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.

Yesterday's announcement of the AT&T (T) and T-Mobile deal gives both companies a clear "win" in the telecommunications sector. Who are the "losers"?

The tower companies have experienced downward pressure today, with American Tower (AMT) currently trading down over 8%, SBA Communications (SBAC) currently down over 10%, and Crown Castle International (CCI) currently hovering down almost 5%.

Continue reading Losers of the AT&T T-Mobile Deal

Losers of the AT&T T-Mobile Deal originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Pay-by-phone technology may be making big moves with Google Inc. (GOOG).

According to rumors, Google plans to begin testing its new mobile phone-based payment service in New York and San Francisco in the next four months. The system, developed by VeriFone Systems (PAY), will allow mobile phones equipped with near-field-communication (NFC) technology to simply tap the phone against the register to complete the transaction.

Continue reading Google: Mobile Payment Service

Google: Mobile Payment Service originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:30:00 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.

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.

Continue reading Qualcomm Joins the Competition for the Tablet Market

Qualcomm Joins the Competition for the Tablet Market originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Rallies Can't Last Forever (EGPT, CSCO, VZ, ATVI, WFMI)

Closing Bell: Rallies Can't Last Forever (EGPT, CSCO, VZ, ATVI, WFMI) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Geopolitics Again Rules, Knocks Markets (EGPT, GLD, USO, AMZN, F, TRMK, VZ, JDSU)

Closing Bell: Geopolitics Again Rules, Knocks Markets (EGPT, GLD, USO, AMZN, F, TRMK, VZ, JDSU) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 16:00:00 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, 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 Closing Bell: Chalk Up a Win (AA, BP, NVDA, INTC, AAPL, SVU, VZ, MBI)

Closing Bell: Chalk Up a Win (AA, BP, NVDA, INTC, AAPL, SVU, VZ, MBI) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 11 Jan 2011 16:20:00 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.

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: New Years Quick Takes

Chasing Value: New Years Quick Takes originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.