Hot Media Companies To Own For 2015

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- In another bruise to its balance sheet, JPMorgan Chase (JPM) has reportedly agreed to a tentative $4 billion settlement with the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), according to The Wall Street Journal. The deal would settle allegations the big bank misled Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, government-sponsored entities, on mortgages it sold them.

The final amount to be determined will be bundled with settlements already reached in claims against the bank from the Department of Justice. The figure could reach as high as $11 billion, according to media estimates.

A JPMorgan spokesman declined to comment.

Earlier in the month, JPMorgan reported an unexpected third-quarter loss of $380 million or 17 cents a share, mainly due to $7.2 billion in legal expenses accrued during the period. Shares closed slightly higher, gaining 0.17% in Friday trading to close at $54.30. TheStreet Ratings team rates JPMORGAN CHASE & CO as a Buy with a ratings score of B+. TheStreet Ratings Team has this to say about their recommendation: "We rate JPMORGAN CHASE & CO (JPM) a BUY. This is driven by several positive factors, which we believe should have a greater impact than any weaknesses, and should give investors a better performance opportunity than most stocks we cover. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, good cash flow from operations, compelling growth in net income, solid stock price performance and notable return on equity. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had generally high debt management risk by most measures that we evaluated." You can view the full analysis from the report here: JPM Ratings Report

Hot Integrated Utility Stocks For 2016: DIRECTV(DTV)

DIRECTV provides digital television entertainment in the United States and Latin America. The company provides direct-to-home (DTH) digital television services, as well as multi-channel video programming distribution services in the United States. It offers various channels of digital-quality video entertainment and CD-quality audio programming directly to subscribers' homes or businesses, as well as video-on-demand services; and approximately 160 national high-definition television channels and 4 3D channels. The company also provides premium professional and collegiate sports programming, such as the NFL SUNDAY TICKET package, which allows subscribers to view the NFL games. In addition, it offers DTH digital television services in Latin America and the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico. The company provides its local and international programming under the DIRECTV and SKY brand names. As of December 31, 2010, it served approximately 19.2 million subscribers in the United States; and 8.9 million subscribers in Latin America. The company was founded in 1990 and is based in El Segundo, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rick Munarriz]

  DIRECTV (NASDAQ: DTV  ) , the likely victor, is the country's largest satellite television provider. U-verse parent AT&T (NYSE: T  ) and Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC  ) are also in the running as part of larger joint bids.

• [By muhammadbazil]

  A few of the basic lessons we can learn from the WWE Network, which went live on Feb. 24, 2014, include:

  Streaming video can increase a company�� revenue. On March 30, 2014, right after WWE Network appeared, World Wrestling Entertainment reported a TTM revenue figure of $509.54 million for the first quarter of 2014. On June 30, 2014, WWE reported a TTM revenue figure of $513.57 million. The company�� revenues grew by $4.3 million. Building a stable audience for streaming video is tough. The WWE managed to sign up 700,000 paying subscribers by June 30, 2014. Yet Variety.com reported that it had lost 128,000 subscribers between April 6 and June 30. Convincing consumers, even diehard wrestling fans, to spend money on streaming video subscriptions is hard. WWE found its fans balked at paying $9.99 a month (around the cost of a Chipotle dinner) for a six-month subscription. World Wrestling is now trying to lure fans with a no-commitment monthly subscription of $12.99 that is supposed to rise to $19.99 at some point in the future. Broadcast, satellite, and cable TV are not dead yet, and they will fight back against streaming video. Satellite TV companies Dish Network (DISH) and DirecTV Group (DTV) refused to carry WWE�� pay per view events unless it killed WWE Network. The satellite companies did this because wrestling is still one of the highest rated programs on basic cable and satellite. Supplying cheap programming through streaming video can hurt your core business. Historically, some of WWE�� biggest revenue generators have been pay per view events��ajor wrestling shows featuring big matches between top stars that cable and satellite viewers pay extra to watch. Since WWE Network started streaming pay per views live for just $9.99, pay per view revenues and ratings have collapsed. The June 2013 Payback pay per view attracted 186,000 buyers; only 67,000 pay per view fans tuned into the June 2014 Payback event. Overall, WWE�� pay per view revenues hav
• [By Laura Brodbeck]

  Thursday

  Earnings Expected From: Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE: XOM), McKesson Corporation (NYSE: MCK), ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP), Anheuser-Busch Inbev SA (NYSE: BUD), DIRECTV (NASDAQ: DTV), AstraZeneca PLC (NYSE: AZN) Economic Releases Expected: Japanese manufacturing PMI, eurozone CPI, Spanish current account, eurozone unemployment rate, Italian CPI, French PPI, German retail sales

  Friday

• [By Sean Williams]

  Finally, satellite TV provider DIRECTV (NASDAQ: DTV  ) tacked on 6.9% after its first-quarter results also easily topped estimates. Thanks to $1.38 billion in share repurchases as well as the addition of 604,000 net subscribers, DIRECTV reported a nearly 8% increase in revenue to $7.58 billion as EPS increased to $1.43. Analysts, on the other hand, had expected $7.53 billion in revenue but just $1.10 in EPS. The key for DIRECTV is in the differentiation from DISH Networks, which is allowing consumers more choices and helping to increase average revenue per user in a very challenging economic environment. Still priced very reasonably, DIRECTV's run higher may not be over.

Hot Media Companies To Own For 2015: Time Warner Cable Inc(TWC)

Time Warner Cable Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a cable operator in the United States. It offers video, high-speed data, and voice services over its broadband cable systems to residential and commercial customers. The company provides a range of video services, including on-demand, high-definition (HD), and digital video recorder (DVR) services; residential high-speed data services with connection to the Internet; wireless mobile broadband Internet services; and digital phone services to residential customers. It offers video programming tiers and music services; high-speed data, networking, and transport services; and commercial digital phone service to small and medium-sized businesses under the Time Warner Cable Business Class brand. Further, Time Warner Cable Inc. sells advertising to various national, regional, and local customers. As of June 30, 2011, the company served approximately 14.5 million residential and commercial customers in the New Yor k State, the Carolinas, Ohio, southern California, and Texas. Time Warner Cable Inc. is based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET]

  Time Warner Cable provides entertainment, voice, and high-speed data services to a growing customer base in the United States. The company�� battle with CBS has ended to Time Warner Cable’s disadvantage. The stock has been trending higher in recent years and is now pulling-back from all-time high prices. Over the last four quarters, earnings and revenues have been rising, however, investors have expected a little more from the company. Relative to its peers and sector, Time Warner Cable has been a weak year-to-date performer. WAIT AND SEE if Time Warner Cable can stabilize at current prices.

• [By Saumya Vaishampayan and Ben Eisen]

  Time Warner Cable Inc. (TWC) ��shares jumped 10%. The Wall Street Journal reported late Thursday that Charter Communications Inc. (CHTR) �was preparing to make a bid for the cable operator. Charter was said to be in talks with at least four banks to line up financing to buy Time Warner, which has a $35 billion market capitalization. Shares of Charter Communications rallied 6.1%.

• [By Rick Munarriz]

  There was more going on beyond the share-price gyrations, though. Auto sales for June clocked in strong, and that's naturally good news for Sirius XM down the line. Majority stakeholder Liberty Media's (NASDAQ: LMCA  ) push for Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC  ) may happen with Sirius XM playing a significant role. Weeks after striking a deal to broaden Sirius XM's reach, Ford (NYSE: F  ) expanded the global reach of its SYNC AppLink platform with a deal in China.

• [By Lauren Pollock var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); popups.forEach]

  Comcast Corp.(CMCSA) and Charter Communications Inc.(CHTR) reached an agreement for Comcast to divest millions of subscribers, helping it smooth over regulatory concerns involving its $45 billion deal for Time Warner Cable Inc.(TWC) As part of the agreement, Comcast will divest about 1.4 million existing Time Warner Cable customers directly to Charter for cash. Shares of Charter edged up 1.5% to $132 premarket.

Hot Media Companies To Own For 2015: CBS Corporation(CBS)

CBS Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a mass media company in the United States and internationally. The company?s Entertainment segment distributes a schedule of news and public affairs broadcasts, sports, and entertainment programming; produces, acquires, and distributes programming, including series, specials, news, and public affairs; produces and distributes theatrical motion pictures across various genres; and operates online content networks for information and entertainment. Its Cable Networks segment owns and operates multiplexed channels that offers subscription program services, including recently released theatrical feature films, original series, documentaries, boxing, mixed martial arts and other sports-related programming, and special events; and CBS College Sports Network, a 24-hour cable program service related to college sports. This segment also owns and manages Smithsonian Networks, which operates Smithsonian Channel, a basic cab le service in the United States. The company?s Publishing segment publishes and distributes adult and children?s consumer books in printed, audio, and digital formats. Its Local Broadcasting segment owns 29 broadcast television stations; owns and operates 130 radio stations in 28 U.S. markets and related online properties; and owns local Websites that combine television and radio local media brands online to provide the latest news, traffic, weather, and sports information, as well as local discounts, directories, and reviews. The company?s Outdoor segment sells advertising space on various media, including billboards, transit shelters and other street furniture, buses, rail systems, mall kiosks, stadium signage, and in retail stores. CBS Corporation was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  And it�� not just lost subscriber revenue, but lost leverage over content providers. Time Warner blamed its disputes with CBS Corp. (NYSE: CBS) and Journal Communications over retransmission fees for its subscriber losses in the third quarter. Content producers like CBS are demanding higher retransmission payments from cable and satellite providers and dwindling subscriber numbers knock a sizeable chunk off providers��take.

• [By Harold L. Vogel]

  And then there's the thorny retransmission-consent issue that delights broadcast networks and their local affiliates. As the recent nasty spat between CBS (CBS) and Time Warner Cable has illustrated, MSOs - being more immediately and intimately linked by billing and marketing to viewers than are broadcasters - must either pay up or bear most of the wrath of consumers. Fifty cents to a dollar a month per sub to retransmit a broadcast network's signal is nowadays not that unusual and provides the old stodgy broadcasters with an important second revenue source in addition to advertising. (Unofficial estimates have it that within five years, CBS will be receiving $2 per month per sub from Time Warner and others.)

• [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET]

  CBS is one of the largest nationwide providers of entertainment and mass media services. The company’s dispute with Time Warner Cable is now being mediated by the FCC because the companies have not been able to reach an agreement. The stock has been soaring and is now consolidating slightly below all-time high prices. Over the past four quarters, earnings and revenues have been rising, which has left investors excited about the company. Relative to its peers and sector, CBS has been a year-to-date performance leader. Look for CBS to OUTPERFORM.

Hot Media Companies To Own For 2015: News Corporation(NWSA)

News Corporation operates as a diversified media company worldwide. Its Cable Network Programming segment produces and licenses news, business news, sports, general entertainment, and movie programming for distribution through cable television systems and direct broadcast satellite operators primarily in the United States, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. The company?s Filmed Entertainment segment produces and acquires live-action and animated motion pictures for distribution and licensing in entertainment media, as well as produces and licenses television programming worldwide. Its Television segment operates 27 broadcast television stations in the United States. The company?s Direct Broadcast Satellite Television segment distributes programming services via satellite and broadband directly to subscribers in Italy. Its Publishing segment provides newspapers and information services, such as publishing national newspapers in the United Kingdom, approximately 146 newspapers in Australia, and a metropolitan and a national newspaper in the United States; book publishing services, including the publishing of English language books worldwide; and integrated marketing services comprising the publishing of free-standing inserts, which are marketing booklets containing coupons, rebates, and other consumer offers, as well as provides in-store marketing products and services, primarily to consumer packaged goods manufacturers in the United States and Canada. The company also sells advertising, sponsorships, and subscription services on the company?s various digital media properties and outdoor advertising space on various media primarily in Russia and eastern Europe; and provides data systems and professional services that enable teachers to use data to assess student progress and deliver individualized instructions. News Corporation was founded in 1922 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET]

  News Corp. provides highly sought entertainment and information through a wide range of mediums to interested consumers and companies worldwide. The stock has been on a surge higher, in recent years, but is now digesting gains from the first half of this year. Over the last four quarters, investors have been optimistic about the company as earnings and revenue figures have been rising. Relative to its strong peers and sector, News Corp. has been a year-to-date average performer. Look for News Corp. to continue to OUTPERFORM.

Hot Media Companies To Own For 2015: Discovery Communications Inc(DISCA)

Discovery Communications, Inc. operates as a non fiction media and entertainment company worldwide. The company provides original and purchased programming across various distribution platforms. Its content covers science, exploration, survival, natural history, sustainability of the environment, technology, docu-series, anthropology, paleontology, history, space, archaeology, health and wellness, engineering, adventure, lifestyles, forensics, civilization, and current events. The company owns and operates nine national television networks in the United States, including Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Investigation Discovery, Military Channel, Planet Green, Discovery Fit & Health, and Velocity. Discovery Communications also has interests in Oprah Winfrey Network, a pay-television network and Web site; The Hub that features original programming, game shows, and live-action series and specials; and 3net, a three-dimensional network. In addition, it o ffers network branded Web sites, and mobile and video-on-demand services; and distributes various national and pan-regional television networks. Further, the company develops and sells curriculum-based products and services to public and private K-12 schools, such as access to an online VOD service that includes curriculum-based tools, professional development services, and student assessment and publication of hardcopy curriculum-based content; and postproduction audio services to motion picture studios, independent producers, broadcast networks, cable channels, advertising agencies, and interactive producers. As of December 31, 2011, it operated approximately 150 distribution feeds in 40 languages. The company is headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Vera Yuan]

  Dear Fellow Shareholder: The U.S. economy continues to gradually expand, building on the 5+ year recovery from the Great Recession. Employment levels are improving, though progress has been slower than expected. Inflation, for now, remains subdued. As signaled and on cue, the Fed has been weaning the economy (and investors) off of the extraordinary ��uantitative easing��stimulus. Investors have generally shrugged off world events that might otherwise cause high anxiety (ISIS and the Middle East, Russia and Ukraine, etc.). As attention now turns to when the Fed will raise short-term interest rates, it seems plausible that volatility may intensify as the stimulus security blanket is removed. In the meantime, companies are taking advantage of the artificially low interest rate environment and sanguine investor sentiment. Merger activity remains robust, fueled by cheap and readily available credit. The IPO market has been very active, headlined by the successful Alibaba offering in September. Corporate treasurers continue to issue loads of debt on attractive terms, locking in generationally low interest rates for long terms. While these conditions will not last forever, they have helped opportunistic managers accelerate equity value growth at many companies.Investment Commentary and Outlook After three years of seemingly non-stop gains, the stock market took a pause in the third quarter. While most large cap indices eked out modest positive returns, the broader investing waters were far less placid. Small cap stocks sold off as the Russell 2000 declined more than 7% during the quarter. Energy stocks, both large and small, fell materially as investors worried about too much oil and gas supply coming online in North America (what a difference a decade makes). High yield bonds wobbled briefly in July, then again in September. Increasingly, investors are not treating all securities the same, and as stock pickers we welcome this development. Our equity funds��resu

• [By Jonas Elmerraji]

  If the market's had a great year in 2013, Discovery Communications (DISCA) has managed to do one better. Shares of the $30 billion TV broadcaster have rallied almost 32% year-to-date, stomping the performance of the S&P 500 by a wide margin.

  Still, investors hate this stock right now. With a short interest ratio of 10.7, it would take short sellers more than two weeks of buying at current volume levels to cover their positions.

  Discovery owns a handful of international cable TV channels, including the namesake Discovery Channel, TLC, Science Channel and Animal Planet, and positions in properties such as Oprah Winfrey's OWN Network, launched in 2011. Discovery's niche positioning gives it some big benefits -- the firm's channels focus on topics such as science, technology and history, and they're able to sell more targeted advertising as a result. That's helped push the firm's net margins far above those of more conventional network broadcasters.

  Discovery's channels are only part of the story. Content is king in the broadcast business, and so Discovery's 100,000 hour video library provides the firm with an extremely valuable asset -- especially now that streaming video firms such as Amazon.com (AMZN) and Netflix (NFLX) are falling all over themselves to license content.

  DISCA has some tailwinds at its back right now, and its hefty short interest gives it the potential to pop this summer.

Hot Media Companies To Own For 2015: DISH Network Corporation(DISH)

DISH Network Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides direct broadcast satellite (DBS) subscription television services in the United States. It offers programming that includes approximately 280 basic video channels, 60 Sirius satellite radio music channels, 30 premium movie channels, 35 regional and specialty sports channels, 2,800 local channels, 250 Latino and international channels, and 55 channels of pay-per-view content. The company also offers local HD channels in approximately 160 markets and 215 national HD channels; and receiver systems, including a small satellite dish, digital set-top receivers, and remote controls. In addition, it provides DISHOnline.com, which enables DISH Network subscribers to watch 150,000 movies, television shows, clips, and trailers; DISH Remote Access that enables subscribers to remotely manage their DVRs using compatible mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops through their broadband-connected receiver; and Go ogle TV that enables DISH Network subscribers to search the Internet, check email, interact with social media, and find additional online programming content while simultaneously watching television. As of March 31, 2011, the company had approximately 14.191 million customers. DISH Network provides receiver systems and programming through direct sales channels; and independent third parties, such as small satellite retailers, direct marketing groups, local and regional consumer electronics stores, nationwide retailers, and telecommunications companies. The company was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Englewood, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By David Dittman]

  DISH Network Corp (NSDQ: DISH) is also said to be hungry for a fight over T-Mobile.

  A Sprint-T-Mobile tie-up could be a game-changer, as it would reduce to three the number of nationwide cellular service operators. The Federal Communications Commission has already rejected an AT&T Inc (NYSE: T) move for T-Mobile that would have accomplished the same winnowing of the field.

• [By Evan Niu, CFA]

  Of course, Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S  ) still owns the bulk of Clearwire. The proposed $20.1 billion deal with Japan's Softbank for a 70% stake is still on the table. DISH Network (NASDAQ: DISH  ) made an unsolicited $25.5 billion offer for Sprint just today, while DISH has been slowing building up its own spectrum holdings in preparation for entering the wireless sector. DISH outlined numerous ways that it believes its offer is superior to Softbank's.

• [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET]

  Dish Network offers a television subscription service that provides national and local programming to consumers in the United States. The company recently announced its third quarter results. The stock has been steadily trending higher over the last several years and is currently trading near all time highs. Over the last four quarters, earnings have been decreasing while revenues have been mixed, which has produced conflicting feelings among investors. Relative to its peers and sector, Dish Network has been a year-to-date performance leader. Look for Dish Network to OUTPERFORM.