Crown Castle International Corp (CCI): Today's Featured Telecommunications Winner

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

Crown Castle International (CCI) pushed the Telecommunications industry higher today making it today's featured telecommunications winner. The industry as a whole was unchanged today. By the end of trading, Crown Castle International rose 83 cents (1.2%) to $70.97 on average volume. Throughout the day, 1.6 million shares of Crown Castle International exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 2.1 million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $69.84-$71.12 after having opened the day at $69.99 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $70.14. Other companies within the Telecommunications industry that increased today were: Otelco (OTT), up 11.9%, Telecom Argentina (TEO), up 10.3%, Nortel Inversora (NTL), up 9.9%, and Internet Gold Golden Lines (IGLD), up 7%.

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Crown Castle International Corp., together with is subsidiaries, owns, operates, and leases shared wireless infrastructure primarily in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Australia. Crown Castle International has a market cap of $20.46 billion and is part of the technology sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 109.1, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are down 3.3% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday. Currently there are 11 analysts that rate Crown Castle International a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and four rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Crown Castle International as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its robust revenue growth, good cash flow from operations and solid stock price performance. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including unimpressive growth in net income, generally higher debt management risk and premium valuation.

• You can view the full Crown Castle International Ratings Report.

On the negative front, DragonWave (DRWI), down 27.6%, Alvarion (ALVR), down 13.6%, Novatel Wireless (NVTL), down 9.1%, and Net Element International (NETE), down 8%, were all laggards within the telecommunications industry with Research in Motion (RIMM) being today's telecommunications industry laggard.

• Use our telecommunications section to find industry-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the telecommunications industry could consider iShares Dow Jones US Telecom (IYZ) while those bearish on the telecommunications industry could consider ProShares Ult Sht Telecommunication (TLL).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

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