DRTN...
making a move here folks, read toward the bottom...
Triton PCS climbs amid demand for wireless exposure
By Reshma Kapadia
NEW YORK, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Telecommunications firm Triton PCS Holdings Inc.
(NasdaqSC:TPCS - news) led Thursday's Wall Street debuts in gains as investors jumped
at the opportunity to invest in wireless communications.
Shares of wireless personal communications services (PCS) provider Triton closed up $19,
or 106 percent, at $37 on the Nasdaq after its $18 a share initial public offering raised $180
million through lead manager Morgan Stanley Dean Witter.
''There are not many ways to play wireless, and what is coming out is garnering premiums because it offers an alternative
investment opportunity,'' said Eric Weinstein, an analyst at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette.
The Malvern, Pa.-based firm delivers its services in the southeastern United States and is building and operating a digital
wireless network in a licensed area covering 13 million people.
Analysts said one of its most competitive advantages was its alliance with AT&T Corp. (NYSE:T - news), under which AT&T
contributes PCS licenses to Triton in exchange for equity.
''We are seeing a renaissance of (wireless) growth in the U.S. because subscriber growth is accelerating, usage is increasing
and consolidation in the industry is driving these stocks up,'' Weinstein said, noting that the recent consolidation in Europe
highlights the value to come in the U.S. if current trends continue.
''Once the pan-European consolidation concludes, a lot of European companies with hefty valuations may look at the U.S. for
consolidation,'' he said.
Radio broadcaster Spanish Broadcasting System Inc. (NasdaqSC:SBSA - news) and Web hosting firm Data Return Corp.
(NasdaqNM:DRTN - news), the day's two other debuts, also posted gains after their IPOs.
Even though Spanish Broadcasting did not have a strong tie to technology, which has been the magic ingredient for recent IPO
success, the second-largest Spanish language radio broadcasting firm in the United States closed up 39 percent, or 7-3/4, at
27-3/4 on the Nasdaq.
The Miami-based broadcaster, which reaches about 51 percent of the U.S. Hispanic population and owns and operates 13
FM radio stations, raised $436 million after pricing at $20 a share. It issued 21.8 million shares, or a 27 percent stake in the
firm, above the upwardly revised expected range of $17 to $19.
''It has good, solid fundamentals in the right niche and is in an area that gets valued quite strongly,'' said Irv DeGraw, research
director at WorldFinanceNet.com.
Arlington, Texas-based Data Return closed up 3-3/8 at 16-3/8 on the Nasdaq after raising $81.25 million in its IPO of 6.25
million shares, which priced at $13 a share.
Some analysts said they were surprised the stock did not gain more, noting that the Web hosting sector is hot among investors
because of its revenue growth potential.
''The opportunities are tremendous,'' said Michele Pelino, senior analyst with Yankee Group. ''As more and more companies
recognize the opportunities that exist online, they recognize that they need an online presence. But they know that they don't
necessarily have the in-house capabilities to support it. So they go to the hosting providers.''
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