Top 5 Media Stocks To Own Right Now

Facebook(FB) is finally set to join the S&P 500, an announcement late Wednesday that prompted the stock to jump in after-hours trading.

The Menlo Park, Calif. company will join the broad stock index after the close of trading on Dec. 20, S&P Dow Jones Indices announced late Wednesday. Facebook will replace chip-testing equipment maker Teradyne Inc.(TER)

Facebook shares rose more than 4% in after-hours trading. The stock, which closed Wednesday at $49.38, is up 86% this year. Facebook’s market capitalization of about $123 billion means it will immediately catapult into the top 30 biggest companies in the S&P 500.

The social network’s addition to the S&P 500 is expected to give a boost to the shares, spurred by buying from the many mutual and exchange-traded funds that track the index. Roughly $1.6 trillion were linked to the index at the end of last year, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices.

Top 5 Construction Stocks To Invest In 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 Michael Lewis]

  The company is the industry leader, hands down. Direct competitor DISH Network (NASDAQ: DISH  ) is not a bad alternative, but has its hands tied with outstanding offers for both Sprint and Clearwire. If either acquisition goes through, the company will take on even more debt to add to its already substantial load -- a factor that will likely place valuation multiple pressure on it for some time. DIRECTV management has expressed interest in gaining spectrum assets and moving into the broadband field as well, but it has not limited its core business growth in the meantime. In my opinion, this is a big reason that DIRECTV has been such a strong performer over the past year.

• [By Anders Bylund]

  Intel's�longtime CEO, Paul Otellini, met with SoftBank leader Masayoshi Son, then voiced strong support for Son's Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S  ) buyout bid. "Son-sanas vision to build a high speed competitive third national network is very compelling," Otellini wrote to FCC chairman Julius Genachowski. He didn't point out any particular flaws in the competing bid from satellite TV vendor DISH Network (NASDAQ: DISH  ) , but the letter did present a strong preference for SoftBank.

• [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

  thinkretail/FlickrUpset employees used store windows to express how they feel about Wet Seal's closures. There were plenty of winners and losers this week, with the only game in town when it comes to satellite radio announcing a strong close to 2014 and a fading apparel retailer shutting down hundreds of stores. DISH Network (DISH) -- Winner The problem with kissing fat cable bills goodbye is giving up live sports programming, but that may no longer be an issue. DISH Network announced Sling TV, a streaming television service that offers a handful of channels -- including CNN, Disney Channel and Cartoon Network -- for $20 a month. More important for sports buffs, Sling TV also comes with ESPN, ESPN2 and the NBA-happy TNT. It remains to be seen if a streaming service of live TV gains traction. Folks on limited data plans will go through a lot of bandwidth, and speedy connections will be necessary for high quality. However, it's the boldest step by a relevant provider to break up the silly bundling of channels that leads to folks paying for a ton of content that they have no interest in watching. Sony (SNE) -- Loser The annual International CES expo is typically more about winners in the realm of consumer electronics than losers, but it's hard not to knock Sony for introducing a new Walkman. The portable media player has plenty of slick features, including 128 gigs of storage and hi-resolution audio. Unfortunately for the Japanese conglomerate, the Walkman NW-ZX2 is priced at a laughable $1,120. Sony has struggled to move gadgetry at much lower price points. It's going to be an uphill challenge to convince consumers that portable media players are worth four figures in any configuration. Sirius XM Radio (SIRI) -- Winner Satellite radio just keeps growing in popularity. Sirius XM announced on Wednesday that it closed out the year with 27.3 million subscribers, 1.75 million more than it had when the year began. Back in October it was only targeting 1.6 milli

• [By Chris Hill]

  Shares of Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S  ) rose today on news that DISH Network (NASDAQ: DISH  ) has proposed to buy Sprint for $25.5 billion. What would the deal mean for the competitive landscape? Who would be the big winners? In this installment of Investor Beat, our analysts talk about the future of television.

Top 5 Media Stocks To Own Right Now: 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 Brian Stelter]

  "A plaintiffs' win in this case will ensure the continued availability of this programming to the viewing public," the broadcasters' main Washington lobbying group said when the suits were filed. (Was the group foreshadowing what CBS (CBS), Fox (FOXA) and Univision warned in 2013 -- that their stations might leave the public airwaves if Aereo wins?)

• [By Stephen Quickel]

  Revenues and earnings of CBS Corp. (CBS), the broadcasting giant, keeps rising, enhanced by $2 billion of share repurchases. Little noticed sources of profit are lush retransmission fees for its content from cable, satellite, and telecom companies.

• [By Laura Brodbeck]

  Thursday

  Earnings Expected From: The Priceline Group Inc. (NASDAQ: PCLN), Valeant Pharmaceuticals (NYSE: VRX), CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS), Apache Corporation (NYSE: APA) Economic Releases Expected: �Chinese CPI, Chinese PPI, European Central Bank Interest Rate Decision, Bank of England interest rate decision, Spanish industrial production, German industrial production

  Friday

Top 5 Media Stocks To Own Right Now: 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 Evan Niu, CFA]

  As a result, it's become increasingly likely that the Mac maker will partner with an existing cable operator to provide the service, albeit this approach is less disruptive. To that end, Bloomberg reports that Apple may be preparing to partner with Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC  ) , and Time Warner subscribers will be able to access their cable service through the Apple TV.

• [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET]

  Time Warner Cable provides entertainment, voice, and high-speed data services to a growing customer base in the United States. The company is�preparing itself to hear a bid from Charter Communications. The stock has seen a consistent uptrend in the last few years and is currently surging higher. Over the last four quarters, earnings have been mixed while revenues have been rising which has left investors happy about recent earnings announcements. Relative to its peers and sector, Time Warner Cable has been a relative year-to-date performance leader. Look for Time Warner Cable to OUTPERFORM.

• [By Eric Bleeker, CFA]

  In this segment, Eric and Lyons discuss a couple of major pieces of news surrounding Apple TV that leaked this week. First off,�Bloomberg�is reporting that the company is nearing completion on a deal with Time Warner� (NYSE: TWC  ) that could be completed within the coming months. The deal would give Time Warner cable subscribers access to watching programing and channels through an Apple TV.�

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Although Maffei did not say as much, swallowing Sirius gives Liberty access to the satellite radio provider�� free cash flow of about $625 million to use in pursuit of Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC). Charter Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: CHTR), in which Liberty holds a 27% stake, has been trying to put together the financing to make an offer for much larger Time Warner. For its part, Time Warner, the nation�� second largest cable provider, is trying to put together a deal with the nation�� largest cable provider, Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ: CMCSA), that would shut Liberty out.

Top 5 Media Stocks To Own Right Now: 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 Lawrence Meyers]

  In retrospect, all of these purchases make sense. Would News Corporation (NWS) studio subsidiary 20th Century Fox have made more sense for Indy’s new home? What about Time Warner (TWX) conglomerate�� Warner Bros.? Or maybe Lionsgate Entertainment (LGE)? No, no, and no.

• [By Doug Ehrman]

  Never before has the catch phrase "there's an app for that" applied so broadly as to include nearly every major television channel available. From the familiar options from Time Warner (NYSE: TWX  ) -- including HBO, TNT, and TBS -- to both the channels owned by Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA  ) and Comcast itself, most of your favorite channels are now available on mobile devices as apps. Perhaps the purest form of this trend is Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX  ) , which looks increasingly like a channel as it produces more of its own shows. As this phenomenon continues, your ability to pick and choose which channels you really want will only increase.

• [By Paul R. La Monica]

  But Netflix stll needs old media: Of course, that 15% growth rate for CBS is not too shabby. And you could argue that CBS and other "old media" giants like Disney. (DIS) Fox (FOXA), Viacom (VIAB) and CNNMoney owner Time Warner (TWX) are important parts of Netflix's success as well.

• [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.