WWE on Thursday beat "analyst expectations," posting a Q4 revenue gain of 19%, according to Richard Morgan of the N.Y. POST. WWE posted sales of $140.5M, with a "net loss of 2 cents per share, improving on the net loss of 10 cents" in '13 Q4. While the over-the-top WWE Network "did send PPV revenue into a tailspin" -- to $3.9M from $16.6M in '13 -- WWE Network "more than made up for the decline by generating sales" of $23.3M (N.Y. POST, 2/13). VARIETY's Marc Graser noted for the full year, revenues rose to $542.6M from $508M, although the company "was forced to report a net loss" of $30.1M after net income of $2.8M in '13. The loss signals "just how much of a hit WWE has taken to launch the WWE Network last year." But the Q4 figures "should have WWE’s investors breathing a little easier." Subscriptions for WWE Network "are on the rise as the network rolls out in more foreign territories, and experiments to increase figures have paid off through the offer of free months to viewers who want to sample the service" (VARIETY.com, 2/12). At presstime, shares of WWE were trading at $16.20, up 1.84% from the close of business Thursday (THE DAILY).
