For Immediate Release
 
Chicago, IL – April 27, 2015 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include the Walt Disney Company (DIS), Comcast Corp. (CMCSA), Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc. (FOXA) and Time Warner Inc. (TWX).
                    
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Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:                             

Will “Avengers 2” Live Up to Disney’s Expectations?
 
The Walt Disney Company’s (DIS) much awaited Avengers: Age of Ultron is finally out in theatres.

With first day box office collection of $9.5 million, Avengers 2 is off to a flying start. The movie was released in 11 foreign territories and managed to open at the no. 1 slot almost everywhere. As per sources, France topped the list with collection of $2.7 million followed by Philippines where the movie grossed an all-time high of $1.6 million. In Taiwan and Italy, collections were an impressive $1.5 million and $1.1 million, respectively, whereas Indonesia and other markets contributed $2.6 million.

Also, it will release in nearly 55% of the overseas markets including India, South Korea, UK, Brazil, Australia, Russia, Germany and Argentina this week and is expected to earn over $175 million during the weekend as per sources.

Though the movie’s plot is categorically for the comic book lovers, critics have heaped praise on the brilliant special effects that dwarf the scale of destruction shown in Man of Steel and Avengers. However, some critics have labeled it as exhaustive, but then Disney has marketed Avengers 2 as the ultimate action movie and that’s what is going to drive fans to the theatres, setting the box office on fire, much to Disney’s pleasure.

So with mostly positive reviews, the sequel to monster hit The Avengers (2012) seeks to break all records this summer, living up to the hype. As per Fandango survey in April, it is the most anticipated movie of summer 2015 with at least 54% of the respondents naming it their top pick for the season which boasts a lineup of mega sequels including Comcast Corp.’s (CMCSA) Jurassic World.

The movie, which opens on May 1 in North America, is expected to go beyond the $207 million record set by its predecessor over the debut weekend. The Avengers not only had a fantastic opening but with a worldwide box office tally of over $1.5 billion, it is the third highest grossing film of all time behind Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc.’s (FOXA) Avatar and Titanic.

Initial estimates have already labeled the movie as a billion dollar one. Disney has left no stone unturned to generate a massive hysteria for Avengers 2. From print to social media to word of mouth, Avengers 2 has been dominating the scene for long now.

The superheroes team re-uniting to fight Ultron is what movie buffs have been waiting for long. Addition of new characters like Wanda Maximoff/ Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver has further elevated the excitement and is likely to result in huge box office numbers. Special effects are literally ground breaking.  Made at a budget of $250 million, it took three years to film this Joss Whedon venture, which has everybody from the original reprising their respective roles.   

Plus, the buzz surrounding Marvel these days, is going to be an added advantage. Acquisition of Marvel has indeed proved extremely profitable for Disney. Disney has released 10 films since acquiring Marvel in 2009 and most of them have hit gold at the box office. Two films, Avengers and Iron Man 3 have made it to the billion dollar club and feature on the list of all time highest grossing movies.  

Avengers 2 is the 11th installment in Marvel Cinematic Universe, an idea that has changed Disney in ways unimagined. Connecting all the super heroes in one universe and one time frame has proven to be a gold mine and has become one of the leading franchise of all time along with Time Warner Inc.’s (TWX) much loved Harry Potter series.
Currently, Disney carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
 
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DISNEY WALT (DIS): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
COMCAST CORP A (CMCSA): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
TWENTY-FST CF-A (FOXA): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
TIME WARNER INC (TWX): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
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