GameStop Gains on Takeover Rumors

Stock quotes in this article:GME 

(GameStop article updated with analyst commentary.)

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- GameStop(GME) is spiking on rumors that it may be acquired.

The video game retailer is climbing 5.6% to $19.31 in afternoon trading as investors mull the probability of it being taken over by a private equity group.

"The company generates strong free cash flow and is not getting respect as a public company," Sterne, Agee & Leach analyst Arvind Bhatia says. Thus, a takeover by a private equity firm, according to Bhatia, would make sense.

In the past there has been speculation that GameStop would be subject to a strategic takeover by a company like Best Buy(BBY). But Bhatia does not think this chatter will resurface.

GameStop declined to comment on the rumors.

This comes ahead of GameStop's fourth-quarter earnings report, which is due out on March 18.

Industry video game sales, compiled by market research firm NPD, will be released after-market today.

-- Reported by Jeanine Poggi in New York.

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