Tag Archives: request

T-Mobile Could Gain From Spectrum Flood, But Not If Auction Drags On

T-Mobile US ( TMUS ) stands to gain from the availability of more radio spectrum than expected in a government auction of airwaves, though it’s not good for the wireless communications provider if the auction drags on, says a Goldman Sachs report. T-Mobile says it could spend up to $10 billion in the auction. Other bidders are expected to be AT&T ( T ), Verizon Communications ( VZ ) and cable TV firm Comcast ( CMCSA ). The complex “Broadcast Incentive Auction,” which started March 29, is expected to free up airwaves now owned by local TV stations. The Federal Communications Commission said Friday as much as 100 MHz of spectrum may be available for bidders in most U.S. markets. About 70 MHz had been forecast. The next step in the auction involves setting initial prices for the airwaves in specific cities. “While broadcasters will only sell if they get their desired prices, a large spectrum supply may yield attractive prices for wireless carriers,” Brett Feldman, a Goldman Sachs analyst, said in a report. “We view this as most positive for T-Mobile, which is looking to bolster its thin low-band spectrum position in this auction so it can provide coverage that is more competitive with AT&T’s and Verizon’s.” UBS analyst John Hodulik had a similar view. “Greater spectrum availability is a positive for T-Mobile, given its low-band needs and Comcast,” Hodulik said in a report. Shares in T-Mobile, controlled by Deutsche Telekom ( DTEGY ), are about even in 2016. T-Mobile stock edged down 0.4% in the stock market today . Analysts say one overhang on shares in Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile is how much they may spend in the auction. Another view is that telecom mergers and acquisitions are on hold until the auction is over. While the auction has been expected to be over in the September quarter, it may drag on until the fourth quarter. That would be a negative for “ Dish Network ( DISH ) and T-Mobile, since many investors believe that their strategic options will be limited until the auction concludes,” said Feldman. Citigroup recently said Dish Network, which has amassed some 77 MHz of radio spectrum, could resume talks with Verizon over a possible sale after the auction ends.

Will SunPower’s Expected Q1 Loss Torch First Solar, SolarCity?

No. 2 solar developer SunPower ( SPWR ) is expected late Thursday to report its first quarterly loss minus items since Q1 2012, and declining year-over-year sales, a week after top rival First Solar ( FSLR ) missed quarterly sales views by $100 million, citing project timing. IBD’s 20-company Energy-Solar industry group has been whacked daily since First Solar’s report late Wednesday, and on Thursday it fell 4.9%. On Tuesday, reports of slow Q2 bookings for SolarCity ( SCTY ) and Sunrun ( RUN ) prompted a 5.4% plunge for the group. Early afternoon on the stock market today , the group was down a fraction, at a nearly three-month low, with shares of SolarEdge ( SEDG ), First Solar and SunPower — down 5%, nearly 2% and 2.5%, respectively — topping the deluge. Enphase Energy ( ENPH ), which trades around 2, was down hardest at 12%, after its Q1 sales and earnings miss late Tuesday. Enphase’s stock topple likely tugged SolarEdge stock, which competes with Enphase in the module and inverter market. Late Tuesday, Enphase CEO Paul Nahi blamed pricing pressure in the U.S. and internationally for the sales miss. As for SunPower, the consensus of 16 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expect Q1 sales to fall 24% from Q1 2015, to $328.5 million. They see a 20-cent per-share loss minus items vs. a 13-cent per-share profit in the year-earlier quarter. Three months ago, SunPower guided to $290 million to $340 million in sales, but didn’t offer EPS guidance. The company saw 315 megawatts to 340 MW deployed during Q1.

Hulu Reveals Fast Subscriber Growth, Live-TV Streaming Plans

Internet TV service Hulu announced Wednesday that it will reach 12 million subscribers in the U.S. this month, up 30% from a year ago. It also confirmed media reports that it plans to offer a live-TV service in 2017 to complement its on-demand video service. Hulu CEO Mike Hopkins made the announcements at an upfront event in New York City for advertisers. Hopkins said the live-TV service will offer news, sports and entertainment from broadcast and cable TV, but it did not detail content and pricing, TechCrunch reported . “We’re going to fuse the best of linear television and on-demand in a deeply personalized experience optimized for the contemporary, always-connected television fan,” Hopkins said. Hulu’s live-TV service is targeted at cord cutters and cord nevers — those consumers who don’t subscribe to traditional pay-TV services but might be interested in a lower-cost, “skinny bundle” of TV channels. Hulu is looking to charge about $40 a month for the live TV package, the Wall Street Journal reported Sunday . It would compete with other live-TV streaming services, such as Dish Network ‘s ( DISH ) Sling TV and Sony ‘s ( SNE ) PlayStation Vue. Dish stock was down 2%, above 46, and Sony’s U.S.-listed shares were down nearly 2%, below 24, in early afternoon trading on the stock market today . Hulu is co-owned by Walt Disney ( DIS ), Comcast ’s ( CMCSA ) NBCUniversal and 21st Century Fox ( FOXA ). Disney also owns ABC, ESPN and Disney Channel; Comcast owns NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, Syfy and USA; and 21st Century Fox owns Fox, Fox News, FX and Fox’s sports channels. Hulu competes with Netflix ( NFLX ) and Amazon.com ( AMZN ) in the subscription video-on-demand sector. Like its rivals, Hulu has been increasing its original programming, most recently with shows such as “11.22.63” and “The Path.”