Take-Two Shares Poised for Lift from Grand Theft Auto VI Release
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 53 minutes ago
0mins
Should l Buy TTWO?
Source: CNBC
- Game Release Catalyst: Analysts predict that the long-awaited release of Grand Theft Auto VI in November will provide a strong boost to Take-Two's stock price, particularly as marketing campaigns ramp up, potentially leading to significant price appreciation.
- Market Performance Comparison: Since the beginning of 2026, Take-Two's stock has declined by approximately 5.4%, while the broader NASDAQ index has risen by 11.3%, indicating the company's vulnerability under AI competition pressures; however, the upcoming game release may reverse this trend.
- Optimistic Sales Forecast: Morgan Stanley forecasts that Grand Theft Auto VI will sell 40 million units in 2027, surpassing the 33 million units sold by Grand Theft Auto V in a comparable timeframe, and if it captures 10% of consumer spending on console games, it could generate around $4.5 billion in revenue for the firm.
- Cautious Earnings Outlook: Although Morgan Stanley expects Take-Two's upcoming earnings guidance to come in below consensus, the company's actual results have consistently exceeded conservative starting points over the past decade, indicating strong long-term growth potential.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy TTWO?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
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: 242.160
Low
270.00
Averages
286.77
High
300.00
Current: 242.160
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.
- Stock Surge: Take-Two Interactive's stock surged 10% last week, primarily driven by growing market anticipation for the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer, reflecting strong investor interest and confidence in the franchise.
- Pre-Order Launch: Rockstar Games is set to begin pre-orders for GTA 6 on May 18, a move that could not only boost short-term revenues but also further solidify the company's leadership position in the gaming market.
- Options Market Trends: The May 22 expiration options chain indicates that the market expects a price movement of approximately ±10% by Friday's close, which is significant for a stock without earnings on the calendar, suggesting optimism about an impending catalyst.
- Bullish Sentiment: Speculative call positioning clusters around the $265-$275 range, approximately 9-13% above Thursday's close of $242.44, indicating that traders widely anticipate a substantial price increase following the GTA 6 announcement.
See More
- Game Release Catalyst: Analysts predict that the long-awaited release of Grand Theft Auto VI in November will provide a strong boost to Take-Two's stock price, particularly as marketing campaigns ramp up, potentially leading to significant price appreciation.
- Market Performance Comparison: Since the beginning of 2026, Take-Two's stock has declined by approximately 5.4%, while the broader NASDAQ index has risen by 11.3%, indicating the company's vulnerability under AI competition pressures; however, the upcoming game release may reverse this trend.
- Optimistic Sales Forecast: Morgan Stanley forecasts that Grand Theft Auto VI will sell 40 million units in 2027, surpassing the 33 million units sold by Grand Theft Auto V in a comparable timeframe, and if it captures 10% of consumer spending on console games, it could generate around $4.5 billion in revenue for the firm.
- Cautious Earnings Outlook: Although Morgan Stanley expects Take-Two's upcoming earnings guidance to come in below consensus, the company's actual results have consistently exceeded conservative starting points over the past decade, indicating strong long-term growth potential.
See More
- Preorder Rumors Fall Flat: Despite rumors suggesting that GTA 6 would open for preorders on May 18, the lack of confirmation from Take-Two Interactive has left fans disappointed, potentially impacting the game's market enthusiasm.
- Internal Leak Insights: Internal correspondence from Best Buy hinted at a May 18 launch for GTA 6 with promotional discounts running until May 21, which, if accurate, could bolster the game's market promotion efforts.
- Critical Earnings Day: Take-Two is set to report Q4 earnings and hold a conference call on May 21, with the market assigning an 80% probability that GTA 6 will be released before December 2026, directly influencing the company's stock price and investor confidence.
- Stock Price Fluctuations: Although TTWO shares slipped 0.2% in premarket trading, they have risen over 7% in the past week, reflecting market anticipation and confidence regarding the GTA 6 release.
See More
- Nvidia Earnings Expectations: Nvidia is expected to report an 80% year-over-year revenue growth for Q1, with its market cap briefly exceeding $5.7 trillion last week, underscoring its leadership in the AI sector, despite a 4.4% drop in stock price last Friday.
- Market Impact Analysis: Analysts note that Nvidia accounts for 9% of the S&P 500 index and contributed 20% to the index's total returns for 2026, highlighting its significant influence on overall market performance, particularly driven by AI stocks.
- Retail Earnings Outlook: TJX anticipates a 6% year-over-year revenue increase for Q1, while Walmart is expected to maintain strong performance following a 12% EPS growth, indicating continued consumer spending resilience.
- Berkshire Portfolio Adjustments: Berkshire Hathaway, under new CEO Abel, acquired a $2.6 billion stake in Delta Air Lines and reduced investments in banking and healthcare sectors, reflecting a strategy focused on concentrated investments.
See More
- Nvidia Earnings Expectations: Nvidia is set to report its Q1 earnings on Wednesday, with revenue anticipated at $78.67 billion and EPS of $1.76, as analysts look for results that exceed expectations to boost stock prices and alleviate concerns about a slowing investment cycle.
- Home Depot Performance Outlook: Home Depot is expected to see only 0.8% same-store sales growth in Q1, as rising mortgage rates and a challenging economic backdrop lead analysts to predict its full-year guidance will remain flat to 2%, reflecting low market expectations for its performance.
- TJX Companies Performance: TJX anticipates a 4.1% same-store sales growth in Q1, benefiting from consumer demand for quality merchandise at affordable prices, although rising freight costs may impact margins; nonetheless, the company is viewed as a solid long-term investment.
- Google Developer Conference: Google will host its annual developer conference on Tuesday and Wednesday, with analysts warning that a lack of a
See More
- Market Performance Review: The S&P 500 has surged approximately 19% since its March low, surpassing 7,500 for the first time this week, reflecting a revival in enthusiasm for artificial intelligence, yet the absence of cyclical sectors raises concerns.
- Internal and External Pressures: Despite a 3% rise in the S&P 500 this month, it remains nearly flat on an equal-weight basis, with the financial sector being the worst performer year-to-date, down over 6%, indicating potential impacts of high inflation on the economy.
- Nvidia Earnings Outlook: Nvidia is set to report earnings, with high expectations that CEO Jensen Huang will once again deliver a beat, although its market cap nearing $6 trillion marks a historic high, its valuation appears relatively attractive compared to peers.
- Retail Market Dynamics: Retailers like Walmart and Target are about to release earnings, and the low consumer sentiment may affect sales performance, particularly for lower-income consumers under pressure from rising oil prices, with Walmart's low-price strategy potentially giving it a competitive edge.
See More











