Pokemon Puts a Little Extra in Some Toy Firms’ Pockets

Shares of Grand Toys International Inc. and other toy makers and distributors with Pokemon deals surged Wednesday as investors flocked to companies with license agreements to sell products featuring Nintendo Co.’s popular video game.

“Pokemon is a magic word right now among investors,” Burnham Securities analyst David Leibowitz said of the Japanese sensation. “The many aspects of Pokemon appear to be coming together in the next several weeks with a movie, a new game cartridge from Nintendo and a meaningful amount of new consumer merchandise.”

Canadian toy distributor Grand Toys rocketed $7.75, or 51%, to $23.06 in trading of 19.8 million shares, more than 57 times the three-month daily average. The Montreal-based company signed an exclusive license agreement with Nintendo earlier this month to manufacture and deliver a line of Pokemon products in Canada, including back-to-school supplies, balls and kites.

New York-based Topps Co., which makes Pokemon collector cards, rose 19 cents, or 2%, to $10.81 on trading of 4.6 million shares, more than six times the three-month average. The company shipped its Pokemon cards to stores Monday, said John Taylor, Arcadia Investment Corp. toy industry analyst.

Plainville, N.Y.-based Toymax International Inc., which expects to sell Pokemon candy this fall, vaulted $3.50, or 34%, to $13.88 in trading of 6.4 million shares, more than 108 times the three-month average.