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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Verizon Communications, Vodafone Group plc, AT&T, Sprint Nextel and ClearwireCHICAGO, April 16, 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 Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), Vodafone Group plc (Nasdaq: VOD), AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T), Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S) and Clearwire Corp. (Nasdaq: CLWR). (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 Friday's Analyst Blog: More LTE Markets for Verizon The largest U.S. mobile service provider Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) is expanding its Long Term Evolution (LTE) based 4G networks to more cities. The LTE offers mobile broadband download speeds of 5-12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2-5 Mbps. Verizon will expand its LTE services across major cities of California - Bakersfield, Sacramento, Fresno, Modesto, San Francisco Bay Area, Salinas and Monterey, Stockton, San Luis Obispo and Visalia as well as Reno in Nevada in coming weeks. Additionally, the company has its expansion plan in the Ohio area covering two markets - Greater Columbus and Cleveland - scheduled on April 19. Besides, Verizon will also cover Sarasota-Bradenton in Florida later in the month. Mobile broadband services are currently the industry's most powerful growth drivers. Since the launch in December 2010, Verizon has deployed 4G LTE services in 203 markets, covering more than 200 million people. The company expects to expand its 4G networks to 400 markets by the end of this year and the entire nationwide 3G footprint by mid-2013. Verizon Wireless, a joint venture between Verizon and Vodafone Group plc (Nasdaq: VOD) is way ahead of its rivals AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) and Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S) in deploying LTE networks. The LTE coverage of AT&T, the second-largest U.S. mobile service, has reached 74 million Americans. The company expects this number to double by the end of this year and deployment to reach to 80% of the U.S. population by the next year. Further, AT&T plans to introduce LTE in several markets by this summer. The addition of 12 markets will take the number to 40 from the current 28. Sprint, the third-largest wireless operator, was the first to launch 4G services in 2010 through WiMax (a wireless broadband technology) network in collaboration with Clearwire Corp. (Nasdaq: CLWR). Now, the company plans to launch its own LTE networks in mid-2012 and expects to complete the deployment by year-end 2013. Initially, LTE services will be deployed in six markets including Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City and San Antonio. The LTE deployments have become the benchmark of mobile technology and the life-blood for operators across the world. It will allow the global carriers to take advantage of new and unused spectrums, and simultaneously expand their abilities to deliver the strongest and the most advanced networks. In addition, enhancement of network capabilities will lead to the creation of new job opportunities, economies of scale and open up markets that were previously inaccessible. Nevertheless, LTE poses a major risk to Verizon's wireless segment as the other wireless service providers may delay their deployment of LTE or change their selection and adopt different next-generation technologies, including those that are incompatible with Verizon. We are maintaining our long-term Neutral recommendation on the stock. Currently, the stock retains the Zacks #3 (Hold) Rank for the short term (1-3 months). 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. Visit http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/zacksresearch Join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts Disclaimer: Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investors should always research companies and securities before making any investments. Nothing herein should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security. Media ContactZacks Investment Research800-767-3771 ext. [email protected] http://www.zacks.com SOURCE Zacks Investment Research, Inc. |