Continue reading Consider CenturyLink, Because the Broadband Era Has Just Begun

Consider CenturyLink, Because the Broadband Era Has Just Begun originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Telecom/broadband play CenturyLink Inc. (CTL), formerly known as CenturyTel, first discussed here on November 4, 2010, at a price of $43.05, has exhibited sideways action for the past three months or so, but I still like the shares. Here's why:

CenturyLink's 2011 revenue to rise about 5% on acquisition-based growth,

Louisiana-based CenturyLink is a rural telephone carrier that operates in small and mid-sized cities in 23 states. Its acquisition of Embarq increased its telephone access lines to about 7.3 million and 2.4 million DSL/broadband subscribers.

Continue reading CenturyLink: Broadband Services Growth Play

CenturyLink: Broadband Services Growth Play originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Consider CenturyLink: Because the Future Belongs to Cheaper Broadband

Consider CenturyLink: Because the Future Belongs to Cheaper Broadband originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 04 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Baird upgraded Oshkosh (OSK) to outperform from neutral, citing valuation as it believes post-Iraq U.S. military spending concerns are overdone. The firm keeps a $42 price target for shares.
• Goldman transferred coverage on CenturyTel (CTL) with a buy from a neutral and has a $42 price target on the stock. The firm believes CenturyTel could increase buybacks and or increase its dividend given free cash generation and low payout ratio.
• Lazard Capital upgraded Hatteras Financial (HTS) to buy from hold to reflect increased dividend projections. The firm has a $30 price target for shares.
• EOG Resources (EOG) was upgraded to neutral from underperform at Credit Suisse.
• Donaldson (DCI) was upgraded to neutral from underperform at BofA/Merrill.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: CTL, HTS, ISRG, MCD, MLM, OSK, RUTH, WMS, YUM ...

Analyst Calls: CTL, HTS, ISRG, MCD, MLM, OSK, RUTH, WMS, YUM ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades

• Deutsche Bank upgraded Sonoco Products (SON) to buy from hold after the company reported Q1 results and raised guidance. The firm upped its target for shares to $38 from $32.
• Baird upgraded Western Digital (WDC) to outperform from neutral following the solid Q3 report and guidance. The firm raised its target to $50 from $48.
• Goldman upgraded Qwest (Q) to neutral from sell. Qwest is being acquired by CenturyLink (CTL).
• Hershey (HSY) was upgraded to neutral from underweight at JPMorgan.
• Principal Financial (PFG) was upgraded to neutral from sell at UBS.
• Monster Worldwide (MWW) was upgraded to market perform from underperform at Wells Fargo.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: WDC, Q, HSY, BWLD, NOK, COP, KFT, VZ ...

Analyst Calls: WDC, Q, HSY, BWLD, NOK, COP, KFT, VZ ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Before the Bell: Futures Lower on Earnings, Mixed Economic Data

Before the Bell: Futures Lower on Earnings, Mixed Economic Data originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Unfortunately, most of us can't attend the World Series in person. What some of us do, though, is get our scores in real time over the phone. The World Series is becoming more data centric, real time, and wireless, like almost all other aspects of our modern lives, and telecommunications company CenturyTel Inc. (NYSE: CTL) is an enabler of this trend. CenturyTel, which provides voice and data services operating in 22 states, is benefiting from long-term secular trends, and has yet to be fully recognized by the market.

Continue reading World Series trade #1: CenturyTel (CTL)

World Series trade #1: CenturyTel (CTL) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Baseball fans worldwide continue to warm themselves around the glow of the television to watch the Phillies and Yankees battle it out in the World Series.

Well, sports fans, I know you're psyched, but I have something just as exciting for you: six home run trades.

Peter Lynch had his "take a walk down Main Street" style of investing, so let's call this the "take me out to the ball game" approach to trading. I'm going to give you six trades that I think will knock it out of the park.

Continue reading Six home run World Series trades

Six home run World Series trades originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Deutsche Bank upgraded Blackrock (NYSE: BLK) to Buy from Hold as it believes the BGI acquisition is becoming more accretive with the market rally and that the company's core trends are healthy. The firm raised its target on shares to $230 from $180.
• Citigroup upgraded Burlington Northern (NYSE: BNI) to Hold from Sell as it believes the risk/reward on shares is balanced based on 2010 estimates. Citi raised its target on shares to $89 from $75.
• Auriga upgraded Eclipsys (NASDAQ: ECLP) to Buy from Hold on expectations the company's margin expansion initiatives will drive benefits in 2010 and 2011. The firm raised its target on shares to $24 from $16.
• Seagate (NASDAQ: STX) was upgraded to Overweight from Market Weight at Thomas Weisel and to Buy from Hold at Deutsche Bank.
• Web.com (NASDAQ: WWWW) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at FBR Capital.
• CenturyTel (NYSE: CTL) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AMZN, BLK, BNI, CCL, JPM, PNC, UTX ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AMZN, BLK, BNI, CCL, JPM, PNC, UTX ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Thomas Weisel upgraded SanDisk (NASDAQ: SNDK) to Overweight from Market Weight due to accelerating manufacturing cost declines, potential NAND flash sourcing upside at Toshiba (OTC: TOSBF) and Samsung and an increase in 2H09 demand.
  
• Oppenheimer upgraded Quality Systems (NASDAQ: QSII) to Perform from Underperform to reflect potential benefits from the stimulus package and channel checks that indicated IT budgets are stabilizing. The firm raised its target price on shares to $54 from $40.
  
• RBC Capital upgraded OSI Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: OSIP) to Outperform from Sector Perform following positive Tarceva survey results and cites valuation.
• Marriott (NYSE: MAR) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at JMP Securities.
  
• Grainger (NYSE: GWW) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at BofA/Merrill.
  
• Duncan Energy Partners (NASDAQ: DEP) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at UBS.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: SNDK, POT, BK, ASIA ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: SNDK, POT, BK, ASIA ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Jefferies upgraded SAP (NYSE: SAP) to Buy from Hold on expectations license declines will trough in Q2 and margins will expand going forward due to cost control and price increases. The firm has a $46 price target on shares.
• BofA/Merrill upgraded STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM) to Buy from Underperform on expectations the company will benefit from improving industry fundamentals in 2010.
• Citigroup upgraded Freeport McMoRan (NYSE: FCX) to Buy from Hold to reflect the firm's positive copper outlook, as well as valuation following the recent pullback in shares. The firm has a $58 price target on the stock.
• Phototronics (NASDAQ: PLAB) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at UBS.
• Anglo American (NASDAQ: AAUK) was raised to Hold from Sell at RBS.
• Peabody Energy (NASDAQ: BTU) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ACI, HOT, LUV, QCOM, RTP, SAP ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ACI, HOT, LUV, QCOM, RTP, SAP ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Western Digital (WDC) added to S&P 500

Western Digital (WDC) added to S&P 500 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 22 May 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Calyon upgraded major network carriers based on falling oil prices and capacity cuts. The analyst is positive over the next 12 months but cautious short-term given the uncertain economy, and volatile markets and oil prices. AMR Corp (NYSE: AMR) and Delta Air (NYSE: DAL) were upgraded to Add from Neutral and UAL Corp (NASDAQ: UAUA) was raised to Neutral from Reduce.
• Ryanair (NASDAQ: RYAAY) was upgraded at Citigroup to Buy from Hold.
• Boardwalk Pipeline (NYSE: BWP) was raised to Buy from Hold at Deutsche Bank.
• Cowen lifted Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) to Outperform from Neutral.
• JP Morgan upgraded Choice Hotels (NYSE: CHH) to Neutral from Underweight following the better-than-expected Q3 report.
• Oppenheimer upgraded shares of Integra LifeSciences (NASDAQ: IART) to Outperform from Perform on valuation, the company's minimal exposure to economic conditions, and expectations for margin improvement and a rebound in organic growth.

• Sherwin-Williams (NYSE: SHW) and AerCap Holdings (NYSE: AER) were downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at JP Morgan.
• UBS downgraded Embarq (NYSE: EQ) to Neutral from Buy following the CenturyTel (NYSE: CTL) merger announcement.

Continue reading Analyst calls: AMR, DAL, UAUA, RYAAY, BIIB, SHW, EQ, INTU, NYT, GOOG, YHOO ...

Analyst calls: AMR, DAL, UAUA, RYAAY, BIIB, SHW, EQ, INTU, NYT, GOOG, YHOO ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a series in which TheStockAdvisors.com asked financial experts to name their top stock pick if McCain or if Obama wins the election.

"A President McCain will be pro-growth but should be more aggressive in oversight as it pertains to mergers and acquisitions; with that being said, we like CenturyTel Inc. (NYSE: CTL)," says Kelley Wright, editor of Investment Quality Trends.

"CTL provides a variety of communications services to 25 states in primarily rural area and small to mid-size cities.

"The company offers local and long distance services, as well as enhanced voice services, as well as high-speed and dial-up Internet.

"In June the company increased its annual dividend to $2.80 from $0.27, reflecting its confidence in their growth model and as a deterrent to possible suitors.

"The blue-chip stocks that we recommend, including CTL, show exemplary long-term dividend growth, a P/E ratio of 15 or less, a payout ratio of 50% or less, debt of 50% or less, and technical characteristics on the daily and weekly charts that suggests the potential for imminent capital appreciation.

"Currently yielding almost 7.0%, CTL offers tremendous value in both dividend yield and the potential for long-term capital appreciation."

Steven Halpern's TheStockAdvisors.com offers a daily look at the latest market commentary and favorite stock picks and investment ideas from the nation's leading financial newsletter advisors.

McCain stock: Pro-growth strategy for CenturyTel (CTL) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 12 Oct 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: What an awful moment

Cramer on BloggingStocks: What an awful moment originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

CenturyTel (NYSE: CTL) is an integrated communications company, providing carrier and enterprise level network access, local and long distance voice service, Internet access and broadband services. Its rural local-exchange carrier subsidiaries operate in the smaller communities of 25 states. Its core service areas are in Alabama, Arkansas, Missouri, Washington, and Wisconsin. AT&T (NYSE: T) is a major competitor.

The company pleased investors late last month, when it increased its annual cash dividend from 27 cents to $2.80, declared a one-time dividend of 63.25 cents per share, and accelerated the current share repurchase program to complete the remaining balance of about $385 million by early 2009. Management also said it expected to meet, or exceed, previously announced Q2 guidance for EPS of 78-82 cents (80 cent consensus) and revenues of $647-$657 million ($652.7M consensus). Soleil and Stanford Research subsequently upgraded CTL shares to "buy" status.

Continue reading CenturyTel (CTL): Share price cycles in bullish 'flag'

CenturyTel (CTL): Share price cycles in bullish 'flag' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• UBS started shares of Delta Air Lines Inc (NYSE: DAL) with a Reduce rating and $17 target on valuation and management's overly optimistic outlook.

• Deutsche Bank prefers to wait of a better entry point for Goodrich Corp (NYSE: GR) and initiated shares with a Hold rating.

• Opnext Inc (NASDAQ: OPXT) was initiated at JP Morgan with a Neutral rating citing concerns regarding new transceiver margins.

• Prudential believes Terex Corp (NYSE: TEX) is well positioned to take advantage of strong sustainable growth in the global infrastructure and mining markets over at least the rest of the decade, starting shares with an Overweight rating.

• RBC Capital started Aruba Networks (NASDAQ: ARUN) with a Sector Perform rating while Lehman Bros initiated Aruba with an Overweight rating.

• Deutsche Bank started Delta Petroleum Corp (NASDAQ: DPTR) with a Buy rating and $27 target.

• JMP Securities started Hersha Hospitality Trust (AMEX: HT) with an Outperform rating and $14 target.

• Credit Suisse assumed coverage of Interline Brands, Inc (NYSE: IBI) with an Outperform rating and $34 target.

• Credit Suisse reinstated Brooks Automation, Inc (NASDAQ: BRKS) with a Neutral rating.

• Goldman Sachs started CenturyTel, Inc (NYSE: CTL) with a Sell rating and $42 target on valuation.

• B. Riley initiated Insteel Industries, Inc (NASDAQ: IIIN) with a Buy rating and $24 target.

Analyst initiations 5-07-07: BRKS, DAL and GR originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 07 May 2007 11:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Morgan Stanley downgraded CACI International (NYSE: CAI) and SAIC Inc (NYSE: SAI) to Underweight from Equal Weight to reflect concerns over an increasingly unfavorable political environment as the risk of reduced funding for federal IT initiatives grows.

• Soleil downgraded shares of CenturyTel (NYSE: CTL) to Sell from Hold on valuation and a possibly active hurricane season.

• Honda Motor Co (NYSE: HMC) was cut to Neutral from Buy at Merrill Lynch.

• Micron Technology (NYSE: MU) was downgraded to Sell from Neutral at Goldman Sachs as the firm believes improvements in DRAM pricing will be short lived and that the company will continue to generate losses given its poor cost structure.

• CSX Corp (NYSE: CSX) was downgraded to Reduce from Neutral at Calyon on valuation and deteriorating volume.

• Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK) was cut to Neutral from Overweight at JP Morgan.

• Inverness Medical Innovations, Inc (AMEX: IMA) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Stifel.

• WebSideStory, Inc (NASDAQ: WSSI) was downgraded to Sector Perform from Outperform at RBC, citing short-term execution risks.

• Jefferies downgraded Cerner Corp (NASDAQ: CERN) to Hold from Buy.

Analyst downgrades 4-05-07: Honda Motor, Micron Tech & CSX Corp downgraded today originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 05 Apr 2007 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.