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.

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.

Sprint (S) is expected to report Q4 EPS on February 10. January 5 calls are active on total call option volume of 73K (19K puts). March call option implied volatility is at 48, May is at 39, August and January is at 36, compared to its 26-week average of 52, according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Proshares UltraShort 20+ Year Treasury ETF (TBT) overall option implied volatility is flat at 32, according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price movement.

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

Options Update: Sprint Calls Active on Low Volatility into EPS and Outlook originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 09:00:00 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.

Is the tide starting to turn for much-maligned mobile phone service provider Sprint Nextel (S)? Perhaps, and the carrier is worth a review.

First, the most important warning: 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: For High-Risk Investors, Only

Sprint Nextel: For High-Risk Investors, Only originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Merger-Monday's Market Mix (AAPL, BUCY, CAT, CSUN, GTSI, ISLN, EMC, S)

Closing Bell: Merger-Monday's Market Mix (AAPL, BUCY, CAT, CSUN, GTSI, ISLN, EMC, S) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Best Buy to Resell Clearwire's Mobile Broadband

Best Buy to Resell Clearwire's Mobile Broadband originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I would bet my last dollar that someone out there has done the following: signed the necessary contract required to get that hot new smartphone with the thoughts that an escape clause will be easy to find. AT&T (T) is trying to make that escape clause much less attractive for fans of Apple's (AAPL) iPhone.

Starting June 1, AT&T customers carrying an iPhone will face a $325 termination fee if they break their two-year contract. That's a jump of roughly 85% from the current $175 fine. Ouch!

Continue reading AT&T Makes It Pricier to Escape Its Contract

AT&T Makes It Pricier to Escape Its Contract originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 22 May 2010 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Sprint Nextel Goes for Broke: Introduces the Lowest Prepaid Plan in the Industry

Sprint Nextel Goes for Broke: Introduces the Lowest Prepaid Plan in the Industry originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 06 May 2010 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF) received an analyst's upgrade ahead of next week's Q4 earnings report.
• Acer Inc. reported its highest quarterly earnings in almost three years due in part to growth in shipments.
• Baidu Inc. (BIDU) swung to a better-than-expected Q4 profit, with strong revenue growth, and offered rosy guidance.
• Biogen Idec Inc. (BIIB) offered an upside surprise as well as full-year earnings above Wall Street estimates.
• Coinstar Inc. (CSTR) strong quarterly results and guidance, as well as litigation concerns, failed to inspire Wall Street.
• Coca-Cola Co. (KO) posted strong Q4 and full-year earnings results due to growth in emerging markets.

Continue reading Earnings Highlights: Acer, Baidu, Coca-Cola, Disney, Hasbro, Sprint ...

Earnings Highlights: Acer, Baidu, Coca-Cola, Disney, Hasbro, Sprint ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 13 Feb 2010 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

One facet of the Obama administration's sweeping stimulus initiatives of which I have taken particular interest is its protracted effort to increase our national broadband access and capabilities. In pursuit of that end, The Broadband Technologies Opportunities Program (BTOP), which seeks to build and enhance broadband access in unserved and underserved regions of our country, has been provided with over $4.5 billion in Recovery Act funds.

I am pleased to report that amazingly, BTOP has already dispensed with much of the red tape that might normally bog down an effort of this magnitude. Large chunks of BTOP funds are beginning to be granted. In the short term, the benefit of this program may well be to create jobs. In the long term, these infrastructure improvements could possibly increase the profit bases of companies such as Verizon Communications (VZ), Sprint Nextel Corp. (S), AT&T (ATT) and a host of other digital communication and entertainment providers.

Continue reading Big Stimulus Money Is Hitting the Wires

Big Stimulus Money Is Hitting the Wires originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Quarterly reports continue to roll out this week, with results due from Allstate Corp. (ALL), Coca-Cola Co. (KO), Marriott International Inc. (MAR), Molson Coors Brewing Co. (TAP), New York Times Co. (NYT), Pepsico Inc. (PEP), Sprint Nextel Corp. (S), Viacom (VIA), Walt Disney Co. (DIS) and many others. Here's a look at a few of the companies that analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect to be the biggest earnings gainers this week.

Analysts are looking for Coinstar Inc. (CSTR), which distributes coin-counting, DVD-rental, and other self-service kiosks, to report that its fourth-quarter earnings more than doubled from a year ago to $0.32 per share. Revenue for the three months that ended in December is expected to have jumped 26.1% to $329.2 million. The analysts' forecast for the full year calls for earnings of $0.94 per share (+46.8%) on $1.2 billion in revenue (+25.9%). Coinstar has beat earnings estimates in the past three quarters, by as much as six cents per share.

Continue reading The Week in Preview: High Hopes for Coinstar, Agilent, Chipotle, Baidu, Hasbro

The Week in Preview: High Hopes for Coinstar, Agilent, Chipotle, Baidu, Hasbro originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 07 Feb 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

While Sprint Nextel (S) continues to leach wireless customers to the larger competitors, it is propping itself up by taking the lead in prepaid wireless), and by recently winning the top spot in business customer satisfaction for both wireless voice and wireless data services from a survey of large business decision makers.

Why isn't that success translating into more contract wireless customers in the consumer sector?

Continue reading Sprint Nextel Tops Business Use Satisfaction Survey: Now, on to Capitalizing on It

Sprint Nextel Tops Business Use Satisfaction Survey: Now, on to Capitalizing on It originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Deutsche Bank upgraded U.S. Steel (X) to buy from hold after raising its steel forecasts and upped its target price on shares to $77 from $44. Note, the firm also downgraded AK Steel.
• Credit Suisse upgraded Philip Morris (PM) to outperform from neutral based on a better international outlook.
• JPMorgan upgraded ev3 Inc. (EVVV) to overweight from neutral. The firm sees upside potential to ev3's consensus estimates for 2010 and raised its target price on shares to $19 from $15.
• Vale (VALE) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
• Xilinx (XLNX) was raised to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.
• Shuffle Master (SHFL) was upgraded at KeyBanc to buy from hold.

Continue reading Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: AKS, EVVV, PEB, PM, PWR, S, X ...

Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: AKS, EVVV, PEB, PM, PWR, S, X ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As soon as Verizon Wireless (VZ) cut prices on its wireless calling plans last week, smaller competitor AT&T (T) did the same. Or, should we say, Verizon and AT&T simply rearranged pricing plans to grab psychological mind share more than anything.

As voice becomes something used less every year (while data use skyrockets), charging less for voice calls and more for data features is simply moving things around. Looks better for the customer, but makes little to any difference in revenue for the wireless carrier.

Continue reading Verizon and AT&T in Wireless Plan Pricing War

Verizon and AT&T in Wireless Plan Pricing War originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Sprint Finally Brings Prepaid Wireless to Its Own Brand

Sprint Finally Brings Prepaid Wireless to Its Own Brand originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a special report, Top Picks for 2010, the 27th annual survey in which TheStockAdvisors.com asks the nation's leading advisors for their single favorite stock for the new year. See all 80 stocks listed here.

"Fundamentally, Amdocs (DOX) has a bargain basement valuation based on its price to growth," says Melvin Pasternak, in selected the stock as his top pick for 2010.

In his Trade of the Week, he adds, "Technically, on a two year weekly chart the stock has broken out to the upside."

Continue reading Top Picks for 2010: Amdocs (DOX)

Top Picks for 2010: Amdocs (DOX) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 26 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Sprint Nextel's moves Boost Mobile head to oversee 4G development

Sprint Nextel's moves Boost Mobile head to oversee 4G development originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• FBR Capital upgraded Boston Properties (BXP) and BioMed Realty Trust (BMR) to outperform from market perform after introducing 2011-2012 estimates for the sector. The firm raised its target on Boston Properties to $74.50 from $70 and on BioMed Realty to $17 from $15.50.
• Citigroup upgraded Sysco (SYY) to buy from hold after its channel checks indicated the company's trends are gradually improving. The firm raised its target on shares to $34 from $28.
• Stephens upgraded Smithfield Foods (SFD) to overweight from equal weight on expectations the company's hog production profitability will improve. The firm raised its target price on shares to $20 from $16.
• Nokia (NOK) was upgraded to market perform from underperform at BMO Capital.
• Suntech (STP) was upgraded to market weight from underweight at Thomas Weisel.
• Forest Oil (FST) was upgraded to equal weight from underweight at Morgan Stanley.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AAPL, BXP, MOT, NOK, S, RBS, TWC ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AAPL, BXP, MOT, NOK, S, RBS, TWC ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• FBR Capital upgraded Bank of America (BAC) to outperform from market perform to reflect its positive view of the company's $20.5M common equity raise and $45B TARP repayment. The firm believes the $20.5B capital raise is lower than some expected and that Bank of America could potentially announce a new CEO by year-end. FBR raised its price target on shares to $20 from $15.
• JPMorgan upgraded Kennametal (KMT) to overweight from neutral. The firm, which has a $30 target on the stock, cites the recent pullback in shares and believes increased industrial production in 2010 could be a positive catalyst for the company.
• Credit Suisse upgraded Ternium (TX) to outperform from neutral and raised its target to $40 from $31. The firm upgraded shares based on expectations for further improvements in profitability.
• G-III Apparel (GIII) was upgraded to overweight from market weight at Thomas Weisel.
• Cubist Pharma (CBST) was raised to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.
• AvalonBay (AVB) was upgraded to neutral from sell at Goldman.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AAPL, AMZN, BAC, DRYS, GENZ, REG, S ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AAPL, AMZN, BAC, DRYS, GENZ, REG, S ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.