The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Tesla Motors, DISH Network, Comcast, Charter Communications and Walt Disney

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May 22, 2014, 09:30 ET

CHICAGO, May 22, 2014 /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 the Tesla Motors, Inc. (Nasdaq:TSLA-Free Report), DISH Network Corp. (Nasdaq:DISH-Free Report), Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq:CMCSA-Free Report), Charter Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:CHTR-Free Report) and Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:DIS-Free Report).

Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.

Here are highlights from Wednesday's Analyst Blog:

Tesla Bringing Right-Handed Model S to UK

Tesla Motors, Inc. (Nasdaq:TSLA-Free Report) will launch the right hand version of Model S Performance Plus in Britain next month, according to media reports. This is expected to boost demand for the car in the country where electric cars are not popular. Only 1,547 electric cars were sold in Britain in the first quarter of 2014.

One of the main reasons for their unpopularity is the short range offered by most electric cars. On an average, most electric cars need to be charged for a full night and offer a range of about 100 miles.

This is where Tesla gains an edge, as the Model S can drive up to 130 miles on just a 20-minute charge, which replenishes half the battery charge, from a Supercharger. This means that people can drive the length of UK with just a 20 minute break, once Tesla's Supercharger network is up in the country. Moreover, after a full charge, which takes about 75 minutes using a Supercharger, Model S can drive up to 300 miles. However, charging takes more time in normal charging stations, with a full charge requiring about 9 hours.

Another advantage of the Supercharging stations is that owners of the most expensive version of Model S can charge their car battery for free. Meanwhile, the owners of the other versions have to pay a one-time fee for unlimited free access to these charging stations. This leads to huge saving in fuel costs compared to gasoline cars.

Tesla is working on developing a Supercharger network in the UK, with the first one expected to open soon in Hertfordshire, at the junction of the M25 and A1. The company will open Supercharging stations along a highway from Dover and Bristol to the M25, and north along the length of the M1.

Tesla currently has 17 Supercharging stations in Europe, although none of them are in the UK. However, the company has plans to set up 7–8 Superchargers in the nation by the winter of 2014–2015.

DISH to Pep Up FIFA World Cup

The second largest satellite TV operator in the U.S. –DISH Network Corp. (Nasdaq:DISH-Free Report) – has caught the soccer frenzy and is about to make the FIFA World Cup, starting Jun 12, all the more exciting for its fans.

DISH Network has decided to make this world cup viewing experience one of its kind for its customers. In this regard, it has introduced several new features. Spanish football fans will be able to enjoy all 56 matches in their own language. Moreover, customers can also enjoy the tournament on the go, using the DISH Anywhere application on their mobiles.

The most interesting feature will, however, be available to DISH Hopper subscribers. A single channel showing all the soccer matches live from Brazil and that too in five different camera angles, is something that DISH Network feels will keep its customers happily hooked on to its services. DISH Network's Hopper customers will also have the privilege of a soccer-specific on-screen application to track the games, statistics and scores throughout the tournament. Hopper customers can also enjoy the added benefit of its split-screen capability to concurrently view the games in high-definition (HD).

We believe the addition of such innovative customer-oriented features by DISH Network for the World Cup will not only help the company add more subscribers but will also reduce churn rate and safeguard its position against Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq:CMCSA-Free Report) and Charter Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:CHTR-Free Report).

At the end of the first quarter of 2014, DISH Network had approximately 14.097 million pay-TV subscribers, up 0.04% year over year. The company added 41,000 pay-TV subscribers and 53,000 broadband subscribers during the quarter. At the end of the quarter, DISH Network had 489,000 broadband subscribers.

In the month of March, DISH Network achieved a significant milestone by signing an online pay-TV deal with the leading media mogul The Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:DIS-Free Report). Per the agreement, DISH Network's customers will be able to watch live shows of several Disney channels on devices like PCs, smartphones and tablets, thereby bypassing the need for a set-top box. Walt Disney also dropped its earlier objection against DISH Network's ad skipping Auto Hop device.

Dish Network currently has a Zacks Ranks #3 (Hold).

Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.

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