[March 29, 2012] The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Apple, Google, Sprint Nextel, Dish Network and Verizon Communications Tweet CHICAGO, March 29, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- 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 Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL), Google Inc. (Nasdaq: GOOG), Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S), Dish Network Corp. (Nasdaq: DISH) and Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ). (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101027/ZIRLOGO) Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513 Here are highlights from Wednesday's Analyst Blog: Spectrum: A Wireless Game Changer The present wireless market is ready for the incipient boom in the wireless data space with expanding broadband services. Data traffic is growing in leaps and bounds and has more than doubled over the last three years. As a result, U.S. carriers are finding it increasingly difficult to manage rising mobile data traffic. The situation becomes even worse with the growing popularity of Apple Inc.'s (Nasdaq: AAPL) iPhone and Google Inc. (Nasdaq: GOOG) Android smartphones. Stiff competitive pressure and limited wireless spectrum licenses add to the difficulties. The carriers are in need of additional airwaves to expand their high-speed services and support 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE) mobile broadband services. As a result, the wireless industry in 2012 is intent on tapping unused spectrums to expand their capacity. Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S), which is in the midst of a multibillion-dollar network upgrade, may strike a deal to acquire wireless spectrum licenses from satellite TV provider Dish Network Corp. (Nasdaq: DISH) sometime in the near future. Under the deal, Dish could provide wireless services using the Sprint network and its spectrum. After focusing for several years on cost containment and business stabilization, Sprint is slowly turning around its post-paid wireless business. This in-vogue business is expected to benefit from increased penetration of smartphones, rising average revenue per user and lower churn. Dish had previously disclosed its willingness to partner with wireless operators like Sprint. It is seeking regulatory approval to build cellular networks using the $3 billion airwaves bought earlier. Alternatively, Sprint can participate in the U.S. government auction for the purchase of spectrum. Sprint, the third-largest U.S. wireless carrier, is in need of additional spectrums, which could improve its competitive position vis-a-vis its larger rivals such as Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ). Spectrum purchase has thus become a moot point for these wireless operators and we will be carefully watching how it all unravels going ahead. As such, we are currently maintaining our long-term Neutral recommendation on Sprint, AT&T and Verizon. For the short term, the stocks retain the Zacks #3 Rank (Hold). Want more from Zacks Equity Research? Subscribe to the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5515. About Zacks Equity Research Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term. Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons. Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter provides highlights of the latest analysis from Zacks Equity Research. Subscribe to this free newsletter today: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5517 About Zacks Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978 by Leon Zacks. As a PhD from MIT Len knew he could find patterns in stock market data that would lead to superior investment results. Amongst his many accomplishments was the formation of his proprietary stock picking system; the Zacks Rank, which continues to outperform the market by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. The best way to unlock the profitable stock recommendations and market insights of Zacks Investment Research is through our free daily email newsletter; Profit from the Pros. In short, it's your steady flow of Profitable ideas GUARANTEED to be worth your time! Register for your free subscription to Profit from the Pros at http://at.zacks.com/?id=5518. 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