Sprint (NYSE: S) Nextel’s shares are soaring after two analysts said Sprint’s actions over the past couple of years are starting to take hold and that the company is likely to post subscriber gains this year.
The stock jumped nearly 9 percent, or 38 cents, to $4.79 a share. Over the past year, the company’s stock has not exceeded $5.78 a share.
Goldman Sachs upgraded its rating on the stock to “Buy,” and raised its price target to $6 price. AP reports that Goldman’s Jason Armstrong said Sprint saw a big drop-off in new contract customers and upgrades in 2008, which means that there are fewer subscribers than before reaching the end of their two-year contracts this year. Michael Rollins at Citigroup, who maintains a “buy” rating, said he believes Sprint can post gains in contract subscribers, excluding Nextel users, as early as this quarter.

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