Oppenheimer analyst Timothy Horan downgraded Comcast (CMCSA) to Perform from Outperform and removed his $42 price target after the company won the auction for Sky (SKYAY). Comcast is acquiring Sky for 14 times EBITDA, or double its own multiple, Horan tells investors in a research note. The analyst expects Comcast to use Sky's over-the-top platforms and see good cross-selling opportunities. However, he believes Comcast needs to invest in U.S. wireless and over-the-top capabilities and "ultimately consolidate" the U.S. cable industry in order to "protect its franchise here." He sees increased competitive pressures for Comcast from new technologies.

Scotiabank lowered the firm's price target on Comcast to $47.25 from $50 and keeps a Sector Perform rating on the shares. The company's broadband subscriber base continues to have elevated pressures, the analyst tells investors. In the upcoming quarters, broadband loading is expected to remain negative and potentially accelerate as fixed wireless access operators expand coverage in areas, the firm says. Scotiabank believes multiples will not expand until pressure on broadband subs diminish, the firm adds.

Pivotal Research analyst Jeffrey Wlodarczak lowered the firm's price target on Comcast (CMCSA) to $48 from $55 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. Comcast reported an-line Q1 results but the competitive environment appears to be intensifying, the analyst tells investors in a research note. The firm believes there is an "outside shot" that Comcast could make a play for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) "given it can probably get the asset relatively inexpensively and it would clearly boost their scale in content," says Pivotal.

Check out this morning's top movers from around Wall Street, compiled by The Fly.  UP AFTER EARNINGS... To see the rest of the story go to thefly.com. See Story Here

Notable companies reporting before tomorrow's open, with earnings consensus, include Merck (MRK), consensus $1.87... Caterpillar (CAT), consensus $5.14... Comcast (CMSCA), consensus 99c... Honeywell (HON), consensus $2.17... Bristol-Myers (BMY), consensus ($4.44)... Altria (MO), consensus $1.15... Keurig Dr. Pepper (KDP), consensus 35c... GE Vernova (GEV), consensus (37c)... Royal Caribbean (RCL), consensus $1.33... Tractor Supply (TSCO), consensus $1.72... Mobileye (MBLY), consensus (6c)... Textron (TXT), consensus $1.23... LabCorp (LH), consensus $3.48... Southwest Airlines (LUV), consensus (34c)... American Airlines (AAL), consensus (29c)... Harley-Davidson (HOG), consensus $1.51.

Comcast (CMCSA) is scheduled to announce quarterly results on April 25, while Paramount (PARA) and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) are... To see the rest of the story go to thefly.com. See Story Here