A weak quarter at NBCUniversal could weigh on Comcast ‘s (CMCSA) Q3 earnings, which the No. 1 cable TV firm is slated to release before the market open Thursday. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters estimate Comcast’s Q3 earnings per share will rise 8% from the year-earlier quarter to 71 cents, with revenue up 4% to $16.8 billion. “Comcast is probably having a slightly weaker quarter at the NBCU side of the business, given a lack of hit films and
Some big-cap telecom and cable companies are lagging in IBD’s accumulation/distribution ratings as institutions sell those shares amid stock-market volatility. IBD’s accumulation-distribution rating tracks the relative degree of institutional buying (accumulation) and selling (distribution) in a particular stock over the past 13 weeks. It appears in IBD’s daily research tables, stock checkup at Investors.com and in charts accompanying the IBD 50 and Big Cap 20. A rating of A or B indicates that funds are buying, or accumulating, the stock. A C rating is neutral, and a D or E indicates net selling, or distribution. Many telecom and cable companies have E ratings. They include AT&T (T), Akamai Technologies (AKAM), Charter Communications (CHTR), Comcast (CMCSA), Dish Network (DISH), T-Mobile US (TMUS), Time Warner Cable (TWC), Verizon Communications (VZ) and Vodafone (VOD). In the wireless industry, there’s concern over a price war that has erupted as subscriber growth slows. Tablet computer users now account for most new subscriber additions. Heading into Q3 earnings results, investors are also waiting to see how Apple’s (AAPL) launch of the iPhone 6 has impacted subscriber turnover and mobile phone upgrades at AT&T, Sprint (S), T-Mobile and Verizon. Europe’s slowing economies amid fierce wireless competition, meanwhile, have taken a toll on Vodafone’s stock.
Comcast shareholders on Wednesday approved the cable leader’s proposed acquisition of Time Warner Cable at a special meeting. Time Warner Cable (TWC) shareholders are slated to vote on the deal on Thursday. Philadelphia-based Comcast (CMCSA) says that it expects the merger to close in early 2015. The Federal Communications Commission, however, last week extended the deadline for opponents of the deal to submit filings. The new deadline is Oct. 29,