Things never get dull for the country’s lone satellite-radio provider. Shares of Sirius XM Radio Inc (NASDAQ:SIRI) moved nicely higher this week, gaining 3.2% to hit $3.50. It was a positive week for the markets in general, but Sirius XM’s pop was double the Dow’s 1.6% climb.
There was more going on beyond the share-price gyrations, though, even as Sirius XM Radio Inc (NASDAQ:SIRI) hit another five-year high. Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) introduced a new music streaming service, and an analyst downgraded Pandora Media Inc (NYSE:P) ahead of its upcoming quarterly report on Thursday.
Let’s take a closer look.
Higher ground
This week’s new pinnacle came on Wednesday, when Sirius XM hit $3.59 before investors took profits. It will be a challenge to stretch that streak to four weeks, since the shares would have to gain nearly 3% to get there.
A big factor will be how the market interprets the challenge behind Google All Access.
Big G brings the amps
It was just a matter of time before a tech titan made a play in rolling out a streaming music service. Google and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) have been rumored to be negotiating licensing deals with the major labels for several months.
The real surprise is that it was Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG), and not iTunes parent Apple, to make it official. After all, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is the country’s largest seller of music. Why shouldn’t it be cashing in on the hot streaming trend?
With its handpicked playlists, Google All Access is a little bit Pandora Media Inc (NYSE:P) and a little bit Sirius XM Radio Inc (NASDAQ:SIRI)’s MySXM, but it’s mostly taking on Spotify. Even the $9.99 monthly price apes Spotify’s premium plan.
However, in a move to get early adopters on board quickly, Google is grandfathering in anyone who signs up before June 30 at a reduced $7.99-a-month rate.
Google hopes its market-dominant Android mobile operating system and its video-sharing site YouTube, where music videos go viral, will help give it advantages over the competition. This market is going to get crowded soon, but it’s too early to begin talking about the inevitable shakeout.
Sirius XM Radio Inc (NASDAQ:SIRI) is in a cozy place here, since its streaming service is mostly consumed as a $3.50-a-month add-on to existing receiver-based subscriptions.
Panned Pandora
Between new 52-week highs and Google’s All Access launch, there were probably plenty of reasons for analysts to get nervous when it comes to Pandora.
MKM Partners initiated coverage of Pandora with a bearish “sell” rating, and Maxim downgraded the shares from “buy” to “hold.” Both analysts have valuation concerns here, but maybe they wanted to steer clear of Pandora ahead of Thursday’s quarterly report.
Analysts see Pandora posting a loss — what may be its last quarterly deficit — on a healthy 53% surge in revenue. Naturally, the stock will move sharply one way or the other on Friday. It reports after the market close on Thursday.
A Sirius future
It was an interesting week for Sirius XM Radio Inc (NASDAQ:SIRI). The new week isn’t likely to be dull.
The article This Week in Sirius XM Radio originally appeared on Fool.com. and is written by Rick Munarriz.
Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends and owns shares of Apple and Google.
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