Core Viewpoint - The U.S. markets have experienced volatility, but dividend-paying stocks can provide substantial passive income even during market fluctuations [1] Group 1: Verizon Communications - Verizon offers a sustainable 6.5% dividend yield, translating to $2.71 annually per share, and has raised its dividend for 18 consecutive years [5][6] - The company reported its highest-ever quarterly adjusted EBITDA of $12.6 billion in Q1 2025, with free cash flow of $3.6 billion and a dividend payout ratio of 64.2%, indicating strong earnings to cover dividends [6] - Verizon's convergence strategy has reduced customer churn by 40% to 50%, leading to predictable cash flows [7] - In Q1, Verizon added 339,000 broadband customers and 308,000 fixed wireless customers, aiming for 100 million premises with fiber and fixed wireless access [8] - The adjacent services business is expected to reach a $2 billion annual run rate by the end of 2025, with management guiding for 2% to 3.5% adjusted EBITDA growth [9] - Verizon is positioned as a smart buy for investors seeking passive income from high-quality companies [10] Group 2: AT&T - AT&T offers a solid 4.1% yield, translating to $1.11 per share annually, with a 68.1% dividend payout ratio, allowing for potential dividend increases [11] - The company reduced its net debt by $32 billion since 2020, ending Q1 2025 with a net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA ratio of 2.63 [12] - AT&T's revenues increased by 2% to $30.6 billion in Q1, with net income rising 23.6% year over year to $4.7 billion [12] - The company operates the largest fiber network in the U.S., expecting to reach 30 million fiber locations by mid-2025 and 50 million by 2029, driving strong customer growth [13] - Bundling services has created stickier customer relationships, making AT&T an appealing pick for income investors seeking defensive dividend growth [14] Group 3: AbbVie - AbbVie offers a 3.52% yield with an annual payout of $6.56 per share and has a history of increasing dividends for 53 consecutive years [15] - Despite losing patent protection for Humira, AbbVie has diversified its portfolio and reduced reliance on the drug, with next-generation drugs generating $5.1 billion, a 65% year-over-year increase [17] - The company is focusing on strategic investments, including a $350 million obesity partnership and a $2.1 billion acquisition of Capstan Therapeutics, positioning itself in high-growth areas [18] - Recent IPR&D and milestone expenses have negatively impacted second-quarter earnings guidance, but these deals may drive long-term growth [19]

Dividend stocks are struggling this year, but savvy income-minded investors can still find some good deals.According to the S&P Dow Jones Indices, U.S. common dividend increases were $9.8 billion in the second quarter of 2025, down 49.8% from $19.5 billion in Q1 2025 and down 52.1% from $20.4 billion in Q2 2024.“Dividend growth declined in Q2 2025, as concern over forward cash commitment was inhibited by the uncertainty over tariffs and their impact on sales, costs, and the general economy,” said Howard Sil ...

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of dividend stocks as a reliable investment option for risk-averse investors during earnings season, highlighting companies with a strong history of paying and growing dividends as attractive choices for generating steady cash flow [1]. Group 1: Johnson & Johnson - Johnson & Johnson has a dividend yield of 3.16% and an annual dividend of $5.20, with a remarkable dividend increase track record of 64 years [4]. - The company has increased its dividend by over 4% in the last two years, maintaining a payout ratio of 57.84%, which is better than the sector median average of 2% [5]. - Despite ongoing lawsuits and inflation concerns, Johnson & Johnson's stock is trading at an attractive valuation, although it has been in a consolidation pattern since early April [6]. Group 2: Verizon Communications - Verizon Communications offers a high dividend yield of 6.61% with an annual dividend of $2.71 and a dividend increase track record of 20 years [8]. - The company has delivered a total return of 47.14% over the last 10 years, with an above-average total return of over 8% in the last 12 months, attributed to reduced capital expenditures during the 5G rollout [10]. - Verizon's stock is currently trading at around 9x forward earnings, which is a substantial discount to its historical average, with analyst forecasts suggesting a price target 14% above its closing price on July 15 [11]. Group 3: Duke Energy - Duke Energy has a dividend yield of 3.55% and an annual dividend of $4.18, with a dividend increase track record of 20 years [12]. - The company is undertaking a significant capital expenditure plan exceeding $65 billion to modernize its electrical grid and invest in solar and energy storage [13]. - Analysts forecast mid- to high-single-digit earnings per share (EPS) growth, supported by favorable legislation in North Carolina, although the company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.57%, which is elevated by historical standards [14].

NEW YORK, July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) will report second-quarter 2025 earnings on Monday, July 21, 2025. The company will present results on a webcast beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Second-quarter 2025 materials will be available at 7:00 a.m. ET on Verizon’s Investor Relations website, https://www.verizon.com/about/investors. These materials will include: Detailed information on Verizon's second quarter results;Verizon's earnings news release; andFi ...

I wrote about Verizon (NYSE: VZ ) in December last year. With the stock at ~$39.9 and a Fair Value estimate of $48.86, I gave it a Buy rating, based on three factors: ~6.8% dividend yield, ~1.75% expected dividend growth and ~22% undervaluation."Fundamental Options" would be the title of my investing style, because I combine fundamental analysis with the power of options. I use Fundamental Analysis to quantitatively and qualitatively assess individual stocks and ETFs, and I pursue various strategies: Income ...

Core Viewpoint - Verizon Communications Inc. is expected to report second-quarter 2025 earnings with a consensus estimate of $33.6 billion in revenue and $1.18 per share in earnings, indicating a potential earnings beat due to new contracts and strategic initiatives [1][4][3] Earnings Estimates - Earnings estimates for 2025 have slightly decreased from $4.69 to $4.68 per share, while estimates for 2026 have increased from $4.86 to $4.90 per share over the past 30 days [1][2] - The current earnings surprise history shows Verizon has exceeded expectations in the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 1.53% [2] Revenue Projections - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues from the Consumer segment is $25.69 billion, while the Business segment is projected at $7.26 billion [8][10] - The company has secured a multibillion-dollar contract for a Private 5G Network in the UK, which is expected to enhance revenue from logistics and manufacturing sectors [6] Strategic Initiatives - Verizon is implementing mix-and-match pricing in wireless and home broadband plans, which has historically led to increased adoption of 5G devices [5] - The launch of the Verizon Frontline Network Slice for first responders aims to improve connectivity and reliability, likely contributing to customer growth [7] Financial Performance - Over the past year, Verizon's stock has declined by 1.7%, underperforming the industry average growth of 18.5% and competitors like AT&T and T-Mobile [13] - The company is trading at a price/earnings ratio of 8.6, which is lower than the industry average of 12.91, indicating a potentially attractive valuation [15] Investment Considerations - Continued investment in fiber infrastructure and new technologies positions Verizon to enhance connectivity and subscriber growth [16] - High capital expenditures for 5G expansion and infrastructure development have pressured margins, with ongoing competition in the saturated U.S. wireless market posing future revenue challenges [17]

ASHBURN, Va., July 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Verizon Frontline today announced that two more industry partners have joined the growing list of companies whose products have earned “Verizon Frontline Verified” status. With Radiav and Siyata now part of the "Verizon Frontline Verified" program, Verizon continues to demonstrate its commitment to providing proven 5G-enabled solutions built for first responders. Radiav's revolutionary Rapid Air Deployable (RAD) is a compact, deployable communications unit des ...

Core Insights - Verizon Communications and Charter Communications are significant competitors in the U.S. telecommunications industry, focusing on fixed broadband, wireless services, and enterprise connectivity [1][2] - The industry is undergoing rapid transformation driven by digital initiatives, cloud adoption, remote work, smart homes, and AI, with government programs like BEAD funding aiding rural connectivity [3] Verizon's Position - Verizon is capitalizing on the demand for its 5G services, recently securing a multibillion-dollar contract for private 5G networks in the UK [4] - The company’s 5G network is supported by extensive spectrum holdings, deep fiber resources, and small cell deployment capabilities, with long-term growth expected from advanced technologies [5] - Verizon plans to acquire Frontier Communications for $20 billion, which will enhance its fiber network by adding 2.2 million fiber subscribers [6] - Despite strong cash flow, Verizon faces competitive pressures from AT&T and others, with a debt-to-cap ratio of 58.5% and a current ratio of 0.61 [7] Charter's Position - Charter is experiencing growth in residential mobile and Internet services, expanding its 5G coverage and investing $7 billion to enhance its fiber infrastructure [8][10] - The company aims to deliver multigigabit Internet services to 1.7 million locations, enhancing its service offerings across several states [10] - Charter's collaboration with governments to improve rural connectivity is a key part of its strategy [9] - However, Charter operates with a high debt burden of $93.6 billion and a debt-to-cap ratio of 82.6%, which may impact its financial flexibility [12] Financial Estimates and Market Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Verizon's 2025 sales and EPS indicates growth of 1.75% and 1.96%, respectively, while Charter's estimates show 0.33% sales growth and 13.01% EPS growth [13][14] - Over the past six months, Verizon's stock has increased by 7.3%, while Charter's has risen by 11.9% [16] - From a valuation perspective, Verizon appears more attractive with a price/earnings ratio of 8.67 compared to Charter's 9.48 [17] Overall Assessment - Charter has shown steady revenue growth, but Verizon's comprehensive network and focus on service reliability provide a competitive edge [20] - With robust cash flow and a healthy dividend payout ratio, Verizon is currently viewed as a more favorable investment option [20]

Despite today's declines, markets have made a really strong comeback from the April lows. But the tariff back and forth lately is leaving some to wonder if negotiations work worsen again. Which stocks will be safe.Could any be relatively immune even to the effects of trade policy. Well, here's a hint at a couple of them our next guest thinks will be. Skyler Wine and his chief investment officer at Rean Capital.Haven't heard MSG in a while. Skyler, welcome. Thanks for having us on.Talk to me about that one. ...

对于5G，很多中国用户想到的只有一个场景，那就是拿着5G手机，连接5G网络，蹭蹭快速上网。而对于国外用户来说，5G还有另外一个应用场景：FWA （Fixed Wireless Access，固定无线接入）。换而言之，就是利用5G等无线接入方式，取代铜缆和光纤为用户提供家庭互联网服务。 FWA服务在我国几乎静悄悄，但是在美国、欧洲、印度等海外市场，已经掀起了巨大波澜，被视为一种成功的5G商业模式。 如在美国，FWA将宽带市场 搅得翻天覆地，T-Mobile等移动运营商借此将Comcast这些传统有线运营商打得"节节败退"。在印度，主流运营商Reliance Jio和Bharti Airtel也在推动FWA 用户规模快速增长，在缺乏光纤覆盖的区域为用户提供宽带网络接入服务。 近年来在爱立信所发布的移动市场报告中，几乎每期都要提及FWA。其最新报告预测，到2030年底，全球FWA连接数量将增至3.5亿，占新增固定宽带连 接数量的35%，换而言之，三分天下有其一。 "大闹"美国宽带市场 在我国，光纤接入在固定宽带市场占据绝对主导的位置。美国则是多种多样，过去主要以铜缆、同轴电缆、光纤等为主，这些年随着5G和卫星互联网 ...