Integrated Telecommunication Services

Ticonderoga upgraded Franklin Resources Inc (NYSE: BEN) from “neutral” to “buy.” BEN's shares closed at $122.47 yesterday. Franklin Resources' trailing-twelve-month operating margin is 35.02%. Analysts at Morgan Stanley upgraded Clorox Company (NYSE: CLX) from “underweight” to “equal-weight.”...

According to a recent report, Oppenheimer has upgraded Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) to an Outperform rating and introduced a price target of $42.00. In the same report, Oppenheimer has raised the EPS estimates from $2.20 to $2.22 for 2011 and from $2.50 to $2.55 for 2012. In the report,...

Oppenheimer has upgraded Verizon Wireless (NYSE: VZ) from Perform to Outperform and has established a $42 price target.

Here is our latest update on the stock trading technique called 'Buying Dividends'. This is the process of buying stocks before the ex dividend date and selling the stock shortly after the ex date at about the same price, yet still being entitled to the dividend. This technique generally works only...

Shares of Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) gained about 1.1% after the company reported a 14% y/y rise in its May wholesale vehicle sales in China. Ford's wholesale vehicle sales in China came in at 45,162 units in May. Its sales for the first five months of the year surged 15% to 230,068 units. Sales...

Bank of America Merrill Lynch is dropping coverage on Temple-Inland Inc. (NYSE: TI) and moving it to No Rating after the company rejected an offer from International Paper (NYSE: IP). In a note to clients, Bank of America Merrill Lynch writes, "After the close today, International Paper (IP)...

With the 2010/11 television season now complete, CTV has once again won the season in total viewers and the key advertising demos A25-54, A18-49, and A18-34. Based on data from BBM Canada through the end of the season last Wednesday, May 25, CTV is Canada's most-watched network in total viewers and...

US stock futures are higher this morning, as investors are awaiting a speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 52 points to 12,139.00 and futures on the S&P 500 stock index rose 6.80 points to 1,291.80. Nasdaq 100 futures gained 9.25...

Moody's Investors Service downgraded the debt ratings of Portugal Telecom SGPS SA (NYSE: PT) from “Baa2” to “Baa3.” Moody's reported that they remain on review for possible further downgrade. Last week, Standard & Poor's also downgraded Portugal Telecom's rating from “BBB/A-2” to “BBB-/A-3,”...

Bell Media has announced that it will extend its market-leading CTV brand to its 'A' network, renaming it CTV Two this Fall. The debut of the new identity is strategically scheduled to coincide with the launch of the network in High Definition, also planned for this Fall, and its expansion into the...

Shares of AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) are trading lower on the session by 0.75%, at $30.42. With shares breeching the 50-day moving average, you have to wonder where they are heading next… Bulls: Bulls will note that the $30.10 level is major near-term support; this became a resistance come support...

Shares of VimpelCom Ltd. (NYSE: VIP) are lower on the session by 1.14%, currently trading at $13.90. The stock has been moving largely lower over the past five months and is currently trading below the 50-day and 200-day moving averages. Options traders are buying puts on the name today. A short...

Internet Initiative Japan Inc (NASDAQ: IIJI) shares gained 5.78% to create a new 52-week high of $9.34. IIJI's trailing-twelve-month revenue is $1.03 billion. Hickory Tech Corporation (NASDAQ: HTCO) shares jumped 5.27% to create a new 52-week high of $10.99. HTCO has a dividend yield of 5.20%....

Merger activity increased last week with four new deals announced and eight closing. You can find all the active deals listed below in our Merger Arbitrage Tool that automatically updates itself during market hours. Deal Statistics: Total Number of Deals Closed in 2011 87 Total Number of Deals...

Below are the top wireless communications stocks on the NYSE in terms of cash. China Mobile Limited (NYSE: CHL) had $45.11 billion in total cash and $5.19 billion in total debt for the latest quarter. NTT DOCOMO Inc (NYSE: DCM) had $11.28 billion in total cash and $5.33 billion in total debt for...