AOL Money & Finance

Verizon posts

Feed

Comcast grows free cash in Q3, but when will it do a deal?

Cable giant Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA) posted Q3 numbers earlier today. It seems like the company is doing well with earnings growth and cash flow, even if revenues moved up a meager 3%.

Adjusted earnings per share grew over 20% to 28 cents per share. According to our earnings preview, the market was looking for 25 cents per share. Operating cash flow increased a little under 3%, but free cash flow went up almost 20%, aided by a smaller amount of capital expenditures compared to the previous year's similar quarter. I'm sure shareholders are more than satisfied with the growth rate of the green stuff over the past three months. Comcast saw excellent expansion of free cash over the last nine months, too.

Continue reading Comcast grows free cash in Q3, but when will it do a deal?

Earnings highlights: Baidu, Dreamworks, Honda, Microsoft, Target, Verizon ...

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

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Baidu, Dreamworks, Honda, Microsoft, Target, Verizon ...

Verizon (VZ) takes aim at the iPhone

motorola droidEver since Apple Computer (NASDAQ: AAPL) introduced the iPhone to the world, other cell phone companies have been working hard to compete. Verizon (NYSE: VZ) is hoping to find success with the Motorola Droid, which will come with a $199 price tag.

The phone will be running on Google's Android operating system, and could be a serious contender against the iPhone, and while most people knew this phone was coming, the real news is that it will start to be sold next week at Verizon's across the nation.

Continue reading Verizon (VZ) takes aim at the iPhone

Verizon tops Q3 profit estimate, but it's all about the dividend

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) issued Q3 data on Monday. According to the press release, the telecommunications entity made, on an adjusted basis, 60 cents per share. Disappointing, since that's six pennies less than last year's comparable number. However, it was a penny ahead of analyst expectations, according to Reuters.

Of course, when discussing Verizon, what tends to receive focus is cash flow. As we all know, the company is a famous dividend play. Many investors consider this angle to be not only valuable, but an added safety element as well.

Continue reading Verizon tops Q3 profit estimate, but it's all about the dividend

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: DRI, INTC, PALM, RSH, TXN, VZ ...

Analyst upgrades:

  • Verizon (NYSE: VZ) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Wells Fargo, which believes Verizon wireline margins troughed in Q3 and that Street estimates have been reset to more achievable levels.
  • Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at FBR Capital, which believes the company is gaining analog market share and shares are attractively valued at current levels. The firm maintains a $31 price target.
  • Cablevision (NYSE: CVC) was upgraded at Wells Fargo to Outperform from Market Perform. The firm believes this year's run-up in the stock was primarily due to the company's spin-off of MSG, but the firm believes the stock can rise further based on fundamentals.
  • Cabot Oil & Gas (NYSE: COG) was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JPMorgan following the company's Q3 results due to valuation and its above-average growth. The firm raised its target to $51.50 from $47.
  • RadioShack (NYSE: RSH) was upgraded to Hold from Underweight at KeyBanc, which said that its recovering sales trends were encouraging.
  • Travelzoo (NASDAQ: TZOO) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Wedbush as it believes the divestiture of its Asian business coupled with growth in its Fly.com unit will drive 2010 growth. The firm raised its target to $17 from $13.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: DRI, INTC, PALM, RSH, TXN, VZ ...

AT&T earnings preview: A profitable Q3?

at&t technical analysisDallas-based AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T), the exclusive U.S. carrier for the iPhone, is scheduled to discuss its third quarter 2009 financial results in a conference call Thursday at 10:00 AM ET. You can catch the live webcast of the call on the company's website.

During the three months that ended in September, AT&T revamped many of its retail locations, expanded its global wi-fi presence, and declared a quarterly dividend. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect this leading provider of wireline voice communications services in the U.S. to report that earnings grew 6.0% from a year ago to $0.50 per share. But revenue for the quarter is expected to be 1.5% lower to $30.9 billion.

Continue reading AT&T earnings preview: A profitable Q3?

Verizon: It's hard to beat modest growth with safety

Verizon Communications' (NYSE: VZ) shares have pulled-back from a high above $32 registered earlier this year, but you can view this move lower as a way to establish or to add to a VZ position, which is I'm reiterating my Buy rating for the company, first recommended on February 12, 2009 at a price of $29.86.

Verizon, which boasts 6 million landline subscribers, is still viewed by institutional investors as more old economy than new economy -- this despite being the largest wireless carrier in the U.S. with about 88 million wireless subscribers. Further, VZ's FiOS broadband service continues to exceed expectations, and the company's recently raised dividend adds to the positive mix: not bad, for a 'stodgy' old company.

Continue reading Verizon: It's hard to beat modest growth with safety

Dogs of the Dow: A look at five high yielders

"The Dogs of the Dow strategy has a long-term history of outperforming the Dow Jones average," notes technical expert Gerald Appel.

In his Systems & Forecasts, he explains, "The theory is that the highest yielding stocks are undervalued and should have the greatest change of appreciating." Here, he reviews the five highest yielders.

"In calculating a formal track record for the strategy, dividend yields are ranked on the last trading day of each year. However, there is no reason why you are limited to ranking stocks only at the end of the year.

"The current market climate appears favorable for using this strategy to garner investment income, since market risk appears below normal and investment income is getting hard to come by.

Continue reading Dogs of the Dow: A look at five high yielders

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ADBE, GIS, MAR, S, TTWO, VZ ...

Analyst upgrades:

  • Deutsche Bank upgraded Garmin (NASDAQ: GRMN) to Hold from Sell as it believes the company's second half of 2009 is tracking better than expected due to retailer restocking. Deutsche raised its target on shares to $33 from $15 but thinks Garmin's long-term trends remain unfavorable.
  • Goldman upgraded Fortune Brands (NYSE: FO) to Buy from Neutral citing potential EPS improvement driven by the Home division. Fortune Brands price target to $49 from $45. Note that the firm downgraded General Mills to Neutral from Buy.
  • Oppenheimer upgraded FPIC Insurance (NASDAQ: FPIC) to Outperform from Perform to reflect the company's acquisition of Advocate MD and management's commitment to share repurchases. The firm set a $49 price target on the stock.
  • PPG Industries (NYSE: PPG) and Olin Corp. (NYSE: OLN) were upgraded to Neutral from Sell at UBS.
  • Synovus (NYSE: SNV) was upgraded to Neutral from Underperform at BofA/Merrill.
  • Take-Two (NASDAQ: TTWO) was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at Piper Jaffray.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ADBE, GIS, MAR, S, TTWO, VZ ...

Verizon (VZ): 'Steady-Eddie'

"Our favorite and steadiest U.S. telecom recommendation is Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ)," says Martin Weiss.

He explains, "We've always liked their steady-Eddie business and their tradition of paying handsome, predictable dividends." Here's the latest from the "conservative portfolio" section of his The Safe Money Report.

Continue reading Verizon (VZ): 'Steady-Eddie'

Telephone talk: Income expert calls up AT&T (T) and Verizon (VZ)

"I remain optimistic that now is a good time to be purchasing high-yielding assets," says growth and income expert Bryan Perry.

Indeed in his industry-leading The Cash Machine, the advisor adds two growth and income picks to his buy list: AT&T (NYSE: T) and Verizon (NYSE: VZ). Here's his assessment.

"Even if you are forecasting a recovery in mid to late 2010, you should be aggressively buying strategic high-income assets over the next three to six months.

Continue reading Telephone talk: Income expert calls up AT&T (T) and Verizon (VZ)

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: BBY, DAI, FTE, LOGM, RIMM ...

Analyst upgrades:

  • Citigroup upgraded National Fuel (NYSE: NFG) to Hold from Sell to reflect better than expected drilling results for the company's Marcellus shale assets. Citi raised its target on shares to $43 from $42.
  • Baird upgraded Netezza (NYSE: NZ) to Outperform from Neutral and raised its target to $14 from $7 based on the company's new product announcement and potential revenue acceleration.
  • JPMorgan upgraded Liberty Interactive (NASDAQ: LINTA) to Overweight from Neutral. The firm finds the valuation attractive following Liberty's better than expected Q2 results and set a $13 price target on the stock.
  • Marlin Business (NASDAQ: MRLN) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at William Blair.
  • Paychex (NASDAQ: PAYX) was upgraded to Sell from Conviction Sell at Goldman.
  • Hewitt Associates (NYSE: HEW) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at UBS.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: BBY, DAI, FTE, LOGM, RIMM ...

Comcast tops projections in Q2, keeps free cash flow steady

Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA), the high-profile cable and Internet provider, produced some good second-quarter stats on Thursday. Reuters says that the 33 cents per share earned in the period beat estimates by 7 cents. According to the company press release, sales increased over 4% and operating cash flow expanded by over 5%. Free cash flow, however, was flat in Q2.

That wasn't a big deal, though. The free cash covered both the dividend and the monies used to repurchase shares. In fact, Reuters reported that the buyback activity in the quarter represented a resumption of the program. We can take that as a positive sign of confidence from management.

Continue reading Comcast tops projections in Q2, keeps free cash flow steady

Earnings highlights: Verizon, RadioShack, MetLife, Kellogg, Exxon, Disney ...

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

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Verizon, RadioShack, MetLife, Kellogg, Exxon, Disney ...

Verizon reports second quarter earnings, matches estimates

Verizon Second Quarter 2009 EarningsThe only DOW component reporting earnings this morning is Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ). The nation's largest wireless carrier reported second quarter numbers that fell inline with analyst estimates.

Going into this morning's earnings report, analysts polled by Thompson Financial expected Verizon to earn 63 cents per share. Excluding merger and various one-time labor costs, Verizon was able to match that number.

Continue reading Verizon reports second quarter earnings, matches estimates

Next Page >

Symbol Lookup
IndexesChangePrice
DJIA+17.4610,023.42
NASDAQ+7.122,112.44
S&P 500+2.671,069.30

Last updated: November 08, 2009: 05:22 PM

BloggingStocks Exclusives

Hot Stocks

DailyFinance Headlines

Latest from BloggingBuyouts

WalletPop Headlines

AOL Business News

BioHealth Investor Headlines

Sponsored Links

My Portfolios

Track your stocks here!

Find out why more people track their portfolios on AOL Money & Finance then anywhere else.

BloggingStocks Partners

More from AOL Money & Finance