Qualcomm’s (QCOM) union with Japanese TDK is “much ado about nothing,” a Craig-Hallum analyst wrote Thursday as he reiterated a buy rating on fellow Apple (AAPL) supplier Skyworks Solutions (SWKS). The Qualcomm-TDK joint venture, announced Wednesday and expected to be completed in 2017, won’t pose much threat to radio-frequency chip leaders Skyworks and Qorvo (QRVO), nor touch Avago Technologies’ (AVGO) filter offerings, Craig-Hallum analyst
Whether Apple (AAPL), Google, Amazon.com, Facebook and other big spenders on data centers will keep it up in 2016 is a big question heading into fourth-quarter earnings calls. And it has investors in equipment companies on edge. “There has been talk of a slowdown in capex for Web 2.0 companies,” said Mark Sue, an analyst at RBC Capital, in a research report. Apple filed this month to build its second warehouse-sized data center in Reno, Nev.
Dish Networks’ (DISH) Sling Internet video service will reach 2 million subscribers by year-end, estimates Goldman Sachs, offsetting customer losses in its core satellite TV business. Apple (AAPL) has reportedly shelved its Web TV streaming service because of stalled talks with content providers. If Apple stays on the sidelines, Dish’s Sling service could emerge as the leading OTT (over-the-top) service, assuming Goldman Sachs’ estimate proves