247Wallst·2026-02-23 13:02Core Insights - Dividend stocks and Consumer Staples experienced losses or flat prices last week, with Crown Castle and AbbVie among the biggest decliners, while Coca-Cola outperformed due to positive Wall Street research notes [1] Group 1: Company Performance - Crown Castle (CCI) saw a significant decline after terminating its agreement with DISH Wireless due to a default on payment obligations, leading to a potential $3.5 billion revenue shortfall and an expected net loss of $780 million in 2026 [1] - AbbVie (ABBV) dropped nearly 3% despite FDA approvals for its drug, facing headwinds from broader healthcare sector weakness and drug pricing policy uncertainties [1] - AT&T (T) fell approximately 2.5% after two banks lowered their price targets, reflecting concerns about the competitive telecom environment, particularly with T-Mobile's new service [1] Group 2: Dividend Changes - Crown Castle reduced its quarterly dividend from $1.565 to $1.0625 per share, raising questions about the sustainability of its dividend amid financial challenges [1] - AbbVie has increased its dividend for 13 consecutive years, with the latest quarterly dividend at $1.73 per share, reflecting a 5.5% increase from the previous rate [1] - AT&T maintains a quarterly dividend of $0.2775 per share, yielding close to 4% at current prices, but faces limited near-term upside according to analyst consensus [1] Group 3: Market Trends - The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF was flat, while the Consumer Staples SPDR fell by 1.8%, indicating a pause in the performance of dividend stocks [1] - The VIX index is at 20.23, indicating a boundary between normal and elevated uncertainty, while the 10-year Treasury yield is at 4.08%, down from 4.29%, providing some relief for rate-sensitive dividend stocks [2] - Overall, 2026 has been a strong year for dividend stocks, with investors seeking stability amid market volatility [2]