SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2003 5:04 PM
- Reuters U.S. Company News
NEW YORK, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Shares of comic book publisher Marvel Enterprises Inc. have enjoyed a strong ascent this year on movies popularizing the X-Men and its other characters, but may be in for a letdown as earnings are expected to drop in 2005, said a report in Barron's.
About 7.6 million of Marvel's (MVL) 72 million shares outstanding have been sold short, according to the article in the latest edition of Barron's.
Earnings per share are expected to be $1.46 next year, according to research firm Thomson First Call. But EPS is likely to fall to 98 cents in 2005, said Mark Roberts, director of research at Off Wall Street Consulting Group of Cambridge, Massachusetts, who was quoted by Barron's.
Next year's release of the movie "Spider-Man 2" might not generate as much interest as the original, according to analysts and others who are bearish on Marvel's prospects, Barron's said... |
