Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported net bookings of $1.3 billion, up 3% year-over-year, exceeding the high end of guidance [19] - Full game net bookings were $214 million, up 27%, driven by ongoing momentum from Split Fiction and a resurgence in Star Wars Battlefront II [20] - Live services net bookings were $1.08 billion, down 1%, with growth in the low single digits when excluding Apex Legends [20][24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The EA Sports business showed strong performance, with net bookings in global football growing mid-single digits year-over-year [21] - FC Mobile outperformed expectations with over 50 million installs and significant daily active user growth [9] - Apex Legends delivered flat sequential net bookings, with improved engagement trends particularly among new and casual players [23] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is seeing deeper engagement in its core franchises, particularly in global football and American football ecosystems [12][17] - The integration of real-world sports content into games, such as Apple's MLS season pass into FC Mobile, is enhancing player engagement [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is entering an exciting release cycle, with major titles like Battlefield 6 and continued innovation in EA Sports franchises [8][29] - A community-centric approach is being emphasized, focusing on deeper engagement and value for players over time [26][30] - The strategy includes building massive online communities and expanding the reach of franchises across geographies and platforms [17][30] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to deliver against FY 2026 outlook, supported by strong momentum and a compelling slate of upcoming launches [19][29] - The company is encouraged by strong retention and positive player sentiment, particularly for upcoming titles [27][29] Other Important Information - The company returned $423 million to shareholders through buybacks and dividends during the quarter [24] - The upcoming launches are expected to deepen player engagement and expand the audience [29] Q&A Session Summary Question: Thoughts on full game pricing - Management stated no changes in pricing strategy are planned, maintaining a broad pricing scheme across products [36][37] Question: Life Services growth excluding Apex - Live services growth outside of Apex was reported as low single digits, with expectations for continued momentum [42] Question: Cohort spending and Ultimate Team - Strong pickup in cohort spending was noted, with ongoing focus on enhancing player engagement through various modes [46] Question: Competitive setup between Battlefield and Call of Duty - Management feels confident about Battlefield's competitive position and has invested significantly in its marketing [65] Question: Consumer receptivity to bundling Madden and NCAA - The dual purchase strategy has been successful, and management expects continued positive reception [75] Question: Mobile opportunity post-App Store changes - The company aims to create frictionless experiences for players while exploring new monetization opportunities [90][92]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported net bookings of $1.3 billion, up 3% year-over-year, exceeding the high end of guidance [19] - Full game net bookings were $214 million, up 27%, driven by ongoing momentum from Split Fiction and a resurgence in Star Wars Battlefront II [20] - Live services net bookings were $1.08 billion, down 1%, but excluding Apex Legends, live services grew in the low single digits [20][21] - Net revenue was $1.67 billion, up 1%, with a gross margin of 83.3%, down 90 basis points [23] - Operating expenses increased by 9% to $1.12 billion, primarily due to increased personnel costs [23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The EA Sports business showed strong performance, particularly in global football, with net bookings growing mid-single digits year-over-year [21] - FC Mobile outperformed expectations with over 50 million installs and significant daily active user growth [8] - Apex Legends maintained flat net bookings sequentially, driven by strong operational execution and content innovation [22] - The American football ecosystem demonstrated strength with sustained engagement across Madden NFL and college football, with College Football '26 receiving strong reviews [11][12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is seeing deeper engagement in its core franchises, particularly in global football and American football, with a focus on community-centric strategies [9][10] - The integration of real-world sports content into games, such as the partnership with Apple for FC Mobile, is enhancing player engagement [8][10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is entering an exciting release cycle, with anticipated launches for Battlefield 6, Madden NFL 26, and FC 26, aiming to deepen player engagement and expand audiences [7][29] - The strategy focuses on building massive online communities and enhancing player experiences through innovative gameplay and community-driven content [17][30] - The company is committed to a community-centric approach, aiming to deliver long-term value for players and adapt to their feedback [9][26] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to deliver against FY 2026 outlook, citing strong momentum and a compelling slate of upcoming launches [19][29] - The company anticipates a challenging comparison for College Football '26 due to last year's strong launch but remains optimistic about retention and player sentiment [26][27] - Management highlighted the importance of competition in driving innovation and improving offerings across franchises [68] Other Important Information - The company returned $423 million to shareholders through buybacks and dividends during the quarter [23] - The upcoming Battlefield 6 reveal is expected to generate significant excitement and engagement from the community [15][56] Q&A Session Summary Question: Thoughts on full game pricing strategy - Management indicated no immediate changes to pricing strategy, emphasizing a broad pricing scheme to capture the full spectrum of player value [36][37] Question: Life Services growth excluding Apex - Life Services growth outside of Apex was reported as low single digits, with expectations for continued momentum [41][43] Question: Marketing strategy for Battlefield - The company is investing heavily in marketing Battlefield 6, aiming to build it as a platform rather than just a product [56][57] Question: Competitive landscape between Battlefield and Call of Duty - Management feels confident about Battlefield's competitive positioning and the expectations of fans [63][66] Question: Consumer receptivity to bundling Madden and NCAA - The dual purchase strategy for Madden and NCAA is expected to continue being well received, with a vision for deeper connections between the two experiences [72][74] Question: Mobile opportunity post-App Store changes - The company is focused on creating frictionless experiences for players on mobile platforms, adapting to new economic opportunities [88][90]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For FY 2025, the company reported net bookings of $7.36 billion, a decrease of 1% year-over-year [24] - Full game net bookings were $2.02 billion, up 1%, driven by strong performance in EA Sports College Football '25 and new releases [25] - Live services net bookings were $5.34 billion, down 2%, impacted by a decline in Apex Legends and softness in FC Ultimate Team [25] - The company achieved a gross margin of 79.3%, an improvement of nearly 200 basis points, due to lower licensing fees [26] - Operating expenses increased by 2% to $4.4 billion, while earnings per share rose to $4.25 [26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - EA SPORTS FC saw a significant rebound in engagement and monetization following a major gameplay update in January, leading to double-digit growth in player engagement [5][8] - The American football ecosystem generated over $1 billion in net bookings, up over 70% year-over-year, with a 68% increase in hours played [9][10] - The Sims franchise delivered over 30% net bookings growth in Q4, driven by the 25th anniversary celebrations and new content releases [12][29] - The successful launch of the new IP, Split Fiction, resulted in nearly 4 million units sold, exceeding expectations [13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - FC Mobile engagement and acquisition were up over 20% year-over-year, with significant growth in key mobile markets [9] - The company noted that its largest mobile markets differ from its largest HD markets, indicating a successful expansion strategy [9] - The American football ecosystem's engagement trends remained strong, with Q4 average weekly active users higher than the fiscal year average [28] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to broaden its reach into additional markets and enhance app experiences through strategic partnerships [11] - Future growth is expected to be driven by live services, new game launches, and building global fandom [15][18] - The company plans to transform The Sims into a unified ecosystem across games, marketplaces, and social spaces [18] - The acquisition of TRACECAP is expected to enhance gameplay authenticity and immersion [19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate near-term economic uncertainty, emphasizing the resilience of its franchises [39][78] - The company anticipates continued growth in its American football and global football franchises, leveraging the increasing popularity of these sports [20][70] - Management highlighted the importance of community engagement and feedback in shaping future game developments [61] Other Important Information - The company returned over $2.7 billion to stockholders through stock repurchases and dividends in FY 2025 [26] - The upcoming fiscal year is expected to see net bookings of $7.6 billion to $8 billion, reflecting a growth of 3% to 9% year-over-year [30][31] Q&A Session Summary Question: What were the main issues during the temporary slowdown in FC and how were they fixed? - Management noted that temporary slowdowns are not unusual for large franchises and attributed the slowdown to a lack of migration from the previous title and feedback from competitive players regarding gameplay tuning [44][49][54] Question: How does the company view the long-term growth profile and live services? - Management reiterated confidence in the long-term growth framework, emphasizing the importance of live services and new titles in driving growth [55][56] Question: What are the key learnings from the Battlefield beta testing? - Management highlighted the importance of community feedback in shaping the game and ensuring alignment with player expectations, which has been a significant focus for the development team [60][62] Question: How does the company view the competitive landscape for American football? - Management expressed optimism about the growth of American football, citing the increasing engagement and fandom in the sport, and plans to deepen connections between college and NFL products [70][72] Question: How does the company plan to navigate potential macroeconomic challenges? - Management believes that the entertainment industry, particularly its franchises, has shown resilience during economic downturns and expects to continue delivering value to players [78][80]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For FY 2025, the company reported net bookings of $7.36 billion, a decrease of 1% year-over-year [23] - Net revenue was $7.46 billion, also down 1% [25] - The company generated free cash flow of $1.86 billion, returning 145% of this amount, or $2.7 billion, to shareholders through stock repurchases and dividends [26][34] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - EA SPORTS FC saw a significant rebound in engagement and monetization, with player engagement up double digits following a major gameplay update [6][22] - The American football ecosystem surpassed $1 billion in net bookings, up over 70% year-over-year, driven by strong postseason engagement [9][24] - The Sims franchise delivered over 30% net bookings growth in Q4, marking its best fourth-quarter performance ever [12][29] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - FC Mobile continues to exceed expectations with over 20% growth in new player acquisition and daily active users year-over-year [7][8] - The company noted that its four largest mobile markets differ from its largest HD markets, indicating successful global reach [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to broaden its reach into additional markets with new strategic partners and enhance app experiences [11] - Upcoming launches include iconic franchises like Skate and Battlefield, with a focus on community engagement and innovative gameplay [14][15] - The company aims to transform The Sims into a unified ecosystem across games, marketplaces, and social spaces [17] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate potential economic uncertainties, emphasizing the resilience of the gaming industry [39][78] - The company anticipates continued growth driven by its core franchises and the upcoming World Cup in 2026, which presents a significant opportunity [19][34] Other Important Information - The company is investing in AI to enhance game development and player experiences, viewing it as a powerful accelerator of creativity [20] - The company has a strong return of capital program, aiming to return at least 80% of free cash flow to shareholders through stock repurchases and dividends [34] Q&A Session Summary Question: What were the main issues during the temporary slowdown in EA SPORTS FC and how were they addressed? - Management noted that temporary slowdowns are not unusual for large franchises and attributed the slowdown to a lack of migration from the previous title and feedback from competitive players regarding gameplay tuning [44][54] Question: How does the company view continued growth in live services and new titles? - Management reiterated confidence in the growth framework shared during Investor Day, emphasizing the potential for margin expansion and cash flow growth [55] Question: What key learnings have emerged from the Battlefield beta testing? - The company highlighted the importance of community feedback in shaping the game, noting that this approach has led to overwhelming positive responses and deeper engagement [60][62] Question: How does the company plan to navigate potential macroeconomic challenges? - Management expressed optimism about the resilience of the gaming industry, emphasizing the fundamental human need for entertainment and the value provided by gaming experiences [78] Question: How does the company view pricing power for its IP? - Management indicated that the business model has evolved, allowing for a range of pricing strategies, and emphasized the importance of delivering quality and value to players [80]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For FY 2025, the company reported net bookings of $7.36 billion, a decrease of 1% year-over-year [25] - Full game net bookings were $2.02 billion, up 1%, driven by strong performance in EA Sports College Football '25 and new releases [26] - Live services net bookings were $5.34 billion, down 2%, impacted by a decline in Apex Legends and softness in FC Ultimate Team [26] - The company achieved a gross margin of 79.3%, an improvement of nearly 200 basis points, due to lower licensing fees [26] - Operating expenses increased by 2% to $4.4 billion, with earnings per share at $4.25 [27] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - EA SPORTS FC saw a significant rebound in engagement and monetization following a major gameplay update in January, leading to double-digit growth in player engagement [6][9] - The American football ecosystem, including Madden NFL and college football, generated over $1 billion in net bookings, up over 70% year-over-year [10][25] - The Sims franchise delivered over 30% net bookings growth in Q4, driven by the 20th birthday celebrations and new content releases [30] - The successful launch of the new IP, Split Fiction, resulted in nearly 4 million units sold, exceeding expectations [14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - FC Mobile engagement and acquisition were up over 20% year-over-year, with significant growth in key mobile markets [10] - The company noted that its four largest mobile markets differ from its largest HD markets, indicating a successful expansion strategy [10] - The American football ecosystem's engagement remained strong post-season, with increased monetization opportunities during the offseason [11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to broaden its reach into additional markets with new strategic partners and enhance app experiences [12] - Upcoming launches include iconic franchises like Skate and Battlefield, with a focus on community engagement and player feedback [16][17] - The company aims to transform The Sims into a unified ecosystem across games, marketplaces, and social spaces [19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate potential economic uncertainties, emphasizing the resilience of the gaming industry [41][80] - The company anticipates continued growth driven by live services, new game launches, and the upcoming 2026 World Cup [19][36] - Management highlighted the importance of community engagement and feedback in shaping future game developments [64] Other Important Information - The company returned over $2.7 billion to stockholders through stock repurchases and dividends, representing 145% of free cash flow [27] - The company expects net bookings for FY 2026 to be between $7.6 billion and $8 billion, reflecting a growth of 3% to 9% year-over-year [32] Q&A Session Questions and Answers Question: What were the main issues during the temporary slowdown in FC and how were they fixed? - Management noted that the slowdown was not unusual for large franchises and was attributed to a lack of migration from the previous title and feedback from the core competitive cohort regarding gameplay tuning [46][51][56] Question: How does the company view the growth investments behind Battlefield? - Management indicated that the primary growth investment for Battlefield is in go-to-market costs, with continued investment post-launch expected [66] Question: How does the company expect American football to perform in the coming year? - Management expressed optimism about the growth of American football, citing the increasing popularity of the sport and the potential for deeper connections between college and NFL products [70][72] Question: What areas of the business are most sensitive to macroeconomic changes? - Management highlighted the resilience of the gaming industry during economic downturns, emphasizing the fundamental need for entertainment and the value provided by gaming [79][80] Question: How does the company view pricing power for its IP? - Management stated that the business model has evolved, allowing for a range of pricing strategies, and emphasized the importance of delivering quality and value to players [81][84]

Core Insights - Lowe's is enhancing its brand presence through partnerships with EA SPORTS titles, aiming to engage sports fans and connect with a younger audience interested in home improvement [4][5]. Group 1: Brand Integration and Engagement - Lowe's will feature prominently in EA SPORTS College Football 26, with branding on the broadcast overlay of Stadium Pulse, which enhances crowd excitement during gameplay [1]. - The collaboration includes interactive experiences, such as a real-life "On the Road" gaming event that will allow fans to engage with the Lowe's brand throughout the NFL season [2]. - The integration with EA SPORTS is part of Lowe's broader sports marketing strategy, which includes being the Official Home Improvement Partner of the NFL, aiming to connect with digitally savvy audiences [4]. Group 2: Company Overview - Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company, serving approximately 16 million customer transactions weekly in the U.S. [6]. - For fiscal year 2024, Lowe's reported sales exceeding $83 billion and operates over 1,700 home improvement stores with around 300,000 employees [6].