DreamWorks Animation earnings jump 73% in the second quarter

With the help of some cavemen, DreamWorks Animation delivered stronger than anticipated profits in the second quarter.

The Glendale-based company reported net income of $22.2 million, or $0.26 a share, on revenues of $213.4 million during the quarter ended June 30.

That’s well above the net income of $12.8 million, or $0.15 per share, and revenue of $162.8 million, during the same period a year ago.

The results easily exceeded the 20 cents a share estimate analysts had predicted for the company.

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“DreamWorks Animation significantly outperformed in the second quarter, thanks primarily to ‘The Croods’’ incredibly successful box office run, where it has amassed $584 million worldwide to become the fifth-highest-grossing movie of the year,� said Jeffrey Katzenberg, chief executive of DreamWorks Animation.

“We also have a great deal of momentum within our television, consumer products and location-based entertainment businesses today, as DreamWorks Animation continues to diversify and evolve into a branded family entertainment company,� Katzenberg added in a statement.

“The Croods,� released March 22, has reached $186.4 million at the domestic box office and $397.5 million at the international box office for a worldwide gross of $583.9 million to date. “The Croods� contributed $71.8 million of revenue to the quarter.

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“Rise of the Guardians� contributed $16.7 million of revenue to the quarter, primarily from home entertainment.

DreamWorks shares closed at $24.76, up about 2%.
The company’s shares took a hit earlier this month after the poor debut of the studio’s most recent movie, “Turbo,� which brought in just $21.5 million over its first weekend in release. Some analysts have predicted the company could be forced to take a write-down on the movie.

Piper Jaffray analyst James Marsh said the film’s poor box office performance could result in a write-down of $30 million to $50 million.

DreamWorks took an $87-million write-down in February for the holiday movie “Rise of the Guardians.�

Doug Creutz, an analyst at Cowen & Co., said that “Turbo,� which cost $127 million to make, is unlikely to “turn a significant profit.� But he noted the film could perform better overseas and that DreamWorks is unlikely to take a write-down on the film.

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