Equities research fund, National Alliance Securities, upgraded their position on WWE stock from "hold" to "buy" on Friday.
Reflecting how bullish the market is on WWE's business, N.A.S. is projecting a target stock price of $20.46. If WWE reaches the $20-level, it would be the highest stock price in 13 years dating back to February 2001 - the peak of the Attitude Era leading into WrestleMania 17.
Looking at this week, WWE shares gained 8.3 percent from Monday's open to Friday's high point.
- Mon., Jan. 6 - opened at $15.90 per share
- Wed., Jan. 8 - dipped to $15.55 per share pre-Network announcement
- Thurs., Jan. 9 - high point of $16.90 per share
- Fri., Jan. 10 - reached 52-week high of $17.22 per share closing at $17.03
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January 11, 2014
Business world makes it clear how they feel about WWE Network
January 10, 2014
When WWE Plans to Break Even on The Network
The Los Angeles Times reported this week that WWE has spent over $40 million on developing the WWE Network. The company plans to break even by the end of the year if you factor in lost pay-per-view revenue.
Vince McMahon and Other WWE Officials to Hold Talent Meeting Backstage at Monday's RAW
WWE talents were notified on Wednesday that there will be a meeting backstage at Monday's RAW from Providence, Rhode Island.
The plan is for Vince McMahon and other WWE officials to speak to the roster about how the company will be changing with the Network finally launching.
As we have noted, a major concern among talents is how their pay-per-view bonuses will be affected, if at all.
Live NXT Going Head-To-Head with TNA
The live WWE NXT special on the WWE Network on February 27th will be airing in primetime, head-to-head with TNA's taped episode of Impact Wrestling that night.
NFL Player Interested In a Career with WWE, Triple H Comments on Talents Having Charisma
Yahoo Sports has a new article about Indianapolis Colts kicker Pat McAfee, who is friends with current WWE NXT star Baron Corbin, real name Tom Pestock. Pestock and McAfee met after Pestock was signed by the Colts in 2009.
McAfee, who has wrestled one indie match before, is looking at a potential career with WWE once his NFL days are over. For this article, Yahoo Sports spoke with Triple H at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando. Triple H talked about wanting talents who have charisma:
"I will take someone with charisma and desire over anything else. It's hard to teach someone how to be charismatic. You ever met that person who has something about them? That's the biggest factor, I think. Nobody pays to just see a wrestler. You pay to see superstars."
DirecTV To Sever Ties With WWE Over Network Concerns?
DirecTV is reportedly unhappy with WWE's plans to launch their online network from February and is considering a rethink with regards to their relationship and whether it will continue to offer monthly pay-per-view events.
WWE has said it will continue to broadcast PPV with cable and satellite operators but with the launch of their online network it will seriously decrease the traditional buyrate which DirecTV reports is declining anyway.
"Clearly we need to quickly re-evaluate the economics and viability of their business with us, as it now appears the WWE feels they do not need their PPV distributors," DirecTV said in a statement, adding that the audience for its events "has been steadily declining, and this new low-cost competitive offering will only accelerate this trend."
In an interview Wednesday, WWE Corp. Chairman Vince McMahon said he thought it was in the interest of the pay-TV operators to continue to carry the pay-per-view events.
"I think it’d be foolish for them not to want to carry the pay-per-view anymore," McMahon said. "It’s found money for them."
A WWE spokesman said in response to DirecTV's statement that, "to the contrary, WWE hopes to continue to be in business with our pay-per-view distributors, ultimately giving our fans the choice between the two offerings."
January 9, 2014
Rumor Mill - WWE's Future Plans For Annual Old School Raw
The word going around is that WWE will host their Old School Raw event every January to go against the BCS title game. Old School Raw seems to do decent ratings for WWE, hence the reason why they want to use it against stiffer competition.
WWE Films Documentary About William Regal
Legendary WWE Superstar and current NXT trainer William Regal Tweeted the following:
"Great news about the #WWENetwork.I filmed the other day for a documentary about me and the evolution of my character from "Lord"till now."
No word yet on if this documentary will be available on DVD or if it will be exclusive to the WWE Network.
Triple H Makes Big Announcement Regarding WWE NXT TV at Tonight’s Tapings
Triple H announced that along with NXT being added to the WWE Network, the February 27th show will air live from Full Sail University in Winter Park, FL.
Oderint Dum Metuant: Let Them Hate As Long As They Fear
