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Verizon: Baby Boomers Top Millennials In iPhone, Mobile Device Care

Baby boomers take the best care of Apple ( AAPL ) iPhones and other mobile devices, while millennials are the generation most likely to have ever broken or lost their phones. So says a new study by Verizon Communications ( VZ ) and KRC Research. Some 49% of U.S. mobile phone owners have broken or lost a mobile phone, says the study. Verizon, of course, has reason to make the point. Verizon customers have the option of signing up for a $10 monthly “Total Mobile Protection Plan ,” which offers coverage for loss, theft, physical or water damage to devices. Most consumers now buy phones in monthly installment plans. Sprint ( S ) and T-Mobile US ( TMUS ) offer leasing plans, while AT&T ( T ) and Verizon do not. Apple last year rolled out its first iPhone financing plan . Apple’s upgrade program includes a warranty that covers incidental damage as well as technical support. But Apple’s upgrade plan does not cover device losses and theft, while carrier options do. According to the Verizon study, two-thirds of millennials have broken or lost a mobile phone at least once, compared with 58% of Gen Xers and only 27% of baby boomers. Millennials drop their phones an average of four times per week, while Gen Xers and boomers both do so only twice weekly. Parents, meanwhile, are more likely to have broken or lost a mobile phone (67%) than non-parents (38%).

Bluebird Bio Up As Gene Therapy Scores Against Rare Disease

Biotech Bluebird Bio ( BLUE ) stock rose Friday after the company released positive data on its gene-therapy treatment for a rare disease. Late Thursday, a number of abstracts were released for presentations at next month’s meeting of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN). Bluebird highlighted its Starbeam study, which treated 17 boys with cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy, a rare genetic disease that leads to a breakdown of the nervous system. Bluebird used Lenti-D, which modifies the patient’s own stem cells to correct the gene mutation and re-implants them. Bluebird said that six months after treatment, subjects showed no worsening in neurological function and were expressing the protein needed to prevent the neurodegeneration. The company said that one serious adverse event possibly related to the drug had occurred, as a patient was infected with the BK virus, which is associated with transplants. However, Bluebird said the case had been resolved. Lenti-D is one treatment Bluebird is developing using its lentivirus platform for delivering gene therapy to patients. The better-known treatment LentiGlobin is being studied as a treatment for severe anemia, and it has driven the stock up and down over the last year as early trial results have trickled in. “While Lenti-D represents only a very modest commercial opportunity, we believe positive interim data at AAN should provide investors with more comfort that Bluebird’s technology can be applied effectively and consistently as a potential curative approach for severe genetic diseases,” Leerink analyst Michael Schmidt wrote in a research note. Bluebird will report full results at the AAN meeting in Vancouver on April 20. Bluebird stock was up 6.5% in midday trading on the stock market today , near 57. The stock is still more than 70% off last May’s record high above 197.

GTT Communications Gets Boost From Enterprise Shift To Cloud

GTT Communications ( GTT ) is getting a lift as large companies use its Internet and ethernet networking connections for cloud-based services, say analysts. GTT, which has made two acquisitions since September, on Thursday reported Q4 revenue and adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) that topped views. December-quarter revenue rose 83% to $114.8 million vs. analysts’ consensus estimate of $114.4 million. “We believe organic revenue growth could accelerate as cloud adoption, increasing bandwidth usage and salesforce hiring continues,” said Michael Bowen, a Pacific Crest Securities analyst in a report. In the U.S., McLean, Va.-based GTT competes with Level 3 Communications ( LVLT ), CenturyLink ( CTL ), and Verizon Communications ( VZ ). GTT garners nearly 40% of revenue overseas, where it competes with KPN, Colt Technology,  Deutsche Telekom ( DTEGY ) and Orange ( ORAN ) business services. “GTT’s goal is to provide connectivity for customers to any location in the world with any application in the cloud,” said Jonathan Charbonneau, a Cowen & Co. analyst, in a report. GTT’s stock was up 2% on the stock market today , after popping 12.5% on Thursday. Shares are about even in 2016, but they are down from a high of 25.7 in mid-September. GTT has an IBD Composite Rating of 60. It’s in IBD’s Internet Network-Solutions group, where Gigamon ( GIMO ) is tops with a CR of 93. IBD’s Internet Network-Solutions group is ranked No. 107 out of 197 industry groups. “GTT continues to be a beneficiary of the shift to cloud services, and the need for managed network services from multinational enterprises,” said Oppenheimer analyst Tim Horan in a report. GTT agreed to buy Telnes Broadband for $18 million in February. It purchased One Source Networks in September. Image provided by Shutterstock .