A Wall Street analyst called video game publisher Take-Two Interactive Software (TTWO) a top defensive play amid the current stock market upheaval. TTWO stock has held up better than many stocks recently.

Jefferies analyst James Heaney on Tuesday reiterated his buy rating on TTWO stock with a price target of 225.

In morning trades on the stock market today, TTWO stock was up a fraction near 202.96.

Take-Two shares have been buoyed by excitement over the company's upcoming release of "Grand Theft Auto 6." That crime-themed video game is "likely to be the fastest-selling game of all time," Heaney said in a client note.

"By the next earnings call in May, we will know if 'GTA 6' will make its fall 2025 release date, and drive earnings revisions as TTWO markets the title and investors gain confidence in the potential for live service beats," Heaney said.

He estimates that Take-Two will sell 35 million units of the game in its fiscal 2026.

TTWO stock has an IBD Relative Strength Rating of 93 out of 99, according to IBD Stock Checkup. The Relative Strength rating shows how a stock's price performance stacks up against all other stocks over the last 52 weeks. Its current rating puts it in the top 6% of stocks.

Follow Patrick Seitz on X, formerly Twitter, at @IBD_PSeitz for more stories on consumer technology, software and semiconductor stocks.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:

Allegro MicroSystems Stock Down Since Spurning Buyout Deal

Apple Stock Sinks As Siri AI Upgrade Delay Likely To Hurt iPhone Sales

See Stocks On The List Of Leaders Near A Buy Point

Find Winning Stocks With MarketSurge Pattern Recognition & Custom Screens

Join IBD Live For Stock Ideas Each Morning Before The Open