Executives led by CEO Mark Lazarus were on hand at the Nasdaq market for the debut of the newly standalone entity that houses TV networks and complementary digital businesses, including CNBC, MS NOW formerly MSNBC), USA Network, Golf Channel, Oxygen, E!, SYFY, Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass and SportsEngine. Comcast announced about a year ago plans to separate declining linear cable assets its core broadband business and the rest of NBCUniversal.
The spinoff delivered Comcast stockholders with 1 share of Versant for every 25 shares of Comcast in hand. A downturn in Versant stock was expected as index funds and other investors primarily interested in holding Comcast cycle out and it could take a few weeks or more for the shareholder base to turn over and the stock to settle.
At a recent investor day, CEO Mark Lazarus and his team described plans to grow the new company beyond cable. Versant initially expects to generate $6.7 billion in revenue with 62% coming from linear distribution, 23% from advertising, 13% from its digital platforms and 3% from content licensing and other. It also expects $2.3 billion in EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) and $1.5 billion in free cash flow
It debuts with $3 billion in gross debt, $750 million in cash on hand and 1.5 billion in total liquidity.
The spin is being closely watched as a statement on the future of cable, which throws off significant cash but has been in rapid decline as viewers migrate to streaming. Versant is also particularly interesting as a proxy for Discovery Global, another new linear television company Warner Bros. Discovery is planning to cut loose in the third quarter of 2026 as it sells its Warner Bros. studios and streaming assets to Netflix. David Ellison’s Paramount is attempting to derail that deal, announced late last year, and acquire all of WBD.
A takeover battle between the two bidders has largely come down to Discovery Global, which Par values at about $1 a share but WBD and some Wall Streeters say is worth significantly more.
Share price is generally calculated using a multiple of projected EBITDA and other metrics which, for Discovery Global, have not yet been nailed down, including the amount of debt that will be layered on the new company.
Meanwhile, Versant has settled on its new digs and unveiled in late December that it is making the historic New York Times building its permanent home. It had settled temporarily into three floors there but Lazarus told staff in a memo that it is taking another three and renovating all six as well as a lobby and cafeteria at 229 West 43rd Street.
“After careful consideration and hearing from many of you about how this location makes your commute more manageable, we have decided to remain here. We are excited to become a fixture in this hub of media, entertainment and finance,joining our neighbors – Paramount Global, Snap Inc., TikTok, Roku, Nasdaq, Morgan Stanley and Bank of America,” he wrote.
“Leaving 30 Rock and settling into this unique space was not always easy, but it has also become a special moment in our company’s history. Now, we look forward to setting down roots and transforming this space into our own permanent VERSANT New York Headquarters together.”
Comcast has entered into a new employment agreement with Michael Cavanagh in connection with his upcoming appointment as co-chief executive officer alongside Brian Roberts starting January 2. The contract secures Cavanagh’s employment through January 1, 2029, the company said in an SEC filing.
Cavanagh will be entitled to an annual base salary of $2.75 million and his annual performance-based cash bonus target will continue to be 300% of his base salary. Cavanagh also received an award of performance-based restricted stock units valued at approximately $35 million.
The number of shares was determined by using a five-day volume weighted-average price of Class A common stock for the period ending the day before the record date for the planned Versant spin-off, an initiative he spearheaded. The performance award will vest in three years pegged to satisfying some time-based and performance-based conditions.
The NBCUniversal parent officially spins off Versant Media Media Group into a standalone public company that will begin trading on the Nasdaq Jan. 5 under the stock symbol VSNT. It houses NBCU cable networks (except Bravo) and digital assets like Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes. Comcast announced plans about a year ago to separate out its cable assets from its core broadband business and the rest of NBCU. It set Mark Lazarus as CEO with a new leadership team.
Not long after Comcast unveiled the move, Warner Bros. Discovery followed with its own plan to split and separate out linear television in a new entity called Discovery Global. WBD this month struck a deal to sell the faster growing Warner Bros. studios and streaming to Netflix, although David Ellison’s Paramount is still in hot pursuit.
Versant said at its first investor day recently that it expects to generate $6.6 billion in revenue, $2.2 billion in EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) and $1.4 billion in free cash flow for 2025. It will launch with $3 billion in gross debt, $750 million in cash and $1.5 billion in total liquidity. While cable throws off cash, it is in decline. The new company outlined a strategy of shifting its revenue mix towards areas with stronger growth potential, announcing a DTC offering for MS Now (formerly MSNBC) in the works and new FAST channels, among other initiatives.
Rev. BronsonElliott Woods (far left), Rev. Olivia D.A. Maxwell (center), Ken Palmer (white t-shirt), and Rev. Donavan Pinner (furthest right) pose for a photo with Santa Claus and Comcast’s Director of Government Affairs, Shaneak Brown (second from left) during the first ever “Hope for the Holidays” event at Ebenezer Baptist Church on Saturday, December 20, 2025. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Juanita Johnson and Phyllis Garnett sat at a table with their four grandchildren, enjoying Christmas cookies, hot chocolate, and the feeling that someone in the community cared. They, along with dozens of other families, were in the Sweet Auburn district for a holiday gathering and celebration of the human spirit and community.
A family shares a smile with Santa. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Ebenezer Baptist Church and Comcast hosted the first “Hope for the Holidays” event inside the church on Saturday, December 20. The event enabled over 100 people to receive bags of groceries, toys, gift wrap, and refreshments from the cookie and hot chocolate station. Children were also able to participate in activities and take photos with a Black Santa Claus. There was also a raffle for children’s bicycles.
The grocery bags included dry goods, non-perishable items, and frozen chicken pieces, courtesy of donations from a food service company. That sense of volunteerism included members of the Ebenezer Baptist congregation, church ministries, and Comcast. Along with the church and communications company leading the charge, the Martin Luther King, Sr. Community Resources Collaborative also contributed to the first annual event. The organization hosts several community-based free events during the year and has more scheduled for 2026, according to Chairman of the Board Ken Palmer.
Santa and Ebenezer Baptist Church Associate Pastor-Children and Youth Ministries, Rev. Donavan Pinner. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Watching the children color at the tables before the toys were distributed, Ebenezer Baptist Church Associate Pastor-Children and Youth Ministries, Rev. Donavan Pinner, smiled, grabbed the microphone, and said, “As the youth minister here at Ebenezer Baptist Church, it feels good to see all of these children here today.”
A kid won a bicycle in a raffle. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Pinner, a Morehouse man, wore a navy hoodie with the words “Here 2 Serve” in big orange block letters. He wasn’t alone; the volunteers at the event each had a version of that message. One male volunteer wore the t-shirt version, and the back of his shirt featured a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The quote: “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve.” King is one of the small group of men to lead Ebenezer Baptist Church, including his father, brother, and the current Senior Paster Rev. Raphael Warnock, the first Black senator from the state of Georgia.
“It’s important for us to be direct ministries in the community,” said Pinner. “We find connections to resources, and we try to help them in various seasons.”
Rev. Olivia D.A. Maxwell could be found walking around the building, greeting families, directing volunteers, and posing for a group photo with Santa. Maxwell, the Associate Pastor- Congregation Care, said this event and others are for the people.
“The community needs to know that the church cares about their struggles and needs,” she said.
Ebenezer Baptist Church volunteers at the sign-in table during Hope for the Holidays.
The giving doesn’t stop with the holidays. Ebenezer Baptist hosts “Manna Mondays,” where 11,000 pounds of food is distributed to the public free of charge. For unhoused community members, more ready-to-eat meals will be included in their food bags. Ebenezer Baptist Associate Pastor-Outreach Rev. Bronson Elliott Woods told The Atlanta Voice that the word ‘need’ is essential here.
“This is important because the community is always in need, and members of the community need to respect the needs of their neighbors,” Woods said. “We are very international about what’s going into these bags.”
Comcast donated $13,000 to support ongoing connectivity efforts and digital inclusion programs.
Comcast donated 150 laptops to the children who pre-registered for Saturday’s Brunch with Santa and completed the STEM stations set up at the Girls Inc. Marietta headquarters. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
MARIETTA, GA – Mariah Carey’s version of “This Christmas” pumped through the speakers while parents and their kids enjoyed a catered breakfast from Flying Biscuit. In the back of the room, a Black Santa Claus sat on a gold throne while taking photos with kids and listening intently as they revised their Christmas lists.
On Saturday in Marietta, Comcast partnered with Girls Inc. of Greater (GIGA)Atlanta to host the 6th annual Brunch with Santa, a holiday event for 150 children, ages 6-17, and their families from across Cobb County. The festive community celebration blended holiday festivities with hands-on STEM learning, digital skills-building, and family support services.
Santa Claus was on hand to hear from the kids. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
The STEM activities included deciphering Jr. engineer secret codes, creating digital Christmas cards and binary code candy canes, and making L.E.D. circuit ornaments. For that activity, kids were dying copper tape to create a pathway for the circuit on their ornaments. In each of the rooms, tables were full of kids working on their projects.
The brunch took place at the GIGA Marietta Center, where the event was so well-attended by parents and kids who pre-registered that the parking had to be extended to a small lot up the street. Along with the breakfast and STEM training, the three-hour event included a surprise for the kids in attendance.
“This is important because Girls Inc. started to build safe spaces for girls in the community,” Girls Inc. Chief Executive Officer Tiffany Colli-Bailey (above) said. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
“This is important because Girls Inc. started to build safe spaces for girls in the community,” Girls Inc. Chief Executive Officer Tiffany Colli-Bailey said. “An event like this circles right back around to why we began.” “This is important because Girls Inc. started to build safe spaces for girls in the community,” Girls Inc. Chief Executive Officer Tiffany Colli-Bailey said.
Girls Inc. is preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2026. At the same time, The Atlanta Voice will be celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2026.
10-year-old Aiden Bradley works on a binary code candy cane during the STEM portion of the event. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
A check presentation took place, where Comcast’s Director of Government Affairs, Shaneak Brown, announced a $30,000 grant from the tech company to Girls Inc. The 150 kids who completed their STEM training that morning were also awarded brand new laptops.
“Just seeing this room full is why we love supporting this event,” Brown said as she stood in front of a table loaded down with laptops ready for distribution.
“It is really because of partners like Comcast that we can do this,” Colli-Bailey said. “It all starts in places like this,” Colli-Bailey said.
Don “DJ D Crucial” Walter (above) said, “All of that stuff is priceless.” Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Playing music from his DJ setup in the center of the room, DJ D Crucial told The Atlanta Voice that he had offered Girls Inc. a discounted rate for his services that day. He said that he just appreciates the organization that much. His daughter Ava has participated in Girls Inc. events, including Brunch with Santa last year.
“They mean so much to my family and me,” he said. “They helped bring Ava her confidence, and now it’s through the roof.”
DJ D Crucial, Don Walter, said he has another younger daughter who will also begin attending Girls Inc. events. He wants her to learn many of the lessons of self-respect and pride that her sister learned.
“All of that stuff is priceless,” Walter said.
Along with The Atlanta Voice, local radio station 1380 WAOK was also in attendance to cover the event.
Kids and their parents celebrated the new laptops Comcast gave them. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
HBO delivers the legitimacy and value no rival can replicate. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Discovery
There’s a particularly trenchant quote from HBO’s House of the Dragon that keeps popping into my head as major media companies jockey for position in pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery: “Aegon Targaryen sits the Iron Throne. He wears the Conqueror’s crown, wields the Conqueror’s sword, has the Conqueror’s name. He was anointed by a septon of the Faith before the eyes of thousands. Every symbol of legitimacy belongs to him.”
Symbols are assets that can be leveraged for value in different ways. Zooming out to House of the Dragon’s home network, HBO finds itself in a position to be an integral symbol of legitimacy and value in the WBD sweepstakes. As all publicly circle the wagons, it’s time to explore the premium cable network’s merits and which company would benefit most from its addition.
This article contains a plethora of data points that highlight whitespace opportunities and strategic value in the market. But it’s not always the quantifiable elements that yield the greatest benefits. HBO’s multi-decade track record as a culture-shaping authority cannot be summed up in an Excel sheet.
“It is not merely a content library; rather, it is a brand that stands for prestige and audience trust, meaning an acquirer instantly uplevels its brand value with the acquisition, as well as attracts unrivaled talent,” Andrew Cussens, CEO of content studio Film Folk, told Observer.
This very notion was recently demonstrated when WBD re-rebranded its streaming service to HBO Max. The name carries weight throughout the industry while certain rival brands still search for a defined identity that elicits strong audience associations. The data backs up its position as a go-to destination and an illuminating opportunity.
HBO and HBO Max by the numbers
WBD’s streaming platforms had 128 million subscribers at the end of September, with the vast majority belonging to HBO Max. (Netflix has more than 300 million subscribers.) It’s a hits-driven platform that values prestige quality over quantity. That’s incredibly valuable, but it can run counter to mass market ambitions.
For example, The Last of Us Season 2 and The White Lotus Season 3 rank among the most-watched U.S. streaming series of 2025, according to Samba TV’s State of Streaming report. Yet, HBO Max only accounts for 7 percent of the Top 100 most-streamed series overall, per Samba, while WBD’s share of U.S. streaming sits at just 1.3 percent, per Nielsen, respectively. Even as the majority of viewing for HBO series occurs on streaming vs linear, HBO Max remains a top-heavy platform that accounts for a surprisingly small slice of the U.S. TV pie despite its namesake brand’s prestige.
From Watchmen and Penguin to House of the Dragon and It: Welcome to Derry, HBO has worked wonders in elevating brand-name intellectual property and franchise fare in pursuit of greater viewership (while still succeeding with more standard “prestige” fare like The White Lotus and Task). This raises the question: has it reached its scalable ceiling?
“There is definite upside in the number of subscribers and revenue-per-viewer, and HBO Max hasn’t saturated either,” Samba TV CEO and co-founder Ashwin Navin told Observer. “By adding new tier-one shows and tentpoles, they can continue to broaden their audience base. With more subscribers on the ad-tier, combined with more precision targeting and data, there’s definitely room to grow monetization. The ceiling is much higher with the right investment and growth strategy.”
HBO is already doing most of the heavy lifting for HBO Max, especially when compared to its high-minded cable counterparts. HBO titles account for 14 percent of the streamer’s library, but more than 18 percent of its audience demand, according to Parrot Analytics. That tops Showtime on Paramount+ (7.2 percent supply vs. 7.3 percent demand) and FX on Hulu (3.6 percent vs. 4.6 percent).
Who stands to gain the most if WBD is sold?
For better and for worse (mostly the latter), Hollywood is chasing scale to compete. Yet, no one is talking about the potential overlap when it comes to possible streaming combos. Paramount Skydance, Comcast and Netflix could all stand to gain from HBO’s prestige pricing power, but face challenges to continue scaling without sacrificing quality.
Roughly two-thirds of U.S. adults who subscribe to HBO Max also subscribe to Netflix, according to Greenlight Analytics, where I work as Director of Insights & Content Strategy. About 40 percent of HBO Max subscribers also use Paramount+, while only 20 percent overlap with Peacock.
“Either Paramount or Comcast would benefit the most,” Hernan Lopez, founder and CEO of media/tech management consulting firm Owl & Co., told Observer. “They would immediately more than double their global revenue and profits from streaming, and the size of the library — both for their own streaming services as well as strategic leverage for negotiation with Netflix.”
The end result for each suitor would be different. Generally speaking, we’re talking about more subscribers, greater pricing power, higher combined lifetime value per customer, higher engagement, lower churn and so on. On paper, that’s awfully tantalizing, though not without its obstacles.
“Netflix would only fully realize the value of buying WB streaming and studios if it keeps the TV and theatrical studios open, which would mean being willing to make and sell shows to third parties and distribute in theaters—things they haven’t done so far,” Lopez noted. Despite nudges in the theatrical direction, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandossaid as recently as April that movie theaters are an “outmoded idea.” Oof.
Interestingly, 78 percent of 2025 HBO Max engagement was directed at titles released before 2025, the second-highest rate among the premium streamers, per Samba. That speaks to the enduring power of HBO’s treasured library and the appointment-viewing gaps between high-profile HBO releases. On the flip side, Peacock (64%) boasts the largest share of engagement dedicated to programming that debuted in 2025. Meanwhile, Paramount+’s male-skewing originals fit well with HBO Max’s female-leaning audience. To Lopez’s points, one can see the non-Netflix fits.
It would be media malpractice to see HBO reduced to a mere tile in another company’s crowded streaming ecosystem. The small screen’s crown jewel deserves better than that, not only for its reputational value but for the tangible results it yields. Yes, time spent has become the all-powerful quarry of every streaming platform. No, HBO is not a content firehose designed to constantly scratch that itch. But much like the throne, crown and sword, the validation it offers is the first step in empowering whomever its parent company may be to rule the realm.
Warner Bros. Discovery is the latest media conglomerate to go up for sale.
The company, which owns HBO, the Warner Bros. movie studio, and several cable channels, announced on Tuesday that it is reviewing a variety of offers to sell the company.
It said it would consider these bids as it moves forward with previously announced plans to separate its streaming and studio business from its struggling cable channels.
“It’s no surprise that the significant value of our portfolio is receiving increased recognition by others in the market,” said David Zaslav, President and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, in a press release. “After receiving interest from multiple parties, we have initiated a comprehensive review of strategic alternatives to identify the best path forward to unlock the full value of our assets.”
All options appear to be on the table, including a sale of the entire company or separate deals for its streaming/studio division and its cable channel business.
The move could totally reshape Hollywood and continue the trend of media consolidation into a frighteningly small number of hands. Just this year, Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS, MTV, and Paramount Studios, completed its merger with Skydance Media. And it wasn’t that long ago, 2019, when Disney acquired its longtime rival, 20th Century Fox.
It was also only in 2022 when then-WarnerMedia merged with Discovery to become Warner Bros. Discovery. That deal was pitched as a way for the two to become more competitive against conglomerates like Disney and Comcast, as well as streaming pioneer Netflix. But it seems like things haven’t gone as initially planned. This June, the company announced it was splitting itself into two, with its streaming service and studios becoming Warner Bros. and the majority of its cable channels forming Discovery Global.
The company’s streaming service has also undergone several rebrands, most recently settling on the HBO Max name. The company also announced today that it is raising prices for the service.
So, who’s interested?
The Wall Street Journalreported today that Warner Bros. Discovery rejected a second offer from Paramount this week. If the two companies were ever to reach a deal, it would put a lot of power in the hands of Paramount CEO David Ellison, the son of Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison.
As head of Paramount, Ellison currently controls CBS News, where he recently appointed The Free Press’s Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief. Under a deal with WBD, Ellison could also potentially gain control over the cable news network CNN.
Comcast is reportedly interested as well, despite recently starting the process of spinning off its own cable channel business, according to The New York Times.
For now, it doesn’t appear that Netflix is seriously considering a bid. Netflix Co-CEO Greg Peters recently shut down rumors that the streaming giant is seeking to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery.
“We come from a deep heritage of being builders rather than buyers,” Peters said earlier this month at the Bloomberg Screentime conference in Los Angeles, Deadline reported. “One should have a reasonable amount of skepticism around big media mergers. They don’t have an amazing track record over time.”
Comcast Corp., owner of the nation’s largest cable TV and broadband provider Xfinity, informed the state on Wednesday that it will eliminate 302 positions at its West Division office in Centennial at the end of the year.
The company, one of the largest private sector employers in the state, said it would close its West Division headquarters at 9401 E. Panorama Circle in Centennial as part of a larger streamlining that will remove all three divisional headquarters.
“The West Division operating division will cease to exist beginning in 2026, after which the facility will be closed. These organizational changes will result in the permanent layoff of approximately 302 employees,” Elizabeth Peetz, Comcast’s vice president of state government affairs, wrote in a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act letter submitted to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.
Positions cut include 72 financial analysts, 25 vice presidents, 24 finance managers and several communications and government relations positions. The company plans to maintain its regional and operational presence, which represents the lion’s share of its workforce, and said that customers shouldn’t notice any difference.
Peetz said Comcast will work to relocate affected employees to other positions within the company. Those who can’t be placed elsewhere and who remain through the closure date will be entitled to severance benefits.
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NBCUniversal is phasing in a mandate for employees to work at least four days a week in the office.
News of the updated policy due to take effect on January 5, 2026, was conveyed to employees by COO Adam Miller in a memo, a copy of which was obtained by Deadline.
“As we look ahead toward an exciting 2026 and reflect on the past years, it has become increasingly clear that we are better when we are together,” Miller wrote. “As we have all experienced, in-person work and collaboration spark innovation, promote creativity, and build stronger connections.”
The move follows a number of similar initiatives across the media and entertainment sector. Paramount last week made the eye-opening decision to implement a five-days-a-week mandate, following in the mold of tech giants like Amazon, which have cited productivity advantages from workers collaborating in person.
NBCU parent Comcast has already gone to a 4-day in-person work week.
Industries like finance have also moved toward a full-time in-person stance. The commercial real estate market in New York and other major cities has lagged behind national occupancy rates coming out of Covid. NBCU has a significant number of employees at its longtime base at 30 Rock in Midtown Manhattan. The Los Angeles home of NBCU at Universal City recently got some upgrades, including a new commissary, which could have also factored into the larger thinking.
Here’s Miller’s full memo:
Hi all,
I’m reaching out to share an update to our in-office schedule for hybrid employees. As we look ahead toward an exciting 2026 and reflect on the past years, it has become increasingly clear that we are better when we are together. As we have all experienced, in-person work and collaboration spark innovation, promote creativity, and build stronger connections.
To that end, effective Monday, January 5, 2026, the company will implement a 4-day in-office workweek for hybrid employees, who will now be required to be onsite from Monday through Thursday, with the continued option to work remotely or in the office on Fridays. We recognize that for some of you, being onsite on Fridays is part of your role, and for others, it’s a choice. Our offices are open daily, and we encourage everyone to take full advantage of working together in person.
Flexibility will remain an important part of our culture, and the company will continue to accommodate life events with options such as time off, adjusted hours, or additional remote days when appropriate. As always, employees should discuss these needs with their manager as they arise. We understand you may need to make adjustments to adhere to this change. We ask that you use the time between now and January to make any necessary plans. If you will not be prepared to comply with the 4-day in-office requirement by January 5, 2026, please discuss your options with your HR manager. If you are VP level or below, you may be eligible for a voluntary exit assistance package.
We have a lot to look forward to across the company as we gear up for 2026: an unprecedented “Legendary February” featuring the Milan-Cortina Olympics, Super Bowl LX and the NBA All-Star Game; the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Telemundo; the opening of our first-ever Universal Kids Resort; and NBC News’ coverage of the midterm elections. We’ll also celebrate important film releases, including Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey; Illumination’s Minions 3 and a new original film from Steven Spielberg, as well as new and returning series across Bravo, Peacock and NBC including The Real Housewives of Rhode Island, The Burbs and The Traitors returning to Peacock plus premiering for the first time on NBC. And of course, we will celebrate the 100-year anniversary of NBC.
It is shaping up to be quite a year, and I am looking forward to working with you all to bring it to life.
Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV cut its holdings in shares of Comcast Co. (NASDAQ:CMCSA – Free Report) by 12.0% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 4,907 shares of the cable giant’s stock after selling 669 shares during the quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV’s holdings in Comcast were worth $205,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Fairscale Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Comcast in the second quarter worth about $26,000. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. grew its stake in Comcast by 365.4% in the 3rd quarter. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 726 shares of the cable giant’s stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 570 shares in the last quarter. Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in Comcast by 220.3% during the 3rd quarter. Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC now owns 759 shares of the cable giant’s stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 522 shares during the period. IAG Wealth Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Comcast by 204.7% during the second quarter. IAG Wealth Partners LLC now owns 777 shares of the cable giant’s stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 522 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Archer Investment Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Comcast by 177.1% in the second quarter. Archer Investment Corp now owns 812 shares of the cable giant’s stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 519 shares during the period. 84.32% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
A number of analysts recently issued reports on the company. Rosenblatt Securities reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $45.00 price objective on shares of Comcast in a research note on Wednesday, July 24th. KeyCorp raised their price objective on shares of Comcast from $44.00 to $47.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday. Pivotal Research upped their target price on shares of Comcast from $47.00 to $54.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Comcast from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, September 24th. Finally, Scotiabank upgraded shares of Comcast from a “sector perform” rating to a “sector outperform” rating and boosted their price target for the company from $47.75 to $48.00 in a research report on Friday. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $46.63.
Shares of Comcast stock opened at $43.56 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $168.69 billion, a PE ratio of 11.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a current ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14. Comcast Co. has a 12 month low of $36.43 and a 12 month high of $47.11. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $40.80 and its 200-day moving average price is $39.58.
Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The cable giant reported $1.12 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.06 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $32.07 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $31.78 billion. Comcast had a net margin of 11.92% and a return on equity of 19.81%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 6.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.08 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts forecast that Comcast Co. will post 4.24 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Comcast Announces Dividend
The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 29th. Investors of record on Wednesday, January 8th will be given a $0.31 dividend. This represents a $1.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.85%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, January 8th. Comcast’s payout ratio is presently 33.33%.
Comcast Corporation operates as a media and technology company worldwide. It operates through Residential Connectivity & Platforms, Business Services Connectivity, Media, Studios, and Theme Parks segments. The Residential Connectivity & Platforms segment provides residential broadband and wireless connectivity services, residential and business video services, sky-branded entertainment television networks, and advertising.
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Shari Redstone arrives at the Allen & Co. Sun Valley Conference on July 9, 2024 in Sun Valley, Idaho. Getty Images
Today (June 9) marks the start of this year’s Allen & Co. conference in Sun Valley, Idaho. Known as the “summer camp for billionaires,” the annual get-together has since 1983 drawn in industry leaders across media, tech, politics and finance. Each year, the wealthy and elite touch down in private jets at the nearby Friedman Memorial airport, which describes the conference as its “annual fly-in event” and today experienced delays due to flight volume.
Convening at the Sun Valley Lodge, attendees will spend the next few days networking and attending private lectures on topics like national security, health care and education.
HOUSTON – A grandmother worried about paying daily HOA fines calls KPRC 2 to help resolve issues with a utility box in front of her home.
The box is a utility hub for several condominiums around her. Because of this, Bernadette Stinson said it’s filled to the brim.
“The lines are pushing the box up,” Stinson said. “They’re not staying inside.”
Stinson had Comcast Xfinity come out once a month to clean the wires and put them back in the box. However, not soon after they left, the grandmother said the wires slowly pop out again.
The Glenbrook Patio Homes HOA told Stinson and other neighbors with the utility box in front of their homes: if they don’t get rid of it, they’ll face fines.
“I’m trying to get ahead of this before the fees kick in,” Stinson said. “I can’t afford to pay the fees that are going to start accruing because this is here.”
A spokesperson for Comcast tells KPRC 2′s Rilwan Balogun, the equipment in front of Stinson’s home has been there for years and is necessary.
“The telecommunications equipment, or pedestal, outside of Ms. Stinson’s home is long-standing, existing infrastructure that serves multiple residents in her community,” the spokesperson said. “Our Xfinity technicians have been responsive to Ms. Stinson’s requests, including today when our technician performed minor maintenance work.”
As Balogun was speaking with Stinson, a technician from Xfinity arrived at her home. He met with Stinson then went to clean the wires around the hub.
Items like the utility box are allowed on homeowner’s property due to easement.
The Texas Utility Code says companies can access private land to use easements for work on things like cable lines, internet, and sewage.
After the Xfinity technician responded, he gave Stinson a direct number with someone with the company. Stinson shared that the company said they would return to her home to maintain the wires and explain to the Massachusetts transplant Texas easement laws.
She was told the previous number she had been calling was a representative in Denver, Colorado.
The company offered to speak with the HOA to explain why the utility boxes are necessary.
“Thank you so much. If you had not come out, they would not be here,” Stinson told Balogun.
“You believe that,” he asked.
“Wholeheartedly. They would not be here. I would still probably be on the phone trying to be in touch with someone,” she said. “Because it’s not important but it’s important to me because I live here.”
COMCAST XFINITY STATEMENT:
“The telecommunications equipment, or pedestal, outside of Ms. Stinson’s home is long-standing, existing infrastructure that serves multiple residents in her community. Our Xfinity technicians have been responsive to Ms. Stinson’s requests, including today when our technician performed minor maintenance work.
Burying the equipment, as requested by Ms. Stinson, would make the network vulnerable to water damage during heavy rains. This would compromise the reliable service Ms. Stinson and other customers in the area expect from Xfinity.
Our Comcast team will continue to partner with Ms. Stinson to help her address any further concerns.”
Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.
Can’t get enough of the Samsung Galaxy S24? The company’s latest phone release may be its most diverse offering yet, with major differences between the regular S24, S24+, and Ultra variants thanks to the most expensive version’s titanium frame. There’s a lot of information to parse, so we’re here to help make your buying decision a little easier.
This is the Coolest Galaxy S24 AI Feature That Few Are Talking About
How to Order the Samsung Galaxy S24
The Galaxy S24 series should be on stores starting Wednesday. You can nab it from Samsung’s website, Best Buy, or anywhere else where phones are sold.
Pretty much all U.S.-based carriers are offering S24 deals, though, as usual, it’s best to read the fine print before jumping onto a new plan for the sake of a phone. Xfinity and Comcast are telling their customers they can get up to $800 off on any of the S24 variations with trade-in, though that will depend on the age and state of their current device.
T-Mobile is advertising you can get some money off your bill with trade-in for a Galaxy S24+ or Ultra, though only if they’re on the Go5G Plus or Next plans. These are applied as bill credits going on the next two years. They can also get up to $800 off a S24 through their bills when adding a line on those plans. Remember, studying any of these plans’ cost benefits is best before jumping in.
Verizon offers 0% APR monthly payments on all the new Galaxy variants. In addition, those on Verizon Unlimited plans are being offered a trade-in on any Samsung phone model in any condition for a new Galaxy S24 or S24+. You could get some money off your monthly payments over time.
Meanwhile, AT&T is advertising credits on your bill when you trade-in for the S24+ and Ultra variants, or up to $800 off the regular S24 so long as you have the telecom company’s unlimited plan.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Specs and Price
Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
Now for the important part, AKA what you should actually know about the latest Galaxy before slamming the buy button. The regular Galaxy S24 costs $800 for the 128 GB version and storage caps out at 256 GB. The S24+ is $1,000 with 256 GB and more storage up to 512 GB.
The regular S24 remains at the comfortable 6.2-inch screen size with its FHD+, 120 Hz display. The S24+ bumps up to 6.5 inches with a Quad HD+ display. It comes stocked with 8 GB of integrated memory and the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, Qualcomm’s latest flagship chip. You can expect the usual camera array from the Samsung lineup, including a 50-MP main sensor, a 10-MP telephoto, and a 12-MP ultrawide. Don’t forget the 12-MP selfie camera up front. Otherwise, its looks, size, and weight are very reminiscent of last year’s Galaxy.
As for the Galaxy S24 Ultra, things are switched up a fair bit. This is the most expensive version of the company’s mainline phone, starting at $1,300 for 256 GB of internal memory. There are also options for 512 GB and 1 TB of storage.
The Ultra variant now costs $100 more than the S23 Ultra did last year, and that’s mostly due to the new titanium frame that’s supposed to be more durable than the previous aluminum. The Ultra’s 6.8-inch, 120 Hz flat display also sports Corning Gorilla Armor for screen protection and glare reduction. As far as the camera goes, its zoom function has been boosted with a 5x optical zoom lens on the 50 MP telephoto lens. That’s in addition to the 12-MP ultra-wide, 200-MP wide, and 10-MP telephoto with 3x zoom.
The titanium build hasn’t added much heft compared to the S23, but the S24 isn’t lighter either. It weighs just a little over .5 pounds and is still only .3 inches thick. The Ultra variant packs 12 GB of RAM and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip.
What Colors are Available for the S24?
Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
Samsung really went back to matte for its color selection on the regular S24. The cheaper variations of Samsung’s latest smartphone, including the S24 and S24+, come in a deep purple Cobalt Violet and a muted Amber Yellow, alongside a dark and light gray in the form of Onyx Black and Marble Gray.
On the other hand, the S24 Ultra’s new titanium frame has made the colors of the cheaper phones a bit shinier, even with the same hues. The Ultra comes in Titanium Gray, Titanium Black (a variation of light and dark gray), Titanium Violet, and Titanium Yellow.
What Do We Think About the Galaxy S24 So Far?
Gizmodo’s own Florence Ion has been using the S24 Ultra extensively over the past few weeks, and she already has thoughts you can find here. Suffice it to say, the new $1,300 phone is a step up from last year’s model thanks to its titanium frame, better and brighter screen, and all the new generative AI software packed floor to ceiling inside Samsung’s latest phone. Its new zoom capabilities are also nothing to scoff at, thanks to the 5x zoom on the telephoto lens.
You can be sure we’re working on the full rundown of Samsung’s latest S24 slate, so stay tuned.
How Capable is the Galaxy S24’s AI?
Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
Like the Google Pixel 8 before, Samsung wanted to mark its latest phone release as a true “AI phone.” Whatever that truly means, Samsung spent most of its time at its Galaxy Unpacked event talking up the new phone’s generative AI features.
Many of these new features are things we’ve seen before, but the Seoul-based tech giant is promoting them all in one place. As noted in our ongoing review, the Instant Slow-mo feature works quite well, which adds AI-generated frames in videos to add the slow-motion effect artificially. The Generative Edit, akin to Google’s Magic Eraser, also works well enough to remove objects from images and fill in the leftover space.
There’s also the much-advertised Circle to Search feature that’s also coming to Pixel 8 phones. When you hold down on the navigation bar, you can then use a swipe or circle gesture to highlight an image or text on the screen. The feature will then search for that image or text akin to how Google Lens works.
The AI images also come with a watermark and metadata tag made to identify an image of AI. Of course, you can modify an image’s metadata and crop out the watermark, so it’s not like Samsung is promising it will save the world from deepfakes. Hell, you can use Samsung’s own AI to remove the watermark added to modified images.
Plus, Samsung has effectively confirmed its AI might not stay free forever. Samsung’s head of mobile T.M. Roh said that the company is looking into paid premium AI features after the end of 2025. We still don’t know what that will look like, and apparently, neither does Samsung. It’s just something to note considering how AI seems to be the next big push for the mobile market.
How Durable is the Galaxy S24 Ultra?
Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
It’s still early, and folks will need to put all the new phones through their paces. Still, we have a fair idea about how strong titanium can be in phones thanks to the iPhone 15 Pro. Whereas Apple’s premium device was lighter than its past Pro devices, the S24 Ultra variant and its new titanium shell are essentially the same as last year’s, likely due to some swapped internals. The Corning Gorilla Armor on the Ultra should also be stronger and more scratch-resistant than the Victus 2 shield on the regular S24.
Just because it’s now cloaked in a stronger material doesn’t mean you should eschew a case or screen protector. That said, the device may be a fair bit easy to repair should things go horribly wrong, at least based on the most recent S24 teardowns. Videos also show the new phone has expanded its cooling capacity with a larger vapor chamber, which will likely deal with greater heat from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
Need help?
Need some help with your new Samsung smartphone? Check out our how-tos on turning off the pesky Samsung advertising you’ll inevitably encounter. And if you’re trading in a Samsung device for credit on a new one, factory reset it before you send it off. Or, if you’d rather save money on the last generation’s Galaxy series, the good news is that all that fancy new AI software is coming to older Samsung devices.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Questions to ponder as the Rockies near Thursday’s season-opener against the Diamondbacks:
Will fans be able to watch games via traditional cable?: The Rockies continue to say that negotiations are ongoing to find a way for fans to watch games on systems like Comcast, Dish Network or DirectTV. I was originally told that a deal would hopefully be worked out before the regular season begins. However, there are no guarantees that’s going to happen, leaving some fans in limbo.
Will fans pay to stream games via Rockies.TV?: That’s the multi-million-dollar question facing owner Dick Monfort. The club launched its online streaming service last month. Rockies.TV will show all Rockies games this season, with Major League Baseball producing and distributing the games.
MLB will also remove blackouts for fans, meaning that for the first time, fans in the Rockies’ traditional TV territory can live stream all of the club’s games. To stream Rockies games only, the cost will be $19.99 per month or $99.99 for the season.
Streaming all sports, not just baseball, is the wave of the future. But several disgruntled fans have told me they won’t pay $19.99 monthly to watch a team that lost 103 games last season. I’m not sure I believe many of them. Baseball is part of the fabric of summer, and I think fans would miss tuning in to the local team more than they realize.
Still, it’s going to be a hard sell. Two years ago, the Rockies drew an average of just 15,000 household viewers per game via traditional TV, according to Forbes and Nielsen Media. Only the Miami Marlins and Oakland Athletics had worse ratings.
Will attendance tumble at Coors Field?: A little bit, but I don’t see a giant slide. Last season, the Rockies averaged 32,196 fans per game at Coors Field, down only slightly from the 32,467 average from 2022. Even if the Rockies stumble early — a distinct possibility — they have the Red Sox coming into town for three games after the All-Star Game and they end the season with the Cardinals and Dodgers coming to LoDo for what could be meaningful games for the visitors.
Which Rockies will make the All-Star Game?: We know every team sends at least one player to the Midsummer Classic, but I’ll give you three Rockies who could end up at Globe Life Field on July 16 in Arlington, Texas.
Topping my list is left fielder Nolan Jones, a terrific athlete who has a chance to be an impactful power hitter. On deck is second baseman Brendan Rodgers. He’s had an excellent spring, and his confidence is sky-high.
My wild-card choice is veteran lefty Kyle Freeland. Manager Bud Black said recently that he’s never seen Freeland pitch better. That’s saying something, considering that Freeland went 17-7 with a 2.85 ERA over 33 starts in 2018.
Will the “real” Kris Bryant finally show up?: I want to say yes because he’s very well-liked by his teammates and he’s a class act. He’s got a beautiful swing and is a graceful athlete. But I don’t know what KB has left at age 32 following two years of injuries that limited him to 122 games in a Rockies uniform.
If he stays healthy and plays 145-150 games, I could envision him hitting .280 with 20 homers and 80 RBIs. But he’s never going to hit .292 with 39 homers and 102 RBIs as he did in 2016 when he was named National League MVP and helped lead the Cubs to their first World Series title since 1908.
It wasn’t exactly the “split second” the courthouse opened this morning as promised, but Elon Musk has now filed his self-described “thermonuclear lawsuit” against Media Matters.
“Defendant Media Matters for America is a self-proclaimed media watchdog that decided it would not let the truth get in the way of a story it wanted to publish about X Corp,” proclaimed the jury trial seeking complaint filed in federal court in Texas. Musk and X’s three-claim disparagement suit wants a preliminary and permanent injunction against Media Matters’ report on the alleged placing of corporate ads next “Pro-Nazi Content.”
Enraged about studies by the media watchdog that claimed X/Twitter is placing the advertising of major brands and big corporations aside such vile material, Musk lashed put with his legal threats late on November 17. More fallout from the Media Matters study saw Apple, DisneyComcast, Paramount Global, Warner Bros Discovery and others suspend their ad buys and presence on X/Twitter.
Condemned by the White House last week for his additional amplification of antisemitic screech, Musk clearly wanted to shift the narrative. First, as more deep pocket advertisers jumped ship, the Tesla/Space X boss took to his social media platform to lash out “Many of the largest advertisers are the greatest oppressors of your right to free speech.” Then he swore to take down Media Matters and their so-called “fraudulent attack on our company” while kind of confirming the truth of their research at the same time.
After Musk threatened late last week to unleash his lawsuit first thing Monday, Media Matters President Angelo Carusone took a swing back. “Far from the free speech advocate he claims to be, Musk is a bully who threatens meritless lawsuits in an attempt to silence reporting that he even confirmed is accurate,” Carusone said. “Musk admitted the ads at issue ran alongside the pro-Nazi content we identified. If he does sue us, we will win.”
Today, Carusone added: “Elon Musk has spent the last few days making meritless legal threats, elevating bizarre conspiracy theories, and lobbing vicious personal attacks against his ‘enemies’ online. Even if he does not follow through with his threat to sue, the volatility of actions reinforce why major brands are rightly skittish of partnering with X. We are going to continue our work undeterred. If he sues us, we will win.”
Now that an actual suit has been filed, Musk will have to hand over material on the platform’s algorithms internal ad decision and more, a pulling back of the curtain that could prove to be the make-or-break in the matter.
Coming off a weekend that also saw yet another Space X launch end in an explosion, Musk took to X/Twitter repeatedly this morning to take another pre-litigation swipe at Media Matters:
This is not Musk’s first lawsuit against a media watchdog.
Last summer, X/Twitter sued the Center for Countering Digital Hate for defamation over the group’s reports on the platform’s lack of hate speech guardrails. On November 16, the group filed a motion to dismiss and an anti-SLAPP motion last week, arguing that Musk’s platform had “ginned up baseless claims” in taking issue with how CCDH gathered its data.
“Apparently unhappy with how it is faring in the marketplace of ideas, X Corp. asks this court to shut that marketplace down—to punish the CCDH Defendants for their speech and to silence others who might speak up about X Corp. in the future,” the group’s attorneys wrote. “Thus, X Corp. seeks ‘at least tens of millions of dollars’ in damages based on how advertisers reacted to what the CCDH Defendants said about X Corp. in their public reports.”
The erratic Musk has previously threatened legal action against other critics over the years, but didn’t follow through. In September, when the Anti-Defamation League sharply criticized X/Twitter for increasing antisemitic and other hate speech, Musk promised to sue – but never did. The South African billionaire blamed ADL for an advertising decline of 60% on the social media platform he bought for over $44 billion last year.
Musk came up again Monday at the White House, which reiterated its criticism of his antisemitic retweet:
@PressSec reiterates that the White House condemns Elon Musk’s amplification of an anti-Semitic post last week and says are going to continue to call out such comments. She does not say whether WH is considering stopping use of X/Twitter. pic.twitter.com/kQpwNfLl26
Add Walt Disney Co. DIS, Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. WBD, Comcast Corp. CMCSA and Paramount Global PARA to the growing list of major brands pausing advertising on Elon Musk’s embattled X. Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. LGF.A also said it would be pulling ads, just as its Hunger Games prequel is hitting movie theaters. The media giants follow Apple Inc. AAPL and IBM Corp. IBM who halted marketing — and tens of millions of dollars a year — as Musk faces blowback over antisemitic abuse on his social media platform as well as his own comments.
Walt Disney Co. said it will acquire a 33% stake in Hulu from Comcast for approximately $8.6 billion, a deal that will give Disney undisputed control of the streaming service. Disney has actually run Hulu since 2019, when Comcast ceded its authority to Disney and effectively became a silent partner.
Disney offered no comment beyond saying the acquisition will “further Disney’s streaming objectives.”
Hulu began in 2007 and quickly evolved into as a service backed by entertainment conglomerates who hoped to stave off the internet with an online platform for their own TV shows. Disney joined in 2009, planning to offer shows from ABC, ESPN and the Disney Channel. A decade later, Disney gained majority control of the business when it acquired 21st Century Fox.
Disney has treated Hulu as one of its own services for years — for instance, when it launched its own streaming service, Disney+, in 2019 and immediately offered a streaming bundle that included Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+.
More recently, amid increasing pressure on streaming services brought on by untrammeled expansion, low prices and widespread password sharing, Disney has promised its own crackdown on non-paying users and raised prices for ad-free versions of Disney+ and Hulu by 20% to 27%. CEO Bob Iger said in August that the increases were designed to steer consumers toward cheaper ad-supported versions of those channels, whose subscription prices did not change.
The advertising market for streaming is “picking up,” Iger said at the time, noting that it’s healthier than traditional TV ads. “We’re obviously trying with our pricing strategy to migrate more subs to the advertising supported tier.”
Comcast sent shockwaves through Hollywood on Sunday when it released a terse statement announcing that NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell was departing the entertainment company immediately following an outside investigation into “inappropriate conduct.” In a statement of his own, Shell revealed, “I had an inappropriate relationship with a woman in the company, which I deeply regret.”
The cable giant’s statement did not indicate who would be replacing the 19-year company veteran, though CEO Brian Roberts sent a memo to staff announcing that Comcast president Mike Cavanagh would run the company in the interim. “We are disappointed to share this news with you,” Roberts said in the memo, which was shared with Vanity Fair. “We built this company on a culture of integrity. Nothing is more important than how we treat each other.”
Shell led NBCU—the company behind broadcaster NBC, cable networks like E! and Bravo, streamer Peacock, and the Universal Studios theme parks—for three years. He replaced longtime CEO Steve Burke in winter 2020 after a career that saw him leading the company’s film and TV businesses, international arm, and regional television networks. As chairman of the film group for six years, he oversaw franchises including Fast & the Furious, Jurassic World, and Despicable Me, according to the bio that was still live on NBCU’s corporate website as of Sunday afternoon.
Shell is the second top NBCUniversal executive in three years to be ousted from the company. Ron Meyer resigned as the company’s vice chairman in summer 2020 after it was discovered that he’d paid a settlement to actress Charlotte Kirk following an affair. In a statement at the time, he said that third parties had learned of the payment and “have continuously attempted to extort me into paying them money or else they intended to falsely implicate NBCUniversal, which had nothing to do with this matter, and to publish false allegations about me.”
News of Shell’s departure came as a surprise to many NBCU employees. He apologized to them in his Sunday afternoon statement: “I’m truly sorry I let my Comcast and NBCUniversal colleagues down, they are the most talented people in the business and the opportunity to work with them the last 19 years has been a privilege.”
Diversified Portfolios Inc. trimmed its holdings in shares of Comcast Co. (NASDAQ:CMCSA – Get Rating) by 37.1% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,017 shares of the cable giant’s stock after selling 2,963 shares during the period. Diversified Portfolios Inc.’s holdings in Comcast were worth $175,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of CMCSA. Kolinsky Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Comcast by 2.2% during the 2nd quarter. Kolinsky Wealth Management LLC now owns 13,749 shares of the cable giant’s stock worth $540,000 after purchasing an additional 291 shares during the period. McLean Asset Management Corp grew its position in shares of Comcast by 2.6% during the 4th quarter. McLean Asset Management Corp now owns 11,389 shares of the cable giant’s stock valued at $398,000 after acquiring an additional 293 shares during the period. Kovack Advisors Inc. grew its position in shares of Comcast by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. Kovack Advisors Inc. now owns 25,912 shares of the cable giant’s stock valued at $760,000 after acquiring an additional 308 shares during the period. Signet Investment Advisory Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Comcast by 1.2% during the 4th quarter. Signet Investment Advisory Group Inc. now owns 26,331 shares of the cable giant’s stock valued at $921,000 after acquiring an additional 316 shares during the period. Finally, Beach Investment Counsel Inc. PA grew its position in shares of Comcast by 2.5% during the 3rd quarter. Beach Investment Counsel Inc. PA now owns 13,036 shares of the cable giant’s stock valued at $382,000 after acquiring an additional 319 shares during the period. 82.23% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Comcast Stock Performance
Shares of CMCSA opened at $37.91 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 0.78. The company has a market capitalization of $159.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.86, a PEG ratio of 0.81 and a beta of 1.00. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $37.81 and its 200 day simple moving average is $35.19. Comcast Co. has a 1 year low of $28.39 and a 1 year high of $48.42.
Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA – Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 26th. The cable giant reported $0.82 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.78 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $30.55 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $30.36 billion. Comcast had a net margin of 4.42% and a return on equity of 18.40%. Comcast’s revenue was up .7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.77 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Comcast Co. will post 3.64 EPS for the current year.
Comcast Increases Dividend
The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 26th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, April 5th will be given a $0.29 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, April 4th. This represents a $1.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.06%. This is a positive change from Comcast’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.27. Comcast’s dividend payout ratio is presently 90.76%.
Insider Activity at Comcast
In related news, major shareholder Corp Comcast sold 1,610,496 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $2.38, for a total transaction of $3,832,980.48. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 25,153,615 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $59,865,603.70. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In the last three months, insiders sold 7,527,791 shares of company stock valued at $19,025,007. Corporate insiders own 1.11% of the company’s stock.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
A number of research firms have recently commented on CMCSA. Barclays raised their target price on Comcast from $34.00 to $36.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on shares of Comcast from $40.00 to $43.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, January 27th. Rosenblatt Securities raised their price target on shares of Comcast from $32.00 to $38.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, January 27th. Pivotal Research raised their target price on shares of Comcast from $42.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 27th. Finally, Cowen decreased their target price on shares of Comcast from $49.00 to $46.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 27th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and fourteen have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $44.29.
Comcast Corp. engages in the provision of video, Internet, and phone services. It operates through the following segments: Cable Communications, Media, Studios, Theme Parks, and Sky. The Cable Communications segment consists of Comcast Cable, which is a provider of broadband, video, voice, wireless, and other services to residential customers in the United States under the Xfinity brand.
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