The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: DISH Network, Netflix, Sony, Microsoft and Anadarko Petroleum

CHICAGO, July 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include DISH Network Corp. (Nasdaq:DISH), Netflix Inc. (Nasdaq:NFLX), Sony Corporation (NYSE:SNE), Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq:MSFT) and Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:APC).

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Here are highlights from Thursday's Analyst Blog:

DISH's Blockbuster Gets Alpha Bay SW

Blockbuster L.L.C., a subsidiary of DISH Network Corp. (Nasdaq:DISH), has acquired the assets of Alpha Bay that provide business software to the retail industry. The acquisition will help the company improve the overall customer experience within its 900 retail locations.    

Alpha Bay's AIRS suite of applications provide mobile checkout, inventory management, customer loyalty and business intelligence service to retail operators and is supported through a unique hybrid ISsm platform. Alpha Bay's cloud-based service will help Blockbuster employees serve customers from anywhere within a store, allow them to move out of the checkout counters as well as deliver enhanced promotional programs. However, the financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.         

In April 2011, DISH Network won the auction for the bankrupt movie and video game retailer Blockbuster for approximately $228 million. The acquisition provided DISH with the rights to stream movies over the internet. The company also combined Blockbuster's movie streaming services through its wireless broadband network to offer a highly innovative bundled service.

Thus, DISH may become a viable competitor to online video streaming companies such as Netflix Inc. (Nasdaq:NFLX), Hulu and YouTube. Additionally, Blockbuster also offers game downloads for all the major gaming consoles like Nintendo, Sony Corporation's (NYSE:SNE) PSP and Microsoft Corporation's (Nasdaq:MSFT) Xbox.  

We believe that besides improving the in-house retail experience of a Blockbuster customer, the acquisition of Alpha Bay will reduce DISH's IT cost by almost 50% in 12 months, and will add to its revenue front as it will continue to market its enterprise systems to other retail companies.

The current Zacks Consensus Estimate for DISH Network Corp. is pegged at 68 cents for the second quarter, with a growth rate estimate of (8.98%). For 2012 and 2013, the Zacks Consensus Estimates stand at $2.73 and $2.79 with a growth rate of (5.49%) and 2.20%, respectively

Recommendation

Currently, DISH Network has a Zacks #3 Rank, implying a short-term Hold rating on the stock. We are also maintaining our long-term Neutral recommendation on the company's shares.

Anadarko Strikes Oil & Gas in Ghana

Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:APC) has made an oil and natural gas discovery in the deepwater Tano Block offshore the Republic of Ghana. The Wawa-1 exploration well encountered 43 net feet (13 meters) of oil pay and 65 net feet (20 meters) of gas-condensate pay in Turonian-aged reservoirs.

The Wawa-1 exploration well was drilled to a depth of 10,899 feet (3,322 meters) in 1,926 feet (587 meters) of water. The extracted sample from the well confirmed better-quality oil, which measures 38 – 44 degrees on the American Petroleum Institute gravity index ("API"). Once the operation is over, this well will be suspended for future appraisal and development functions.

Anadarko operates the deepwater Tano Block offshore the Republic of Ghana jointly with four other companies and has a working interest of 18%. The working interests of the other co-owners are Tullow Oil plc (49.95%), Kosmos Energy (18%), Sabre Oil & Gas Holdings Ltd (4.05%) and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (10%).

Anadarko has been actively carrying out exploration activities in this region. In March 2012, Anadarko's Enyenra-4A appraisal well encountered more than 105 feet (32 meters) of net oil pay in high-quality sandstone reservoirs in deepwater Tano Block offshore the Republic of Ghana.

Anadarko has been operating in Ghana for quite some time and has achieved drilling success in the TEN (Tweneboa, Enyenra and Ntomme) complex. In addition, the company plans to start exploration activities at Okure and Sapele prospects within this year. The company is continuously improving its overall portfolio on the back of its drilling successes in Ghana, Mozambique, Ivory Coast and the Gulf of Mexico.

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