Video game publisher Electronic Arts Inc. reports its fiscal fourth-quarter results on Tuesday, with analysts expecting an adjusted profit versus a loss a year ago.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Analysts generally expect EA to report solid results for the January-March quarter, fueled by strong sales of "Battlefield: Bad Company 2" and "Mass Effect 2."

But Signal Hill analyst Todd Greenwald said "the upside will be slightly offset by lackluster results from 'Army of Two' and 'Dante's Inferno,' despite heavy marketing campaigns."

Investors will be watching for EA's guidance for the remainder of the year, especially the all-important holiday quarter. Noting that the company "dramatically lowered the bar" for fiscal 2011 last quarter when it forecast a revenue decline of 6 percent to 12 percent, Greenwald said he is confident EA "will have little trouble meeting any of its revenue goals this year." But he added he remains "skeptical that they will be able to exceed the top end of their earnings guidance (of 70 cents per share)."

WHY IT MATTERS: Electronic Arts sells some of the world's best-known video games, including "The Sims" and the popular "Madden" football series. How well its games do can reflect sentiment across a broad range of consumers.

WHAT'S EXPECTED: Analysts, on average, are expecting earnings of 5 cents per share on revenue of $835.4 million, according to a survey by Thomson Reuters. These estimates exclude one time items and they reflect accounting for deferred revenue for games with online components.

In February, EA forecast adjusted earnings of 2 cents to 6 cents per share on revenue of $800 million to $850 million.

LAST YEAR'S QUARTER: EA posted a loss of $42 million, or 13 cents per share. Excluding special items such as restructuring charges and accounting for deferred revenue, EA lost 37 cents per share.

Revenue was $860 million. Adjusted sales, which exclude changes in deferred revenue, totaled $609 million.