Investopedia: Corruption And Scandal Don't Make News Corp A Bargain

One of the golden rules of dealing with the media is to "control the message". Given the increasing furor over the conduct of News Corp (NYSE:NWS) in a phone-hacking scandal in the U.K. and the calls for the company to be prosecuted (or at least investigated) under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, News Corp is clearly failing in that regard. While some investors may be attracted to the stock given its declines in the wake of the scandal and the theory that it is too big to fail, caution may be the better part of valor today. (For a couple of strategies to over come this scandal, read Crisis Management Strategies For Business Owners.)

An Ugly Action Kills a Paper  
Even by the iffy standards of British tabloid journalism, News Corp's News of the World always walked a gray line when it came to scandal and controversy. Going a step way too far, though, several of the paper's employees have been accused of hacking into private citizen's phones and intercepting voice mails, including those of the families of dead soldiers and those who lost family members in the 2005 terrorist bombings. 


The full story can be found at Investopedia:
http://stocks.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2011/Corruption-And-Scandal-Dont-Make-News-Corp-A-Bargain-NWS-LBTYA-CBS-VIA-DIS0718.aspx

Investopedia: Is Habro A Proto-Disney?

Game and toy maker Hasbro (Nasdaq:HAS) is coming off of what largely looks like a lost decade. Through 2010, the company saw compound revenue growth of less than 4% and negative growth in free cash flow. Keep in mind that period includes the regular production of new customers (children), several acquisitions and the launch of toy-centric movies like the latest round of "Star Wars". 

That said, Hasbro seems to be getting its act together. The toy and game business is looking a little better, and the company's efforts in media (TV and film) could pay off in the long run. Still, toys and children's entertainment is a fiercely competitive business and there is no telling whether Hasbro will draw little kiddies' interest - and their parents' money - over the likes of Mattel (Nasdaq:MAT), Disney (NYSE:DIS) and other competitors. (For more on Hasbro, check out Despite Down Quarter, Hasbro Plays Well.)

A Mixed Quarter With Some Questions 

Hasbro offered up a mixed bag of results for the first quarter, which was reported April 14. Revenue was not bad, and performance was basically the same as last year, although it snuck above the average estimate. Interestingly, there was a fairly wide range of estimates going into this quarter and that often correlates with above-average volatility.

Still, there are some questions in that top-line result. Games/puzzles, along with toys for girls and preschoolers, were all down by double-digit percentages; meanwhile, tous for boys were up 25%. That suggests that Hasbro loaded the channel this quarter - perhaps banking on upcoming movie tie-ins to "Transformers", "Thor and "Captain America". If these movies perform well at the box office and there's good sell-through, that's fine ... but if the movies (or toys) falter, that could sour the whole year for Hasbro.

To read the full piece, please click the link:
http://stocks.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2011/Is-Hasbro-A-Proto-Disney-HAS-MAT-DIS-DISCA-JAKK-LF-TWX0419.aspx