Electronic Arts Inc. develops, markets, publishes, and delivers games, content, and services for game consoles, PCs, mobile phones, and tablets worldwide. It develops and publishes games and services across various genres, such as sports, racing, first-person shooter, action, role-playing, and simulation through owned and licensed brands, such as EA SPORTS FC, Battlefield, Apex Legends, The Sims, Madden NFL, Need for Speed, Titanfall, and F1 brands. The company licenses its games to third parties to distribute and host its games and content. It markets and sells its games and services through digital distribution and retail channels, as well as directly to mass market retailers, specialty stores, and distribution arrangements. Electronic Arts Inc. was incorporated in 1982 and is headquartered in Redwood City, California.

Electronic Arts Inc.

Electronic Arts EA is set to report second-quarter fiscal 2026 results on Oct. 28.
For second-quarter fiscal 2026, EA expects GAAP revenues between $1.75 billion and $1.85 billion and earnings per share in the range of 29 cents to 46 cents.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings has moved south by 1.6% to $1.27 per share in the past 30 days. The figure indicates a 40.93% decline from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.
The consensus mark for revenues is pegged at $1.86 billion, suggesting a 10.36% decrease from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.
The company’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters, while missing once, the average surprise being 47.33%.
Let’s see how things have shaped up for this announcement.
Electronic Arts Inc. Price and EPS Surprise
Factors to Consider
Electronic Arts anticipated net bookings between $1.8 billion and $1.9 billion for its second-quarter fiscal 2026, ending Sept. 30, 2025. The company expected a more normalized curve for College Football full game sales, partially offset by the launch of Madden NFL 26, with expectations that early momentum in Apex Legends and catalog would continue.
The American football ecosystem is expected to present an 8-point headwind year over year for the quarter, reflecting the challenging comparison against the exceptionally strong debut of College Football 25 in the prior year. EA SPORTS College Football 26 launched worldwide on July 10, 2025, while EA SPORTS Madden NFL 26 launched worldwide on Aug, 14, 2025, both falling within the fiscal second quarter period.
The guidance included a four-point year-over-year headwind related to the phasing of the EA SPORTS FC 26 Ultimate Edition content, which is expected to be largely recognized in the third quarter. EA SPORTS FC 26 released worldwide on Sept. 26, 2025, late in the fiscal second quarter, with early access beginning Sept. 19.
Apex Legends launched its Season 26: Showdown update on Aug. 5, 2025, introducing the new Wildcard mode, Legend Amps, Elite Weapons, and significant updates to Caustic and Bangalore. These content additions occurred during the fiscal second quarter and are expected to have aided continued engagement in the battle royale franchise in the to-be-reported quarter.
Operating expenses are expected to range between approximately $1.215 billion and $1.235 billion, with year-over-year growth largely driven by marketing related to upcoming launches, notably Battlefield 6. The elevated marketing spend reflected the company's strategic emphasis on building anticipation for the highly anticipated shooter franchise.
Management highlighted that College Football 26 was delivering strong competitive cohort retention and deeper engagement in Ultimate Team versus prior year life-to-date, suggesting healthy live services performance despite the normalized full game sales curve.
The combination of three major sports title launches within the quarter, coupled with live services momentum across multiple franchises, positioned the company's diverse portfolio to navigate the challenging year-over-year comparisons while maintaining engagement across its player base.
What Our Model Says
Per the Zacks model, the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. But that’s not the case.
EA currently has an Earnings ESP of -8.84% and carries a Zacks Rank #3. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Stocks to Consider
Here are some stocks in the Zacks worth considering, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this season.
Meta Platforms META has an Earnings ESP of +8.48% and sports a Zacks Rank #1 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Meta Platforms is slated to report third-quarter 2025 results on Oct. 29. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for META’s third-quarter 2025 earnings is pegged at $6.59 per share, up by a cent over the past seven days, indicating a rise of 9.3% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.
Reddit Inc. RDDT has an Earnings ESP of +20.17% and sports a Zacks Rank #1 at present.
It is set to report third-quarter 2025 results on Oct. 30. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RDDT’s third-quarter earnings is pegged at 52 cents per share, unchanged over the past 30 days, indicating an increase of 225% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.
Intel INTC has an Earnings ESP of +116.7% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present.
Intel is set to report third-quarter fiscal 2025 results on Oct. 23. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for INTC’s third-quarter fiscal 2025 earnings has remained unchanged at breakeven over the past 30 days, indicating a rise of 100% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.
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Electronic Arts to Report Q2 Earnings: What's in the Cards?

Wednesday, October 22, 2025
The Zacks Research Daily presents the best research output of our analyst team. Today's Research Daily features new research reports on 16 major stocks, including Oracle Corp. (ORCL), Toyota Motor Corp. (TM) and Morgan Stanley (MS). These research reports have been hand-picked from the roughly 70 reports published by our analyst team today.
You can see all of today’s research reports here >>>
Ahead of Wall Street
The daily 'Ahead of Wall Street' article is a must-read for all investors who would like to be ready for that day's trading action. The article comes out before the market opens, attempting to make sense of that morning's economic releases and how they will affect that day's market action. You can read this article for free on our home page and can actually sign up there to get an email notification as this article comes out each morning.
You can read today's AWS here >>> Q3 Earnings Bonanza Pulls a Flat Pre-Market: T, TMO, TSLA, etc.
Today's Featured Research Reports
Oracle’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Computer - Software industry over the year-to-date period (+66.9% vs. +20.8%). The company is benefiting from continued momentum from its Oracle Cloud Infrastructure business, including from winning cloud-computing contracts from AI-focused startups.
ORCL’s continued investment in cloud infrastructure, comprising NetSuite Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Fusion ERP, positions it well for sustained growth in the dynamic software industry. Its partnership with Amazon for Oracle Database@AWS and general availability of Oracle Database@Google bodes well. Oracle’s Gen 2 Cloud is driving artificial intelligence clientele. The company's share buybacks and dividend policy are noteworthy.
The Zacks analyst expects fiscal 2026 net sales to grow 15.8% from fiscal 2025. However, higher spending on product enhancements, toward the cloud platform amid increasing competition in the cloud domain is likely to limit margin expansion.
(You can read the full research report on Oracle here >>>)
Shares of Toyota have outperformed the Zacks Automotive - Foreign industry over the year-to-date period (+5.1% vs. +4.9%). The company’s sales are getting a boost from the surge in hybrid adoption. The RAV4 model, with hybrid variants that make up about half of Toyota’s sales, is America's top-selling SUV.
Toyota aims to lower hydrogen costs by promoting its use in commercial vehicles. It plans to sell its hydrogen-powered units externally, encouraging broader adoption beyond its own fleet. By increasing overall hydrogen demand, the company expects economies of scale to drive down production costs.
However, Toyota expects its operating income for fiscal 2026 to decline year over year due to material prices, the impact of the forex rate and tariffs imposed by the U.S. government on vehicle and vehicle parts imports. Pretax profit is also expected to decline. Thus, the stock warrants a cautious stance.
(You can read the full research report on Toyota here >>>)
Morgan Stanley’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Financial - Investment Bank industry over the year-to-date period (+28.8% vs. +28.7%). The company’s third-quarter 2025 results were aided by robust investment banking (“IB”) and trading performances. Morgan Stanley’s efforts to focus on wealth and asset management operations, inorganic expansion initiatives, and strategic alliances will keep aiding the top line.
The performance of the IB business is expected to be driven by a strong pipeline in the near term. However, expenses will remain elevated due to business expansion efforts. The uncertainty of the performance of the capital markets is a key near-term concern.
While trading revenues have been increasing, they are less likely to reach 2021 levels. Yet given a solid balance sheet, the company is expected to be able to enhance shareholder value through efficient capital distributions.
(You can read the full research report on Morgan Stanley here >>>)
Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include GSK plc (GSK), Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) and Franco-Nevada Corp. (FNV).
Mark Vickery
Senior Editor
Note: Sheraz Mian heads the Zacks Equity Research department and is a well-regarded expert of aggregate earnings. He is frequently quoted in the print and electronic media and publishes the weekly Earnings Trends and Earnings Preview reports. If you want an email notification each time Sheraz publishes a new article, please click here>>>
Today's Must Read
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Viking (VIK) Benefits From Fleet Expansion Efforts Amid High Debt
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Domino's (DPZ) Banks on Digital Initiatives, Macro Woes Ail
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QIAGEN (QGEN) Banks on Growth Pillars, Macro Woes Stay
The Zacks analyst is impressed with QIAGEN's strong momentum in QIAstat, a key growth pillar, thanks to solid instrument placements and worldwide demand. Yet, macroeconomic issues could hurt growth.
Kohl's (KSS) Partnership with Sephora to Boost Beauty Business
Per the Zacks analyst, Kohl's is gaining from its partnership with Sephora, which posted 3% net sales growth in second quarter. This keeps Kohl's on track to accomplish a $2 billion beauty business.
New Upgrades
Electronic Arts (EA) Banks on Strong Portfolio, User Addition
Per the Zacks Research analyst, expanding user base driven by strength in popular franchises including FIFA and Madden NFL is aiding Electronic Arts' top-line amid stiff competition.
Encompass Health (EHC) Strengthens Growth Through Expansion Efforts
Per the Zacks analyst, Encompass Health's expansion through de novo hospitals will drive patient volumes and profit levels.
Investments, Customer Growth Aid Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Per the Zacks analyst, Essential Utilities' (WTRG) $7.8 billion investment to fortify it water and natural gas infrastructure and demand from expanding customer base are going to boost its performance
New Downgrades
AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) Plagued by High Operating Costs, Margin Woes
Per the Zacks analyst, AST SpaceMobile is plagued by volatility in satellite material prices due to unfavorable macroeconomic conditions that increase its operating costs and reduce margins.
Lower IT Spending Likely to Hurt CyberArk's (CYBR) Prospects
Per the Zacks Analyst, CyberArk's growth prospects might be hurt by soft IT spending as organizations are pushing back their large IT investment plans amid the macroeconomic headwinds.
Rising Expenses and High Debt Ail Blue Owl Capital (OBDC)
Per the Zacks analyst, Blue Owl Capital's increasing costs will affect its margins. Moreover, a high debt level is expected to impact its financial flexibility.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Top Analyst Reports for Oracle, Toyota & Morgan Stanley

Shareholders of Electronic Arts, Inc. (Symbol: EA) looking to boost their income beyond the stock's 0.4% annualized dividend yield can sell the October covered call at the $205 strike and collect the premium based on the 10 cents bid, which annualizes to an additional 6.1% rate of return against the current stock price (at Stock Options Channel we call this the YieldBoost), for a total of 6.5% annualized rate in the scenario where the stock is not called away. Any upside above $205 would be lost if the stock rises there and is called away, but EA shares would have to climb 2.4% from current levels for that to occur, meaning that in the scenario where the stock is called, the shareholder has earned a 2.4% return from this trading level, in addition to any dividends collected before the stock was called.
In general, dividend amounts are not always predictable and tend to follow the ups and downs of profitability at each company. In the case of Electronic Arts, Inc., looking at the dividend history chart for EA below can help in judging whether the most recent dividend is likely to continue, and in turn whether it is a reasonable expectation to expect a 0.4% annualized dividend yield.
Below is a chart showing EA's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $205 strike highlighted in red:
The chart above, and the stock's historical volatility, can be a helpful guide in combination with fundamental analysis to judge whether selling the October covered call at the $205 strike gives good reward for the risk of having given away the upside beyond $205. (Do most options expire worthless? This and six other common options myths debunked). We calculate the trailing twelve month volatility for Electronic Arts, Inc. (considering the last 250 trading day closing values as well as today's price of $200.33) to be 34%. For other call options contract ideas at the various different available expirations, visit the EA Stock Options page of StockOptionsChannel.com.
In mid-afternoon trading on Tuesday, the put volume among S&P 500 components was 616,962 contracts, with call volume at 1.27M, for a put:call ratio of 0.48 so far for the day. Compared to the long-term median put:call ratio of .65, that represents very high call volume relative to puts; in other words, buyers are preferring calls in options trading so far today. Find out which 15 call and put options traders are talking about today.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

YieldBoost EA To 6.5% Using Options

Wall Street expects a year-over-year decline in earnings on lower revenues when Electronic Arts (EA) reports results for the quarter ended September 2025. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company's earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The earnings report, which is expected to be released on October 28, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While management's discussion of business conditions on theearnings callwill mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus Estimate
This video game maker is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.27 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -40.9%.
Revenues are expected to be $1.86 billion, down 10.4% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions Trend
The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.23% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Earnings Whisper
Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Electronic Arts?
For Electronic Arts, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -8.84%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #2.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Electronic Arts will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?
Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Electronic Arts would post earnings of $0.1 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.25, delivering a surprise of +150.00%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times.
Bottom Line
An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Electronic Arts doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
An Industry Player's Expected Results
Another stock from the Zacks Gaming industry, Boyd Gaming (BYD), is soon expected to post earnings of $1.55 per share for the quarter ended September 2025. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +2%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $865.81 million, down 9.9% from the year-ago quarter.
Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for Boyd has been revised 1.1% up to the current level. Nevertheless, the company now has an Earnings ESP of +1.25%, reflecting a higher Most Accurate Estimate.
This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), suggests that Boyd will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate. The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
Should You Invest in Electronic Arts Inc. (EA)?
Before you invest in Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), want to know the best stocks to buy for the next 30 days? Check out Zacks Investment Research for our free report on the 7 best stocks to buy.
Zacks Investment Research has been committed to providing investors with tools and independent research since 1978. For more than a quarter century, the Zacks Rank stock-rating system has more than doubled the S&P 500 with an average gain of +24.08% per year. (These returns cover a period from January 1, 1988 through May 6, 2024.)
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Earnings Preview: Electronic Arts (EA) Q2 Earnings Expected to Decline

Fintel reports that on October 20, 2025, Morgan Stanley maintained coverage of Electronic Arts (NasdaqGS:EA) with a Equal-Weight recommendation.
Analyst Price Forecast Suggests 11.64% Downside
As of September 29, 2025, the average one-year price target for Electronic Arts is $177.25/share. The forecasts range from a low of $128.27 to a high of $220.50. The average price target represents a decrease of 11.64% from its latest reported closing price of $200.59 / share.
See our leaderboard of companies with the largest price target upside.
The projected annual revenue for Electronic Arts is 9,204MM, an increase of 23.15%. The projected annual non-GAAP EPS is 9.45.
What is the Fund Sentiment?
There are 2,008 funds or institutions reporting positions in Electronic Arts. This is an increase of 4 owner(s) or 0.20% in the last quarter. Average portfolio weight of all funds dedicated to EA is 0.27%, an increase of 9.67%. Total shares owned by institutions decreased in the last three months by 1.65% to 281,915K shares. The put/call ratio of EA is 0.55, indicating a bullish outlook.
What are Other Shareholders Doing?
Public Investment Fund holds 24,808K shares representing 9.95% ownership of the company. No change in the last quarter.
Capital International Investors holds 11,797K shares representing 4.73% ownership of the company. In its prior filing, the firm reported owning 11,588K shares , representing an increase of 1.77%. The firm decreased its portfolio allocation in EA by 1.48% over the last quarter.
VTSMX - Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Investor Shares holds 8,057K shares representing 3.23% ownership of the company. In its prior filing, the firm reported owning 8,232K shares , representing a decrease of 2.18%. The firm decreased its portfolio allocation in EA by 3.51% over the last quarter.
XLC - The Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund holds 7,035K shares representing 2.82% ownership of the company. In its prior filing, the firm reported owning 6,701K shares , representing an increase of 4.75%. The firm decreased its portfolio allocation in EA by 2.03% over the last quarter.
Geode Capital Management holds 6,644K shares representing 2.66% ownership of the company. In its prior filing, the firm reported owning 6,749K shares , representing a decrease of 1.58%. The firm decreased its portfolio allocation in EA by 3.10% over the last quarter.
Fintel is one of the most comprehensive investing research platforms available to individual investors, traders, financial advisors, and small hedge funds.
Our data covers the world, and includes fundamentals, analyst reports, ownership data and fund sentiment, options sentiment, insider trading, options flow, unusual options trades, and much more. Additionally, our exclusive stock picks are powered by advanced, backtested quantitative models for improved profits.
This story originally appeared on Fintel.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Morgan Stanley Maintains Electronic Arts (EA) Equal-Weight Recommendation

Key Points
Target (TGT) continues to be the subject of takeover rumors.
It's plausable that private equity firms could acquire the undervalued discount retailer.
However, I would approach Target as a buy-and-hold investment, not as a takeover trade.
Target (NYSE: TGT) is once again the subject of takeover rumors. Negative sentiment and both company- and macro-specific factors have pushed the discount retailer's stock over 35% year to date. According to analysts at D.A. Davidson, this means that the stock has fallen to such a low price that a leveraged buyout of the company could prove very profitable.
This latest report gives further credence to the idea that Target is a viable "target" of private equity, despite its massive size compared to the mid-cap and small-cap companies private equity firms typically acquire.
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Nevertheless, I wouldn't buy Target solely as a takeover play. Rather, a buy-and-hold strategy may be the best approach. Why? Takeover rumors could continue to come and go, but over an extended time frame, this stock could experience strong gains, if and when investor sentiment shifts back to positive.
Target is a logical private equity target
Make no mistake: if private equity took Target private, it would be a record-setting deal for the industry. Target's market cap currently stands at around $40 billion. Combined with net debt and lease liabilities, the company's enterprise value comes out to $56.3 billion.
A private equity buyer, or most likely a consortium of buyers, would also have to offer a takeover premium to secure the deal. Add it all together, and the acquisition price would likely exceed $60 billion. That's more than what's currently set to become the largest private equity deal of all time, the pending $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) by a consortium of private equity firms and large investors.
Still, given the billions in dry powder, or uninvested cash, many major private equity firms are sitting on, it's not outside the realm of possibility that they could join forces to purchase Target in a leveraged buyout transaction. Add in how other old-school retailers, like Nordstrom, have gone private in recent years, and the prospect of a takeover appears much less like wishful thinking on the part of speculators.
Again, though, buying Target on takeover potential is likely not a surefire strategy to profit. Predicting a takeover is more a game of luck than a game of skill. Instead of speculating that this company could be acquired at a 20% or more premium in the near term, it's likely best to view this stock as a long-term play.
The long-term view
The aforementioned D.A. Davidson analyst report gives Target's stock a $108-per-share price target. This amount, around 23.6% above the current stock price on October 14, represents the amount the sell-side research firm believes the company could fetch in a private equity takeover.
Yet while it may seem tempting to "bottom-fish" in Target shares, buying after the big sell-off, only to quickly profit once the private equity bid comes in, there are more ways this trade could blow up rather than lift off. In the next few months, the stock could remain subject to negative volatility.
Next month, Target will release its next quarterly earnings. The same combination of disappointment with fiscal results and negative sentiment surrounding issues like poor customer service and public relations missteps could send the stock to even lower prices. In turn, private equity could arrive, but offer a far less impressive bid.
Moreover, while a private equity takeout is possible, is it probable? Existing shareholders and management may prefer to see Target go it alone in a turnaround, enabling all investors to benefit from the potential rebound -- mainly because said rebound could send the stock to levels well above D.A. Davidson's price target.
Should you buy Target today?
Over the next few years, macro issues like tariffs and inflation could normalize. Past controversy will retreat into the rearview mirror. Target's management could make serious headway restoring its reputation among investors and the general public alike.
These efforts could have only a modest impact on earnings, yet result in significant price appreciation. Right now, the stock trades at a forward price-to-earnings (forward P/E) ratio of just 11. In recent years, shares have often traded at an earnings multiple in the mid- to high-teens.
Better yet, it's not as if you'll be sitting on zero return waiting for better times to take shape. Target, a Dividend King with over 50 years of consecutive annual dividend growth, is a "get paid while you wait" type opportunity with its current 5.33% forward dividend yield. Takeover rumors may have placed Target back on your radar, but the patient approach may be the better course of action here.
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Thomas Niel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Target. The Motley Fool recommends Electronic Arts. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Could This Big Box Retailer Be Private Equity's Next Target?

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the Fidelity Enhanced Mid Cap ETF (Symbol: FMDE) where we have detected an approximate $212.2 million dollar inflow -- that's a 5.9% increase week over week in outstanding units (from 101,700,000 to 107,700,000). Among the largest underlying components of FMDE, in trading today Bank of New York Mellon Corp (Symbol: BK) is up about 0.8%, Howmet Aerospace Inc (Symbol: HWM) is up about 0.1%, and Electronic Arts, Inc. (Symbol: EA) is relatively unchanged. For a complete list of holdings, visit the FMDE Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of FMDE, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, FMDE's low point in its 52 week range is $26.9275 per share, with $36.5999 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $35.34. Comparing the most recent share price to the 200 day moving average can also be a useful technical analysis technique -- learn more about the 200 day moving average ».
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) trade just like stocks, but instead of ''shares'' investors are actually buying and selling ''units''. These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand. Each week we monitor the week-over-week change in shares outstanding data, to keep a lookout for those ETFs experiencing notable inflows (many new units created) or outflows (many old units destroyed). Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Notable ETF Inflow Detected - FMDE, BK, HWM, EA

Key Points
Take-Two's upcoming new release in the "Grand Theft Auto" series should drive record financial results.
Spotify's artificial intelligence (AI)-powered features are bolstering its growth prospects.
The best growth stocks are often those companies that continue to release more and better products over time. This is the basic formula that fuels more growth for the business and higher share prices over time.
The following two companies are executing on this simple strategy to create wealth for their shareholders. These stocks have outperformed the S&P 500 over the last year and still offer attractive long-term return prospects.
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1. Take-Two Interactive
Some of the most sophisticated investors in the world are taking an interest in leading video game companies. In 2023, Microsoft bought out Activision Blizzard for $75 billion, and just recently, an investor consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners announced a $55 billion deal to acquire Electronic Arts.
Take-Two Interactive (NASDAQ: TTWO) is the last one standing of the big three U.S.-based video game companies. After rising 70% over the last year, Take-Two's market cap is currently $47 billion. It should be of interest to the smart money, as it owns one of the most valuable entertainment properties with the Grand Theft Auto franchise, among other titles for console, PC, and mobile platforms. Grand Theft Auto V has sold over 215 million copies since its launch in 2013. Next year's release of Grand Theft Auto VI is a major catalyst for Take-Two that should sustain its momentum and drive record financial results through the end of the decade.
Top game companies are valuable because they have highly engaged player bases, not to mention that video games are the largest entertainment industry. Analysts expect Take-Two to generate $6.1 billion in bookings, or non-GAAP revenue, for fiscal 2026 (which ends in March). By fiscal 2028, the consensus estimate calls for earnings per share to reach $10.26, which is three times Take-Two's expected earnings this year.
In the most recent quarter, Take-Two's net bookings grew 17% year over year to $1.4 billion. The most telling feature of Take-Two's business that makes it a solid investment is the growth of in-game spending, or recurrent consumer spending. This line item grew 17% year over year and totaled 83% of Take-Two's total bookings in the quarter.
In-game spending on virtual currency and other digitally delivered content is high-margin revenue. It is also a good indicator of how deeply engaged players are with Take-Two's biggest games like Grand Theft Auto. There is tremendous anticipation for the next installment, with the launch of the official trailer breaking viewing records earlier this year on YouTube.
Grand Theft Auto VI is set to release on May 26, 2026. Analysts expect bookings to hit $9.1 billion in fiscal 2027, which will create a new plateau of earnings power for Take-Two that should support market-beating returns for investors.
2. Spotify Technology
Shares of leading music streamer Spotify Technology (NYSE: SPOT) have soared 90% over the last year supported by strong user growth and financials. Spotify may not have a monster near-term catalyst like Take-Two, but the reason the stock could hit new highs is how it is using artificial intelligence (AI) to drive higher engagement with its user base.
Spotify's monthly active users have increased from 433 million in Q2 2022 to 696 million in Q2 2025. It's become a large entertainment platform, and while management is aiming to reach 1 billion users, its ability to expand margins through premium services powered by AI makes it a compelling stock to buy for the long term.
Spotify's AI DJ feature, which curates a personalized playlist for each user, requires a premium subscription to access it. This has been a very popular feature for Spotify, contributing to more users signing up for premium subscription plans. Premium subscriptions drive most of the company's revenue, with advertising making up a small portion of the top line.
Spotify is essentially turning into a generative AI-powered service that offers a high degree of personalization. Engagement with AI DJ has nearly doubled over the last year, but Spotify's new Create feature, where users can chat with the AI and provide specific instructions on what they want to listen to, could drive significant growth in premium subscriptions in the coming years, which would be beneficial to margins and earnings growth.
Spotify reported a 53% year-over-year increase in operating profit last quarter. Analysts are expecting the company's earnings per share to grow at an annualized rate of 33% in the coming years. This is enough earnings growth to potentially double the share price to around $1,400 within the next three to five years.
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John Ballard has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Microsoft, Spotify Technology, and Take-Two Interactive Software. The Motley Fool recommends Electronic Arts and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

2 Brilliant Growth Stocks to Buy in October

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the The Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (Symbol: XLC) where we have detected an approximate $436.7 million dollar inflow -- that's a 1.6% increase week over week in outstanding units (from 228,300,000 to 232,050,000). Among the largest underlying components of XLC, in trading today Warner Bros Discovery Inc (Symbol: WBD) is up about 1%, Verizon Communications Inc (Symbol: VZ) is up about 0.5%, and Electronic Arts, Inc. (Symbol: EA) is relatively unchanged. For a complete list of holdings, visit the XLC Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of XLC, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, XLC's low point in its 52 week range is $84.02 per share, with $119.55 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $116.29. Comparing the most recent share price to the 200 day moving average can also be a useful technical analysis technique -- learn more about the 200 day moving average ».
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) trade just like stocks, but instead of ''shares'' investors are actually buying and selling ''units''. These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand. Each week we monitor the week-over-week change in shares outstanding data, to keep a lookout for those ETFs experiencing notable inflows (many new units created) or outflows (many old units destroyed). Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs.
Also see:
DAX Options Chain
JD Dividend History
AMG YTD Return
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Notable ETF Inflow Detected - XLC, WBD, VZ, EA

Roblox Corporation RBLX is leaning heavily on international expansion as a growth engine, with Asia-Pacific (APAC) standing out as the fastest-growing region in the second quarter of 2025.
The platform’s global daily active users (DAUs) increased 41% year over year to 111.8 million, while APAC DAUs increased 76%. Bookings in the region mirrored this momentum, rising 75% year over year, fueled by sharp gains in Indonesia (up 150%), Korea (120%) and India (90%). This acceleration highlights the scalability of Roblox’s model in mobile-first, underpenetrated markets where infrastructure and localization improvements are unlocking new audiences.
Management credited the surge to targeted investments, including expanded server capacity in Singapore and enhanced translation tools, both of which improved user experience and product quality across the region. The demographic shift also adds to the growth story as engagement hours among users over 13 climbed 72% globally. Management also acknowledged the higher monetization among older users.
With Roblox reiterating its ambition to capture 10% of the $180 billion global gaming content market, APAC expansion is shaping up as more than a regional success — it is emerging as a structural catalyst. Sustained momentum across high-growth markets positions the company to diversify its user base, deepen engagement, and scale monetization beyond its core geographies.
Peer Comparison
Industry peers are also executing region-focused strategies to capture growth outside traditional markets.
Unity Software Inc. U described itself as the foundational operating system for real-time 3D development, emphasizing its ability to support creators across the ecosystem. Management highlighted strong traction in China, which it identified as the world’s largest gaming market, and pointed to its multiyear partnership with Tencent. Unity further stated it is the only engine capable of supporting the full development cycle within China, underscoring how infrastructure and localization capabilities can drive monetization on a global scale.
Electronic Arts Inc. EA spotlighted the performance of its flagship franchises as a lever for international expansion. Management called out record results for FC Mobile and emphasized efforts to increase regional efficiency by unifying Southeast Asia under a single SKU. This initiative streamlines operations and enables hyper-localized content delivery, extending EA’s reach to new audiences while reinforcing engagement within its existing communities.
Taken together, these strategies illustrate that international growth is becoming central across the interactive entertainment landscape. Roblox’s server and translation investments in APAC, Unity’s localization footprint in China, and EA’s franchise-led regional initiatives all point to a broader industry trend: geographic scale is fast emerging as a catalyst for sustained growth and monetization.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

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