EA beats estimates, turns profit, as sales fall slightly

Electronic Arts beat Wall Street estimates handily in its latest quarter, the three month period ended September 30, 2015.

Revenue was $1.14 billion for the period, against the company's guidance of $1.08 billion; analyst estimates averaged $1.1 billion. The company posted net income of $212 million for the quarter.

Earnings per share beat the analyst estimates: 65 cents vs. an estimate of 45 cents, which usually makes Wall Street happy -- yet the company's stock was slightly down in after-hours trading, as of this writing.

That may be because EA's packaged and digital revenue both fell slightly year-on-year, when looking at GAAP numbers: digital was $502 million, as compared to $508 million a year prior; packaged games sunk to $313 million, compared to $482 million a year ago.

Still, the company is raising its full-year outlook to $4.5 billion -- up $50 million from its prior estimate, with titles like Star Wars Battlefront and a new Need For Speed close to release.

The company said it is so far the number one publisher on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in 2015, thanks chiefly to the popularity of its latest Madden and FIFA titles.