Electronic Arts (EA +0.11%) was founded roughly four decades ago, and it’s played a role in shaping the gaming industry ever since. The company is a leader in sports and licensed game content. It’s scored big wins with franchises including Madden NFL, EA Sports FC, and games based on Disney’s Star Wars property. In addition to titles built around popular third-party licenses, the company is responsible for original franchises, including The Sims, Battlefield, and Apex Legends.
Electronic Arts is positioned to benefit as in-app spending continues to rise. Console-and-PC games are increasingly sold digitally instead of through physical retailers such as GameStop (GME -1.40%) and Walmart (WMT -0.65%).