Verizon Communications (VZ) is expected to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2025. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.The earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 21, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than ex ...

Core Viewpoint - The S&P 500's dividend yield is nearing record lows at approximately 1.2%, yet there are several high-quality companies offering dividends with yields of 5% or more, providing opportunities for passive income seekers [1]. Group 1: High-Yield Dividend Stocks - Realty Income has a dividend yield above 5.5%, supported by a diversified real estate portfolio and a strong financial profile, with a record of 661 consecutive monthly dividends and 131 increases since its IPO in 1994 [4][6]. - Clearway Energy's dividend yield is just below 5.5%, with stable cash flow generated from long-term power purchase agreements, and plans to grow cash available for dividends from $2.08 per share this year to over $2.50 by 2027 [7][8]. - Healthpeak Properties offers a yield over 6.5%, with a high-quality portfolio of healthcare properties and a strong financial profile, including $500 million to $1 billion in capacity for additional investments [9][10]. - Oneok's dividend yield exceeds 5%, with 90% of earnings from fee-based sources, aiming for a 3% to 4% annual increase in dividends supported by acquisition synergies and expansion projects [11][12]. - Verizon has a dividend yield approaching 6.5%, generating $19.8 billion in free cash flow last year, which comfortably covered its $11.2 billion in dividend payments, allowing for continued dividend increases [13][14]. Group 2: Investment Rationale - Realty Income, Clearway Energy, Healthpeak Properties, Oneok, and Verizon all provide dividends above 5%, backed by recurring cash flow and strong balance sheets, making them solid choices for passive income investments [15].

Group 1: Financial Stability and Cash Generation - Strong cash flows reflect financial stability, allowing companies to pay down debt, pursue growth opportunities, and distribute dividends [1] - Companies with strong cash-generating abilities are better equipped to weather downturns, providing a long-term advantage for investors [1][6] - Microsoft, Verizon, and Apple are highlighted as companies that generate significant cash [6] Group 2: Apple Inc. (AAPL) - Apple has consistently been a cash-generating machine, raising its quarterly dividend payout for 13 consecutive years, moving towards becoming a Dividend Aristocrat [2] - The company generated $108.8 billion in free cash flow in FY24, with cash flows on a steady uptrend [3] - Apple currently yields a modest 0.5% annually, but has a five-year annualized dividend growth rate of 4.9% [3] Group 3: Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) - Verizon's strong cash-generating abilities have positioned it favorably among income-focused investors, nearing entry into the Dividend Aristocrats club [5] - The company reported FY24 free cash flow of $19.8 billion, reflecting a 6% year-over-year growth [5] - Verizon shares yield a steep 6.2% annually, significantly higher than the S&P 500 [5] Group 4: Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) - Microsoft reported EPS of $3.46 and sales of $70.0 billion, both exceeding consensus expectations, with sales growing 13% year-over-year and EPS climbing 18% [9] - Microsoft Cloud revenue surged 20% year-over-year to $42.4 billion, driven by strong demand [10] - The Intelligent Cloud segment, which includes Azure, generated $26.8 billion, up 21% from the previous year, with Microsoft achieving $69.4 billion in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months [11]

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: NYSE: VZ ) is one of those companies that suffered significantly from increasing interest rates since the post-pandemic years. Five years ago, VZ stock traded around the $60 level, but now it is in the low to mid $40s.Rick is a Wall Street Journal best-selling author with over 20 years of experience trading stocks and options. The most authoritative publications, including Good Morning America, Washington Post, Yahoo Finance, MSN, Business Insider, NBC, FOX, CBS, and ABC N ...

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Group 1 - The FAA has significantly increased the number of connection tests for Starlink, aiming to improve the air traffic control system plagued by interruptions [1] - Currently, the FAA is testing 41 Starlink connection points across New Jersey, Alaska, and Oklahoma, up from only 8 connection points earlier this year [1] - The testing in Alaska is focused on "non-safety critical" locations to restore stable weather information access for pilots and FAA flight service stations [1] Group 2 - A recent incident at a Philadelphia facility highlighted issues with the old air traffic control system, where controllers temporarily lost communication with aircraft [2] - Musk indicated that existing systems are "rapidly failing," and Starlink terminals were sent to relevant agencies for free to restore air traffic control connectivity [2] - The FAA is considering Starlink as part of a comprehensive solution for upgrading its telecommunications network, which is crucial for flight safety and communication [2]

Core Viewpoint - Bank of America has resumed coverage of Verizon (VZ.US) with a neutral rating and a target price of $45, citing a balanced approach in high-end wireless user base, capital returns, and fiber strategy [1] Group 1: Financial Performance and Strategy - The company’s MVNO business serves as a financial hedge against competition in the wireless sector [1] - The target price is based on a 10x multiple of free cash flow for fiscal year 2026, reflecting a discount to the historical average of 11x due to the need for accelerated user growth in a competitive market [1] - The anticipated acquisition of Frontier Communications, valued at $20 billion, is expected to add nearly 10 million fiber users but may dilute free cash flow [3] Group 2: User Growth and Market Competition - Verizon's promotional efforts are expected to be less aggressive than competitors, which may pose risks to net new user expectations [2] - The company is refocusing on network quality and enhancing wireless value propositions through additional services, which should gain investor approval in the long term [2] - Risks to net growth in postpaid users exist due to increased competition from cable companies and potential responses from T-Mobile [2] Group 3: Future Outlook - The acquisition of Frontier is seen as a key driver for long-term growth, with plans to reduce customer churn and improve mobile penetration through business integration [3] - The completion of the Frontier acquisition may lead to increased capital expenditures and a potential decline in short-term free cash flow, which is not reflected in market expectations [3] - Restoring bonus depreciation policies could enhance free cash flow by 17% and 21% for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, respectively [2]

Core Viewpoint - Verizon Communications currently holds the lowest share price among the Dow Jones Industrial Average components, which poses a risk to its continued inclusion in the index [6][8][10]. Group 1: Dow Jones Industrial Average Structure - The Dow is a share price-weighted index, meaning companies with higher share prices have more influence [4]. - In contrast, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite are market cap-weighted indexes, where larger companies have more weight [4][2]. - Verizon's share price of $43.55 translates to less than 268 points in the Dow, indicating minimal influence [8]. Group 2: Verizon's Performance and Position - Verizon's share price has declined by 8% over the past decade, which is a concern for its continued presence in the Dow [9]. - Despite being a significant player in wireless services and broadband, Verizon is not seen as a leader in innovation [8]. - The Dow committee seeks companies that can enhance the index's value over time, which Verizon has not demonstrated [7][9]. Group 3: Potential Replacements for Verizon - **Alphabet**: With a current share price of nearly $180 post-split, Alphabet could replace Verizon, bringing relevance from various industries and strong performance metrics [12][13][14]. - **Meta Platforms**: Although its share price is around $719, Meta's advertising revenue and growth potential make it a strong candidate for inclusion [17][19]. - **T-Mobile**: With a share price of $240.75 and a growth rate significantly higher than Verizon, T-Mobile represents a logical replacement while maintaining telecom representation in the Dow [21][22][23].

Core Points - Verizon is donating $100,000 to Texas Search and Rescue (TEXSAR) to support search, rescue, and recovery operations following the Central Texas floods [1][9] - The company is waiving domestic call, text, and data usage from July 7 to August 3 for affected customers in 95 zip codes across 28 counties [2][9] - Verizon's network remains operational despite the floods, and the company is actively monitoring the situation to ensure safety and connectivity [3] Company Support and Initiatives - Verizon's donation is aimed at enhancing the capabilities of volunteer first responders in Central Texas [3][9] - The company is providing low-earth orbit satellite devices to assist the Texas Department of Public Safety in their drone search and recovery operations [3][9] - Verizon's satellite technology allows customers to access messaging and emergency SOS features in areas without traditional cellular coverage [4] Company Overview - Verizon Communications Inc. generated revenues of $134.8 billion in 2024 and serves nearly all Fortune 500 companies [6] - The company is headquartered in New York City and focuses on delivering mobility, reliable network connectivity, and security to its customers [6]

Core Viewpoint - Investing in high-yielding stocks can be attractive for income investors, but it is essential to consider the stability and growth potential of the companies behind these dividends [1][2]. Group 1: Verizon Communications - Verizon offers a dividend yield of 6.3%, significantly higher than the S&P 500 average of 1.2% [4]. - The company reported sales of $134.8 billion in 2024, showing minimal growth from $133.6 billion in 2021 [4]. - Verizon has a profit margin exceeding 13% and trades at 10 times its trailing earnings, making it a solid income investment [5]. - The company has increased its dividend for 18 consecutive years, with a sustainable payout ratio of 64% [5][6]. Group 2: Duke Energy - Duke Energy provides a dividend yield of 3.5% and operates in essential utility services, offering stability [7]. - The company generated $30.9 billion in revenue and $4.7 billion in earnings over the past 12 months, resulting in a profit margin of 15% [8]. - Duke has paid dividends for 99 straight years, with a 31% increase in its quarterly per-share dividend over the past decade [9]. - The payout ratio of 69% indicates potential for future dividend increases, making it a strong long-term investment [9]. Group 3: Kimberly-Clark - Kimberly-Clark, known for brands like Huggies and Kleenex, has maintained sales around $20 billion for the past three years with profit margins typically around 10% [10][11]. - The company has raised its dividend for 53 consecutive years, earning the title of Dividend King, indicating a commitment to growing its payouts [12]. - With a dividend yield of 3.9% and a payout ratio of approximately 67%, Kimberly-Clark is positioned as a low-volatility stock suitable for long-term investment [12][13].