| A burgeoning Web presence that leverages one of the most powerful brands in sports is helping World Wrestling Federation Entertainment Inc. put up impressive earnings growth. And that Web presence should grow significantly in the coming months.
The company late last month reported first quarter 2001 earnings of $15.24 million, or 22 cents per share, on net revenue of $101.9 million, vs. earnings of $12.5 million on net revenue of $76.2 million last year.
The report didn’t buoy the company stock (NASDAQ: WWFE), which has traded in the $20 range since June, when the company reported its annual earnings.
The company’s financial results, and its ever more diversified Web presence, are nonetheless impressing Wall Street and Web audiences alike.
The WWF’s “Internet strategy is to transition its fabulous demographics — its targeted viewers — to the online space, and those 15-year-old fans are the highest users of the Internet,” said Credit Suisse First Boston research analyst Laura Martin. “It’s using the interactive media to leverage its brand platform. It’s another way to talk to you, to reach you, to merchandise to you.”
The numbers indicate that strategy is working. | 
