HSBC analyst Sunil Rajgopal downgraded to Hold from Buy shares of AT&T (T), Verizon Communications (VZ), T-Mobile (TMUS) and Altice USA (ATUS). The analyst's only Buy in US Telecoms is now Comcast (CMCSA). Rajgopal keeps Reduce ratings on both Dish (DISH) and Sprint (S). The "evolving content business model" and increasing competition leads the analyst to be more cautious on the pay-TV business and operators with greater exposure to content revenues. Producers are increasingly distributing their content directly to consumers rather than relying on the cable and satellite aggregators, Rajgopal tells investors in a research note. In addition, the entry of a "well-funded" companies like Apple (AAPL) into content production and distribution "with its low sticker price adds to the concerns," contends the analyst. Rajgopal cut his pay-TV subscriber estimates for Comcast, AT&T, Charter and Altice USA to reflect his more cautious stance. The analyst lowered his price target for Altice USA to $28 from $30, raised his price target for AT&T to $42 from $38, raised his price target for Verizon to $65 from $62, and kept an $86 price target on T-Mobile.

Morgan Stanley named Comcast as the firm's "Top Pick in the Cable & Satellite" industry and notes that it remains the firm's only Overweight-rated name in the sector. Shares are now down 10% year-to-date despite a stable earnings outlook, says the analyst, who remains confident Comcast can grow broadband ARPU consistent with its historical 3%-4% range in 2024 and beyond. Moderating losses at Peacock and the opening of its new theme park Epic Universe in 2025 should also contribute to consolidated EBITDA growth, the analyst tells investors.