Activision Q2 earnings down 15 percent

Though its official earnings call isn't scheduled until November 6, Activision today reported its sales for its second fiscal quarter, which ended on September 30. Revenue for the quarter was $188.2 million, a 15 percent decline from the $222.5 million the company reaped during the same three-month period in 2005.

However, the $188.2 million was significantly above the $130 million quarterly earnings estimate Activision, which falls only behind Electronic Arts in the largest third-party publisher rankings, issued earlier in the year. It did not single out a specific title for praise but did say that "strong performance of the company's product portfolio, improving market conditions, and the strength of the company's distribution and affiliate businesses" prompted the revised figures.

For its full financial year, which ends June 30, 2007, the company now predicts that it will take in $1.15 billion, a marked increase from its previous prediction of $1.08 billion full-year income. However, a survey of analysts by the Associated Press was less optimistic, forecasting a 12-month haul of just $1.09 billion in revenue.

Though Activision's stock ended the day down $0.56 (3.78 percent) at $14.27 on the NASDAQ exchange, it rebounded in after hours trading. As of press time, the company's share price had risen an impressive $1.10 (7.71 percent) to $15.37.