Yet again, there is some buzz that a deal is in the works between Sprint Nextel (S) and Deutsche Telekom's T-Mobile USA. In fact, it may be more than just a rumor. In early trading Tuesday, the shares of Sprint were up nearly 6%.

In light of the need for spectrum investments, Deutsche Telekom has already said it's looking at strategic partnerships. So could this really be code-speak for a merger deal? Perhaps so.

Continue reading Sprint Considering a Megadeal for T-Mobile USA?

Sprint Considering a Megadeal for T-Mobile USA? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

After more than a year of speculation, it seems that German telecom giant Deutsche Telekom will not buy U.S.-based wireless giant Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S). Deutsche Telekom CFO Timotheus Hoettges indicated that the American wireless competitive landscape had consolidated enough, and the control that the four largest wireless carries in the U.S. have wouldn't make a purchase wise.

Hoettges was quoted as saying, "There are four national players in the U.S. market for 300 million households, while in Europe, where we have 350 million households, there are 50 to 70 operators." It's pretty clear that he thinks the U.S. wireless market is controlled by an oligopoly of operators, which seem to move in tandem with each other in terms of price control and roll out of new technology. Do the "large four" -- Verizon (NYSE: VZ)Wireless, AT&T (NYSE: T), Sprint Nextel, and T-Mobile USA -- move in lockstep with each other for the most part to not give any of the competition a large advantage?

Continue reading Deutsche Telekom CEO: No interest in acquiring Sprint Nextel

Deutsche Telekom CEO: No interest in acquiring Sprint Nextel originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Sprint Nextel gets downgraded as Deutsche Telekom deal becomes more unlikely

Sprint Nextel gets downgraded as Deutsche Telekom deal becomes more unlikely originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Deutsche Telekom may be looking to beef up its T-Mobile USA wireless brand with a takeover of troubled Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S).

Although Sprint Nextel has made strides in trying to keep valuable contract wireless customers, it continues to lose hundreds of thousands of them per quarter. The one bright spot: it's adding hundreds of thousands of less-profitable prepaid wireless customers at the same time through its Boost Mobile prepaid brand.

Continue reading T-Mobile parent could snag Sprint Nextel for just over $10 billion

T-Mobile parent could snag Sprint Nextel for just over $10 billion originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) Q1 earnings were cut almost in half and were lower than expected.
• AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) earnings expectations for 2010 resulted in an analyst's upgrade.
• BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ: BMRN) was downgraded following its Q4 earnings report.
• CBS Corp. (NYSE: CBS) beat Q4 earnings expectations but slashed its quarterly dividend.
• Crocs Inc. (NASDAQ: CROX) posted a smaller-than-expected Q4 loss but sales and gross margins fell.
• Deere & Co. (NYSE: DE) Q1 earnings and revenue fell and it offered guidance below estimates.
• Deutsche Telekom (NYSE: DT) was upgraded on confidence ahead of the company's earnings report.
• Hewlett-Packard Corp. (NYSE: HPQ) reported a bigger-than-expected drop in Q1 earnings.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Deere, HP, CBS, Playboy, Intuit, Whole Foods and more

Earnings highlights: Deere, HP, CBS, Playboy, Intuit, Whole Foods and more originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 21 Feb 2009 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Nippon Telephone (NYSE: NTT), a Japanese based telecommunications company, closed at $24.17 Thursday. NTT January option implied volatility of 60 is above its 26-week average of 35 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

China Telecom (NYSE: CHA), a provider of wireline telecommunication services in China, closed at $39 Thursday. Goldman Sachs has a Sell rating on CHA. CHA overall option implied volatility of 91 is above its 26-week average of 60 according to Chicago, suggesting larger price movement.

Deutsche Telekom (NYSE: DT), Europe's largest telecommunications carrier by sales, closed at $13.99 Thursday. DT January option implied volatility of 54 is above its 26-week average of 48 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movements.

Telmex (NYSE: TMX), an operator of wireline telecommunication systems in Mexico, closed at $17.28 Thursday. TMX December option implied volatility of 66 is above its 26-week average of 49 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Options Update: Global Telecom providers volatility elevated; NTT, CHA, DT, TMX originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 05 Dec 2008 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Canaccord upgraded Rio Tinto (NYSE: RTP) to Buy from Hold citing valuation following the severe price decline following BHP Billiton's (NYSE: BHP) dropped bid.
• UBS upgraded Itron (NASDAQ: ITRI) to Buy from Neutral citing valuation and defensive business mix.
• Jefferies upgraded shares of HealthSouth (NYSE: HLS) to Buy from Hold on valuation and maintains a $13.50 target.
• Melco PBL Entertainment (NASDAQ: MPEL) was raised to buy from Neutral at Goldman.
• PG&E (NYSE: PCG) was upgraded at Merrill Lynch to Buy from Neutral.
• HSBC Holdings (NYSE: HBC) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at UBS.

Analyst downgrades:

Continue reading Analyst calls: RTP, ITRI, HLS, BHP, BX, DT, UL, GPC, KND . . .

Analyst calls: RTP, ITRI, HLS, BHP, BX, DT, UL, GPC, KND . . . originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Minyanville contributor Sean Udall dares to share the kind of keen insight and actionable information you won't find in any prospectus. For more original thought, visit www.minyanville.com.

Goldman Sachs removed Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) from its conviction buy list. I've jested in the past that this list tends to have little conviction itself. At any rate, I'm still in a holding pattern on AAPL as it moves closer to levels that I really find attractive -- $125 and lower.

Though the stock made a nice turn off lows, AAPL appears to be assessing whether the Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) news will have a material spillover effect. Some of DELL's weakness is due to AAPL so we will have to see how much macro driven issues affect AAPL's peak season growth. Piper noted that AAPL is in need of a Mac refresh -- this is true and is in the works.

Meanwhile, T-Mobile (NYSE: DT) has announced it will start selling Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Android-based phones. Time will tell if this hits the iPhone's growth, but I don't suspect it will.

Apple (AAPL) loses some conviction originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"The ongoing renaissance of Eastern Europe is generating tremendous economic activity, boosting profits for companies across the continent," says Nick Lanyi in High Yield International.

He explains, "As Europe's largest economy, Germany is well positioned to continue benefiting from this growth." And within Germany, his current top pick is Deutsche Telekom (NYSE: DT), which offers a dividend yield of 6.7%.

"German stocks are currently available at historically low valuations. The country's DAX Index is trading at only about 12 times 2008 earnings estimates, with an average dividend yield of 3.4%.

"One of the world's largest telecommunications companies, Deutsche Telekom is much more than the descendant of Germany's monopoly local phone utility. It generates more than half its revenue from outside Germany -- from diversified operations across Europe and in the U.S.

"Outside of Germany, DT garners more growth from its wireless operations in Eastern Europe, the U.K. and the U.S. Most of these operate under the well-known T-Mobile brand. Overall, worldwide wireless activities account for about 55% of the company's revenue.

Continue reading Ring up gains in Eastern Europe with Deutsche Telekom (DT)

Ring up gains in Eastern Europe with Deutsche Telekom (DT) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 21 May 2008 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Despite Sprint Nextel Corp.'s (NYSE: S) share price being down more than 50% in the past year, shares were up 7.5% last week -- up 46.5% in the past montyh -- on all the buzz surrounding Sprint lately. There are rumors that Deutsche Telekom (NYSE: DT) may buyout Sprint and merge it into T Mobile. Then there were rumors that Sprint may spin off Nextel (i.e., undo its troubled merger). And there's the excitment around a joint venture with Clearwire Corp. (NASDAQ: CLWR) to create a high-speed wireless internet network that covers most of the U.S.

But when Sprint reports its first-quarter results tomorrow, analysts polled by Thomson Financial expect the company to report earnings of a mere penny per share, down from the same period in 2007 when it earned 18 cents per share, and from the previous quarter's 21 cents per share. The company has beat quarterly estimates over the past year -- by 17.3% in the fourth quarter -- and it certainly has plenty of room to best analysts' low expectations for this past quarter.

Overland Park, Kansas-based Sprint Nextel operates a nationwide digital wireless network with more than 50 million subscribers. In the past year, Sprint's revenues were $40.1 billion. The company's long-term EPS growth forecast is 8.22%, which is less than the 8.67% of rival Verizon (NYSE: VZ) and the S&P 500. The consensus recommendation of analysts continues to be to hold Sprint.

Shares closed Friday at $9.39, up from a 52-week low of $5.48 in March, but still well off the 52-week high of 23.42 last June.

For news that could influence these results, see BloggingStocks' Sprint coverage.

Sprint buzz not shared by analysts originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 11 May 2008 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Europe is starting to eye U.S. gems

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Europe is starting to eye U.S. gems originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 08 May 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• DJIA 12,968.97 (-89.23; -0.68%)
• S&P500 1,407.48 (-6.42; -0.45%)
• NASDAQ 2,464.12 (-12.87; -0.52%)
• 10YR-TBond 3.845% (unch.)
• 52-WEEK LOW CLUB
  

Continue reading Closing Bell: Oil surge drowns equities

Closing Bell: Oil surge drowns equities originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 05 May 2008 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A Deutsche Telekom-Sprint deal is far from a certainty originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 05 May 2008 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Deutsche Telekom (NYSE: DT) is examining a possible bid for Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S), reported Germany's Der Spiegel.

S closed at $7.89 Friday. S is scheduled to report Q1 EPS on May 12.

S option volume was heavy on May 2, with 42,682 contracts trading. S May option implied volatility went out at 84 on May 2, June at 61. S average option implied volatility over the last 26-weeks is 62 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Options Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Option Update: Sprint Nextel May volatility up into report of DT buyout originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 05 May 2008 07:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

There are probably some hurdles to Deutsche Telekom (NYSE: DT), the German phone giant, buying Sprint (NYSE: S), but the deal does make sense for a number of reasons. Reuters writes that Der Spiegel, one of Germany's most prominent publications, reported that "Deutsche Telekom is looking at a possible purchase of U.S. wireless company Sprint Nextel."

DT has a very significant problem in the U.S., and it is one that the company cannot overcome on its own. The firm's U.S. wireless venture, T-Mobile, runs a distant fourth among carriers in the U.S. The two leaders, AT&T (NYSE: T) and Verizon Wireless seem to have the top spots cemented and are adding new customers every quarter. Sprint is in third place with about 50 million subscribers to over 60 million served by each of the two leaders.

Sprint has deep troubles of its own. It has run into subscriber retention issues since the NexTel merger. The company's financial position is weak. Its share price is under $8. Less than two years ago, it was almost $23. Sprint's plan to build a nationwide 4G network using WiMax is all but dead. The company simply does not have the financing to complete it.

T-Mobile has nearly 28 million subscribers. Combined with Sprint, it would take the lead in U.S. wireless customers with about 78 million. Integrating the wireless platforms of the two companies would be extremely difficult. But, the alternative is being the fourth horse in a three-horse race.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com and author of the Ten Stocks Under $10 letter.

A Sprint combination with T-Mobile originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 04 May 2008 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• According to people familiar with the matter, the Wall Street Journal reported that JP Morgan Chase & Co (NYSE: JPM) is in talks about potentially taking a half-interest in Target Corporation's (NYSE: TGT) credit-card operations for about $4B.
• The Wall Street Journal also reported that executives at Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) met with Yahoo! Inc (NASDAQ: YHOO) executives earlier this week to discuss Microsoft's takeover offer for the company, marking a breakthrough in communication between the two companies.
• HSBC Holdings Plc (NYSE: HBC) wants to expand its operations in sub-Saharan Africa, the Financial Times reported, as the region becomes increasingly significant for the bank's Asian and Indian clients.

• Due to its plunging stock price and the expected departure of millions of subscribers this year, sources are speculating about the fate of Sprint Nextel Corporation (NYSE: S). While analysts believe a company such as Deutsche Telekom AG (NYSE: DT) may look to buy Sprint, the Associated Press reported that neither Sprint nor its potential suitors are commenting.

Newspaper wrap-up: JP Morgan may take half-interest in credit-card operations originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 14 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Oppenheimer upgraded shares of Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) to Outperform from Perform after the Pentagon selected the company over Boeing (NYSE: BA) for the newly designated KC-45A Aerial Refueling Tanker with a potential value of $35B.
  
• Citigroup upgraded shares of Groupe Danone (OTC: GDNNY) to Buy from Hold on valuation, as they believe the sell-off on commodity cost concerns is overdone.
  
• MercadoLibre (NASDAQ: MELI) was raised to Outperform from Sector Perform at RBC Capital, as they believe MELI's long-term thesis is more compelling now vs. six months ago and notes favorable reaction to Mercado Pago v2.0.

• Goldman upgraded Societe Generale (OTC: SCGLY) to Neutral from Sell.
  
• Jefferies upgraded Exelon (NYSE: EXC) to Buy from Hold.
  
• Deutsche Telekom (NYSE: DT) was raised to Neutral from Underweight at JP Morgan.

Analyst upgrades: NOC, GDNNY and MELI originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 03 Mar 2008 11:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Lehman upgraded Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) to Equal Weight from Underweight on valuation.
  
• Friedman Billings raised Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) to Outperform from Market Perform, citing expectations for improved margins next quarter, and valuation.
  
• Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral by Credit Suisse, which cited valuation.
  
• Lehman upgraded shares of Societe Generale (OTC: SCGLY) to Overweight from Underweight to reflect a potential takeover by BNP Paribas and limited downside.

• Bayer (OTC: BAYRY) was raised to Overweight from Equal Weight by Lehman.
• Deutsche Telekom (NYSE: DT) was upgraded to Hold from Sell by Citigroup.
• Public Storage (NYSE: PSA) was raised to Buy from Hold by Deutsche Bank.
• UBS raised Entergy (NYSE: ETR) to Buy from Neutral.

Analyst upgrades: PFE, DELL DGX and SCGLY originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• In what may be a sign of interest from large media companies looking to delve into the "content delivery space," the Wall Street Journal reported that EdgeCast Networks is set to announce it has raised up to $6M from Steamboat Ventures, The Walt Disney Company's (NYSE: DIS) venture-capital arm.
• Barron's "The Trader" section says they'd stay away from Federal National Mortgage Association (NYSE: FNM), even though the Bush administration's subprime-mortgage freeze program caused the stock to rebound some. Barron's speculates that Fannie should take an earnings hit in the range of $6.4B to $14B.

• According to the UK's Telegraph, The Blackstone Group LP (NYSE: BX) is "in the middle" of putting together a consortium to make an offer for Rio Tinto PLC (NYSE: RTP).
• According to the Financial Times Deutschland, Deutsche Telekom AG's (NYSE: DT) T-Mobile is selling less than 700 of Apple Inc's (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhones a day; this compares to the 10,000 iPhones the unit sold on a daily basis during Christmas.

Newspaper wrap-up: Fannie Mae may take $14B earnings hit originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 10 Dec 2007 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Citigroup upgraded shares of Dick's Sporting (NYSE: DKS) to Buy from Hold based on valuation, margin expansion and increased visibility.
• Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) was raised to Buy from Hold at WestLB on valuation following yesterday's sell-off. The firm feels investors need to look beyond 2008.
• Lehman upgraded shares of Deutsche Telekom (NYSE: DT) to Equal Weight from Underweight as they believe earnings momentum will be seen in the near-term.

• UBS upgraded Nova Chemical (NYSE: NCX) and Orient-Express (NYSE: OEH) to Buy from Neutral.
• Office Depot (NYSE: ODP) was upgraded to Neutral from Underperform at Credit Suisse.
• Goldman upgraded AON Corp. (NYSE: AOC) to Buy from Neutral.

Analyst upgrades: DKS, ERIC and DT originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 21 Nov 2007 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.