Analyst expects Titanfall to ship 2.4 million copies in Q4

Analyst firm Robert W. Baird & Co. expects EA's newly released shooter, Titanfall, to ship 2.4 million units during the fiscal fourth quarter. Estimates for the current fiscal year are around 6 million units.

Speaking in an industry note, analyst Colin Sebastian wrote explained "Near term, we are adjusting estimates to assume 2.4 million sell-in of Titanfall in [Q4] with [current fiscal year 2014] total shipments of 6 million units."

“Our cautious view of EA in prior years was originally based on inconsistent financial performance, and a comparatively inefficient cost structure," he said "In becoming more constructive on the stock earlier in 2013, we recognized management’s renewed focus on expense management together with a more realistic approach to guidance. Moreover, EA has now achieved a number of important financial, product and executive milestones, and we believe is generally on a better course.”

Sebastian still believes EA's FY15 guidance will be "overshadowed" by declines in current-gen (Xbox 360/PS3) software, but EA's "broad support for [Xbox One/PS4] next-gen consoles" should put EA in a position to do well. "Lower expected sales of Battlefield," Sebastian said, will be offset with the release of Dragon Age 3, UFC, FIFA, and The Sims 4.

Looking even further ahead, EA is poised to have a "breakout year" in FY16 thanks to the next Battlefield game and a new Star Wars title as well. In May of 2013, EA came to a multi-year agreement with Disney to develop and publish new Star Wars games for a "core gaming audience." At E3 2013, the publisher revealed a new Star Wars Battlefront being developed by DICE.

[VG247]