Comcast Beats Forecasts, Boosted By SuperBowl, 'Fifty Shades Of Grey'

Comcast Corp. on Monday reported earnings that edged past forecasts as the company reported a strong quarter for cable, boosted in part by this year's Super Bowl. First-quarter adjusted earnings rose to 79 cents a share, from 68 cents in the year-ago period, a 16.2% gain. Analysts polled by FactSet Research had forecast the company would earn 74 cents. Revenue for Comcast rose 2.6% to $17.9 billion, and rose 7.2% excluding the Super Bowl and the Olympics. The company also announced it will buy back $2.5 billion more shares, with $6.75 billion to be purchased in 2015. Comcast said the Super Bowl XLIX generated $376 million in revenue for its NBCUniversal unit, which also got a lift from the big box-office success of "Fifty Shades of Grey."

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