"DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc., the creator of animated hits /www.dreamworksfansite.com/shrek2/"">Shrek and /animation.dreamworksfansite.com/sharktale/"">Shark Tale saw a moderate gain in Friday trading after an analyst said the stock will see near-term benefits from a continued surge in DVD sales and the planned release of its next film this spring.

DreamWorks shares climbed $1.19, or 3.5 percent, to $35.49 in midday trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The company's shares have returned a 27 percent gain since DreamWorks' initial public offering at $28 in late October.

Katherine Styponias, an analyst with Prudential Equity Group, said she believes trading of DreamWorks shares will mimic the pattern experienced by rival Pixar Animation Studios -- appreciating heavily in the months proceeding a major theatrical release.

In the weeks before the November debut of its latest film, The Incredibles, Pixar shares jumped 10 percent to nearly $85 after lingering in the $60 range throughout the first half of the year.

For DreamWorks, however, /animation.dreamworksfansite.com/madagascar/"">Madagascar will be its first movie release since becoming a publicly traded firm on Oct 28. Styponias noted that rumors have circulated of a possible delay because the managers are dissatisfied with the film, but said it's unlikely the opening will be pushed further than a few weeks beyond its current May 27 release.

Aside from /animation.dreamworksfansite.com/madagascar/"">Madagascar, the analyst said Glendale, Calif.-based DreamWorks could see a positive lift from international ticket sales and the scheduled February DVD release of ""Shark Tale,"" as well as expanding home-video sales of /www.dreamworksfansite.com/shrek2/"">Shrek 2.

DreamWorks earlier this month said /www.dreamworksfansite.com/shrek2/"">Shrek 2 topped last year's global DVD sales with 37 million units through the end of December amid strong demand during the holiday season. That number dwarfs the 25 million copies of Pixar's Finding Nemo sold in its first quarter on DVD, said Styponias, who estimates /www.dreamworksfansite.com/shrek2/"">Shrek 2 lifetime sales of 59 million units.

Styponias raised DreamWorks to Overweight from Neutral Weight and set a price target of $41.

Pixar shares fell $1.48 to $86.60 in midday trading on the Nasdaq."