Wireless telecom is a highly regulated, highly competitive business. Entrenched giants AT&T (NYSE:T) and Verizon (NYSE:VZ) dominate the U.S. airwaves, making it difficult for any of the small players to find a foothold. Throw in the very expensive nature of a high-tech wireless network and you can understand why the hurdle is very high for stocks in this sector.
I watch more than 5,000 publicly traded companies with my Portfolio Grader tool, ranking companies by a number of fundamental and quantitative measures. This week, I have 10 telecom stocks to sell.
Here they are, in alphabetical order. Each one of these stocks gets a “D” or “F” according to my research, meaning it is a “sell” or “strong sell.”
Clearwire Corp. (NASDAQ:CLWR) is known in the industry for providing 4G wireless broadband services. Despite its involvement with such high technology, CLWR stock has dipped an incredible 73% since the start of 2011.
Leap Wireless International Inc. (NASDAQ:LEAP) offers digital wireless service under its much more recognizable brand, Cricket. Despite the growing presence of Cricket locations, LEAP stock has dropped nearly 51% year-to-date.
Mobile TeleSystems (NYSE:MBT) is a telecommunications provider operating in Germany. Year-to-date, MBT stock is down about 35% compared to a drop of .6% for the Dow.
NII Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:NIHD) operates under the brand name Nextel and is engaged with wireless communication services in Latin American countries. Year-to-date, NIHD stock has dropped 35%, compared to only small losses by the broader markets.
Partner Communications Co. (NASDAQ:PTNR) is a mobile telephone network operator in Israel. Since the start of 2011, PTNR stock’s performance has been uninspiring — down nearly 43%.
SBA Communications Corp. (NASDAQ:SBAC) is a holding company that owns telecommunications towers in both North and South America. SBAC stock has lost 8% YTD.
SK Telecom Co. (NYSE:SKM) is a wireless telecommunications service provider in South Korea. SKM stock’s value has diminished 16%, year-to-date, while other major competitors have thrived.
Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE:S) is a household name in the U.S. for its wide range of communications devices and services. A drop of 33%, year-to-date, has not instilled much faith in potential investors.
U.S. Cellular Corp. (NYSE:USM) is a service provider for over 6 million people in the United States. This small telecom company hasn’t had a great year, down 18% year-to-date.
VimpelCom Ltd. (NYSE:VIP) is a telecommunications company involved with wireless, fixed and broadband services in Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa. VIP stock has fallen 31% despite its diversified operations.
Get more analysis of these picks and other publicly-traded stocks with Louis Navellier’s Portfolio Grader tool, a 100% free stock-rating tool that measures both quantitative buying pressure and eight fundamental factors.