Best Media Stocks To Invest In 2015

It's no secret that Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ  ) is in trouble. The inveterate computing giant suffers from the waning PC market like many other sector titans, but that downtrend came at a particularly bad time for this company. HP is still reeling from the revolving-door management policy since ex-CEO Mark Hurd left the company in shambles, and current leader Meg Whitman admits that putting the pieces back together is both difficult and time-consuming.

Sales are shrinking. GAAP earnings have turned negative. Share prices are down 47% in the last three trouble years, taking 168 points off the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) in the process. The market capitalization has dwindled from more than $100 billion to the third-smallest cap on the Dow.

HPQ Market Cap data by YCharts.

So the storm clouds are building on HP's immediate horizon. But all is not lost -- not yet.

Best Media Stocks To Invest In 2015: Cablevision Systems Corporation (CVC)

Cablevision Systems Corporation provides telecommunications and media services. It operates in two segments, Telecommunications Services and Other. The Telecommunications Services segment is involved in television business, including video, high-speed data, and VoIP operations, as well as the provision of commercial data and voice services. The Other segment offers Newsday, a daily newspaper; amNewYork, a free daily newspaper; and Star Community Publishing, a group of weekly shopper publications; and newsday.com and exploreLI.com. This segment also engages in motion picture theatre business, Clearview Cinemas; provision of the News 12 Networks, a regional news programming services; and the MSG Varsity network, a network covering high school sports and activities, and other local programs, as well as cable television advertising. Cablevision Systems Corporation was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Bethpage, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tim Beyers]

  Who loses in all this? Pure-play content distributors such as Cablevision Systems (NYSE: CVC  ) and DISH Network (NASDAQ: DISH  ) . Like partner Netflix, Apple is taking steps to eliminate the barriers between viewers and content created by these gatekeepers. Color me grateful -- both as an investor and as a fan of great television.

• [By Tom Reese]

  Regional cable TV and Internet provider Cablevision Systems Corporation (CVC) on Friday announced better-than-expected third quarter earnings results, reversing a year-ago loss.

  Cablevision’s Q3 Earnings in Brief
  - Net income totaled $294.6 million, or $1.10 per share, reversing last year’s loss of $3.79 million, or -1 penny per share.
  - Revenue rose 1.8% from last year to $1.57 billion.
  - Analysts expected much lower earnings of just 11 cents per share, on matching revenue.

  Latest Dividend Reiterated; Yield Surpasses Peers
  In its earnings release, Cablevision announced it would continue its dividend payout of 15 cents per share. The latest dividend will be paid on Dec. 13 with an ex-dividend date of Nov. 20. The company has not raised its dividend payout since May of 2011.

  Despite the lack of dividend raise, CVC’s dividend yield of 3.84% compares favorably with other stocks in its industry. Time Warner Cable (TWC) offers a yield of 2.2%, while Comcast Corporation (CMCSA) yields just 1.65%. The average dividend yield for S&P 500 companies is around 2.5%, so Cablevision’s yield is well above both its industry average as well as the wider market average. Still, its lofty yield has come more as a result of poor price performance, rather than dividend increases.

  Shares Rise, but Still Tail Indexes
  Cablevision shares rose more than 2% in early trading on Friday, but the company’s stock performance has lagged the wider markets for quite some time. Year-to-date, CVC has gained about 6%, compared with a 24% gain in the benchmark S&P 500 index. The stock was trading around the $38 level as recently as early 2011, so its dividend yield has risen significantly as its stock price plunged to around $16.

Best Media Stocks To Invest In 2015: 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 GuruFocus]

  Warren Buffett (Trades, Portfolio) reduced to his holdings in General Motors Co by 25%. His sale prices were between $34.09 and $40.95, with an estimated average price of $36.89. The impact to his portfolio due to this sale was -0.4%. Warren Buffett (Trades, Portfolio) still held 30,000,000 shares as of 03/31/2014.

  Reduced: Directv (DTV)

  Warren Buffett (Trades, Portfolio) reduced to his holdings in Directv by 5.48%. His sale prices were between $68.11 and $79.99, with an estimated average price of $73.11. The impact to his portfolio due to this sale was -0.13%. Warren Buffett (Trades, Portfolio) still held 34,514,700 shares as of 03/31/2014.

• [By Rick Munarriz]

  The Hulu sweepstakes is intensifying, and at least one source claims that DIRECTV (NASDAQ: DTV  ) is the leading bidder. Digital journalist Quartz is reporting that the country's leading satellite television provider has the inside track on the winning bid for the TV-centric streaming service provider, and the pairing makes sense.

• [By Geoff Gannon] toZone (AZO) and Dun and Bradstreet (DNB) are examples. All have great track records for business and stock price growth long term so this appears to be a strategic decision to finance through debt rather than equity. My question is at what point can an investor judge that this practice is no longer creating value but adding risk to the investment? There can obviously be too much leverage. However when money is cheap to borrow and ROIC is high this seems like a great way to create value for shareholders, to just borrow at 3% and buy stock with an ROIC over 20%, but how much is too much?

  Thank you,

10 Best Valued Stocks 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 Jonathan Berr]

  Earlier this year, Legere, who has a reputation as a maverick, said he was open to potential combinations with Dish Network (DISH) and Sprint, though it chided its larger rival for the slow rollout of its 4G LTE Network. T-Mobile, though, can afford to be cocky. During the most recent quarter, T-Mobile added more than 1 million customers, the most in the industry, thanks to clever marketing ideas such as the “Un-carrier” , which offers consumers more flexible options such as no-contract service, and the ability to upgrade phones more frequently.

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Tuesday’s session are Sarepta Therapeutics Inc.(SRPT), Dish Network Corp.(DISH) and NRG Energy Inc.(NRG)

• [By Jayson Derrick]

  Analysts at Wunderlich maintained a Hold rating on Dish Network (NASDAQ: DISH) with a price target raised to $60 from a previous $56. Shares lost 0.81 percent, closing at $64.82.

• [By Michael Lewis]

  In the latest chapter of 2013's biggest M&A drama, it looks like DISH Network (NASDAQ: DISH  ) may now be the favored suitor for spectrum-rich Clearwire (NASDAQ: CLWR  ) , while Sprint (NYSE: S  ) may no longer be the target of choice for Japanese bank SoftBank. The news comes as a surprise to many, as Clearwire's board had long lent its support to Sprint as the appropriate buyer for the company, despite multiple increases in DISH's offer. As the final iteration of this buyout saga begins to take shape, here's what you need to know to make the right investment.

Best Media Stocks To Invest In 2015: Time Warner Inc.(TWX)

Time Warner Inc. operates as a media and entertainment company in the United States and internationally. It operates in three segments: Networks, Filmed Entertainment, and Publishing. The Networks segment provides domestic and international networks, premium pay and basic tier television programming services, and digital media properties, which primarily consist of brand-aligned Websites. Its premium pay television services consist of the multi-channel HBO and Cinemax premium pay television services. This segment provides programming to cable system operators, satellite service distributors, telephone companies, and other distributors; sells advertising; and licenses original programming to domestic and international television networks. The Filmed Entertainment segment produces and distributes feature films, television and other programming, and videogames; distributes home video products; and licenses rights to its feature films, television programming, and characters. T he Publishing segment publishes magazines and books; and operates various Websites, as well as engages in marketing services and direct-marketing businesses. This segment publishes magazines on style and entertainment, lifestyle, news, and sports. The company?s brands include TNT, TBS, CNN, HBO, Cinemax, Warner Bros., New Line Cinema, People, Sports Illustrated, and Time. Time Warner Inc. was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tim Beyers]

  Time Warner (NYSE: TWX  ) adds another element to the DC television universe tonight when The Flash premieres at 8 p.m. Eastern on The CW. Arrow returns for season 3 tomorrow night, adding to a DC Comics-influenced television lineup that already features�Gotham on Fox. A fourth show, Constantine, is scheduled to premiere on Friday, Oct. 24, on NBC.

• [By Garrett Cook]

  Time Warner (NYSE: TWX) shares shot up 17 percent to $83.00 after the company confirmed that it rejected a proposal from Twenty-First Century Fox (NASDAQ: FOXA) to acquire all of the outstanding shares of the company.

• [By Tim Beyers]

  Deadline says the network -- which is co-owned by CBS and DC Comics parent Time Warner (NYSE: TWX  ) -- has cast Rick Cosnett and Danielle Panabaker to play opposite Gustin and Jesse L. Martin. The wrinkle? Cosnett is apparently set to play Detective Eddie Thawne while Panabaker is to portray bioengineer Caitlin Snow. Both names should be familiar to comics fans, Fool contributor Tim Beyers says in the following video. Thawne, for example, appears to be a reference to Eobard Thawne, otherwise known as Professor Zoom or the Reverse-Flash. (Depicted above.)

Best Media Stocks To Invest In 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 WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

  Jeff Neumann/CBS via Getty ImagesA scene from CBS's "The Good Wife." NEW YORK -- CBS (CBS) is jumping on the cord-cutting bandwagon, launching a stand-alone digital streaming service for $5.99 a month that will offer subscribers access to its current and older shows. The news comes a day after HBO said it plans to offer a streaming-only service next year. Americans are increasingly turning to digital media to watch TV and movies. About 45 percent of Americans stream television shows at least once a month, according to research firm eMarketer. That number is expected to increase to 53 percent or 175 million people by 2018, it says. "With video consumption habits changing all the time, it is very important that we continue to provide the best local news, entertainment and sports via a service like CBS All Access," said Peter Dunn, president of CBS Television Stations, in a statement. "Television stations have been the fabric of local broadcasting for 75 years, and today's announcement is part of paving the way for the next 75." The broadcast TV network says 15 current prime-time shows such as "The Good Wife" and "Survivor" will be available the day after they air on the service, called CBS All Access. Subscriptions to the service will include the ability to stream CBS stations live in 14 markets and watch previous seasons of current shows as well as older shows from both CBS and other networks like "Twin Peaks" and "Cheers." But live-streaming of sporting events, including NFL coverage, isn't available. Other monthly streaming services, Hulu and Netflix (NFLX), currently offer some CBS shows for streaming, but the CBS All Access service offers a more complete catalog.

• [By Alyce Lomax]

  The average American worker made $19.77 per hour last year. Let's contemplate the hourly pay of some other Americans' wages. Oracle's (NYSE: ORCL  ) Larry Ellison made $46,000 per hour. General Electric's (NYSE: GE  ) Jeffrey Immelt made $12,000 per hour. Boeing's (NYSE: BA  ) W. James McNerney Jr. made $13,000 per hour. CBS'� (NYSE: CBS  ) Leslie Moonves made $33,000 per hour.

• [By Jonathan Berr]

  DirecTV added 139,000 new subscribers in the quarter — the most since 2011, thanks to refugees from Time Warner Cable (TWC) and CBS (CBS) fee dispute. Time Warner, the second-largest cable company, was the clear loser in the two-week blackout. It lost 304,000 video customers in the quarter, almost double what analysts expected.

• [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET]

  CBS continues to offer high-quality entertainment content. As evidenced by its first-quarter results, both its Showtime and CBS network channel audiences have grown on a year-over-year basis. One cause for concern is the increased competition from Time Warner�� HBO. Additionally, it remains to be seen if nascent content producers such as�Netflix will provide formidable competition for Showtime. Still, CBS is trading at a reasonable price-to-equity ratio, has a manageable debt level, and pays a modest dividend. CBS is probably due for a slight pullback, as it recently set a new 52-week high ��however, it should continue to OUTPERFORM for the rest of the year.

Best Media Stocks To Invest In 2015: Liberty Global Inc.(LBTYA)

Liberty Global, Inc. provides video, broadband Internet, and telephony services primarily in Europe and Chile. The company offers broadband services over cable distribution systems, including video, broadband Internet, and telephony; and video services through direct-to-home satellite, or through multichannel multipoint distribution systems. Its analog video services comprise basic and expanded basic programming; and digital cable services include basic and premium programming, digital video recorders, and high definition programming, as well as pay-per-view programming, such as video-on-demand and near video-on-demand. In addition, the company offers voice-over-Internet-protocol and circuit-switched telephony services, as well as mobile telephony services using third-party networks. Further, it owns programming networks that provide video programming channels to multi-channel distribution systems owned by the company and the third parties. As of December 31, 2011, the com pany owned and operated networks that passed 33,262,100 homes; and served 18,405,500 video subscribers, 8,159,300 broadband Internet subscribers, and 6,225,300 telephony subscribers. Liberty Global, Inc. was founded in 2004 and is based in Englewood, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  Liberty Global(LBTYA) PLC has agreed to sell substantially all of its international content division Chellomedia to AMC Networks Inc.(AMCX) in a deal worth $1 billion, allowing the cable company to focus on its core markets.

• [By Amy Thomson]

  Vodafone has already expanded beyond wireless service, and in June beat John Malone�� Liberty Global (LBTYA) Plc to take over Germany�� Kabel Deutschland Holding AG. (KD8) Vodafone and Verizon accelerated talks on the stake sale after the Kabel Deutschland offer, which put additional pressure on the British company�� finances, a person familiar with the matter said.

• [By Holly LaFon]

  Besides Yahoo, Loeb�� top holdings are AIG (AIG), Liberty Global Group Inc. (LBTYA) and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO), up 42%, 19% and 17%, respectively, from his average purchase price.

Best Media Stocks To Invest In 2015: Thomson Reuters Corp(TRI)

Thomson Reuters Corporation provides intelligent information for businesses and professionals worldwide. The company allows market participants to connect, access content, and trade in a secure environment through Thomson Reuters Eikon desktop, Thomson Reuters Elektron network, content integration and management technology, content feeds and databases, and transactions infrastructure solutions that support buy- and sell-side customers to trade in foreign exchange, fixed income and derivatives, equities, exchange-traded instruments, and commodities and energy markets. It also offers information, analytics, workflow, and technology solutions to buy-side and off-trading floor customers; access to liquidity in over-the-counter markets, trade execution, and connections for market participants and financial professionals? communities; and a suite of solutions offering informed outcomes to regulated industries and law firms. In addition, the company provides critical information , decision support tools, and software and services to legal, investigation, business, and government professionals; integrated tax compliance and accounting software and services for accounting and law firms, corporations, and government professionals; intellectual property and scientific resources that enable its customers to discover, develop, and deliver innovations; and data analytics, and performance benchmarking solutions and services to healthcare sector. Further, it offers coverage of global, regional, and national news in 20 languages covering politics, business, finance, entertainment, lifestyle, technology, health, science, and sports; and engages in advertising-supported direct-to-consumer publishing activities of Reuters.com and its network of Websites, mobile applications, and electronic out-of-home displays. The company was formerly known as The Thomson Corporation and changed its name to Thomson Reuters Corporation in April 2008. The company is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  Thomson Reuters (NYSE: TRI  ) has acquired Canadian trademark search, monitoring, and screening firm Onscope, Thomson announced Tuesday.

• [By Bill Smith]

  FDS operates in a highly competitive industry, some with more resources. Their competitors include:
  Thomson Reuters Corp. (TRI)BloombergInteractive (IDC)MSCI Inc. (MXB)Morningstar Inc. (MORN)Track Data Corp. (TRAC)Edgar Online (EDGR)McGraw-Hill (MHP )

• [By Rich Smith]

  This series, brought to you by Yahoo! Finance, looks at which upgrades and downgrades make sense, and which ones investors should act on. Today, our headlines feature an upgrade for Thomson Reuters Reuters (NYSE: TRI  ) , a new buy rating for Novavax (NASDAQ: NVAX  ) -- but for Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP  ) , a downgrade. Let's get that bad news out of the way first.

Best Media Stocks To Invest In 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 Sean Williams]

  Finally, cable operator Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC  ) trudged higher by another 2.7% as ongoing rumors continue to swirl about a potential buyout offer from Charter Communications (NASDAQ: CHTR  ) . These rumors became even more intriguing when Charter announced yesterday that it had amended credit agreements on $4.8 billion worth of its debt, presumably to give it more room should it decide to make an acquisition. The broadcasting space is certainly ripe for acquisition, but I also wouldn't suggest foolishly chasing names in this space higher on rumors.�

• [By Rick Aristotle Munarriz]

  CBS"NCIS" is CBS' top rated drama. From left: Mark Harmon, guest star Colin Hanks, and Pauley Perrette. The market was loving CBS (CBS) on Tuesday, but don't be surprised if the love affair doesn't last. Shares of the broadcasting giant soared nearly 5 percent after it resolved a month-long dispute with Time Warner Cable (TWC) that had kept its channels off the air for the cable provider's 11.7 million customers. But there will be a price to pay for being unavailable to so many cable subscribers for so much of this summer, and we're not just talking about the immediate hit in the current quarter. Customers are getting tired of the games that content providers pay, and CBS is feeding the resentment as it tries to get subscribers to pay more for CBS, The CW, and lesser watched channels including Smithsonian Channel and TVGN. We don't know the terms of new carriage deal, but we know who's actually going to be paying the price: The average Time Warner Cable video customer's bill is up 8.5 percent over the past year. Is it any wonder why the pay TV industry is starting to lose customers? Audiences Are Thinning Out Industry analysts at UBS predict that cable and satellite television providers will lose 250,000 net subscribers this year. It will be the first year that the pay TV industry suffers an annual decline. CBS can argue that it's better off than its sibling Viacom (VIA), which takes in a more significant level of its television revenue from cable subscription fees. CBS has its namesake broadcast channel and more than two dozen local stations. A lot of people cutting the cord to save money will simply invest in HD antennas that they can use to access over-the-air channels including CBS. Well, it's not that easy. Local broadcast advertising was actually one of the few CBS businesses to see its profits decline in its latest quarter. The company blamed the decline on the loss of election-year political ad spending, but could it be that folks just aren't as p

• [By Rich Smith]

  Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC  ) has a new chief financial officer -- acquired from its old sister company, AOL (NYSE: AOL  ) .