Sprint shares rise for second day after CFO vows to pay down debt, reverse revenue losses

Sprint Nextel shares jump for second day

SEATTLE — Shares of Sprint Nextel Corp. jumped for a second day Tuesday as investors cheered signals that the lagging telecommunications company is getting stronger.

The stock gained 21 cents, or 6.2 percent, to $3.61 in afternoon trading. On Monday, Sprint’s shares rose 3.7 percent.

At the Raymond James Institutional Investors Conference Monday, the company’s chief financial officer, Bob Brust, told investors the company would pay off $5.2 billion in debt that will come due in the next 30 months, rather than refinance it.

Brust also said he expects “more stable or flattish” revenue this year after two years of declines.

Sprint is the third-largest U.S. wireless carrier behind Verizon Wireless and AT&T Inc. Unlike its larger competitors, Sprint lost customers last year. Brust said losses of customers under contract are narrowing and the prepaid business is strengthening.