Blockbuster Managing Earnings (BBI)

Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI) managed to beat earnings expectations this morning.  The company posted $0.20 EPS on a 5.4% revenue decrease to $1.39 Billion.  First Call had estimates at $0.15 EPS on $1.44 Billion in revenues.

Operating income was $70.2 million.  The company's same store sales rose 2.9%, but this was on a smaller number of stores.  The company also noted that BLOCKBUSTER Total Access(TM), its subscription rental offering, is now profitable and positioned for growth.

Here were some balance sheet highlights:
Cash and cash equivalents             $137.7
Merchandise inventories                 $397.4
Rental library                                 $444.8
Accounts payable                          $453.8
Total debt (w/ capital lease
     obligations)                               $751.4

Blockbuster shares are up 10% pre-market at $3.40; its 52-week trading range is $2.52 to $5.80.

Jon C. Ogg
May 15, 2008

Jon Ogg produces and edits the "10 Stocks Under $10" newsletter and he does not own securities in the companies he covers.