Net sales in the second quarter increased 45% to $222.1 million, compared to $153.4 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2004. Net loss for the quarter was $8.2 million, compared to a net loss of $14.6 million last year, with a net loss of $(0.12) per share compared to a net loss per share of $(0.22) last year.
Net sales for the six months ended April 30, 2005 increased 37% to $724.5 million, compared to $528.9 million for the same period a year ago. Net income for the first six months more than doubled to $47.1 million from net income of $17.2 million in the comparable period last year. Diluted earnings per share of $0.67 increased 168% from $0.25 per diluted share in the prior year's first six months.
Take-Two attributed its increased second quarter sales to the launch of Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition for PlayStation 2 and Xbox and Major League Baseball 2K5 for PlayStation 2 and Xbox, as well as continued consumer demand for its Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas title for PlayStation 2.
Guidance
Take-Two is reiterating its guidance for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2005 of $1.3 to $1.35 billion in net sales and $1.40 to $1.47 in diluted earnings per share, reflecting the Company's three-for-two stock split.
Take-Two is updating its third fiscal quarter guidance to reflect the movement of the following products from the third fiscal quarter to the fourth fiscal quarter: Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories for the PSP; Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth for PlayStation 2 and Xbox; and Top Spin for PlayStation 2. The Company now expects $205 to $215 million in net sales and a net loss per share of $(0.05) to $(0.10) for the third quarter ending July 31, 2005.
The Company's diluted earnings/(loss) per share for all periods above reflect the three-for-two stock split completed in April 2005, but do not include the impact of adopting FASB 123, requiring the expensing of employee stock options, which the Company expects to adopt beginning November 1, 2005.
Rockstar Games
Rockstar's Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition, the third installment in the multi-million unit selling, genre-defining Midnight Club street racing franchise developed by Rockstar San Diego, was released in late April for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. Also in the second quarter, Rockstar launched the PlayStation 2 Greatest Hits version of Red Dead Revolver, bringing Take-Two's catalog of Greatest Hits products for PlayStation 2 to eleven titles.
Rockstar has a strong product lineup planned for the balance of fiscal 2005, beginning with Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for Xbox and PC, which will be in stores in North America on June 7th and in Europe on June 10th, followed by Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition for the PSP system, which will be in stores in North America on June 28th.
In the fourth quarter, Rockstar is introducing an all new Grand Theft Auto title, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, exclusively for the PSP system. Returning to Liberty City, the setting of Grand Theft Auto 3, the title has an entirely original storyline with all new missions and the freedom, production value and depth of play comparable to other Grand Theft Auto titles.
Also planned for fourth quarter release is The Warriors, a new Rockstar title based on the Paramount Pictures feature film, and Bully, an original title that takes the Rockstar tradition of groundbreaking, innovative, original gameplay and humorous tongue-in-cheek storytelling to an entirely new setting - the schoolyard. Both titles will be released on PlayStation 2 and Xbox. Rockstar will also introduce Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for PlayStation 2 in Japan.
2K Games, 2K Sports and Global Star
2K Games' second quarter releases included Stronghold 2 for PC and Close Combat: First to Fight for Xbox and PC. 2K Sports released Major League Baseball 2K5 for PlayStation 2 and Xbox.
Products planned for third quarter release include Sid Meier's Pirates! for Xbox and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on multiple platforms.
Fourth quarter titles from 2K Games will include Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth for PlayStation 2 and Xbox; Shattered Union for Xbox and PC; Serious Sam 2 for Xbox and PC; Vietcong 2 on PC; and the North American releases of 24: The Game on PlayStation 2; and Conflict: Global Terror on multiple platforms.
2K Sports' fourth quarter releases will include World Poker Tour on multiple platforms; NBA 2K6 and NHL 2K6, both for PlayStation 2 and Xbox; and Top Spin for PlayStation 2.
Global Star's fourth quarter releases will include console titles for Codename: Kids Next Door and Dora the Explorer.
Jack of All Games
The Company's Jack of All Games distribution business realized an increase in sales primarily attributable to demand for Sony's newly released PSP system and related accessories, as well as increased console hardware availability.
Management Comments
Paul Eibeler, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We were pleased with the performance of our second quarter releases, as well as the continued success of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Additionally, having just returned from E3, we are excited about our future. Rockstar, 2K Games, 2K Sports and Global Star showcased a diverse assortment of over 25 games across all genres, platforms and demographic appeal to much critical and consumer acclaim."
Mr. Eibeler continued, "The powerful capabilities and functionality of next generation hardware demonstrated at E3 will enable us to further develop our content and enrich the game playing experience. With eight titles already announced for Xbox 360 and more in development for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and the PSP, along with our pipeline of products for the large installed base of current generation hardware, we are well on our way to sustaining a leadership position as we enter the next cycle."
Conference Call
Take-Two will host a conference call today at 4:30 pm Eastern Time to review its second quarter results and to discuss its outlook. A live webcast of the call is available by visiting http://ir.take2games.com and a replay will be available following the call at the same location.