THQ trims Q1 loss

Despite a dip in revenue, the SmackDown! and Saints Row publisher cuts April-June shortfall to $9.3 million, reaffirms $1.15 billion full-year guidance, reconfirms new Red Faction.

When is a loss not a loss? Technically, never. However, when a company beats its own expectations by losing less money, it is considered a win of sorts, as THQ found out today. This morning, the Agoura Hills, California-based publisher posted a $9.3 million net loss ($0.14 cents a share) for the quarter months ending June 30. That's down from the $12.1 million ($0.19 per share) it lost during the same three months in 2006, and nearly half the $0.26 per share loss the company itself predicted.

THQ's net sales for the quarter were $104.5 million, down considerably from $138.8 million the previous year. The publisher's licensing deal with Disney/Pixar continued to pay off, with the multiplatform tie-in to the blockbuster film Ratatouille shipping over 1 million units since its June 26 release. Another Pixar-inspired game, last year's Cars, also sold well during the quarter, as the wrestler SmackDown! vs. RAW 2007

THQ's brief earnings overview emphasized the company was sticking with its guidance for the 2008 fiscal year. When the current quarter ends, the company believes it will have taken in net sales of around $240 million and net income of approximately $0.10 per share.

For the full fiscal year, which ends on March 31, 2008, the publisher expects net sales of between $1.12 billion to $1.15 billion and net income between $1.34 to $1.44 per share. In a postreport conference call, THQ president and CEO Brian J. Farrell told analysts that he expects five internally developed multiplatform titles to sell over 1 million units during FY08: Frontlines: Fuel of War, Stuntman Ignition, MX vs. ATV Untamed, Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights, and the latest Destroy All Humans! game.

Farrell also dated the highly anticipated Stuntman Ignition would ship on August 28 and the console actioner Conan would arrive earlier than expected in October. MX vs. ATV Untamed also moved ahead, shifting from a January to December release. In addition, he reconfirmed that THQ is resurrecting its popular Red Faction series, a fact first revealed back in February.

Unfortunately, THQ's optimism was not infectious on Wall Street. The publisher's stock was clobbered on Wall Street in early-morning trading, losing as much as $1.56 per share, or over 5 percent of its value. As of press time, it was trading at around $27.25 per share.

62 Comments

  • DHH34

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 12:32 pm PT

    gas balls
    i want to be level 10!!!

  • DHH34

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 12:31 pm PT

    gas balls
    i want to be level 10!!!

  • DHH34

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 12:30 pm PT

    shoit

  • DHH34

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 12:30 pm PT

    poop

  • felshs

    Posted Aug 22, 2007 10:28 am PT

    I DONT KNOW HOW THEY CAN LOSE MONEY
    THQ game are very enjoyable. Its not frustrating difficult like many other developer trying to make

  • GaMeWiZaRd93

    Posted Aug 19, 2007 11:32 pm PT

    I can't wait until this game comes out. This game is goin 2 be funny n great 2 play

  • Cono_2007

    Posted Aug 18, 2007 4:36 am PT

    I played Destory All Human's 1 and 2 and i think this will be way funnier then 1 and 2. Hope you can gets new power's and weapon's!

  • joe_998

    Posted Aug 13, 2007 5:24 pm PT

    When is anyone gonna put more pictures and gameplay movie of this game?????? I'm waiting!!

  • tatu2004

    Posted Aug 2, 2007 8:09 pm PT

    gamespot can you put Red faction 3 on the site so i can track the game plz

  • brokengammer

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 8:58 pm PT

    I agree with Agreb91 THQ has a lot out movie and tv show based games but there are some that are like dimonds in the ruff like company of Heroes and Supreme commander.

  • Agreb91

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 7:27 pm PT

    Right... THQ doesn't have a lot of good games because they have to many tv and movie based games.

  • DJSMITH007

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 6:46 pm PT

    THQ doesn't really have that many good games...Hope they bounce back though.

  • The_Tomato

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 6:26 pm PT

    They publish good RTS's, like supcom

  • limpbizkit818

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 6:12 pm PT

    Red- Faction = on of the best console FPS every game. It's up there with Halo.

  • DoctorFu

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 5:08 pm PT

    Ouch, that's pretty painful..

  • devil_1994

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 5:07 pm PT

    bigmouthkid said:I couldn't care less for Saints Row and Red Faction. I just want my Smackdown vs. Raw 2008.

    he** yeah

  • Pete5506

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 3:49 pm PT

    This is just the start for them

  • joey101010

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 2:15 pm PT

    I remember once in red faction 1, there was this maze thing where you had to go through a door, through a room, and through another door. I just blew a hole in the wall to my left and kept "digging" through until i was past the last door. So awesome.

  • guardianlegend7

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 2:05 pm PT

    Red Faction has that weird pro-communist storyline going on. WEIRD.

  • HK-47-M4

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 2:02 pm PT

    I hate THQ. Their games are awful....

  • edflam311

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 1:14 pm PT

    Red Faction 1 was an awesome game, anyone remember how innovative it was supposed to be with destructable surrondings? didn't quite fit the bill but was still amazing.

  • lamprey263

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 1:12 pm PT

    I want to see more Warhammer 40K from THQ, a PS3 and X360 port is long overdue for Dawn of War and its expansions.

  • bigmouthkid

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 12:54 pm PT

    I couldn't care less for Saints Row and Red Faction. I just want my Smackdown vs. Raw 2008.

  • _wrecks_

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 12:52 pm PT

    Nextgen RF = teh awesome

  • nobeaner

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 12:49 pm PT

    More Red Faction PLEASE! I just can't wait to see what can be done with all the new technology and the games design.

  • Pivotto

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 12:45 pm PT

    Red Faction 2 was great, I don't know what you're talking about.

    I sure hope the next one isn't bad, I really loved the series, a really interesting game. I loved being able to destroy the environments, and being able to blast through walls XD.

  • Spacehusky

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 12:40 pm PT

    Red Faction was awesome for its time. Red Faction 2 sucked big time. I hope it's not a pattern.

  • billysea

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 12:22 pm PT

    To be honest, in order for people to get excited in another FPS (after so many quality shooter showing at E3), Red Faction has to be announced for the Wii, or it will be buried in the mountain of FPSs out there.

    So many Wii owner are dying for a "good" (not all the crappy ones) FPS, and the Wii seems to be created for FPS, yet no developer is make one exclusive for the Wii. Just look at Red Steel, even with its crappy reviews it still sell like hotcakes. Imagine announcing an established quality IP FPS exclusive on the Wii - people will be all talking about it.

    Even if they can make Red Faction 3 as beautiful as Call of Duty 4, it will still sell average at best as there are Killzone 2, Unreal Tournament 3, Halo 3, Bioshock, Fear 2, Crysis, Orange Box etc waiting to be played. Some quality casualties I expected this year will be Medal of Honor Airborne, Turok and Haze.... yet the Wii has a huge open market for FPS but without a single one.

  • runstalker

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 12:19 pm PT

    "Sometimes is better to have a company that deals with billions with a little loss, than one that deals with millions with a little profit."

    Sound words.

  • evilziggy

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 12:16 pm PT

    Serves the jackholes right for not releasing the STALKER sdk yet.

  • currypowder69

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 12:01 pm PT

    Yes a new red faction the first was an awesome game for its time it was kind of like half life+black very cool game. And we need a console version of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. sweet game that console gamers deserve to play. And does anybody remember the FUSION ROCKET LAUNCHER!! probably one of the coolest weapons ever it was like a nuke rocket launcher simply amazing.

  • frankeyser

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 11:56 am PT

    red faction one was amazing! being able to shoot my way through a wall to cut through a level if i wanted. i mean game was amazing! red faction two was just not as fun. it was so mcuh less destructable than the first i did nto even play past the first boss. I dont care about a cut in graphics if they go back to where you dotn need keys if you dont want to find them! you just blow a hole in the door and move on! that is worth a cut in graphics!

  • conti027

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 11:39 am PT

    i loved red faction but i didnt care for the 2nd.

  • mhder

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 10:56 am PT

    Some of those release dates are mighty close to some other big names.. me thinks they might sell a little less than they expect. But I don't want to see anyone do too badly so.. here's hoping they turn a profit next quarter

  • Hokkie

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 10:41 am PT

    Red faction did amazing things for the generation it was in. Imagine the crazy things they'll pull off in this current gen! Saints Row 2 will be another great hit

  • FiZiKz19

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 10:32 am PT

    SAINTS ROW 2 plz...

  • miiiguel

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 10:26 am PT

    allthough a loss is allways a loss, cash-flow is a good thing. Sometimes is better to have a company that deals with billions with a little loss, than one that deals with millions with a little profit.

  • ekisom

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 10:15 am PT

    THQ makes lots of fun games! how could it be that they'r in the red? what are these guys doing with the money???

  • ftjx

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 10:04 am PT

    get the original S.T.A.L.K.E.R. dev team back and give them time to finish the game and release it for consoles. I'll buy two copies if you do so!!

  • Karmacodelc18

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 10:03 am PT

    Yay Red Faction! Keep the difficulty of the last two games do not make it easy like most games today are....

  • tatu2004

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 10:00 am PT

    it's a shame about the loss .. but i want to know more about Red Faction 3 can we track this game now here on gamespot..??

  • gozalo

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 9:57 am PT

    Woot Red Faction FTW

  • actr4evr93

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 9:55 am PT

    Yeah thq does make pretty good games red faction could help them.

  • imperial_agent

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 9:51 am PT

    Ratatouille and Cars were suprisingly fun games. Maybe if THQ makes all their Pixar-games fun, they'll even make a profit?

  • acecs1989

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 9:51 am PT

    I loved the old Red Faction, both 1 and 2! I am definitely looking forward to Red Faction 3. Hopefully it will have an awesome multiplayer.

  • vampiredust99

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 9:44 am PT

    New Red Faction = sweet. That is going to be awesome on the PS3 and 360.

  • ledgic_13

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 9:41 am PT

    please bring back red faction, that game as ahead of its time...
    red faction 3 with next gen graphics,plus physics,plus geo-mod= one bad ass awesome shooter that will allow you to blow up anything !!
    thq does us a favor and bring back red faction sooner than later.

  • Samfisher_1

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 9:39 am PT

    yay red faction!

  • willripyouanew1

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 9:38 am PT

    WWE 08 Will boost it up

  • mehoff88

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 9:38 am PT

    I agree with McnabbsPHIeagle

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