Group 1: AT&T Overview - AT&T's stock price has increased nearly 50% over the past two years due to three main catalysts [1] - Analysts project AT&T's EPS to grow at a compound annual rate of 19% from 2024 to 2027, driven by its expansion in higher-margin 5G and fiber businesses [2] - If AT&T's performance aligns with estimates, its stock price could rise by about 13% to $30, increasing its market cap from $191 billion to $216 billion by early 2027 [3] Group 2: Verizon Overview - Verizon faced challenges in gaining wireless subscribers in 2023 due to aggressive competition [4] - In 2024, Verizon doubled its postpaid phone net additions by localizing incentives and expanding its distribution partnerships [5] - Analysts expect Verizon's EPS to grow at a compound annual rate of 7% from 2024 to 2027, with a current trading multiple of 9 times this year's earnings [7] - If Verizon's stock is revalued to match AT&T's current forward earnings multiple of 13, its stock price could rise by 52% to about $66, boosting its market cap from $183 billion to $278 billion [8] Group 3: Micron Technologies Overview - Micron Technologies, a major memory chip manufacturer, experienced a downturn in 2023 due to reduced demand in the PC market and shifts in data center purchasing [9] - From fiscal 2024 to fiscal 2027, analysts expect Micron's revenue and EPS to grow at compound annual rates of 20% and 151%, respectively [10] - If Micron's performance meets expectations and it continues to trade at 16 times forward earnings, its stock price could rise by about 78% to $178, increasing its market cap to just over $200 billion [11] Group 4: Comparative Analysis - Both Verizon and Micron have the potential to surpass AT&T's market cap within the next two years, while all three stocks are considered good value plays in the current market [12]

Group 1: Stock Market Corrections and Dividend Opportunities - Stock market corrections, defined as a decline of 10% or more from recent highs, present opportunities for dividend-seeking investors as falling stock prices lead to rising dividend yields [1] - The recent market correction has prompted increased purchases of dividend stocks, including Blackstone, Starbucks, and Verizon, which are viewed as attractive investments at this time [2] Group 2: Blackstone - Blackstone's stock has decreased nearly 30% from its recent peak, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.8%, significantly higher than the S&P 500's yield of 1.3% [3] - Unlike typical dividend stocks, Blackstone does not pay a fixed quarterly dividend; instead, it returns a significant portion of its distributable income through dividends and share repurchases, with a generally upward trend in payouts over the past 15 years [4] - The global alternatives market is projected to grow from $17 trillion at the end of 2023 to $30 trillion by 2030, which is expected to benefit Blackstone's alternative investment franchises [5] Group 3: Starbucks - Starbucks' stock has declined about 15% from its recent high, increasing its dividend yield to 2.5%, with a history of 14 consecutive years of dividend growth at a compound annual growth rate of 20% [8] - The company has over 40,000 stores globally and plans to continue expanding, albeit at a reduced pace compared to initial targets, which should support ongoing dividend increases [9][10] Group 4: Verizon - Verizon's stock has fallen approximately 6% from its recent peak, leading to a dividend yield of 6.2%, supported by a substantial free cash flow of $19.8 billion after capital expenditures, which comfortably covered its $11.2 billion in dividends [11] - The company is pursuing a $20 billion acquisition of Frontier Communications to enhance its fiber network, alongside significant investments in fiber and 5G, which are expected to bolster cash flow and support future dividend increases [12]

Core Viewpoint - Telecom stocks are not as overpriced as previously thought, with a recent recovery in share prices for major companies like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile after initial declines due to market concerns [1][2]. Group 1: Market Reactions - Verizon's chief revenue officer indicated a reduction in promotional activities to improve profits, which raised concerns about increased competitive intensity and potential price wars in the telecom sector [3]. - Following the initial market reaction, shares of Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile rebounded, with Verizon gaining 1.8%, AT&T up 1.9%, and T-Mobile increasing by 2.5% [2]. Group 2: Industry Outlook - Verizon warned of "soft" wireless subscriber growth for Q1 2025, with analysts predicting a general slowdown in mobile subscriber growth and cautioning against a focus on customer acquisition at the expense of market growth [4]. - Concerns about the impact of tariffs on telecom services are less significant, as existing phones can still generate revenue despite potential increases in import costs for new devices [5]. Group 3: Economic Factors - Inflation concerns are easing, with recent reports showing lower-than-expected inflation rates, which may positively influence the telecom sector [6]. - New telecommunications services, such as direct-to-cell satellite communications from companies like SpaceX Starlink and AST SpaceMobile, are seen as potential growth drivers for the industry [7]. Group 4: Investment Analysis - A comparison of key financial metrics shows AT&T as the most overvalued stock, with a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.9, while Verizon has a lower ratio of 10.2 and a higher dividend yield of 6.4% [8]. - T-Mobile is positioned as a growth stock with a projected growth rate of 20.3%, appealing to growth-oriented investors, while Verizon may attract value and income-focused investors due to its lower valuation and higher dividend yield [9]. - Overall, telecom stocks are viewed as not overpriced, presenting various investment opportunities for different investor profiles [10].

Telecom giants AT&T (T -1.11%) and Verizon Communications (VZ -1.93%) aren't obvious leaders in the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, yet their high-speed, low-latency connectivity services play a vital role in the data-intensive AI ecosystem.Both companies are leveraging their 5G and fiber optic networks to meet the surging demand for edge computing that supports AI workloads. This dynamic, coupled with solid performance in their core wireless businesses, has been a boon for shareholders, with AT&T ...

Core Insights - Verizon Business has launched a new cybersecurity solution called Trusted Connection, designed to enhance security across the entire digital pathway from connected devices to cloud-hosted applications [2][4] - Trusted Connection is particularly beneficial for larger midsize businesses and enterprises that require improved security without the resources to manage it themselves [3][4] Product Features - Trusted Connection is a Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) service that secures devices, networks, and cloud-hosted applications by constantly verifying user access [6] - The solution integrates networking and security services into a single offering, allowing for easy management through a centralized portal [6][7] - It provides secure connectivity along encrypted paths from any device to digital resources, covering various environments such as SaaS apps and multi-cloud setups [7] Security Context - According to the 2024 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, 77% of basic web application attacks and 31% of all breaches in the past decade involved stolen credentials, highlighting the need for solutions like Trusted Connection [8] - Trusted Connection aims to mitigate the risks associated with stolen credentials by enforcing ZTNA and multi-factor authentication [8] Company Overview - Verizon Communications Inc. generated revenues of $134.8 billion in 2024 and serves nearly all of the Fortune 500 companies [10] - The company is headquartered in New York City and focuses on delivering mobility, reliable network connectivity, and security to its customers [10]

Verizon (VZ -6.58%) stock lost ground in Tuesday's trading. The telecom giant's share price ended the daily session down 6.6%, and had been off as much as 8.4% earlier in trading.Verizon stock moved lower today following cautious guidance from the company. Management expects that subscriber growth will be pressured in the near term, and investors sold shares in response.Verizon stock sinks on tough wireless outlookCompetition for new wireless subscribers continues to be intense, and Verizon says that the dy ...

About this content About Oliver Haill Oliver has been writing about companies and markets since the early 2000s, cutting his teeth as a financial journalist at Growth Company Investor with a focusing on AIM companies and small caps, before a few years later becoming a section editor and then head of research. He joined Proactive after a couple of years freelancing, where he worked for the Financial Times Group, ITV, Press Association, Reuters sports desk, the London Olympic News Service, Rugby World Cup ...

Core Viewpoint - In a market characterized by high valuations, Verizon, IBM, and Cisco are identified as attractive income-generating investments due to their lower valuations and healthy dividend yields [1][2]. Group 1: Verizon - Verizon's stock reached a 13-year low of $28.25 on October 13, 2023, but has since rebounded to nearly $44 [3]. - The company doubled its annual postpaid phone net additions in 2024, driven by localized marketing, customizable plans, and growth in its distribution business with Walmart [4]. - Verizon's free cash flow rose 6% to $19.8 billion, covering its $11.2 billion in dividend payments, with a forward yield of 6.3% and a low forward price-to-earnings ratio of 9 [5]. Group 2: IBM - Under CEO Arvind Krishna, IBM has shifted focus towards cloud-based services and AI, spinning off its slow-growth IT infrastructure services business [6][7]. - From 2020 to 2024, IBM's revenue and EPS grew at compound annual growth rates of 3% and 1%, respectively, marking a recovery after years of decline [8]. - Analysts project a 4% growth in revenue and EPS for IBM this year, with a forward dividend yield of 2.7% and a payout ratio of 52% of its free cash flow [9]. Group 3: Cisco - Cisco faced challenges in fiscal 2021 and 2022 due to supply chain constraints but saw growth in fiscal 2023 as these issues were resolved [10][11]. - Analysts expect Cisco's revenue to rise 5% in fiscal 2025 as inventory issues are addressed, although adjusted EPS may remain flat due to integration costs from its acquisition of Splunk [12]. - Cisco's stock is valued at 17 times forward earnings, with a forward dividend yield of 2.6%, and it spent only half of its free cash flow on dividends over the past year [13].

NEW YORK, March 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Frank Boulben, senior vice president and chief revenue officer for the Consumer Group of Verizon ((NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), is scheduled to speak at the Deutsche Bank Media, Internet & Telecom Conference on Tuesday, March 11, at 8:00 a.m. ET. His remarks will be webcast, with access instructions available on Verizon's Investor Relations website, www.verizon.com/about/investors. Verizon Communications Inc. ((NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ) powers and empowers how its millions of custom ...

Core Insights - Verizon is launching initiatives to promote digital wellness for families, recognizing the challenge of managing screen time with an average of 18 connected devices per household [1][2] - The company aims to empower families with resources and tools for digital safety, ensuring technology enhances lives rather than detracts from them [2][4] Group 1: Strategic Initiatives - Verizon is introducing digital wellness programs to provide training and resources for users of all ages, focusing on building healthy habits and relationships with technology [4] - The Verizon Arcade Unplugged pop-up experience will encourage screen-free family time through life-sized interactive challenges, coinciding with the Global Day of Unplugging [5] Group 2: Partnerships and Collaborations - Verizon is collaborating with Discovery Education to create a Digital Citizenship Initiative, offering free tools and resources for K-12 students [7] - A partnership with Sesame Workshop aims to study the digital well-being of children aged 8 to 12, addressing technology use challenges faced by families [7] - Workshops for parents and caregivers will be offered in select Verizon retail stores through My Digital TAT2, focusing on fostering children's digital wellness [7] Group 3: Tools and Resources - The Verizon Family app provides features like location sharing, parental controls, and crash detection to keep families connected and protected [6] - A new digital wellness course for older adults is being developed in collaboration with OATS from AARP, focusing on safe technology use and privacy protection [7] Group 4: Financial Performance - Verizon generated revenues of $134.0 billion in 2023, showcasing its commitment to innovation and meeting customer needs [8]