Verizon: 3.1 Million FiOS Customers > Just waiting....

Just waiting....

T's EV: $219.53B
VZ's EV: $154.26B

I think it's going to be a while.

reply to openbox9

reply to fAcEtIOUs
I'd say it probably depends on how long you plan on holding the stock for. Certainly not a good short-term buy based on the numbers you're supplying. But if you go with the assumption that fiber (or some substitute thereof) is the wave of the future, then sooner or later AT&T and the MSOs will have to invest in FTTH, while Verizon is already making that investment.

Once we reach that point, then we may very well see VZ in the catbird seat, just like cable has been milking the HFC investments they made several years ago.
--
"Religion allows people who would otherwise be arguing about whether the Death Star could beat a Borg Cube to have a place of respect within society."

reply to fatmanskinny
Not a chance. I'd pin Qwest as a likely takeover candidate however. At which point Verizon would upgrade ADSL2+ and VDSL nodes to FTTH, then probably sell the rest of Qwest's areas (the more rural ones that aren't getting either ADSL2+ or VDSL2) to Frontier, WIndstream or CenturyLink.

Besides, if Verizon bought AT&T antitrust lawyers would go wild, forcing another breakup. Additionally, Verizon is overbuilding AT&T in some areas with FiOS.

reply to Corydon

reply to fAcEtIOUs
Yes, lets think short term. That's what we need more of. Screw our children and grand children. I am sick of people only think about the current quarter. I am sick of short term thinking.

Fee free to invest however you choose. Nobody will stop you. And long term, you'll probably turn a decent profit.

reply to fAcEtIOUs

reply to iansltx

Re: Smaller markets, Qwest actually has a large amount of good-sized markets that Verizon could then take over (Denver, Colorado Springs, Phoenix, Salt Lake City). Again, the smaller stuff would likely get sold off to Windstream or CanturyLink, but anywhere Qwest is deploying ADSL2+ and/or VDSL are plenty big enough for Verizon's liking.

Also, Verizon would be able to grab a large IP transit network, consolidating the Tier 1 networks by a bit and netting Verizon control of large backbone customers like Charter Communications (who, granted, is building out their own netowrk now but isn't at Comcast or TWC's level yet). Would also give the former MCI/UUNet backbone a decent midwestern footprint.

Re: telecom situations, AT&T is now the largest landline company. Verizon is the largest mobile company, with AT&T not far behind. Seeing as how merging the entities would result in a company that has half as many mobile lines as there are people in the whole US...well, you see where I'm going.

Besides, Verizon and AT&T's business models diverge a bit. AT&T is all about milking current/past standards for all they're worth, locking in customers because they're the only game in town (iPhone, anyone?). Verizon tends to at least desire some "openness" spin, and their focus is clear: FiOS and wireless. They compete on features rather than price, whereas AT&T is forced to compete on price in many areas because cable can beat them with even DOCSIS 1.1.

Maybe I'm off-base here, but AT&T's everything-and-the-kitchen-sink mindset is quite different than Verizon's reliance on two core competencies to push itself forward. Qwest also now relies on two core competencies, though until a few days ago both were fading into the sunset. Now, with Qwest at least paying halfway attention to their internet business, they've got a leg to stand on that's pointed into the future. AT&T's efforts are merely to stay relevant, rather than to lead the pack...

Decent thought, but I wouldn't buy Q based on the small potential of a takeover by VZ.

I'm not buying anyone's stock right now...not enough disposable income

On Qwest's side, their VDSL2 service is competitive with anything cable can push out right now, as long as you're close enough to the DSLAM. AT&T U-Verse, for all its strong points, tops out at 18 Mbps down and 1.5 Mbps up. DOCSIS 1.1 can do that, let alone DOCSIS 3.0.

reply to jjeffeory

reply to fAcEtIOUs
With the stock market indexes set to lose at least another 50 percent there will never be a better time to sell stocks in general. Stocks rarely make you money when indexes go down. In the long run you'll never beat the indexes. I'd wager money the stock markets will be sharply lower ten years from now than they are today.