Financial ratings wrap-up: Motorola, Alcatel-Lucent, American Tower and more

The following list includes ratings changes and financial information for wireless companies announced this week by investment-banking and financial-services firms.
Handset and infrastructure vendors
–Credit Suisse First Boston lowered its estimates on Motorola after the company reported fourth-quarter results and weak guidance. New estimates are a loss of 5 cents on revenues of $24.1 billion, down from breakeven on revenues of $24.2 billion for 2009. The firm also predicted EPS of 28 cents on revenues of $25.2 billion for 2010. RBC Capital Markets lowered its price target on Motorola to $5.50 from $6.
–RW Baird lowered its estimates on Alcatel-Lucent for 2009 on tax rates and slightly higher opex. The firm’s new 2009 EPS estimate for the company is a loss of 4 cents rather than a profit of 6 cents per share.
Miscellaneous
–Barclays Capital lowered its 2010 EPS estimate on American Tower to 58 cents from 61 cents on potential weakness in foreign currency that could affect its guidance.
–Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services lowered its long-term corporate credit rating and its senior unsecured debt ratings on semiconductor manufacturer STMicroelectronics N.V. to BBB+ from A- reflecting ST’s expected weaker operating performance in 2009 because of the current macroeconomic downturn. The A-2 short-term rating was affirmed. The outlook is stable.
–Oppenheimer lowered its estimates on Brightpoint after the company delivered mixed fourth-quarter results. New estimates are 37 cents per share rather than 43 cents for 2009 and 55 cents rather than 63 cents for 2010.