Jefferies Reiterates Buy Rating on Take-Two with $300 Price Target
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jun 18 2026
0mins
Jefferies analyst James Heaney reiterated a Buy rating and $300 price target on Take-Two as pre-orders for "Grand Theft Auto VI" will start June 25, likely alongside the first wave of marketing ahead of its November 19 release. A new trailer is likely, but more importantly for the stock, we should get the price of the base and premium editions, along with the contents of those premium editions giving the first insight into the business model of "GTA VI Online," the analyst tells investors in a research note. The firm said that it views it as unlikely we get the date for "GTA Online" or its full scope, with Take-two waiting closer to release, adding that it believes the rumored $100 price point for the base edition is "unlikely." The firm also noted that Take-Two could charge $80 versus the industry-standard $70 for the base game, but the trade-off for a $70 price would be an easier up-sell to the premium editions. Jefferies' base case assumes $80.
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Analyst Views on TTWO
Wall Street analysts forecast TTWO stock price to rise
14 Analyst Rating
14 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 238.720
Low
270.00
Averages
286.77
High
300.00
Current: 238.720
Low
270.00
Averages
286.77
High
300.00
About TTWO
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. is a developer, publisher, and marketer of interactive entertainment for consumers around the globe. The Company develops and publishes products principally through Rockstar Games, 2K, and Zynga. Its products are designed for console gaming systems, including, but not limited to, the Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. (Sony) PlayStation4 (PS4) and PlayStation5 (PS5), the Microsoft Corporation (Microsoft) Xbox One (Xbox One) and Xbox Series XS (Xbox Series XS), and the Nintendo Switch (Switch), as well as mobile, including smartphones and tablets, and personal computers (PC). It delivers its products through physical retail, digital download, online platforms, and cloud streaming services. It sells software titles both digitally and physically through direct relationships with digital storefronts and platform partners, large retail customers, and third-party distributors. It also sells advertising within a number of its games, primarily in mobile.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Earnings Growth Potential: Analyst Clark Lampen noted that the launch of GTA VI is expected to catalyze a sustainable multi-year improvement in earnings power, with historical precedents showing multiple expansions during pre-release marketing cycles.
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See More
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- Optimistic Sales Projections: Analysts believe that Take-Two Interactive could recoup the development costs of GTA VI within days of its release, given that GTA V generated around $1 billion in revenue just three days post-launch, making the sales outlook for GTA VI highly favorable.
- Staggering Pre-Sale Figures: Although not officially confirmed, online rumors suggest that GTA VI achieved 39 million pre-orders within 24 hours, with projected revenue nearing $3 billion, which, if accurate, would significantly exceed the analyst forecast of $1 billion in first-year pre-order revenue.
- Positive Market Reaction: Take-Two's stock rose about 5% following the confirmation of pre-orders, with analysts overwhelmingly bullish, issuing buy ratings and setting a consensus price target near $281, reflecting strong market confidence and anticipation for GTA VI.
See More
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- Long Development Timeline: GTA 6 has taken over 10 years to develop and has faced two launch delays, with its official release now confirmed for November 19, marking a significant milestone for Rockstar Games in game development.
- Strong Preorder Performance: Shares of Take-Two Interactive rose over 3% following the launch of GTA 6 preorders, indicating strong market demand for this highly anticipated title, with initial sales expected to mirror GTA V, which generated $1 billion in just three days.
- Digital Edition Controversy: Take-Two's decision to offer only a download code with the physical edition has sparked division in the retail market, with some players viewing it as a cost-cutting move while others express disappointment over losing the novelty of collecting, reflecting differing consumer sentiments on game distribution methods.
- Optimistic Sales Projections: Morningstar forecasts that GTA 6 could sell up to 70 million copies in fiscal 2027, and despite TTWO stock having fallen nearly 8% this year, the enthusiasm surrounding the new game may drive a rebound in its stock price.
See More
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- Technical Analysis Tool: Comparing the latest share price to the 200-day moving average can provide investors with valuable insights for technical analysis, helping to assess market trends and potential buy or sell opportunities.
- ETF Trading Mechanism: Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) trade similarly to stocks, where investors are actually buying and selling “units” that can be created or destroyed based on investor demand, impacting the underlying holdings of the ETF.
- Liquidity Monitoring: Weekly monitoring of changes in shares outstanding for ETFs helps identify those experiencing significant inflows or outflows, allowing for timely insights into market dynamics and their potential impact on individual stocks.
See More
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- Market Rebound Attempt: The S&P 500 and Nasdaq are attempting to rebound after consecutive down days, with tech stocks showing signs of recovery, indicating renewed confidence in the tech sector, despite a significant drop in oil prices, with WTI crude at $71 and Brent hitting its lowest level since before the Iran war.
- FedEx Earnings Volatility: FedEx shares fell 4% despite beating quarterly expectations, as the shift to a new fiscal calendar created confusion in guidance; however, analysts remain optimistic, with Wells Fargo maintaining a $425 price target, reflecting confidence in the company's future prospects.
- Google Joins Dow Jones: Alphabet, Google's parent company, will replace Verizon in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which, while not expected to have a significant immediate impact on stock prices, demonstrates market recognition of tech companies and may attract more investor attention.
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See More
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- Market Anticipation: BTIG initiated coverage of Take-Two Interactive with a buy rating and a $290 price target, indicating a 20% upside from Tuesday's close, reflecting strong market optimism surrounding the upcoming release of GTA VI.
- Earnings Growth Potential: Analyst Clark Lampen noted that the launch of GTA VI is expected to catalyze a sustainable multi-year improvement in earnings power, with historical precedents showing multiple expansions during pre-release marketing cycles.
- Pre-Order Launch: Rockstar Games announced that GTA VI will be released on November 19, with pre-orders starting at around $80, which is anticipated to generate significant revenue for the developer and further boost Take-Two's stock price.
- Analyst Consensus: According to LSEG data, 30 out of 32 analysts covering Take-Two have a buy or strong buy rating, indicating widespread confidence in the stock despite a 5% decline in 2026, while shares have risen over 6% in the past five days as anticipation for GTA VI builds.
See More
