Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Moody’s Investor Services, American Tower Corp, Crown Castle International, SBA Communications Corp and US Airways

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – October 7, 2009 – 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: Moody’s Investor Services (MCO - Analyst Report), American Tower Corp (AMT - Analyst Report), Crown Castle International (CCI - Analyst Report), SBA Communications Corp (SBAC - Snapshot Report) and US Airways (LCC - Snapshot Report).

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Here are highlights from Tuesday’s Analyst Blog:

Moody's Upgrades American Tower

Moody’s Investor Services (MCO - Analyst Report) has upgraded the rating of American Tower Corp (AMT - Analyst Report) senior unsecured debt. So far, this paper has been given a “Ba1” rating by Moody’s which implies a junk corporate rating and probability of default rating.

Now Moody’s has raised its rating to “Baa3,” implying its lowest investment-grade rating. Major reasons for this debt rating upgrade were the company’s strong operating performance, increased cash flow and reduced debt over the past two years.

American Tower accounts for most of its revenue from long-term (typically 5-10 year) tower leases with major wireless carriers. In addition, the company provides on-site maintenance and servicing of antennas, amplifiers and base-station equipment as it relates to leasing. This generates a strong long-term lease up-cycle.

The revenue generated from leasing and management of such networks is impressive, and over 95% is recurring in nature. Yearly revenue increased 9.4% in fiscal 2008 compared to the previous year. In the first half of 2009, total revenue was $832 million, up 7.2% compared to the prior-year period.

Mobile subscriber growth has significantly expanded the wireless tower industry. We believe, future financials are likely to be propelled by strong demand for wireless voice, broadband wireless data and video networks which require more tower space. Deployments of 3G and emerging 4G networks will also create impressive demand for tower leasing.

American Tower maintains one of the strongest EBITDA margins in the industry. EBITDA margin for the most recent quarter was 68%, well above its peers Crown Castle International (CCI - Analyst Report) and SBA Communications Corp (SBAC - Snapshot Report).

US Airways Traffic Falls

US Airways (LCC - Snapshot Report) announced preliminary mainline traffic results for Sept. 2009. The company reported a drop in mainline passenger load factor to 79.3% from 80.1% last year. Total scheduled mainline revenue passenger miles (RPMs) decreased 1.6% to $4.6 billion on a capacity decrease of 0.6% in scheduled mainline available seat miles (ASMs), compared with the same period in 2008.

Consolidated (mainline and express) passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) decreased approximately 15%, versus the same period last year, while total revenue per available seat mile decreased approximately 14% on a year-over-year basis.

The airline has been struggling with volatile oil prices, increased competition and decline in travel. The company has taken aggressive action to address the weakening demand by reducing capacity, introducing additional revenue streams, and prudently cost control. However, consolidated PRASM was also down 1.2% during September.

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