L'éditeur de jeux vidéo Take-Two Interactive Software a annoncé jeudi une forte progression de ses bénéfices sur son deuxième trimestre clos le 30 avril, grâce notamment à sa franchise "Grand Theft Auto". En conséquence il a ajusté à la hausse ses prévisions de résultats pour l'ensemble de l'exercice.

Le groupe américain a réalisé un bénéfice net trimestriel de 15,2 millions de dollars, en augmentation de 58%, sur un chiffre d'affaires en progression de 14% à 170,3 millions.

Le bénéfice par action après dilution ressort à 36 cents, en hausse de 44% par rapport à celui de 25 cents affiché un an plus tôt, et supérieur d'un cent au consensus de Thomson First Call.

Sur les six premiers mois de l'exercice, le résultat net est en hausse de 48% à 65,7 millions de dollars et le chiffre d'affaires progresse de 33% à 453,3 millions.

Le bon deuxième trimestre a amené Take-Two à relever ses prévisions de résultats pour l'ensemble de l'exercice clos le 31 octobre, à 975 millions de dollars pour le chiffre d'affaires et à 2,28 dollars pour le bénéfice par action.

Video game publisher Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. on Thursday said quarterly earnings surged 58 percent on sales of its "Grand Theft Auto" franchises and other products. The company raised its outlook for the year, but its forecast for full-year and third-quarter revenues were below analysts' average estimates.

Take-Two also said Paul Eibeler, its president, will not return to the company after a medical leave that began in April. Eibeler, whose contract was set to expire this summer, had been president since July 2000.

Shares of Take-Two declined to $26.15 on Instinet in pre-market trade on Thursday, down from a close of $26.25 on Nasdaq on Wednesday.

For the fiscal second quarter ended April 30, New York-based Take-Two said profit rose to $15.2 million, or 36 cents per share, from $9.6 million, or 25 cents per share, a year earlier.

The average estimate of analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call was 35 cents a share.

Revenue rose 14 percent to $194.2 million from $170.3 million a year earlier. The First Call average estimate of analysts was for revenue of $191.2 million.

Take-Two raised its guidance for the full year to reflect the performance of the second quarter, saying it now expects net sales of $975 million and earnings per share of $2.28.

In February, Take-Two had forecast full-year earnings of $2.26 a share on revenue of $955.6 million.

For the third quarter ending July 31 it said it expects net sales of $142 million and earnings per share of 16 cents.

Analysts polled by First Call had on average expected earnings per share of 16 cents on net sales of $144.9 million in the quarter, and earnings per share of $2.28 on net sales of $980.6 million for the year.

Cash on the balance sheet rose to $188 million at quarter's-end, compared with $70 million a year earlier. Take-Two executives have said that it would be interested in acquiring more development studios and intellectual property.

Take-Two shares closed at $26.25 on Wednesday on Nasdaq. They are up about 12 percent for the year.