BofA/Merrill analyst David Barden said weakness in CenturyLink (CTL) appears related to reports that the regulatory timeline for the Level 3 (LVLT) merger could slip past the September 30 target date. Barden said Department of Justice timing remains on track but The California Public Utility Commission has a 60 day window to approve the deal. After 60 days, there is a potential lag of 30 days which would put the final approval timing in the first week of November, at the latest. Barden said a 5 week slippage is possible, but no delay is certain, and the regulatory time frame has zero bearing on the deal approval. Further, the analyst said some investors view Windstream's (WIN) surprise dividend cut as an indicator that CenturyLink may do the same post the Level 3 deal. Barden does not expect a cut and notes the company is not in the same position as Winstream and management stated it continues to pay its $2.16/share annual dividend and that the Level 3 acquisition improves the payout ratio. The analyst rates CenturyLink a Buy with a $42 price target.