The great benefit of owning a high-yield dividend stock is that it doesn't take much to reach an important milestone with its payouts. That's one of the numerous attractions of Verizon Communications' (VZ 0.73%) shares, which currently have a yield that tips the scales at over 6%. As even the greenest income investor would admit, though, a lofty yield number isn't everything. We need to consider whether a high-yield dividend stock has other features that make it attractive. Here's my take on whether Verizon ...

When you see the major market indexes slide even lower, it might seem as if every stock is falling. Granted, many stocks have declined year to date. However, there are plenty of exceptions. Income investors should especially find some of the outliers attractive. Here are three high-yield stocks beating the market slump that you can still buy hand over fist. 1. Enbridge Shares of Calgary-based energy company Enbridge (ENB 1.33%) are up roughly 6% year to date while the S&P 500 has sunk into a correction. Thi ...

Core Insights - The 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) by Verizon Business indicates a significant rise in cyberattacks, with third-party involvement in breaches doubling to 30% and exploitation of vulnerabilities increasing by 34% [1][2][4] Cybersecurity Threat Landscape - The report analyzed over 22,000 security incidents, including 12,195 confirmed data breaches, identifying credential abuse (22%) and exploitation of vulnerabilities (20%) as the leading initial attack vectors [2][3] - Ransomware attacks have risen by 37% since last year, now present in 44% of breaches, despite a decrease in the median ransom amount paid [7] - The human element remains a significant factor in breaches, with a notable overlap between social engineering and credential abuse [7] Industry-Specific Trends - The report highlights an alarming increase in espionage-motivated attacks within the Manufacturing and Healthcare sectors, alongside persistent threats to the Education, Financial, and Retail industries [3][4] Recommendations for Businesses - Businesses are urged to adopt a multi-layered defense strategy, including strong password policies, timely patching of vulnerabilities, and comprehensive security awareness training for employees [3][4] - The median ransom payment to cybercriminals last year was US$115,000, which poses a significant financial burden for many small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) [4][5] Overall Implications - The findings of the DBIR serve as a wake-up call for businesses to strengthen their cybersecurity posture and mitigate risks from evolving cyber threats [4][5]

Core Insights - The 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) by Verizon Business indicates a significant rise in cyberattacks, with third-party involvement in breaches doubling to 30% and exploitation of vulnerabilities increasing by 34% [1][2][4] Cybersecurity Threat Landscape - The report analyzed over 22,000 security incidents, including 12,195 confirmed data breaches, identifying credential abuse (22%) and exploitation of vulnerabilities (20%) as the leading initial attack vectors [2][3] - Ransomware attacks have risen by 37% since last year, now present in 44% of breaches, despite a decrease in the median ransom amount paid [7] - The human element remains a significant factor in breaches, with a notable overlap between social engineering and credential abuse [7] Industry-Specific Trends - The report highlights an alarming increase in espionage-motivated attacks within the Manufacturing and Healthcare sectors, alongside persistent threats to the Education, Financial, and Retail industries [3] - Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are disproportionately affected by ransomware, with 88% of breaches involving ransomware targeting these organizations [5] Recommendations for Businesses - The findings emphasize the necessity for businesses to adopt a multi-layered defense strategy, including strong password policies, timely vulnerability patching, and comprehensive security awareness training for employees [3][4] - Companies are urged to take immediate action to strengthen their cybersecurity posture to mitigate risks from evolving cyber threats [4]

Core Insights - Verizon Business's 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) indicates a significant rise in global data breaches, particularly in the EMEA region, where system intrusion breaches have nearly doubled to 53% [1][7] EMEA Findings - In EMEA, 29% of breaches originated from within organizations, contrasting sharply with APAC (1%) and North America (5%) [2] - Despite EMEA having the highest percentage of internal breaches, the number of insider incidents decreased by 41% in 2025 [2] - System intrusion breaches surged to 53%, up from 27% last year [7] - Social engineering, particularly phishing, was involved in 19% of breaches in EMEA [7] - Ransomware attacks increased by 37%, now present in 44% of breaches [7] Global Findings - The report analyzed over 22,000 security incidents, including 12,195 confirmed data breaches [2] - Third-party involvement in breaches doubled to 30% [2] - There was a 34% increase in vulnerability exploitation globally, with a focus on zero-day exploits targeting perimeter devices and VPNs [7] - Human involvement in breaches remains high, with significant overlap between social engineering and credential abuse [7] Sector-Specific Insights - Manufacturing saw a nearly sixfold increase in espionage-motivated breaches, rising to 20% from 3% last year [6] - Retail organizations experienced a 15% increase in cyber incidents, with attackers shifting focus from payment card data to customer credentials and business plans [7] - Healthcare and education sectors are also facing rising espionage threats [6]

Core Insights - The 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) by Verizon Business highlights a significant increase in system intrusions in the Asia-Pacific region, with 80% of data breaches attributed to such attacks, up from 38% the previous year [1][2][3] Key APAC Findings - Malware incidents rose dramatically from 58% to 83% year-over-year in the Asia-Pacific region, with ransomware now accounting for 51% of breaches [2][9] - The report indicates a concerning trend of espionage-motivated attacks particularly affecting the Manufacturing and Healthcare sectors, while the Education, Financial, and Retail industries continue to face persistent threats [6] - The involvement of third parties in breaches has doubled, emphasizing the risks associated with supply chain vulnerabilities [9] Key Global Findings - The report analyzed over 22,000 security incidents, including 12,195 confirmed data breaches across 139 countries, underscoring the global nature of the cyber threat landscape [2] - The median ransom payment to cybercriminals was reported at US$115,000, which poses a significant financial burden for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) [7] - A notable increase in breaches due to exploitation of vulnerabilities was observed, with a 34% rise, particularly targeting zero-day exploits on perimeter devices and VPNs [9] Industry-Specific Trends - The report reveals a rise in espionage-motivated attacks in specific sectors, particularly Manufacturing and Healthcare, while SMBs are disproportionately affected by ransomware, which is present in 88% of breaches [6][8] - The number of organizations that did not pay ransoms increased to 64%, up from 50% two years ago, indicating a shift in response strategies among businesses [8]

Core Insights - The 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) reveals a significant increase in global data breaches, particularly in the EMEA region, where system intrusion breaches have nearly doubled to 53% [1][7] - The report analyzed over 22,000 security incidents, including 12,195 confirmed data breaches, highlighting a 34% increase in vulnerability exploitation globally and a doubling of third-party involvement to 30% [2][6] - EMEA shows a high percentage of breaches originating from internal actors at 29%, contrasting sharply with APAC and North America, where internal threats account for only 1% and 5% respectively [2][3] Key EMEA Findings - System intrusion breaches surged to 53%, nearly double last year's rate of 27% [7] - Insider leaks account for 29% of breaches in EMEA, with 19% due to unintentional mistakes and 8% from misuse [7] - Social engineering incidents, particularly phishing, were involved in 19% of breaches in EMEA [7] Key Global Findings - Ransomware attacks increased by 37% since last year, now present in 44% of breaches, despite a decrease in the median ransom amount paid [7] - The manufacturing sector experienced a nearly sixfold increase in espionage-motivated breaches, rising to 20% from just 3% last year [6][7] - Human involvement in breaches remains high, with significant overlap between social engineering and credential abuse [7]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Wireless service revenue increased by 2.7%, reaching the high end of the guided range [9] - Adjusted EBITDA was reported at $12.6 billion, marking a 4% growth and the highest result ever [9][20] - Free cash flow improved by over $900 million compared to the previous year, totaling $3.6 billion [9][27] - Adjusted EPS for the quarter was $1.19, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 3.5% [26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consumer postpaid phone net losses were 356,000, primarily due to recent pricing actions [21] - Prepaid net adds reached 137,000, the best performance since the TracFone acquisition [13][24] - Broadband services saw 339,000 net adds, with continued market share growth in both Fios and fixed wireless access [24][14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is on track to deploy C-Band to 80% to 90% of planned sites by year-end, enhancing mobility services [11] - Fios expansion is ahead of schedule, with a target of 650,000 incremental passings this year [12] - The fixed wireless access product is expected to reach 8 million to 9 million subscribers by 2028 [14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to grow wireless service revenue, expand adjusted EBITDA, and generate strong free cash flow [17] - Focus on customer-first offerings, including myPlan, myHome, and My Biz Plan, to enhance customer experience and retention [10][34] - The pending acquisition of Frontier is expected to significantly enhance broadband offerings and market reach [10][39] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in navigating the current macroeconomic environment, citing the essential nature of connectivity services [7][8] - The company anticipates improved consumer postpaid phone net adds for the full year, despite recent challenges [22] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining financial discipline and operational excellence to achieve long-term growth [18][27] Other Important Information - The company was recognized as having the best, fastest, and most reliable 5G network in the US by RootMetrics [11] - The Verizon Value Guarantee, a new three-year price lock and free phone guarantee, is expected to drive customer loyalty and growth [46][55] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of tariffs on handsets and telecom equipment - Management indicated that tariffs on handsets could affect consumer pricing but emphasized that they are prepared to manage these challenges without compromising capital expenditures [61][67] Question: Churn expectations with new plans and promotions - Management expects churn to improve in the second half of the year due to the introduction of the Verizon Value Guarantee and ongoing C-Band expansion [72][73] Question: March and April gross adds improvement - Management noted that the new Verizon Value Guarantee has led to double-digit growth in gross adds, indicating strong market resonance [87] Question: Sustainability of business EBITDA growth - Management confirmed that the recent EBITDA growth is supported by ongoing cost transformation efforts and a shift towards higher-margin wireless services [90][93] Question: Consumer behavior changes due to tariffs - Management reported no significant changes in consumer behavior but noted some uptick in handset upgrades attributed to new offers [100][102] Question: Postpaid phone industry growth expectations - Management maintains that the postpaid market is expected to grow between 8 million and 8.5 million, with a focus on migrating customers from prepaid to postpaid [119] Question: Marketing and pricing strategy adjustments - Management is focused on maintaining a competitive pricing strategy while ensuring that service revenue growth remains sustainable [125][135]

Core Insights - Verizon experienced a loss of 289,000 postpaid phone subscribers in the first quarter, exceeding analysts' expectations of 185,000 losses [1] - The decline in subscribers is partially attributed to cuts in federal government accounts, as stated by Verizon's CEO Hans Vestberg [1] - Despite the subscriber loss, Verizon's operating revenue increased to $33.5 billion, surpassing the expected $33.3 billion [3] Subscriber Loss - The company lost 289,000 postpaid phone subscribers, which was higher than the anticipated loss of 185,000 by analysts [1] - CEO Hans Vestberg indicated that the subscriber drop was influenced by "pressure from federal government accounts" [1] - Specific details regarding which government cuts impacted subscriber numbers were not disclosed [1] Financial Performance - Verizon's operating revenue rose to $33.5 billion, exceeding analyst expectations of $33.3 billion [3] - Most of the company's capital expenditures are reportedly not "exposed to tariffs," according to Vestberg [3] Government Contracts - Verizon holds contracts with various federal agencies, including the Department of Defense and the Federal Aviation Administration [4] - Elon Musk criticized Verizon's work with the FAA earlier this year, but later softened his stance [4] - SpaceX, Musk's company, may benefit if the government terminates its FAA contract with Verizon [4]

Group 1 - The earnings season has commenced, with banks being the first to report, followed by major companies [1] - The current market environment is characterized by a selloff, but there are opportunities for investment and hedging strategies [1] - The company offers a blended trading and income approach to help investors achieve rapid returns and advance their savings and retirement timelines [1] Group 2 - The service includes a money-back guarantee for customer satisfaction, emphasizing a proven track record of success [3]