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

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 lower today making it today's featured Telecommunications laggard. The industry as a whole closed the day up 1.1%. By the end of trading, Telefonica Brasil S.A fell $0.36 (-1.7%) to $20.88 on light volume. Throughout the day, 1,651,770 shares of Telefonica Brasil S.A exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 2,267,000 shares. The stock ranged in price between $20.79-$21.33 after having opened the day at $21.25 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $21.24. Other companies within the Telecommunications industry that declined today were: Alteva ( ALTV), down 10.4%, Tandem Diabetes Care ( TNDM), down 4.8%, Otelco ( OTEL), down 3.8% and Pointer Telocation ( PNTR), down 3.7%.

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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 $23.6 billion and is part of the technology sector. Shares are up 10.5% year to date as of the close of trading on Monday. 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 positive front, Novatel Wireless ( NVTL), up 9.7%, Cincinnati Bell ( CBB), up 7.8%, MERU Networks ( MERU), up 7.5% and Envivio ( ENVI), up 7.1% , were all gainers within the telecommunications industry with Qualcomm ( QCOM) being today's featured telecommunications industry leader.

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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).