank of America 2007 Media, Telecommunications & Entertainment Conference Thurs. Mar. 29th at 11:20 AM EDT
Tuesday March 20, 8:56 am ET

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: MVL (http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=mvl&d=t) - News (http://finance.yahoo.com/q/h?s=mvl)), a global character-based entertainment and licensing company, today announced that John Turitzin, Executive Vice President, Office of the Chief Executive, and Peter Cuneo, Vice Chairman, will present at Bank of America 2007 Media, Telecommunications & Entertainment Conference on Thursday, March 29th at 11:20 a.m. EDT. The conference is being held at The Palace Hotel in New York, NY.

Live Webcast and Replay:
Via http://www.veracast.com/webcasts/bas/media07/id25203256.cfm (http://www.veracast.com/webcasts/bas/media07/id25203256.cfm) or via http://www.marvel.com/company/index.htm?sub=webcasts_current.php (http://www.marvel.com/company/index.htm?sub=webcasts_current.php). An archived version of the webcast will be available at these locations for thirty days.

Slide Presentation:
The slide presentation that Marvel management will use at the conference will be available for download that day at www.marvel.com/company/index.htm?sub=webcasts_current.php (http://www.marvel.com/company/index.htm?sub=webcasts_current.php).
About Marvel Entertainment, Inc.
With a library of over 5,000 characters, Marvel Entertainment, Inc. is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies. Marvel's operations are focused on utilizing its character franchises in licensing, entertainment, publishing and toys. Areas of emphasis include feature films, DVD/home video, consumer products, video games, action figures and role-playing toys, television and promotions. Rooted in the creative success of over sixty years of comic book publishing, Marvel's strategy is to leverage its character franchises in a growing array of opportunities around the world.

Contact:
Jaffoni & CollinsRichard Land or David Collins, 212-835-8500mvl@jcir.com (mvl@jcir.com)</SPAN>

Advanced Dark

03-22-2007, 05:45 PM

http://chart.finance.yahoo.com/c/my/m/mvl

Things are looking good!!!

Arkady Rossovich

03-22-2007, 08:27 PM

There was a lot of good information,great.I thought Marvel would suffer with Ghost Rider`s average box office earnings.But from a fan`s point of view..do you see Marvel in a good way?

Advanced Dark

03-22-2007, 10:39 PM

You just love baiting don't you?

Advanced Dark

03-29-2007, 09:40 AM

http://www.veracast.com/webcasts/bas/media07/id25203256.cfm

Hypestyle

03-29-2007, 10:34 AM

interesting.. how does one pursue investing in marvel stock? how much money should you have saved beforehand?

Advanced Dark

03-29-2007, 10:47 AM

You only invest what you can afford to invest. No minimum amount really. Just don't watch it and panic on down days or get all excited on up days. Hold it until it achieves the levels you believe it will grow to...and then sell it when you think it's peak or if you feel the company is not performing financially as it should. Do your own due diligence but you'll see Marvel is an awesome opportunity even at these levels. It's a baby still believe it or not in the international communtiy and as a studio. Once you're ready and able then open an account online or walk into your local brokerage house. You also have to think about your investment goals. Tax account or tax free account like an IRA. Most of my shares are in a SEP-IRA. Google all that stuff to find out more.

Zombie_samurai

03-29-2007, 10:56 AM

This is a really boring thread. (I'm stupid of course so I really don't know what all this stuff means so don't take what I'm saying seriously)

Advanced Dark

03-29-2007, 12:24 PM

^ It's boring if you're looking for the typic hype movie, video game, superhero type news but you'll find little details here in there in this thread you wont' find elsewhere...or at least it'll come from here first as a source. This is for investing and talking about the company as an investment so if you're not interested...it's boring.

Advanced Dark

04-03-2007, 02:49 PM

function Ads_PopUp() {}http://red.as-eu.falkag.net/dat/bgf/trpix.gif?&rdm=33353926&dlv=1038,35054,492326,269202,956900&kid=269202&chw=0269202-&tcs=&bls3=111000A&bls4=010000492331&uid=1&dmn=&scx=1024&scy=768&scc=32&jav=1&sta=,,,1,,,,,,,0,9,0,20744,20332,14659,1878,803&iid=492326&bid=956900
Marvel Entertainment initiated with "buy"

Tuesday, April 03, 2007 11:12:04 AM ET
Stifel Nicolaus (http://www.newratings.com/analyst_news_by/Stifel+Nicolaus.html)

NEW YORK, April 3 (newratings.com) - Analysts at Stifel Nicolaus & Company initiate coverage of Marvel Entertainment Inc (ticker: MVL) with a "buy" rating. The 12-month target price is set to $34.

In a research note published this morning, the analysts mention that Marvel Entertainment’s film schedule is expected to propel the company towards record profitability in 2007. Marvel Entertainment’s toy operations are expected to benefit from a new master licensing agreement with Hasbro, the analysts say. The company has stellar profitability and cash flow metric, Stifel Nicolaus & Company adds.

http://www.newratings.com

Advanced Dark

04-09-2007, 12:16 PM

Fool on the Street: Marvel Mimics Mickey

By Tim Beyers
April 9, 2007
Will Iron Man (http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2006/06/27/marvels-future-cast-in-iron.aspx) be invincible? Will The Incredible Hulk (http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2006/07/20/will-you-like-marvel-when-its-angry.aspx) smash? Will Ghost Rider (http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/02/21/ghost-rider-in-the-box-office.aspx) ride again? These questions and more faced Marvel Entertainment (NYSE: MVL (http://quote.fool.com/summary.aspx?s=MVL)) top executives Peter Cuneo and John Turitzin during last week's Banc of America Media, Telecommunications, & Entertainment Conference.
Yawn ... oh, wait, what was that?

Sadly, their answers didn't offer much news. But the conference was worth it -- if only to see how Cuneo and Turitzin responded to questions about Marvel's strategy. Consider this sound bite from Cuneo's opening remarks:Last year, about this time, Marvel was noted by LICENSE Magazine as the fourth-largest licensor of consumer products in the world. They estimated that the total value of Marvel's products sold through licensees and so on at retail worldwide was about $5 billion -- putting us No. 4, close to No. 3 and No. 2. Disney (NYSE: DIS (http://quote.fool.com/summary.aspx?s=DIS)), of course, is by far the worldwide leader in this area.
Three things strike me about Cuneo's comments. First, Marvel booked $390.5 million in revenue during 2005. If LICENSE was even within spitting distance of being correct, Marvel collected less than 8% of the value of its licensed properties. And since revenue fell in 2006, I sense that the ratio still straddles 7% and 8%.
Second, the comic book king is in great company. LICENSE placed Time Warner's (NYSE: TWX (http://quote.fool.com/summary.aspx?s=TWX)) Warner Bros. group second with $6 billion and Viacom's (NYSE: VIA (http://quote.fool.com/summary.aspx?s=VIA)) properties third at $5.2 billion. Marvel, meanwhile, outsold Major League Baseball, which produced $4.7 billion to earn fifth place.
Third, management believes Marvel will do better, pointing to Disney as a firm worth emulating. That's encouraging. Disney topped $21 billion in the LICENSE survey, so with more than $32.1 billion in calendar 2005 revenue, it collects 150% on the value of its properties. Licensing, therefore, should still be a high-growth business for Marvel.
Captain America ships out
A deal in Dubai (http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/03/22/captain-america-goes-to-dubai.aspx) could help. Marvel is teaming with the Al Ahli Group to build a $1 billion -- read: Disney-sized -- theme park in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula's top tourist trap. The hope, Turitzin says, is to collect revenue at the same time as Marvel builds awareness of and fondness for its fictional universe.
The idea has merit. A handful of Marvel films -- including its two most successful -- have earned more at overseas box offices than on their home soil (highlighted in bold):
Film
Domestic Box Office
Foreign Box Office
Blade
$70.1 mil
$61.1 mil
Blade 2
$82.3 mil
$72.7 mil
Blade: Trinity
$52.4 mil
$76.5 mil
Daredevil
$102.5 mil
$76.6 mil
Elektra
$24.4 mil
$32.3 mil
Ghost Rider
$114.2 mil
$100.2 mil
Hulk
$132.2 mil
$113.1 mil
The Punisher
$33.8 mil
$20.9 mil
Spider-Man
$403.7 mil
$418.0 mil
Spider-Man 2
$373.6 mil
$410.2 mil
X-Men
$157.3 mil
$138.9 mil
X-2: X-Men United
$214.9 mil
$192.6 mil
X-Men: The Last Stand
$234.4 mil
$224.9 mil
Source: Box Office Mojo
But broad-based international growth is the goal. Says Cuneo, "We really put our foot, if you will, on the international pedal only about three years ago." One billion bucks in Dubai could be one heck of an accelerator.
The most profitable R&D function on the planet
Finally, Cuneo and Turitzin told analysts to remember its publishing division, which Cuneo said is "the most profitable R&D function on the planet." Funny. I said something similar right here (http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/03/01/marvels-rd-machine.aspx).
We're both right. Marvel says that, when it exited bankruptcy in 1998, it had a 23% share of the comic book publishing market. Today, Marvel's share tops 45%. Cuneo credits the talent for that: "Both the illustrations and the writing is about 45 times better than it was seven or eight years ago."
I can't really speak to that, since I stopped actively collecting comics 15 years ago. Still, killing off Captain America, as Marvel's writers just did, seems more like clever marketing than a unique storyline. DC Comics buried Superman more than a decade ago, and then resuscitated him within a few issues. Captain America has "died" before, too. What's really new here? Not much, I'd say.
But I digress. The point is that Marvel's publishing group is a profitable leader in an industry that, after a decade of sagging sales, is growing once again. Cuneo says that comic-book publishing was up 14% in the U.S. during 2006.
The Foolish bottom line

Will Marvel continue to deliver heroic returns for investors? Cuneo likes the opportunity: Marvel has 5,000 characters to draw from. I think that's significant. But what is more significant is that we actually own and control over 99% of those characters. I'm not aware of another company, including Disney, with that number of characters and that total amount of control.
Or, in simpler language: Watch out, Mickey. Spidey's coming for you.
Disney, Marvel, and Time Warner are all Motley Fool Stock Advisor picks. Click here (http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/18/index.htm?source=isasitlnk3500003) to get 30 days of free access to the entire portfolio, which is beating the market by more than 39 percentage points.
Fool contributor Tim Beyers (MileHighFool@yahoo.com), who is ranked 866 out of more than 25,500 in our Motley Fool CAPS (http://caps.fool.com/) investor-intelligence database, still owns more than 2,000 comic books but didn't own shares in any of the companies mentioned in this article at the time of publication. All of his portfolio holdings can be found at his Fool profile (http://boards.fool.com/Profile.asp?uid=1460367). His thoughts on Foolishness and investing may be found in his blog (http://caps.fool.com/Blogs/ViewBlog.aspx?t=01008731030482031213). The Motley Fool's disclosure policy (http://www.fool.com/help/?display=about02) wonders whether Captain America will have his own ride at the forthcoming Dubai theme park.
http://www.motleyfool.com

Advanced Dark

04-12-2007, 10:10 PM

http://blog.myspace.com/blades_shades

New analyst comments raising estimates for 2nd qtr and full year. :) Sent stock up 5% today. :)

Advanced Dark

04-13-2007, 09:15 AM

Marvel to Report Q1 Results on Tuesday, May 8th and Will Host Investor Webcast at 9:00 A.M. EDT
Friday April 13, 7:30 am ET
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:MVL (http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=mvl&d=t) - News (http://finance.yahoo.com/q/h?s=mvl)), a global character-based entertainment and licensing company, will release financial results for the 2007 first quarter ended March 31, 2007 prior to the market's opening on Tuesday, May 8th. Marvel will then host a webcast at 9:00 a.m. EDT that day to provide an overview of its financial results.

WEBCAST / REPLAY URL: www.marvel.com/webcasts (http://www.marvel.com/webcasts) or at www.earnings.com (http://www.earnings.com/). An archived version of the webcast will be available for 30 days.

About Marvel Entertainment, Inc. With a library of over 5,000 characters, Marvel Entertainment, Inc. is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies. Marvel's operations are focused on utilizing its character franchises in licensing, entertainment, publishing and toys. Areas of emphasis include feature films, DVD/home video, consumer products, video games, action figures and role-playing toys, television and promotions. Rooted in the creative success of over sixty years of comic book publishing, Marvel's strategy is to leverage its character franchises in a growing array of opportunities around the world. More information about Marvel can be found at www.marvel.com (http://www.marvel.com/).

:) Right after Spidey.

Contact:
Jaffoni & CollinsInvestor Relations Contact:Richard Land, David Collins212/835-8500mvl@jcir.com (mvl@jcir.com)

Advanced Dark

04-17-2007, 02:50 PM

'Spidey' lifts Marvel; DWA on move

By Georg Szalai

April 17, 2007

NEW YORK -- Smaller entertainment firms Marvel Entertainment and DreamWorks Animation got some Street love last week, with bullish analyst reports boosting the stocks.

Sanders Morris Harris analyst David Miller raised his second-quarter earnings estimate for Marvel by 2 cents to 48 cents per share, citing "extremely robust volume thus far in the wholesale channel for 'Spider-Man'-related toys manufactured by Hasbro."

Marvel shares rose as much as 6%, inching close to their 52-week high.

With "Spider-Man 3" set to hit theaters next month, "informal checks at select Southern California toy retailers reveal that unit sales for Hasbro's new 'Spider-Man' toy line are pacing approximately 10% ahead of the same benchmark achieved at this point in 2004," when "Spider-Man 2" was released, Miller wrote.

As a result, the analyst boosted his second-quarter toy revenue estimate to $45 million, from $40 million, and his overall Marvel revenue projection for the quarter by $5 million to $127.2 million.
Advertisement
CM8ShowAd("Middle2");

Pali Research analyst Richard Greenfield last week upgraded DreamWorks Animation shares from "neutral" to "buy" in a note titled "Even an ogre can become attractive."

Greenfield argued that DWA "has spent the better part of the past two and half years suffering one disappointment after another" as it had to take writedowns on various films that underperformed expectations.

DWA shares rose as much as 5% the day of the upgrade, coming close to their 52-week high.

"Our renewed enthusiasm for DWA shares is based on our belief that DWA will have greater success and consistency to their feature film release schedule ... in others words, DWA's 'batting average' should notably improve," the analyst concluded.

"We believe DWA has the ability to earn $1.50 in earnings per share on average between 2007-2010, compared to the 56 cents it has averaged over the past couple of years."

Greenfield has a $35 target price on the stock.

"While more profitable film output over the next few years (particularly the next 24 months) is a key component of our upgrade to 'buy,' we are also encouraged by the need for upward revisions in our ultimate DVD unit forecasts for several of DWA recent releases," according to Greenfield.

Goldman Sachs analyst Anthony Noto late last month also upgraded DWA shares to "buy," citing 20%-plus upside potential to his new price target of $36, up from $28 previously.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com

hippie_hunter

04-17-2007, 05:05 PM

Dude, the way Marvel is growing is just plain crazy.

Advanced Dark

04-17-2007, 07:41 PM

Yep. It hasn't even started with their own studio yet as far as incoming revenue. LOL Life is good.

hippie_hunter

04-18-2007, 09:20 AM

Because I'm a prick, I'm gonna take away AD's oppourtunity to post this. Sega, which has the video game rights to Iron Man, also obtained the video game rights to Captain America, Thor, and Hulk.

Sega Hulk-ing up on Marvel licenses
Bruce Banner's mean and green alter ego, Captain America, and The Mighty Thor join Iron Man on the Japanese publisher's roster.
By Tor Thorsen, GameSpot
Posted Apr 18, 2007 2:01 am PT

Last November, Sega announced that it had taken over the game license for the Marvel Comics hero Iron Man from Activision. Today, the Japan-based company announced it has acquired three more game licenses from the venerable comic book publisher turned media powerhouse.

Foremost among the new acquisitions is The Incredible Hulk, who is currently appearing in the role-playing game Marvel: Ultimate Alliance.. Previously, Vivendi Games held the game rights to the brawny superhero, releasing 2005's critically acclaimed The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction (PS2, Xbox, GameCube) and 2003's less praised The Hulk (PC, PS2, Xbox, GameCube). Under the new deal, Sega will also be developing games based on the forthcoming movie The Incredible Hulk, which stars Edward Norton as the Hulk's less angry alter ego, Bruce Banner. The game will be released alongside the film next summer.

Though he may have died in comic books, Captain America will live on in game form. Sega is planning a game based on the forthcoming Captain America film, which is still in development. The last game that centered on the shield-wielding hero was Captain America and the Avengers (Game Boy, 1994), although he currently also appears in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance.

Last--but in the minds of would-be Vikings everywhere, not least--Sega has landed the license for The Mighty Thor. Like Captain America, the comic centering on the earthly adventures of the Norse god is being turned into a film with a tentative post-2008 release date. The Mighty Thor game--the first based solely on the character--will be released alongside said movie on undisclosed consoles. (Thor is also a featured hero in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance.)

Today's deal is a "multi-year global licensing agreement" that gives Sega exclusive rights to make Thor, Hulk, and Captain America games for consoles, handhelds, and the PC. In a statement, Simon Jeffery, Sega of America's President and COO said, "As Sega continues to create games that are built from the ground up to appeal to Western audiences it makes perfect sense to work with a powerhouse like Marvel."

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2007/106/marvelsega056_screen.jpg

Advanced Dark

04-18-2007, 10:16 AM

Nah this isn't my own thread. I want more people to post here. Good news. :) That kind of also gives us a heads up that Cap and Thor films are closer than some might think. :)

hippie_hunter

04-18-2007, 02:02 PM

Nah this isn't my own thread. I want more people to post here. Good news. :) That kind of also gives us a heads up that Cap and Thor films are closer than some might think. :)
I always saw Captain America going for a 2009 release (which they are aiming for) along with Ant-Man and then Thor along with Nick Fury in 2010.

Hopefully we'll at least get The Invincible Iron Man, Captian America 2, and The Mighty Thor before they go ahead with the Avengers.

hippie_hunter

04-18-2007, 02:06 PM

The news about Sega acquirng 3 major Marvel properties can lead to a safe assumption that they will get do the Avengers when the time is right. But I wonder if they will try and get other licenses like Fantastic Four and Ghost Rider from Take-Two or Spider-Man and the X-Men from Activision.

Arkady Rossovich

04-20-2007, 12:58 PM

You just love baiting don't you?

Well,the movie was a failure.Do you know how it compaired to Marvel`s other films?

Advanced Dark

04-20-2007, 03:39 PM

Not ATVI has those rights secured. Once the contract with a game studio is up they can go from there but Marvel's smart to spread there stuff out.

Advanced Dark

04-25-2007, 01:30 AM

Discecting the Marvel Sega Deal:

http://www.superherohype.com/forums/subscription.php?do=viewsubscription&pp=25&folderid=all&sort=lastpost&order=desc&page=2

New Licensing Deal with Marvel for pet clothing:
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/04-24-2007/0004572251&EDATE=

Marvel more valuable than Star Wars to Hasbro:
http://kungfurodeo.com/2007/04/24/marvel-more-valuable-than-star-wars/

Advanced Dark

04-25-2007, 10:39 AM

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/04-25-2007/0004573442&EDATE=

Advanced Dark

05-08-2007, 07:10 AM

Marvel just reported earnings and raped analyst expectations by a huge margine...yet they didn't raise guidance. Holding out for one more quarter I guess.

http://finance.yahoo.com

Donald Thomas

05-11-2007, 08:56 PM

Advanced Dark

05-11-2007, 09:33 PM

^ Yeah. Because being so frontloaded they can't afford for estimates to be lower in the next quarter even if it's not their fault that the analysts had no clue how it all works. So time to raise FY.

YJ1

05-23-2007, 06:53 PM

Marvel just reported earnings and raped analyst expectations by a huge margine...yet they didn't raise guidance. Holding out for one more quarter I guess.

http://finance.yahoo.com

Do you think that it was intentional because they knew they were going to announce more share buybacks? Even though the news was all good, that lack of raising guidance sent the stock price down some.

That "Marvel more valuable then Star Wars" link surprises me. I knew Spider-Man would spin big toy sale numbers but not that big!

Marvel pet accessories? Just...wow.

Advanced Dark

05-24-2007, 12:49 AM

I think they probably thought about raising guidance but didn't want too because they were gonna come in below expectations in Q2,3, & 4 because analysts didn't realize how much was frontloaded in Q1. If they had increased guidance then it would have been muted later by lowered expectations. It's not Marvel's fault...it's the analysts. Also Marvel probably figured the stock price would go down after Q1 so they waited for the drop and then annouced the buyback. They know these shares are far more valuable than 30 bucks down the road and by buying the shares they decrease the float and raise the EPS. :) Now they can raise estimates for FY07 next quarter or the quarter after that or both even though they might still come in under analyst expecatations for the Quarter. Remember Marvel only gives yearly guidance probably due to the nature of the business they are in. I bought about 500 total shares since the earnings drop. Not much in the whole scheme of things but it helps alot for sure.

Mr. Socko

05-29-2007, 09:48 PM

Are you guys getting millions by these investments?

Advanced Dark

05-29-2007, 11:11 PM

I'm getting there but not yet. Give it a few more years. :)

Mr. Socko

05-30-2007, 12:25 AM

Do you have a normal job or are you just getting rich off marvel?

Damn you if you are!

Advanced Dark

05-30-2007, 12:27 AM

Real Estate and Stock trading...that's it.

Mr. Socko

05-30-2007, 12:50 AM

I'm just a broke schumck

Advanced Dark

05-30-2007, 12:57 AM

^ Is that by design. ;)

Mr. Socko

05-30-2007, 01:06 AM

FTW(and I don't mean for the win)

How much would one need to start investing in Marvel?

Advanced Dark

05-30-2007, 01:10 AM

Mr. Socko

05-30-2007, 01:14 AM

Thanks, mate. I'm going to look more into it tomorrow. 'Bout time I decide to do something other than eating tacos all day sitting on my ass.

Advanced Dark

05-30-2007, 01:15 AM

Thanks, mate. I'm going to look more into it tomorrow. 'Bout time I decide to do something other than eating tacos all day sitting on my ass.

You could invest in Del Taco. ;)

Donald Thomas

06-12-2007, 04:47 PM

Real Estate and Stock trading...that's it.

Aloha,
I'm a Disability Rights Advocate and Health Consultant by trade. I got into investing in Marvel (the first time) a few years before they crashed. I 'm also a big comic book collector( Spider-Man in particular). I think Marvel is in a great postion as a company and should be for the forseeable future, they why I've re-invested.But I agree with you, you have to be in it for the long haul. Iron Man and Hulk are going to be major factors in Marvel's succes-in some ways more than Spider-Man.
Spidey rules

Diamondhead

06-12-2007, 04:51 PM

WHAT!?
investing in marvel's future!?
is this a joke or what!
usually Diamondhead only invest in himself !
Curse you cur !

Advanced Dark

06-12-2007, 05:46 PM

^ I'm assuming you're on the pink sheets. :)

YJ1

06-14-2007, 04:22 PM

^ Any amount. However make sure it's money you can tie up for a long time and have a goal. Never let day to day price fluctuations scare you if you're in it long term. Also if you frequent the finance boards there are bashers who try to make you scared to sell. They're on every stock board. Nobody goes through the trouble of bashing a bad stock. :)

Great advice, as usual. I learned that long ago with Marvel. Buying MVL in late 2001 and then riding it up makes tolerating fluctuations and finance board bashing quite easy at this point, however.

I love Marvel's position and new business model. What no one seems to mention is the sequel factor. WHEN Iron Man and Incredible Hulk hit big, how will their sequels be worked in to the film slate rotation? People mention that Ant-Man and Power Pack are listed but will those get green-lit over an Iron Man 2? I doubt it. Didn't Marvel clearly state that they won't produce more then two movies a year themselves ever? If Iron Man, Hulk, Cap & Thor are the first four films, wouldn't sequels and an Avengers film keep the slate occupied for years to come? Why even consider extending themselves when the old revenue streams (Spider-Man, X-Men, FF, etc.) are still rolling in and the market features those films anyway?

What a great "problem" to have. It's like having too many great starting pitchers on a MLB baseball team. How do you work all that talent in to the starting rotation?

FaT_tONle

06-15-2007, 09:26 AM

Here is what Marvel needs to do over the next ten years... will definitely look something like this...

Iron Man 2008
The Incredible Hulk 2008
Thor 2009
Black Panther 2009
Luke Cage 2010
Captain America 2010
The Invincible Iron Man 2011
Iron Fist 2011
The Avengers 2012
Mighty Thor 2013
Heroes for Hire 2014

strikezone89

06-17-2007, 06:55 PM

ima look into it

Advanced Dark

06-17-2007, 11:19 PM

Here is what Marvel needs to do over the next ten years... will definitely look something like this...

Iron Man 2008 (Filming)
The Incredible Hulk 2008 (Filming)
Wolverine 2008 (Pre Production)
Captain America 2009 (Pre-production)
Thor 2009 (Pre-Production)
Magneto 2009 (Pre-production)
Fantastic Four 3 2010 (Confirmed)
Spiderman 4 2010
Young X-Men Prequel 2010
Nick Fury 2010
The Invincible Iron Man 2011
The Incredible Hulk 2 2011
Ant-Man 2011
Spiderman 5 2012
Captain America 2 2012
The Mighty Thor 2012
X-Men 4 2013
Power Pack 2013
The Avengers 2014
Spiderman 6 2015
X-Men 5 2016
The Mighty Avengers 2017
X-Men 6 2019

Thats the long term vision Marvel should have... and those are the main franchises with a lot of potential... I know Favreau wanted Iron Man to be a trilogy but unless Iron Man (2008) blows everyone out of the water I can't see how he gets his own trilogy... let it be a two part story... same thing with Hulk. Then do your Avengers. We know Spiderman is getting three more. PLEASE TAKE YOUR TIME with X-men so they don't botch it up again. Avengers would be costly if you are going to use the same actors from the solo franchises... but I think its worth the gamble. Then you can reboot some older franchises or continue with what you have going. Regardless, Marvel should be set for another seven years at least.

This is grand I know... but the studios will invest if they feel the profit is there... and I think its there.

Yeah. Keep in mind Marvel studios will only release 2 films per year. However the other studios with Marvel rights can do whatever they want though I'm sure they can't step on the toes on another Marvel property with an established date.

Advanced Dark

06-17-2007, 11:59 PM

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/18/business/media/18marvel.html?ex=1339819200&en=6fe359b1692c2ee9&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

FaT_tONle

06-18-2007, 07:22 AM

Yeah. Keep in mind Marvel studios will only release 2 films per year. However the other studios with Marvel rights can do whatever they want though I'm sure they can't step on the toes on another Marvel property with an established date.

I think they can take it to three movies... keep in mind Fox still has X-Men so they will dish out a couple more spinoffs. Nick Fury and AnT-man can be holiday or spring releases... Captain America and THor is pretty weak for one summer... this is Marvel we are talking about... also I don't like of X-Men, Spiderman, and Avengers having films coming out in the same summer.

Advanced Dark

06-18-2007, 08:48 AM

Advanced Dark

06-18-2007, 08:48 AM

•Marvel Signs Deal With Fruit of the Loom (http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070618/marvel_entertainment_contracts.html?.v=1)AP (Mon 8:17am)

•Marvel enters into licensing agreement with Fruit of the Loom (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/finance/external/reuters/SIG=11vg30000/*http://yahoo.reuters.com/financeQuoteCompanyNewsArticle.jhtml?duid=mtfh4434 1_2007-06-18_11-26-25_wnas4121_newsml)at Reuters (Mon 7:26am)

•Marvel Entertainment Bolsters Presence in Apparel Arena Through New Agreements with Fruit of the Loom and Crocs, and Expanded Deal with Kids Headquarters (http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070618/20070618005222.html?.v=1)Business Wire (Mon 7:00am)

•Marvel Entertainment Promotes Joann McLaughlin to EVP, Merchandising and Appoints Susan Fields VP, Merchandising (http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070618/20070618005330.html?.v=1)Business Wire (Mon 6:56am)

FaT_tONle

06-18-2007, 12:11 PM

^ Nick Fury & Ant-Man cannont be Spring releases per the contract. In fact they might be forced into only Summer releases per the finance agreement w/Merrill. Which is better for toy sales and dvd sales. Also they stated they'll only put out 2 films per year from their studio.

Then they can release Fury and Ant-Man in 2010... I just don't know why they'd want them to go up against SPiderman and a possible FF 3.

Advanced Dark

06-18-2007, 01:24 PM

THey won't go directly against them. They'll be spread out at least a month apart if not more. Spidey 4 is probably 2011. FF3 should be announced relatively soon.

FaT_tONle

06-21-2007, 11:46 AM

I don't know... I am sure they still want to use the same supporting cast for Spiderman... four years might be too big a gap even if the cast and crew is replaced... they just need to find a new team by 2008 and Spidey 4 will definitely be ready for June 2010. If they wait for 2011 there will be too many comic book films that year that even Spidey wouldn't want face... BB3 might be slated for 2011... maybe even a JLA... also the Iron Man sequel will be guaranteed to be in that slot as well. 2011 is booked. Also if Sam is playing Fury I am not sold Marvel is gonna pay him to do a feature flick... they can afford it but it might be a little too high for their budget. But a Nick Fury feature flick won't be needed if he is already having cameos in these other Marvel films. Ant-Man won't do well in a 2010 slot either but not much you can do about that. You can probably fit in Namor for 2010 if they don't go with Fury... they might want a solo for him before making an appearance in an Avengers flick.

Advanced Dark

07-18-2007, 05:59 PM

Earnings come out August 7th. I'll update this thread then on the conference call.

Advanced Dark

07-19-2007, 01:26 PM

http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/

Marvel Month-to-Month sales: June 2007 (http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/)

By Paul O’Brien
After a comparatively quiet May, Marvel went all out in June. The major event of the month, WORLD WAR HULK, involved three miniseries and a slew of crossover titles. It would have been a pretty big deal on its own. But June also saw the much-hyped NEW AVENGERS #31, the start of the X-Men’s “Endangered Species” crossover, the start of ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST, and three new ongoing titles - NEW WARRIORS, X-MEN: FIRST CLASS and AVENGERS CLASSIC.
On top of that, the death of Captain America is still pulling in sales, the Initiative books are continuing to benefit from the fall-out of CIVIL WAR, and Spider-Man is still in emo mode. And that’s before we even get to the other new miniseries. In short, there’s an awful lot going on right now.
Once again, Marvel dominated DC in terms of direct market share, but this month’s margin is outrageously wide. In units, Marvel won by 48% to 29% - in dollars, 44% to 27%. That margin reflects the fact that Marvel are having a good year in the direct market, and DC… well, DC aren’t.
(http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/)
Click on the link above to see in great detail comparisons for all titles month to month, year to year. Great breakdown.

YJ1

07-25-2007, 05:35 PM

"Once again, Marvel dominated DC in terms of direct market share, but this month’s margin is outrageously wide. In units, Marvel won by 48% to 29% - in dollars, 44% to 27%. That margin reflects the fact that Marvel are having a good year in the direct market, and DC… well, DC aren’t."

:woot:

Advanced Dark

08-06-2007, 11:06 AM

Marvel Entertainment Inc. Earnings Conference Call (Q2 2007)
Scheduled to start Tue, Aug 7, 2007, 9:00 am Eastern

Check back at the scheduled start time for
the audio link to appear in this spot. http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/cal/seed.gif (http://calendar.yahoo.com/?v=60&ST=20070807T1300Z+0&TYPE=21&REM1=1h&TITLE=Marvel+Entertainment+Inc.+Earnings+Conferenc e+Call+%28Q2+2007%29&URL=http://biz.yahoo.com/cc/0/83140.html&VIEW=w&DESC=Click+on+the+%22Event+Link%22+above+to+listen +to+the+Earnings+Conference+Call%0afrom+Marvel+Ent ertainment+Inc.,+live+on+the+internet.&REM2=24h&DUR=0100) Add This Event To Your Yahoo! Calendar (http://calendar.yahoo.com/?v=60&ST=20070807T1300Z+0&TYPE=21&REM1=1h&TITLE=Marvel+Entertainment+Inc.+Earnings+Conferenc e+Call+%28Q2+2007%29&URL=http://biz.yahoo.com/cc/0/83140.html&VIEW=w&DESC=Click+on+the+%22Event+Link%22+above+to+listen +to+the+Earnings+Conference+Call%0afrom+Marvel+Ent ertainment+Inc.,+live+on+the+internet.&REM2=24h&DUR=0100)
After the event has finished, the audio will be available
from this page until Fri, Aug 8, 2008

Advanced Dark

08-06-2007, 04:12 PM

http://www.bunkershot.com/2007/viewstory.cfm?ID=4780

New licensing deal for Junior Golf Clubs and accessories.

YJ1

08-26-2007, 06:12 PM

http://www.bunkershot.com/2007/viewstory.cfm?ID=4780

New licensing deal for Junior Golf Clubs and accessories.

"The new licensing deal includes many other golf equipment products such as beginning golfers' golf bags, towels, ball, tees, gloves, hats/visors and water bottles."

I hope this means more then just Spidey kiddie stuff. MANY adult golfers would love to add Marvel stuff to their bags, me included. Who wouldn't want to strap on a Hulk golf glove, grip it and rip it?!?

Advanced Dark

09-18-2007, 07:54 AM

Marvel To Participate at Thomas Weisel Partners Consumer Conference, Wednesday, September 26th at 10:20 a.m. EDT
Tuesday September 18, 7:03 am ET - Marvel "Fireside Chat" Available Via Webcast -
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: MVL (http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=mvl&d=t) - News (http://finance.yahoo.com/q/h?s=mvl)), a leading global character-based entertainment and licensing company, today announced that its Vice Chairman, Peter Cuneo, will participate at the Thomas Weisel Partners Consumer Conference on Wednesday, September 26th. Mr. Cuneo will lead a "Fireside Chat" regarding Marvel, starting at 10:20 a.m. EDT. The conference is taking place in New York City at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

Live Webcast and Replay:
To listen to the Fireside Chat webcast, please visit http://www.marvel.com/company/webcasts.htm (http://www.marvel.com/company/webcasts.htm). An archived version of the webcast will be available at the same location for thirty days.
About Marvel Entertainment, Inc.
With a library of over 5,000 high-profile characters built over more than sixty years of comic book publishing, Marvel Entertainment, Inc. is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in licensing, entertainment (via Marvel Studios), publishing (via Marvel Comics) and toys, with emphasis on feature films, home DVD, consumer products, video games, action figures and role-playing toys, television and promotions. Marvel's strategy is to leverage its franchises in a growing array of opportunities around the world. For more information visit www.marvel.com (http://www.marvel.com/).

Contact:
Jaffoni & CollinsRichard Land or David Collins, 212-835-8500mvl@jcir.com (mvl@jcir.com)Source: Marvel Entertainment, Inc.

Advanced Dark

09-26-2007, 06:32 AM

darthhalen

09-27-2007, 03:24 PM

Was there anything said or hinted about the second 2009 movie? They better get a move on if they want to get something going before the strike. I really hope that they go with Cap. One problem could be that in 2009 there will be Watchmen, the Spirit, JLA, Thor and possibly Shazam. With Cap it could be SUperhero overload. Myabe that lends itself to Nick Fury instead. Hope we will find out soon.

Advanced Dark

10-02-2007, 12:10 PM

This stock has been on fire lately. Approaching 27 again. 2008 is a pivotal year for this company.

hippie_hunter

10-02-2007, 03:08 PM

Yeah, Marvel's going to do great in 2008 if Iron Man and the Incredible Hulk are successful. And from the looks of it, they will be.

Advanced Dark

10-03-2007, 12:51 AM

Wow closed up over 27 on momentum and analyst upgrade.

Advanced Dark

10-09-2007, 10:17 AM

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/071009/20071009005216.html?.v=1

Spider-Man Merchandising L.P. Announces First Wave of Licensing Partners for New Animated Series
Tuesday October 9, 7:00 am ET
The Spectacular Spider-Man
Key Category Partners Including Hasbro, Wear Me Apparel, Jay Franco, Giant Merchandising and Fast Forward To Create Products Inspired By New Spider-Man Animated Series Set to Debut on Kids' WB! on the CW Network in 2008

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The latest adaptation of Marvel's ever-popular Spider-Man is already casting a web over the licensing industry as Spider-Man Merchandising L.P. - the limited partnership between Sony Pictures Consumer Products Inc. and Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: MVL - News) - unveiled today a blue chip list of partners who will serve as the foundation for the merchandising program supporting the all-new Spectacular Spider-Man animated series. The highly-anticipated series will debut in early 2008 as part of the Kids' WB! line-up on The CW Network, the No. 1 rated Saturday morning kids broadcast slate.
ADVERTISEMENT

Spider-Man Merchandising, L.P. has already attracted some of the biggest names in key categories - ranging from toys and apparel to domestics and publishing - to develop product lines inspired by The Spectacular Spider-Man. Leading the way are such industry heavyweights as: Hasbro (master toy licensee), Wear Me Apparel (master apparel), IMT (sporting goods), Fashion Accessory Bazaar (back-to-school and storage), Bendon Publishing (publishing), DecoPac (cake decoration), Giant Merchandising (t-shirts), Berkshire Fashion (headwear, cold weather and hosiery), Fast Forward (back-to-school), and Jay Franco (domestics). Spider-Man Merchandising, L.P. is continuing to work on expanding the program with additional licensees.

The Spectacular Spider-Man picks up the original web-slinger's mythology at the beginning of his hero's journey as a not-so-typical 16-year-old entering his junior year of high school. Peter Parker must conceal his secret identity, confront the multi-leveled pressures of teenage life at home and school, and all the while combat even bigger Super Villains than ever before. Based on Marvel Entertainment's popular Super Hero, The Spectacular Spider-Man is produced by Culver Entertainment, a Sony Pictures Television Company.

"The early feedback on The Spectacular Spider-Man has been phenomenal with licensees quick to embrace the series," said Paul Gitter, President of Consumer Products for North America, Marvel Entertainment for Spider-Man Merchandising L.P. "Our goal is to create a merchandising program and entertainment event that aims to fuel the on-going demand for the Spider-Man franchise."

Marvel and Sony Pictures Television recently announced that they have green-lit Culver Entertainment to commence production on an additional 13 half-hour episodes for the series - bringing the current series run to 26 episodes. A major marketing effort by Kids WB!, Sony Pictures Television and Marvel designed to maximize consumer awareness of the series and drive tune-in is already underway.

About Spider-Man Merchandising, LP

Spider-Man Merchandising, LP, the limited partnership comprised of Marvel Entertainment, Inc. and Sony Pictures Consumer Products Inc., oversees the licensing and merchandising activities for Columbia Pictures' Spider-Man(TM) feature films and animated series all based on the Marvel character.

Advanced Dark

10-10-2007, 09:46 AM

Marvel Entertainment Inc. Earnings Conference Call (Q3 2007)
Scheduled to start Mon, Nov 5, 2007, 9:00 am Eastern

Check back at the scheduled start time for
the audio link to appear in this spot. http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/cal/seed.gif (http://calendar.yahoo.com/?v=60&ST=20071105T1300Z+0&TYPE=21&REM1=1h&TITLE=Marvel+Entertainment+Inc.+Earnings+Conferenc e+Call+%28Q3+2007%29&URL=http://biz.yahoo.com/cc/9/85779.html&VIEW=w&DESC=Click+on+the+%22Event+Link%22+above+to+listen +to+the+Earnings+Conference+Call%0afrom+Marvel+Ent ertainment+Inc.,+live+on+the+internet.&REM2=24h&DUR=0100) Add This Event To Your Yahoo! Calendar (http://calendar.yahoo.com/?v=60&ST=20071105T1300Z+0&TYPE=21&REM1=1h&TITLE=Marvel+Entertainment+Inc.+Earnings+Conferenc e+Call+%28Q3+2007%29&URL=http://biz.yahoo.com/cc/9/85779.html&VIEW=w&DESC=Click+on+the+%22Event+Link%22+above+to+listen +to+the+Earnings+Conference+Call%0afrom+Marvel+Ent ertainment+Inc.,+live+on+the+internet.&REM2=24h&DUR=0100)
After the event has finished, the audio will be available
from this page until Thu, Nov 6, 2008

Advanced Dark

10-11-2007, 05:05 PM

AU Press ReleasesMarvel Executive, Trustee Chairman slated to speak on campus
10/10/07
Alfred University alumnus and chairman of the AU Board of Trustees, Peter Cuneo ’67, who is also vice chairman/director of Marvel Enterprises, Inc., New York City, is set to speak on campus, Thursday, Oct, 18, 2007, from 5-6 p.m., in Powell Campus Center’s Nevins Theatre. This lecture will be open to the public free of charge.

Cuneo’s topic is “The Turnaround of the Marvel Brand.” He will share the story and strategic decision of the team that helped bring Marvel Enterprises from bankruptcy to the global brand powerhouse it is today.

After serving as chief executive officer (CEO) at Marvel from 1999-2002, Cuneo continued as a part-time special adviser to the next CEO through December 2004.

Cuneo is also senior adviser to Plainfield Asset Management LLC, a hedge fund based in Greenwich, CT that specializes in special and distressed situations. He is also a director of Iconix Brands, Inc.

Harvard Business School has called Cuneo “Marvel’s Superhero CEO.” He has also been dubbed the “Turnaround Man” after successful turnarounds at Marvel, Clairol, Black & Decker, and Remington.

Marvel’s most popular characters and groups include Spiderman, the X-Men, The Fantastic Four, The Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, Ghost Rider, and Daredevil. Marvel’s upcoming projects include movies featuring Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, and The Spectacular Spiderman.

Cool.

Donald Thomas

10-16-2007, 11:23 PM

Cool.

Aloha,
'Very cool indeed. While I am first and foremsot a Spidey comic book collector, I am also an adult who understands basic business procedure. I sometimes shake my head at some of the comments made about Marvel or Joe Q or any of the other people involved in Marvel Comics.They either have never worked at a job requiring a yearly jpr or they just like to see their complaints in print. Marvel Comics is NOT the old Bullpen of the 1960s.That Cuneo was able to bring Marvel back from the pits to the powerhouse it is, proves that the basic direction of Marvel was correct. Now if we could get some guys who are actually comic book fans and also business savvy.HEAVEN!
Spidey rules

Advanced Dark

10-17-2007, 01:07 AM

Avi Arad is primarily responsible (along w/Ike Perlumetter) for not only saving and turning around Marvel...but for putting the entire comic book genre back on the map to stay.

Advanced Dark

10-29-2007, 03:23 PM

Advanced Dark

11-05-2007, 07:28 AM

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/071105/20071105005748.html?.v=1

Marvel destroys earnings expecations and stock is surging!

Advanced Dark

11-05-2007, 12:26 PM

Conference Call is finally up and running updates to come below if any:

Budget range of Iron Man & Hulk between 100-160 million. They won't tighten the range on this just yet.

Writer's strike will have no impact on 08 activity, and too premature to see if it'll impact 09 films.

Hulk has 2 weeks left of prinicipal photography.

Iron Man in post production and they're working on visual effects, mixing, editing, & music and will continue working until 5 weeks prior to release date.

That's it.

Nothing on Thor, Punisher: Warzone, or anything else.

Advanced Dark

11-06-2007, 03:11 PM

Marvel earnings tripled this time around sending the stock up just under 20% yesterday! We're up almost another buck today!!!

Advanced Dark

11-07-2007, 01:19 PM

A must read:

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/11/07/marvel-is-a-screaming-buy.aspx

Marvel Is a Screaming Buy

By Tim Beyers November 7, 2007

OK, I'll say it if no one else will. Even with Monday's 18% run, arising from a blockbuster third-quarter earnings report (http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/11/06/marvels-blockbuster-fool-by-numbers.aspx), Marvel Entertainment (NYSE: MVL (http://quote.fool.com/summary.aspx?s=MVL)) is a screaming buy. Period.

(See Chart at Link above)

Yeah, I know, $132 million is less than $194 million. But who cares? Marvel had managed just $25.3 million in trailing adjusted cash from operations through its first quarter (http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/05/15/a-cash-flow-marvel.aspx).
In other words, Marvel is raking in moola like Venom after a string of Lower Manhattan bank robberies. And not a single penny of that cash flow is from self-produced movies.
Oh, Mickey, you're so fine -- but so is Spidey
What this means is that Marvel has a massive licensing business that should continue to thrive, even as Marvel Studios cranks out Iron Man (http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2006/06/27/marvels-future-cast-in-iron.aspx) next May, followed by The Incredible Hulk (http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2006/07/20/will-you-like-marvel-when-its-angry.aspx) in June.
How massive is it? Ask the editors at LICENSE magazine. According to this article (http://www.licensemag.com/licensemag/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=416989) (downloads a PDF file), Marvel is the world's sixth-most valuable licensing brand, accounting for an estimated $4.8 billion in retail sales. Disney (NYSE: DIS (http://quote.fool.com/summary.aspx?s=DIS)), Viacom (NYSE: VIA (http://quote.fool.com/summary.aspx?s=VIA)), and Phillips-Van Heusen are among the handful of brands to account for more.
No one should be surprised, then, that hundreds of companies are leaning on Spidey to earn them more. Crocs (Nasdaq: CROX (http://quote.fool.com/summary.aspx?s=CROX)) is putting Marvel characters on its signature clogs (http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/05/16/quick-take-spideys-new-shoes.aspx), for example. And the Al Ahli Group is spending $1 billion to welcome Captain America to Dubai (http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/03/22/captain-america-goes-to-dubai.aspx).
But, in Q3, it was Spidey who dazzled investors. Licensing revenue from Marvel's Spider-Man joint venture with Sony (NYSE: SNE (http://quote.fool.com/summary.aspx?s=SNE)) nearly touched $100 million through the first nine months of the year, up from $3.5 million during the same period in 2006.
Margins also improved by double digits across the board, thanks in part to another lucrative licensing deal -- this one with Hasbro (NYSE: HAS (http://quote.fool.com/summary.aspx?s=HAS)), which has committed to spending more than $200 million (http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2006/01/09/marvel-toys-with-hasbro.aspx) to make toys out of Marvel characters.
Take another look at those numbers
Surely, bears will point out that even with its rich licensing business, Marvel faces a huge hurdle with self-produced films. They're not entirely wrong. The comic-book king has already borrowed more than $200 million to produce Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk.
If neither film makes money, Marvel could lose the movie rights to both characters and eight others. But I just don't see that happening. I've done the math.
According to this presentation (http://marvel.com/company/pdf/marvel_studio_present_bw.pdf) (downloads a big PDF file), a self-produced Marvel film that costs $130 million to make and that earns $150 million at the domestic box office would produce $62 million in operating profit.
If that's true, then perceived busts Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, produced by News Corp.'s (NYSE: NWS (http://quote.fool.com/summary.aspx?s=NWS)) 20th Century Fox, and The Hulk, produced by Universal, would have earned more than $50 million each for Marvel as self-produced films.
My point? Maybe Marvel's movie business isn't as risky as the Street thinks.
And if it is? So what? Marvel today trades for roughly 16.8 times is adjusted cash from operations, or about in line with historic norms. What that means is investors buying today are getting the new Marvel Studios business for zero. Nada. Zilch.
You and I both know that's a screaming bargain. Will you have the guts to take Mr. Market up on it?

Advanced Dark

11-19-2007, 12:21 PM

Marvel signs w/Segal for Canada expansion.

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20071119005365&newsLang=en

Docker2.0

11-19-2007, 12:36 PM

So I guess I can't buy one share for a grand no more huh? Crap! I knew I should have done that in the late 90s! :cmad: :csad:

Advanced Dark

11-19-2007, 12:53 PM

One share is only $28.00

Docker2.0

11-19-2007, 01:04 PM

Really? :huh: Where can I buy them from? I want to get like 10 shares if possible. PLEASE! IM me some info.

Advanced Dark

11-19-2007, 04:05 PM

10 shares? Just open an account at TD Waterhouse or E-Trade send them the money via cashiers check or wire and then buy it.

Advanced Dark

12-10-2007, 12:13 PM

http://www.developmag.com/news/28875/Marvel-to-step-up-game-development-focus

This would be a good move and it's clearly the next step in the evoloution of Marvel. Sooner or later Marvel is gonna merge with some other company anyways.

Marvel to increase game development presence?
Michael French (http://www.developmag.com/email?authorStory=28875&popup=1) Today, 3:55pm
SPECIAL REPORT: Sources tell Develop that comic book giant is considering direct relationships with game studios for new titles
Marvel Entertainment is exploring ways it can get closer with game developers according to several senior game development execs.
Currently, the firm enjoys a number of lucrative partnerships with major publishers such as Activision, EA and Sega for game adaptations and spin-offs of upcoming Marvel character-based movies. It has a long-term deal for Spider-Man in place with Activision and earlier this year licensed a number of characters - including Captain America, Incredible Hulk, Iron Man and Thor - to Sega.
However, multiple independent sources have reported to Develop that the company has privately expressed desire to some partners that it wishes to get much more involved in the games development process.
Although a major force in terms of licensing its properties to third-parties, Marvel has prior precedent in 'seizing its destiny' to control how owned material is transferred to other mediums; it opened the Marvel Studios film division in 2004 to directly manage the writing and production of films based on its characters, following the mixed fortunes of its properties when handled by Hollywood studios. Its first films, The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man, appear next year accompanied by Sega's tie-ins.
Marvel certainly has the talent in-house to start replicating its Marvel Studios strategy in games development when it possibly looking at projects for the following year; a few months ago it appointed former journalist turned Sega and LucasArts exec Justin Lambros as VP of interactive at Marvel Studios and executive producer in forthcoming Marvel-based video games.
Plus, a recent job posting (http://jobview.monster.com/getjob.asp?JobID=65139390&JobTitle=Senior+Executive%2c+Interactive+%26+Onlin e&q=Marvel&brd=1&cy=us&vw=b&AVSDM=2007-11-09+16%3a17%3a00&pg=1&seq=5) at Monster.com says the company is seeking a CFO-like figure with experience in "the management of content development and/or interactive publishing business" and "interactive or online casual gaming planning and deployment" to help further define Marvel's interactive strategy.

Two titles based on Marvel properties have recently hit development troubles, with reports suggesting the Microsoft-published MMO Marvel Universe has been cancelled, while EA Chicago recently closed as production on a new Marvel fighting title began. It's not clear if these developments have played any part in Marvel's intentions for games development - although Develop has been told by one source that the firm had been privately discussing its possible closer ties with studios prior to the reports which put the two above projects in doubt.
While it is not yet clear if Marvel is simply looking to have a much closer level of involvement in upcoming games using its characters (beyond its status as approval licensee) or is considering opening up its own game studio, a la Marvel Studios' film interests - or even looking at a possible move to publishing - the company is likely keeping a close eye on big media contemporaries such as Warner Bros and Fox.
Warner recently formalised a strong push into the games industry, setting up European operations for its publishing division, a new production unit called WB Games, and acquiring UK studio Traveller's Tales, which is working on a Lego game based around the Batman comic character.
Senior industry executives, meanwhile, have previously stated to Develop and its sister magazine MCV that Fox Interactive is set for a comeback.
The allure of such moves is obvious. In taking a much more controlling stake in the treatment of their properties, the likes of Warner are able to guarantee better quality and more profitable products, also removing the cost that licensing to third-parties incurs.
At the same time, a closer relationship with games studios could provide access to new IP and ideas - although, with 5,000 characters in its stable already, Marvel won't have any shortage of characters or material to exploit as it stands.
All of this, however, still remains in the realm of industry whispers - the firm has not made an official announcement about increasing its involvement in game development and declined to comment when contacted by Develop.

Advanced Dark

12-31-2007, 05:08 PM

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/12/31/best-stock-for-2008-marvel.aspx

Best Stock for 2008: Marvel

By Anders Bylund (TMF Zahrim) December 31, 2007
5 Recommendations

Ring in the new year with more stocks for 2008 (http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/12/31/the-best-stocks-for-2008.aspx).
I've made my adoration perfectly clear (http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/11/15/dueling-fools-marvel.aspx) for Marvel's (NYSE: MVL (http://caps.fool.com/Ticker/MVL.aspx)) stock. Not to put too fine a point on the argument, I think this might be the single best investment you could make for 2008.
As you may know, the company has decided to go it alone in the movie industry and finance new superhero films through an innovative loan structure. First up will be Iron Man (http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2006/06/27/marvels-future-cast-in-iron.aspx) and another, presumably less artsy, look at The Incredible Hulk (http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2006/07/20/will-you-like-marvel-when-its-angry.aspx). The profits from those movies will start out paying back the money borrowed to make the pictures in the first place, and the rest will go straight into Marvel's coffers.
That's different from the Spider-Man franchise, where Sony's (NYSE: SNE (http://caps.fool.com/Ticker/SNE.aspx)) Columbia Pictures takes home most of the cake, or the X-Men franchise, which is produced mostly with News Corp. (NYSE: NWS (http://caps.fool.com/Ticker/NWS.aspx)) subsidiary 20th Century Fox's cash, and therefore enriches Rupert Murdoch more than it does Marvel.
Let's say Iron Man fails miserably at the box office, despite having star power at the helm (Jon Favreau (http://imdb.com/name/nm0269463/)) and in front of the camera (Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow). Maybe Roger Ebert turns out to be allergic to iron or something. Whatever the reason, let's say the movie costs $186 million to make and pulls in only $100 million in worldwide box-office receipts. Ordinarily, the production company would be seriously in the hole here. But not Marvel.
Instead, the financial backers for the first wave of movies (http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/11/15/dueling-fools-marvel-strikes-back.aspx) -- namely HSBC (NYSE: HBC (http://caps.fool.com/Ticker/HBC.aspx)) and GE (NYSE: GE (http://caps.fool.com/Ticker/GE.aspx)) -- would swallow the losses, write off the rest of the borrowings, and get the rights to make Iron Man movies. I'd imagine the banks would then sell those rights. In the case of Iron Man, Marvel would simply be back to making movies with some partner studio again, just as it will continue to do with its established hit franchises. The worst thing that could happen is that Marvel probably wouldn't get to pick its partner.
That's the entire downside, and it doesn't sound horrible at all. No monetary risk, only intellectual property. Let's see how much Marvel -- the company that envisioned the characters in the first place -- truly can make when it can reap all of the producer fees from movies made under its own total creative control. Then watch the stock price jump as Mr. Market finally gets it.
That's just the beginning: Marvel envisions about $46 million in new operating income from the first two movies in 2008 but nearly $180 million in 2009 as the second wave comes out and the first two movies go into heavy rotation on pay-per-view and HBO-style movie channels. But wait -- it still gets better. These numbers don't include toy sales and other merchandising, which should bring in between $45 million and $200 million per film.
I'm not saying Marvel will make more money than Disney (NYSE: DIS (http://caps.fool.com/Ticker/DIS.aspx)) next year. But the seeds for a mighty profitable future have been sown, and we could very well be seeing the next entertainment giant in its hatchling stage. Jump aboard now, and thank me in 2009.
Or, if you'd rather not take one guy's word for Marvel's brilliance, you can take a free 30-day trial to our Motley Fool Stock Advisor newsletter service, where an entire team of our top analysts keep you updated on this stock. It's a three-time Stock Advisor recommendation, and you'd have a heart-stopping 650% return if you'd invested on the original recommendation in July 2002.
And if you believe in Marvel for 2008 (sounds like a presidential campaign, doesn't it?), please go ahead and rate the stock "outperform" in Motley Fool CAPS (http://caps.fool.com/Ticker/MVL.aspx) for me. We can get this ticker back to the five-star rating it so richly deserves. This is easy money (http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/12/06/can-making-money-really-be-this-easy.aspx), folks.