Electronic Arts announces major deal as FIFA 26 hits the market

Core Insights - Electronic Arts (EA) has seen significant stock performance, with shares up nearly 32% year-to-date and 12% in the past month alone, following a $55 billion leveraged buyout announcement [1][4][5] Financial Performance - EA's Q1 FY26 results reported a revenue of $1.671 billion, with strong contributions from the 'F1' game and Apex Legends, leading to bookings of $1.30 billion, surpassing estimates by $70 million [3][4] - The company has exceeded revenue estimates in four of the past five quarters and earnings estimates in three [3] Buyout Agreement - EA has entered into a definitive agreement for a $55 billion leveraged buyout by a consortium including PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners, with shareholders set to receive $210 per share, a 25% premium over the stock's closing price on September 25 [8] - This buyout will mark the largest leveraged buyout on record and the largest all-cash sponsor take-private transaction to date [8] Product Launch - EA Sports FC 26 was launched globally on September 26, 2023, with early access starting on September 19, receiving favorable reviews around the 80 mark on Metacritic [3][9]