Viacom -- (VIA/A) and (VIA/B) or
(VIA)
collectively -- the cable television and filmed entertainment company still under the control of Sumner Redstone, is expected to release its first-quarter results and conduct its quarterly conference call before the market opens Friday. Viacom is expected to earn 41 cents on revenues of $2.97 billion. In the year-ago quarter, it earned 34 cents on sales of $2.75 billion.
The ever-expanding use of high-definition sets in homes and businesses across the country will help the cable division. While the MTV and VH1 brands appear to be in decline, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central remain strong, with a lineup of staple cartoons and shows like The Daily Show and the Colbert Report.
The Filmed Entertainment division is going to have to rely on recent releases and DVD sales to bolster its returns. Recent releases of titles like Sweeney Todd, Transformers, Shrek The Third and Bee Movie, some of which were produced in conjunction with Dreamworks
(DWA)
have proven successful. The real key for this division will be its lineup of summer releases from Memorial Day to Labor Day. More color will be provided to that extent on the conference call.
At the time of publication, Rothbort had no positions in any of the stocks mentioned, although positions can change at any time.
Scott Rothbort has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. In 2002, Rothbort founded LakeView Asset Management, LLC, a registered investment advisor based in Millburn, N.J., which offers customized individually managed separate accounts, including proprietary long/short strategies to its high net worth clientele. He also is the founder and manager of the social networking educational Web site TheFinanceProfessor.com.
Immediately prior to that, Rothbort worked at Merrill Lynch for 10 years, where he was instrumental in building the global equity derivative business and managed the global equity swap business from its inception. Rothbort previously held international assignments in Tokyo, Hong Kong and London while working for Morgan Stanley and County NatWest Securities.
Rothbort holds an MBA in finance and international business from the Stern School of Business of New York University and a BS in economics and accounting from the Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania. He is a Term Professor of Finance and the Chief Market Strategist for the Stillman School of Business of Seton Hall University.
For more information about Scott Rothbort and LakeView Asset Management, LLC, visit the company's Web site at www.lakeviewasset.com. Scott appreciates your feedback; click here to send him an email.
