Topic: Growth Stocks

The Wall Street Stock Forecaster Hotline – Friday, October 5, 2007

Article Excerpt

HARTE-HANKS INC. $19.47, New York symbol HHS, has moved down in the past month, partly due to the cancellation of a takeover of a competitor by a private equity fund. Investors saw this as a sign of problems in the consumer data collection industry, in addition to the growing unwillingness of lenders to finance takeovers. Harte-Hanks’ earnings have also suffered recently. Slumping housing markets in California and Florida have hurt demand for real estate advertising at its shoppers newspaper business. Fears that the housing downturn will cut consumer spending have also hurt demand for its direct marketing services. But the company’s strong position in these niche markets, as well as its sound balance sheet, should help it rebound quickly. Harte-Hanks is still a buy for long-term gains. VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC. $45.22, New York symbol VZ, plans to offer its customers new wireless phones with touch screen interfaces for less than Apple’s iPhone. These new phones should help it hang on to customers…