DirecTV Beats Earnings Estimates on Demand for World Cup

DirecTV, the largest U.S. satellite-TV operator, reported second-quarter profit that topped analysts’ estimates as the World Cup lured Latin American customers.

Earnings of $1.59 a share, excluding one-time items, beat analysts’ estimates for $1.53 a share on average. Profit was buoyed by 543,000 additional Latin American customers, who flocked to the World Cup offerings that the El Segundo, California-based company provided. U.S. subscribers, by contrast, fell by 34,000, according to a statement. Analysts had projected 366,000 for Latin America and a loss of 85,000 in the U.S., according to a Bloomberg survey of seven analysts.