Earthlink (NSDQ: ELNK) announced its Q4 earnings yesterday and the numbers as with others were mixed: it had a profit of $27.3 million compared with a loss of $9.5 million in the year ago quarter (when it was laden with Helio debt/investment and muni WiFi projects as well)...these results include a $78.7 million non-cash impairment charge, partially offset by a $56.1 million tax benefit. Its revenue fell 23 percent to $216.1 million, from $282 million in the year-ago quarter, mainly due to continuing decline in its dialup sub and revenue numbers. The main query to ELNK CEO Rolla Huff on the earnings call: its interest in buying AOL’s dialup business from Time Warner (NYSE: TWX). In the earnings call two quarters ago, Huff was a lot more enthusiastic about it: “We believe we’re best-positioned to be the consolidator in this industry…When an industry reaches a point of maturation and growth stops, it simply makes good economic sense to consolidate into one cost platform.” But now, after AOL has dithered and possibly frittered away more of its value and operating synergies with a possible combination, Huff and his team doesn’t seem so keen. In the Q4 call yesterday evening: Now their goal is “to more aggressively consider strategic investment alternatives in businesses that we are currently in, beyond just narrowband access. As evidenced by our not announcing any transactions, we found no deals that were compelling in terms of shareholder value creation.” Also, he said that that he has spoken to many of its largest shareholders, and “with very few exceptions the feedback has been to hold on to our cash and stay patient for a while longer until the ability to leverage our financial strength into this developing crisis is better understood…To be clear with you I did not take their shareholder feedback as a view that they were encouraging me to go out and start buying stuff.” Bigger yet patiently rational is the message, though how patient is the big question for Eartlink. From a research note by Cowen Research analyst late last night: “EarthLink’s dialup sub base declined by 9% q/q in Q4:08, compared to 10% declines in the three previous quarters. We continue to believe that EarthLink’s dialup base, which generates the majority of its EBITDA, will decline to near-zero in 6 years as the market fully transitions to broadband access.”

Earthlink (NSDQ: ELNK) announced its Q4 earnings yesterday and the numbers as with others were mixed: it had a profit of $27.3 million compared with a loss of $9.5 million in the year ago quarter (when it was laden with Helio debt/investment and muni WiFi projects as well)...these results include a $78.7 million non-cash impairment charge, partially offset by a $56.1 million tax benefit. Its revenue fell 23 percent to $216.1 million, from $282 million in the year-ago quarter, mainly due to continuing decline in its dialup sub and revenue numbers. The main query to ELNK CEO Rolla Huff on the earnings call: its interest in buying AOL’s dialup business from Time Warner (NYSE: TWX). In the earnings call two quarters ago, Huff was a lot more enthusiastic about it: “We believe we’re best-positioned to be the consolidator in this industry…When an industry reaches a point of maturation and growth stops, it simply makes good economic sense to consolidate into one cost platform.” But now, after AOL has dithered and possibly frittered away more of its value and operating synergies with a possible combination, Huff and his team doesn’t seem so keen. In the Q4 call yesterday evening: Now their goal is “to more aggressively consider strategic investment alternatives in businesses that we are currently in, beyond just narrowband access. As evidenced by our not announcing any transactions, we found no deals that were compelling in terms of shareholder value creation.” Also, he said that that he has spoken to many of its largest shareholders, and “with very few exceptions the feedback has been to hold on to our cash and stay patient for a while longer until the ability to leverage our financial strength into this developing crisis is better understood…To be clear with you I did not take their shareholder feedback as a view that they were encouraging me to go out and start buying stuff.” Bigger yet patiently rational is the message, it seems.

Liberty Media (NSDQ: LINTA) Chairman John Malone, a maestro of the tax-efficient deal, said the company could be interested in swapping its stake in Time Warner (NYSE: TWX)—just under 3 percent at last reckoning—for the AOL access business. From Reuters: “Clearly an exit from the Time Warner equity state into a cash-generating asset would be attractive, but at the current time, none have been proposed that we could take action on… But we would continue to try and maintain the relationship with Jeff (Bewkes) and the Time Warner folks in the event that such a transaction would present itself.” Malone’s comments came during Liberty’s Q2 earnings call Monday morning. According to its last 10-Q, Liberty held $1.52 billion in TWX stock. EarthLink has also expressed interested in the dial-up business, though it’s still not certain that Time Warner will ultimately choose to sell the unit. WSJ (sub. req.): “Until now, Atlanta-based Earthlink Inc (NSDQ: ELNK). was seen as the most obvious contender for the dial-up business, which analysts value between $2 billion and $3 billion. Time Warner would be expected to seek more than that in any sale discussion.”

Liberty Media (NSDQ: LINTA) Chairman John Malone, a maestro of the tax-efficient deal, said the company could be interested in swapping its stake in Time Warner (NYSE: TWX)—just under 3 percent at last reckoning—for the AOL access business. From Reuters: “Clearly an exit from the Time Warner equity state into a cash-generating asset would be attractive, but at the current time, none have been proposed that we could take action on… But we would continue to try and maintain the relationship with Jeff (Bewkes) and the Time Warner folks in the event that such a transaction would present itself.” Malone’s comments came during Liberty’s Q2 earnings call Monday morning. EarthLink has also expressed interested in the dial-up business, though it’s still not certain that Time Warner will ultimately choose to sell the unit. WSJ (sub. req.): “Until now, Atlanta-based Earthlink Inc (NSDQ: ELNK). was seen as the most obvious contender for the dial-up business, which analysts value between $2 billion and $3 billion. Time Warner would be expected to seek more than that in any sale discussion.”

Liberty Media (NSDQ: LINTA) Chairman John Malone, a maestro of the tax-efficient deal, said the company could be interested in swapping its stake in Time Warner (NYSE: TWX)—just under 3 percent at last reckoning—for the AOL access business. From Reuters: “Clearly an exit from the Time Warner equity state into a cash-generating asset would be attractive, but at the current time, none have been proposed that we could take action on… But we would continue to try and maintain the relationship with Jeff (Bewkes) and the Time Warner folks in the event that such a transaction would present itself.” Malone’s comments came during Liberty’s Q2 earnings call Monday morning. EarthLink has also expressed interested in the dial-up business, though it’s still not certain that Time Warner will ultimately choose to sell the unit. WSJ (sub. req.): “Until now, Atlanta-based Earthlink Inc (NSDQ: ELNK). was seen as the most obvious contender for the dial-up business, which analysts value between $2 billion and $3 billion. Time Warner would be expected to seek more than that in any sale discussion.”

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EarthLink Inc. grew its profit in 2009, aided in part by lower goodwill impairment charges and a higher income tax benefit. The Atlanta-based Internet service provider (NASDAQ: ELNK) posted net income of $287.1 million and earnings of $2.66 a share, compared with net income of $178.6 million and earnings...

EarthLink Inc. grew its profit in 2009, aided in part by lower goodwill impairment charges and a higher income tax benefit. The Atlanta-based Internet service provider (NASDAQ: ELNK) posted net income of $287.1 million and earnings of $2.66 a share, compared with net income of $178.6 million and earnings...

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( click to enlarge ) (GIGM) has lots of value, however the weak market is pushing the stock down. It has made a new 52 weeks low on Wednesday, but a last-minute rally helped it close at $2.78. The technical daily chart shows possible rally as K line is back above D line. Volume is shrinking ...

The stock trading technique called 'Buying Dividends' has generated a lot of interest from investors. This is the process of buying stocks before the ex dividend date and selling the stock shortly after the ex date at about the same price, yet still being entitled to the dividend. This technique generally works only in bull markets.

When you buy dividends, there are many stocks in many different sectors to choose from. In order to be entitled to the dividend, you have to buy the stock before the ex-dividend date, and you can't sell the stock until after the ex date. The actual dividend may not be paid for another few weeks. WallStreetNewsNetwork has compiled a free downloadable and sortable Excel list of the stocks going ex dividend during the next week or two. WSNN.com came up with many dividend paying companies companies all with market caps over $500 million. Here are a couple examples showing the stock symbol, the ex-dividend date and the yield.

Regal Entertainment Group RGC ex div date: 12/7/09 market cap: $2.1B yield: 5.4%

EarthLink, Inc. ELNK ex div date: 12/7/09 market cap: $902.9M yield: 6.7%

Ameren Corporation AEE ex div date: 12/7/09 market cap: $6.0B yield: 6.1%

The rest of the ex-dividend stocks can be found at wsnn.com. (If you have been to the website before, and the latest link doesn't show up, you may have to empty your cache.) If you like dividend stocks, you should check out the high yield utility stocks and the Monthly Dividend Stocks at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com or WSNN.com. For more details on dividend definitions, check out definitions of dividend dates. Don't forget to reconfirm the ex-dividend date with the company before implementing this technique.

Author doesn't own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com - Stockerblog - The St...

( click to enlarge ) Earthlink (ELNK) tried to break out on Wednesday, but the week market pulled the stock down from its high on the day. The stock hit a high of $8.84 which is now resistance for Thursday’s follow through move. Although this trend is encouraging, the near-term outlook stays cautious ...

( click to enlarge ) EarthLink (ELNK) had a strong day and broke through its resistance line. The volume confirmed the breakout, as it was greater than average. With technical chart showing strength as MACD is above signal and K line above D line , we could see the stock keep going up. ...

Tom Dorsey and Tammy DeRosier - Investing Internationally

Mark Fightmaster takes a look back at news that drove the major market indices today.

More clouds over the future of muni Wi-Fi, Korea prepares for its "robot city," and have you heard about the Mitt Romney mashup?

Tom Dorsey and Tammy DeRosier - New Highs... Relative to What?

Daily Financial News Video Blog: Manufacturing Sector Expands, Institute for Supply Management, Home Depot CEO Resigns, EarthLink CEO Dead at 47, Enron Excutive Richard Causey Reports to Prison, Manhattan Apartment Prices Soar, Toyota Surpasses DaimlerChrysler, Ford in More Trouble, General Motors Still Looks Good. (HD) (F) (GM) (ELNK) (DCX) (ECTPQ) (ECSPQ)