Qwest readies Q4 earnings report

Qwest Communications is due to report fourth-quarter and year-end earnings on Tuesday, and while Qwest has become a much different animal over the years than the other two remaining former Bell companies, it is still the third-largest telco in the U.S.

The Associated Press has an earnings preview featuring analysts' estimates that suggest revenue and profit will be down, which is not a major surprise. But, the preview also notes that while AT&T and Verizon Communications reported fourth-quarter earnings that were strengthened by impressive wireless revenues, Qwest, which only recently started reselling Verizon Wireless service, will not have much of a wireless factor to fall back on.

Meanwhile, Qwest has stayed out of the telco TV network race, opting instead to re-sell satellite TV and woo video users with beefed up broadband, so its numbers on video-related revenue will be worth perusing.

For more:
- Forbes has The Associated Press earnings preview

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