Analyst Upgrades

• Alcatel-Lucent (ALU) to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• Nvidia (NVDA) to outperform from market perform at JMP Securities.
• Verizon (VZ), AT&T (T), Leap Wireless (LEAP) and MetroPCS (PCS) to outperform from neutral at RW Baird.
• Illumina (ILMN) to buy from hold at Auriga.
• Sun Bancorp (SNBC) to neutral from sell at Janney Capital.
• American Tower (AMT), SBA Communications (SBAC) and Freeport McMoRan (FCX) to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ALU, BTU, FCX, LEAP, MAR, NTRS, NVDA, PCS, T, VZ ...

Analyst Calls: ALU, BTU, FCX, LEAP, MAR, NTRS, NVDA, PCS, T, VZ ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Verizon Communications (VZ), first discussed here on February 12, 2009, at a price of $29.86, continues to power higher, ascending to about $37 with a few hiccups, and I still like the shares here.

In 2011, slow growth and dividend play Verizon should post a 2% to 2.5% revenue gain, after flattish revenue in 2010, with data services being the key revenue increase driver. Meanwhile, Verizon's landline business continues to provide revenue stability.

Continue reading Verizon: Safety Plus Growth

Verizon: Safety Plus Growth originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

AT&T (T) recently announced its proposed acquisition of T-Mobile in a cash and stock offer valued at roughly $39 billion. This is a significant announcement given the size of the two companies and since there was speculation that Sprint (S) might look to acquire T-Mobile. Sprint's shares were down 14% on this news. AT&T's move pits it firmly against Verizon (VZ) as both operators continue to build out their 4G networks.

Our price estimate for AT&T's stock stands at $35.80 which is around 40% ahead of the market price.

Continue reading The Race for 4G: AT&T Buys T-Mobile

The Race for 4G: AT&T Buys T-Mobile originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Ma Bell Returns: AT&T to Buy T-Mobile for $39 Billion

Ma Bell Returns: AT&T to Buy T-Mobile for $39 Billion originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"We like stocks. And we like a lot of 'em. We focus on broadly diversified investments in undervalued stocks for their long-term appreciation potential," says value investor John Buckingham.

The money manager and editor of The Prudent Speculator explains, "Each month, we suggest a group of stocks that could help serve as a portfolio foundation. Here's a look at three such portfolio 'foundation' stocks: Kraft Foods (KFT), Verizon Communications (VZ) and Waste Management (WM).

Continue reading 'Foundation' Stocks: Kraft, Verizon and Waste Management

'Foundation' Stocks: Kraft, Verizon and Waste Management originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Verizon (VZ) primarily competes with Sprint Nextel (S) and AT&T (T) in the mobile subscription plan business. The average monthly fee that Verizon's postpaid wireless subscribers pay for wireless service, excluding data service, has been consistently declining over the past few years. The decline in pricing is mainly attributable to nearing saturation of the U.S. cellular market, creating fierce competition among telecom players to maintain and increase their market share.

A successful Verizon-iPhone (AAPL) deal and rising data revenues from smart phone penetration could, however, offset declines in average mobile plan prices.

Continue reading Outlook for Verizon's Mobile Plan Pricing

Outlook for Verizon's Mobile Plan Pricing originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I first discussed Sprint Nextel (S) here on December 6, 2010, at a price of $4.17, and shares did push above $4.70 this winter before retreating on the market's recent pullback. I still like the shares at this stage, though.

However, keep in mind that Sprint is a high-risk stock, not suitable for low-risk or moderate-risk investors. Don't consider Sprint if you can't tolerate a more than 50% to 70% loss or seeing your entire investment wiped out -- it could happen.

Continue reading Sprint Nextel: Incremental Progress

Sprint Nextel: Incremental Progress originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Yesterday marked a pretty big day for Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ), as customers could finally walk into a Verizon store and pick up an iPhone. Some analysts had expected to see some long lines, but they did not materialize, creating the impression that the launch was less than successful, but looks can be deceiving.

It is easy to understand where the confusion comes from. In the past, whenever Apple released a new iPhone we saw long lines and often not even supply to cover the launch date demand, resulting in long waits for eager iPhone fanatics to get their hands on the new smartphone.

Continue reading Small Lines for Verizon's iPhone Launch Could Be Deceiving

Small Lines for Verizon's iPhone Launch Could Be Deceiving originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Verizon Communications (VZ), first discussed here on February 12, 2009, at a price of $29.86, has pushed through $30 resistance with room to spare, and one could make the argument that VZ is overvalued at this stage.

But that's not the argument favored here.

Look for slow growth/dividend play Verizon to post a 2% to 2.5% revenue gain in 2011, after flatish revenue in 2010, with data services being the key revenue increase driver. Meanwhile, Verizon's landline business continues to provide revenue stability.

Continue reading Is Verizon Overvalued?

Is Verizon Overvalued? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Verizon (VZ) to conviction buy from buy at Goldman.
• CSX (CSX) to outperform from market perform at Wells Fargo.
• AK Steel (AKS) to overweight from neutral, as well as Lorillard (LO) and Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) to neutral from underweight, at JPMorgan.
• Marathon Oil (MRO) to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley.
• Corning (GLW) to buy from outperform at CLSA.
• Quest Diagnostics (DGX) to buy from hold at Jefferies and to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.
• Salesforce.com (CRM) to buy from neutral at Roth Capital.
• Baker Hughes (BHI) to buy from hold at Weeden and to outperform from neutral at Macquarie.
• Western Digital (WDC) and Seagate (STX) to buy from underperform at BofA/Merrill.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AKS, CIEN, CRM, CSX, DGX, GLW, LO, MRO, OXY, STX, VZ ...

Analyst Calls: AKS, CIEN, CRM, CSX, DGX, GLW, LO, MRO, OXY, STX, VZ ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Dominion (D) to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.
• Corinthian Colleges (COCO) to outperform from underperform at RBC Capital.
• Canadian National (CNI) to sector outperformer from sector performer at CIBC.
• DragonWave (DRWI) to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• Infosys (INFY) to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley.
• SL Green Realty (SLG), Lexington Realty (LXP) and Taubman Centers (TCO) to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Sunstone Hotel (SHO) to buy from neutral and Extra Space Storage (EXR) to buy from hold at KeyBanc.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AEP, CCL, CNI, D, FDX, HAS, INFY, MAT, RCL, S, T, UPS, VZ ...

Analyst Calls: AEP, CCL, CNI, D, FDX, HAS, INFY, MAT, RCL, S, T, UPS, VZ ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As everyone knows by now, the Apple (AAPL) iPhone is headed for Verizon's (VZ) reportedly more reliable network. With so much excitement over the announcement, traders and investors can look at various ways to profit off of this.

The obvious beneficiary is Apple, but there are additional ways to play it, such as the advertising companies, as Verizon hits the airwaves to promote the iPhone, even at the expense of the Android. A few ideas to consider include names like CBS (CBS) and Viacom (VIA), which should win no matter which platform wins.

Continue reading Trading the Verizon iPhone

Trading the Verizon iPhone originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Verizon (VZ), FEMSA (FMX), Vornado (VNO), Duke Realty (DRE) and AvalonBay (AVB) to buy from neutral, as well as Carnival (CCL) to conviction buy from buy, at Goldman.
• Symantec (SYMC) to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Copano Energy (CPNO), DCP Midstream (DPM) and Inergy (NRGY) to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley.
• SYNNEX (SNX) to strong buy from buy at Needham.
• Eli Lilly (LLY) to hold from sell at Hapoalim.
• World Wrestling (WWE) to buy from neutral at Roth Capital.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AKS, CCL, EOG, GE, GS, LLY, SNDK, T, TLB, TUP, VZ, WWE ...

Analyst Calls: AKS, CCL, EOG, GE, GS, LLY, SNDK, T, TLB, TUP, VZ, WWE ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Google to Take a Hit from Verizon's iPhone?

Google to Take a Hit from Verizon's iPhone? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 11 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Verizon Releases Details on the iPhone Release

Verizon Releases Details on the iPhone Release originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 11 Jan 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The battle among iPhone carriers is fierce. Apple's (AAPL) iPhone is the prized device. AT&T (T), Verizon's (VZ) rival, has had the an exclusive hold on the iPhone. Verizon has been trying to play catch up. Now that Verizon will have the iPhone, the playing field will change dramatically. Verizon, with about 93 million subscribers, could grab an estimated 10 million new subscribers with the iPhone, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.

The move is also a big boost for Apple. Apple has been feeling the pressure from Google (GOOG), with its Android system. Android phones passed the iPhone in sales in the second quarter. This move to Verizon will open up a new expanded base for Apple.

Continue reading Verizon Finally Gets the iPhone

Verizon Finally Gets the iPhone originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 09 Jan 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Chasing Value: Don't Be Happy -- Worry!

Chasing Value: Don't Be Happy -- Worry! originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The wireless communication world is about to receive a new entrant, as the country's third-largest cable company will start a cellular network in three areas today. The company? Cox Communications.

Before you think that this wireless network will be available across the U.S., Cox's wireless offerings will be available in Orange County, California; Omaha, Nebraska; and Hampton Roads, Virginia. These three locales are where Cox is the local cable company, and they hold roughly 1.5 million residents.

Continue reading Cox Communications Launches Cell Phone Service

Cox Communications Launches Cell Phone Service originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Slow growth/dividend play Verizon Communications (VZ), first discussed here on February 12, 2009, at a price of $29.86, is registering more growth than expected, and I obviously still like the shares here.

Moreover, Verizon's chart appears to be forming a cup-with-a-handle -- a bullish formation.

Verizon will likely post 2% to 2.5% revenue gain in 2011, after flattish revenue in 2010, with data services being the key revenue increase driver. Cell phone subscriber additions should lead the sector, but competition may hurt overall subscription prices. Further, if unlimited service for a flat fee becomes the sector norm, that would further dent wireless revenue. As of June 2010, Verizon had 93 million wireless subscribers, with another 8 million devices connected to its network. A rock-solid $1.95 annual dividend - good for a 6% yield at the current stock price of about $32.50 -- adds to the positive mix.

Continue reading Verizon: Back Up the Truck

Verizon: Back Up the Truck originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 01 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Verizon Communications (VZ) is down over 2% as I write this. Shares are exchanging hands for $31.79. Volume isn't that impressive, but we'll have to see where it ends up when the trading day is completed (there's still over two hours to go before the bell is rung).

According to the Associated Press, the telecom entity reported adjusted income of 56 cents per share for the third quarter. Expectations were set at 54 cents per share. So management was able to beat the analysts.

Continue reading Verizon Drops After Third-Quarter Report

Verizon Drops After Third-Quarter Report originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.