Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. (USA) (NYSE:LGF)

Sure, this could be a market killer. I just hate businesses that have to lay out a fortune. Work their living arses off. Then pray and pray and pray.

Another one I should have moved on a week or two ago, but I was waiting to see if the market would pull back a bit. I think Hunger Games will be a big money maker for the stock and the Summit acquisition makes sense.

The Hunger Games.

700 Million on the Hunger Games. Just a gut feeling it does not payoff. That title is crap and the subject seems too dark for massive blockbuster to me. I have no interest at all in investing in any company that has to spend this kind of dough to make money.

The Hunger Games, with its phenomenal following as a bestseller, is poised to be the next big movie franchise with its upcoming trilogy. This alone will put LGF in the spotlight. And the upcoming Expendables 2 will only brighten the shine. In addition, Lionsgate has a formidable film and television library that is going to put them in a great position for business from all the cable and streaming suitors that are already coming to court (just look at NFLX ponying up $1 million per episode for Mad Men). With strong box office plus licensing earnings, would love to see LGF double by mid 2012.

LEAP

just a hunch

Building a portfolio of good entertainment products

Great co., held down by Icahn temporarily

Everyone keeps bashing LGF and its management but the reality is that LGF went from a producer of straight to video smut to becoming a mainstream provider of feature films in the theatrical marketplace. Sure it had its misses, but I think if LGF decides to expand into more event films like Summit did with Twilight and start modeling its output to fill a void that a lot of studios opened, then I think this is one media company that can stand alone and grow exponentially. Further, it has a huge huge library of titles and when VOD becomes even more mainstream where the net and cable are integrated, there will be much more ancillary revenue streams for LGF. And lots also not forget that they are in bed with the government of Quebec that co-finances some of their film and tv programming

Noci
http://www.noci.com

Management is completely inept. They should be glad that a buyer is willing to acquire them and their tired, nonperforming assets. I don't know where they get the idea that their business is worth significantly more when it seems to me like they're already significantly overvalued. Lionsgate is not an innovator and they have no real franchises to speak of. They're one of those afterthought studios that people only approach to distribute borderline B-grade movies like The Expendables. Because of this, they have a sizable catalog of cult hits that look good on paper but almost always bomb at the box office (i.e. Kick-Ass) or get milked to death and back (i.e. Saw 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13). If LGF does get bought out it'll probably be in the $7-7.50 range but if not this thing has a long way to fall.

Carl I cahn fighting to get control

Lions Gate will be making The Hungar Games, the first of a trilogy by Suzanne Collins. These books are targeted to young adults and are published through Scholastic which markets well to this population. With the box office success of young adult book series to movies, Lions Gate could have stumbled upon a series that propels them beyond niche targeted movies.
The success of Precious, buying interest from Icahn, and acquisition speculation is also helping the stock price of late.

0.6

Well, duh. Stock belongs over $10. Trading at $5. Once the dust settles w/ big holders' loading up portfolios on the cheap, should take off fast.

Misunderstood, underappreciated diversified media company. Growing rapidly, succeeding across multiple venues, and yet still trading priced as though its success were at all dependent on the success/failure of the Saw franchise. Major turnaround in cost control in recent quarters, while maintaining high level of investment in expansion & growth. About to break out with a vengeance. Also, possible acquisition target.

LGF has some real potential, and their issues are often pointed towards the management, so perhaps this can be fixed.

LGF realeases a lot of interesting movies that usually are targeted at specific groups, and specific genres. It's easy to see that they have success with a lot of these films, and hopefully at some point they get their game together. I think as they go along on a successful path they will realize they really need to step their game up.

The best entertainment coming out of LGF is the Icahn gambit. Even his old cronies are in. As long as these boys are buying up the shares, you can be sure it's headed to a new high soon. Several months may be a bit soon, but it's coming. Disclosure: griffinfinity put his money where his mouth is and actually holds shares.

I've used Lion's Gate Films as a Caps Pick previously and still like them, even w/ the recently lowered '09 earnings revisions. LGF not only produces numerous lower-budget films for both the theater and direct-to-DVD releases, but also has an extensive DVD/Video library. The ongoing economic recession, with an continued move towards "escapism" entertainment can only help LGF in the long term. Even w/ the recent disappointments of their higher profile 'Transporter 3' and 'The Spirit' films, I'd still hope for a good turn around during the summer movie season for this one. Being a bit of a bargain at under $4 currently, I feel that LGF will be a strong long term play in the 18-24mo. range.