Telefonica Brasil S.A. (VIV): Today's Featured Telecommunications Winner

Editor's Note: Any reference to TheStreet Ratings and its underlying recommendation does not reflect the opinion of TheStreet, Inc. or any of its contributors including Jim Cramer or Stephanie Link.

Telefonica Brasil S.A ( VIV) pushed the Telecommunications industry higher today making it today's featured telecommunications winner. The industry as a whole closed the day up 0.8%. By the end of trading, Telefonica Brasil S.A rose $0.34 (1.8%) to $19.24 on average volume. Throughout the day, 1,840,737 shares of Telefonica Brasil S.A exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 1,994,900 shares. The stock ranged in a price between $18.88-$19.37 after having opened the day at $18.88 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $18.90. Other companies within the Telecommunications industry that increased today were: Sky-mobi ( MOBI), up 23.7%, Cyan ( CYNI), up 19.9%, InfoSonics Corporation ( IFON), up 14.8% and Zoom Technologies ( ZOOM), up 13.5%.

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Telefonica Brasil S.A. provides fixed-line telecommunications services to residential and commercial customers in Brazil. Telefonica Brasil S.A has a market cap of $21.3 billion and is part of the technology sector. Shares are down 1.2% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday. Currently there are 5 analysts that rate Telefonica Brasil S.A a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 2 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Telefonica Brasil S.A as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, attractive valuation levels and expanding profit margins. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including feeble growth in the company's earnings per share, deteriorating net income and disappointing return on equity.

• You can view the full Telefonica Brasil S.A Ratings Report.

On the negative front, xG Technology ( XGTI), down 26.7%, NII Holdings ( NIHD), down 4.8%, Optical Cable Corporation ( OCC), down 4.7% and On Track Innovations ( OTIV), down 4.6% , were all laggards within the telecommunications industry with JDS Uniphase Corp (CA ( JDSU) 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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