) from Hold to Buy, and named a $14.00 price target. In the report, Stifel noted, “With the industry-low valuation, M&A potential, best-of-breed operating metrics, opportunity for margin expansion, and the potential to enter into a more shareholder-friendly capital structure, we believe FairPoint represents one of the more compelling total return potential stories in the U.S. telecom services industry in 2014.” FairPoint Communications closed on Thursday at $9.04.