CHICAGO, June 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Zacks.com announces
the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the
Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events
impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently
featured in the blog include: Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S),
Motorola Mobility Inc. (NYSE: MMI), Google Inc.
(Nasdaq: GOOG), Clearwire Corp. (Nasdaq: CLWR) and
Brown-Forman Corp. (NYSE: BF.B).
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Here are highlights from Friday's Analyst Blog:
Sprint, Motorola Seize 4G Frenzy
The third-largest U.S. wireless carrier Sprint Nextel
Corp. (NYSE: S) plans to launch 10 new wireless devices
(smartphones and tablets) in collaboration with Motorola
Mobility Inc. (NYSE: MMI).
The "Motorola Photon 4G" smartphone is on the top of the 10 new
device list. The Photon 4G will be the first WiMAX device
with a dual-core 1GHz processor. The second handset "The Motorola
Triumph", is the first Motorola device to be sold through Sprint's
Virgin Mobile and Boost Mobile prepaid brands. Both handsets will
run on Google Inc.'s (Nasdaq: GOOG) Android operating system
and are slated for a summer launch.
The company's first Motorola smartphone "Motorola XPRT",
launched on June 5, includes
push-to-talk features. In addition, the company currently offers
WiFi Motorola Xoom and "Motorola Clutch + i475". Two more handsets
"Motorola Theory" and "Motorola i412" will be available later this
month with Boost Mobile's Monthly Unlimited with Shrinkage plan.
Motorola Clutch + i475 and i412 are the latest walkie-talkie phones
to offer push-to-talk service. Further, the "Motorola Titanium" is
slated to launch late summer and will use push-to-talk
features.
Sprint will retain its primary focus on the 4G network, which is
a major prospect in the wireless market and may boost revenues.
Earlier this week, the company announced the launch of a 4G handset
"HTC EVO 3D" and a 4G tablet "HTC EVO View 4G". Both devices will
use Clearwire Corp.'s (Nasdaq: CLWR) mobile WiMax (a
wireless broadband technology) network.
We believe an attractive wireless product and service mix, wider
4G network footprint, prepaid brands like Assurance Wireless and
Virgin Mobile, Boost Mobile's Monthly Unlimited plans as well as
the Network Vision initiative will continue to add opportunities in
the wireless businesses.
Sprint continues to focus on device leadership, especially in
4G. Sprint's 3G/4G netbook and notebook, MiFi 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot,
Overdrive Pro 3G/4G Mobile Hot Spot, BlackBerry 4G PlayBook and
three 4G smartphones –– EVO 4G, Samsung Epic and HTC EVO Shift 4G
are gaining popularity in the U.S. market. In addition, the launch
of 4G tablet –– the BlackBerry 4G PlayBook –– and another
handset, the Nexus S 4G, are on the company's cards this year.
These devices are expected to boost margins and earnings going
forward.
However, we believe Sprint is now no longer the only major
carrier offering 4G network. The company's market advantage for its
4G wireless service eroded as other carriers started offering
competitive services. Verizon already covered approximately 38
markets with around 110 million people by the end of December 2010. Additionally, AT&T plans to
roll out its 4G services this summer.
Additionally, we remain cautious due to lower margins in
wireless and wireline businesses, higher payments made to
Clearwire, increased subsidies, heavy investments and aggravated
competitive threats.
We are currently maintaining our long-term Neutral
recommendation on Sprint supported by the Zacks #3 (Hold) Rank.
Brown-Forman Profit Surges
Brown-Forman Corp. (NYSE: BF.B) recorded fiscal 2011
fourth-quarter earnings of $1.13 a
share compared with 49 cents a share
in the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the
quarter was 64 cents a share.
The robust increase in quarterly earnings was primarily driven
by strong top-line growth and improved margin along with benefit
from sale of Hopland based wine business and low tax rate.
Dividend
During the quarter, Brown-Forman paid a regular quarterly cash
dividend of 3.2 cents a share on
Class A and Class B common stock.
Guidance and Zacks Consensus
Moving forward, Brown-Forman anticipates moderate improvement in
global economic conditions and customer trends in fiscal 2012.
Accordingly, the company has delivered its earnings guidance in the
range of $3.45 to $3.85 per
share.
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