Citi analyst Jason Bazinet says Comcast (CMCSA) should acquire Verizon (VZ) for four reasons. Wireless would allow Comcast to extend Internet connectivity beyond the home, the deal would allow the company to push fiber deeper into neighborhoods, Verizon is apt to be the second biggest beneficiary of wireless consolidation, and Comcast could see upside if the tax code changes, Bazinet tells investors in a research note titled "Stars Are Aligning for Comcast + Verizon." The analyst sees the timing for a deal as right given Comcast's history of "trying to acquire assets that have fallen on difficult times" and the potential for a more amendable regulatory landscape under President Trump. Further, 2017 is the first year where Comcast's market capitalization exceeds Verizon's, the analyst adds. He estimates the pro forma combined company would generate $2.1B of annual synergies. Assuming a 20% premium for Verizon's equity, paid via 75% equity and 25% cash, Bazinet estimates Comcast shares would rise to $41. The stock closed yesterday up 28c to $39.75. Bazinet thinks Dish (DISH) could be the biggest loser should Comcast acquire Verizon, and he double downgraded the shares this morning to Sell from Buy.

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

Ribbon Communications (RRBN) announced plans for a major network modernization program with Verizon (VZ) to retire legacy TDM switching platforms and replace their function with modern cloud-based technologies. Verizon is leveraging Ribbon's portfolio of Voice Products including the vC20 Call Controller, G5 Line Access Gateway, G6 Universal Media Gateway, virtual and Cloud-native Session Border Controllers, and other products which allows for the consolidation and replacement of equipment with energy efficient, software-centric platforms while maintaining full feature functionality.

Wells Fargo lowered the firm's price target on Verizon to $40 from $44 and keeps an Equal Weight rating on the shares. The firm sees encouraging signs in Q1 - improvement in sub trends and limited churn from price-ups - offset by some softness in the business segment and prepaid. Wells would get more constructive when there's visibility on a sustainable improvement in sub trends.