Here’s Why Microsoft, LinkedIn and Three Other Stocks Are Making Headlines on Monday

Dispute Between Dish and Tribune Media 

A dispute has broken out between Tribune Media Co (NYSE:TRCO) and DISH Network Corp (NASDAQ:DISH) after the latter blacked out 42 of the former’s stations and WGN America after the two failed to come to terms over a distribution deal. DISH shares are off by 1.1%, while Tribune Media Co (NYSE:TRCO) shares are up 0.5% on the news. Due to the blackout, around 5 million DISH satellite subscribers in 33 different markets and Washington D.C. won’t be able to watch local TV stations run by Tribune. Tribune wants more fees, while Dish Network thinks Tribune’s request for a price increase is unreasonable. A total of 24 funds from our database owned shares of Tribune, while 51 were long Dish at the end of the first quarter.

Yahoo! Bidding Continues

Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) is in the news after Bloomberg reported that Quicken Loans founder and Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert has bid around $5 billion for Yahoo’s core assets including its patents and real estate. Gilbert, whose bid is backed by Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway, is confident in his probability of winning. He believes Yahoo can be a good investment given the right management. After another round of proposals, a winning bidder for Yahoo could be known as early as next month. Separately, AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) and Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) have also put in competitive bids. AT&T is purportedly to offer around $5 billion and Verizon’s bid is valued at some $3.5 billion for the core assets excluding patents and real estate. Among the funds we track, 97 funds owned $7.92 billion worth of Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) shares, having amassed 22.70% of the outstanding stock at the end of March, versus 84 funds and $5.92 billion, respectively, a quarter earlier. Shares of Yahoo have inched down since the opening bell.

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