The 2013 All-America Research Team: Cable & Satellite, No. 3: Douglas Mitchelson

Greenwich, Connecticut–based Douglas Mitchelson reclaims third place after a year as runner-up; he is also No. 3 in Media. The Deutsche Bank Securities analyst “has a great grasp of nuances of his coverage universe,” according to one booster. “His calls are very solid.” Mitchelson tracks 17 stocks and expects that number to climb. “The U.S. video marketplace has flattened in terms of total video subscribers, and content-network programming-price pressures appear likely to persist,” he allows, but that hasn’t kept him from identifying opportunities in the sector. Top pick Comcast Corp. is one example. The Philadelphia-based diversified operator “is showing industry-leading cable growth trends due to investing aggressively in content, technology and management,” Mitchelson contends. In particular, with the completion of its NBC Universal acquisition in March, “Comcast has now hedged against programming cost pressures,” he adds. Among satellite names, the researcher has continued to focus on Englewood, Colorado–based Dish Network Corp., “which was able to buy attractive wireless spectrum out of bankruptcy at an inexpensive price,” he says. — Pam Baker