If you’re feeling good about the market, you’re not alone. Take my hand as we go over some of this week’s more uplifting headlines.
1. Tooth and snail
Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) isn’t letting this month’s success with House of Cards birth complacency.
The video service provider is fleshing out its slate with more original programming. This week’s deal is the company’s first kid-oriented projected. Netflix is teaming up with Dreamworks Animation Skg Inc (NASDAQ:DWA) to be the home of a new cartoon series based on characters that it will introduce in a theatrical release this summer.
Turbo F.A.S.T. will begin streaming exclusively through Netflix in December. Turbo — the movie — hits theaters in July.
It’s a smart move, especially since the film itself is one of the first DreamWorks Animation theatrical releases that will be available through Netflix’s streaming. If the film is a hit, Netflix wins twice since its subscribers will have early streaming access to the movie and exclusivity on the related computer-animated series.
The movie is about a snail that discovers the gift of speed after a freak accident. If you’ve seen Netflix’s shares lately, it’s a familiar story.
Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) made the most of the first Valentine’s Day for its recent Facebook Gifts e-commerce initiative.
The leading social networking website operator was suggesting the purchase of $1 items — from a heart-shaped cookie to a box of honey jelly beans — with free shipping through its merchant partners.
Sure, maybe it was hokey. Is a buck all that I’m worth to you? However, Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB)’s just starting to scratch the surface of what’s possible with Facebook Gifts. Reminding its users who are in a relationship that Valentine’s Day is around the corner — and offering an economical token of affection — will help build awareness of the site’s online marketplace.
The ability to post these purchases on timelines will also make it viral, especially once pricier merchandise starts to be exchanged.
3. Power to the people
Capstone Turbine Corporation (NASDAQ:CPST) is inching closer toward profitability.
The maker of co-generation turbines may have posted a loss of $0.01 a share in its latest quarter, but Wall Street was expecting a larger deficit. Revenue’s growing. There’s a healthy backlog of orders.
Capstone’s specialty is a turbine that can run on several different types of fuel. It’s not cheap, but the flexibility of Capstone’s microturbine energy systems is worth it.
4. Of Kors you can
Just when you think that the market has tired of folks willing to pay four figures for a tote handbag, along comes Michael Kors Holdings Ltd (NYSE:KORS) to remind investors that luxury isn’t dead.
The fast-growing retailer of handbags, shoes, apparel, and accessories chimed in with what has to be the quarter to beat this holiday season. Revenue soared 70% during the period. Expansion played a strong role in the spurt, but the real star here was a mind-boggling 41% spike in comps.
Not every luxury retailer is thriving in this environment, but clearly Michael Kors has its finger on the pulse of what affluent shoppers want to buy these days.
5. The HP weigh
Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) may finally be seeing the light.
Several tech blogs are reporting that the world’s largest PC maker is gearing up to introduce a high-end Android tablet soon. An Android smartphone may follow.
