Analyst's Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of SCHD, O, PM, RY, AAPL, T, MA, MAIN, JNJ, BAC, ARCC, TCPC, BTI, BHP, MSFT, NKE, XOM, HDV, VICI, BLK, RQI, PFE, MO, SCHO, PEP, GOOG, JPM, V, KO, BRK.B, LIN, BEP, BBSEY, AMZN, PYPL, PBR, RIO, NEE, CNQ, ARE, UL, NVO, NVS, ALIZF, LVMH either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no ...

Core Viewpoint - The communication services sector, including AT&T, is performing strongly in 2025, with AT&T's stock rising over 19% and the sector gaining 11.41% compared to the S&P 500's 7.28% gain [1][2]. Financial Performance - AT&T reported Q2 EPS of 54 cents, exceeding the consensus estimate of 51 cents, resulting in a trailing 12-month P/E ratio of 16.79 [2]. - The company expects earnings to grow by 6.07% next year, from an annualized $2.14 per share to $2.27 per share, with a forward P/E ratio of 13.30, indicating a 20.78% improvement [3]. - Q2 revenues were $30.8 billion, up from $29.8 billion in Q2 2024, with net income of $4.9 billion compared to $3.9 billion in the same period [4]. Business Segments - Mobility service revenues increased by 3.5% year-over-year to $16.9 billion, while consumer fiber broadband revenues rose by 18.9% year-over-year to $2.1 billion [4][5]. - The company added 401,000 postpaid phone subscribers, 243,000 AT&T Fiber subscribers, and 203,000 AT&T Internet Air subscribers in Q2 [5]. Shareholder Returns - AT&T repurchased approximately $1 billion of its common shares as part of a $10 billion share repurchase authorization [5]. - The company maintains a dividend yield of 4.06%, with an annual dividend of $1.11 per share and a payout ratio of 68.10% [7]. Market Position and Competition - AT&T is the third-largest wireless provider in the U.S., with a communications infrastructure reaching 290 million people across approximately 24,000 cities and towns [10]. - The company has invested over $145 billion in network buildout since 2019, enhancing its competitive position against rivals like T-Mobile and Verizon [10][9]. Analyst Ratings and Price Target - Analysts have a consensus Moderate Buy rating for AT&T, with 18 out of 25 analysts assigning a Buy rating and an average price target of $29.17, indicating a potential upside of 6.04% [11].

Group 1 - The company is positioned for high future growth, with a target price of $7.08, indicating a potential return of over 10% from the current price [1] - Future growth will be driven by the sale of enterprise products [1] - The analysis follows a triangulation approach involving valuation by multiples, discounted cash flow (DCF), and dividend yield [1] Group 2 - The focus is on the Consumer Discretionary and Consumer Staples sectors, prioritizing companies with smaller capitalization and low institutional coverage [1] - The investment philosophy combines income and value investing strategies, emphasizing a margin of safety in multiples and projected cash flow [1] - Dividend yield is considered a fundamental component for generating returns and mitigating risks, especially in low coverage stocks [1] Group 3 - The analysis is based on a bottom-up approach, concentrating on operational fundamentals, execution history, and sustainable growth drivers [1] - Suggestions involving options may be included when they align with the main thesis and offer an asymmetric advantage [1] - The goal is to produce in-depth, rational, data-driven analyses to support informed investment decisions [1]

Core Insights - The Q2 earnings season is approaching, with General Motors (GM) and Coca-Cola (KO) set to report their quarterly results, attracting significant investor attention [1][2] General Motors Q2 Expectations - GM's Q2 sales are expected to decline by 5% to $45.34 billion from $47.97 billion a year ago [3] - Q2 earnings per share (EPS) for GM are projected at $2.45, a 20% decrease from $3.06 in the same quarter last year [3] - GM has exceeded the Zacks EPS Consensus for 11 consecutive quarters, with an average earnings surprise of 10.16% over the last four quarters [3][4] Coca-Cola Q2 Expectations - Coca-Cola's Q2 sales are anticipated to increase by 2% to $12.59 billion from $12.36 billion in the previous year [4] - Q2 EPS for Coca-Cola is expected to be $0.83, slightly down from $0.84 in Q2 2024 [4] - Coca-Cola has met or exceeded the Zacks EPS Consensus for 32 consecutive quarters, with an average earnings surprise of 4.93% in its last four quarterly reports [4][5] Valuation Comparison - GM's valuation is more attractive at 5.7X forward earnings compared to Coca-Cola's 23.8X, which is in line with the S&P 500 [5] - GM offers a significant discount in price to forward sales at less than 1X, while KO stands at 6.3X, near the S&P 500 average [5] Dividend Comparison - Coca-Cola has a 2.89% annual dividend yield, significantly higher than GM's 1.13% and the S&P 500's average of 1.18% [7] - Coca-Cola is recognized as a Dividend King, having increased its dividend for over 50 consecutive years, while GM suspended its dividend during the pandemic [8] Operational & Strategic Factors - GM's stock is more appealing in terms of valuation metrics, but Coca-Cola's consistent operational performance and reliable dividend are noteworthy [10] - GM is currently rated as Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), while Coca-Cola holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) [10][11] - The expected decline in GM's Q2 figures reflects a challenging operating environment, while Coca-Cola serves as a defensive hedge against economic uncertainty, evidenced by KO's 12% year-to-date increase compared to GM's flat performance [11]

Core Insights - Principal Financial Group, Inc. (PFG) shares have increased by 4.6% year to date, outperforming the industry growth of 1.9% but underperforming the Finance sector and the Zacks S&P 500 composite returns of 8.3% and 6% respectively [1][7][20] Company Performance - PFG has a market capitalization of $18.15 billion, with an average trading volume of 1.2 million shares over the last three months [4] - The shares are trading at a price-to-earnings multiple of 9.47, which is higher than the industry average of 8.68, and the company has a Value Score of A [5][8] Growth Projections - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PFG's 2025 earnings per share indicates a year-over-year increase of 15.4%, with revenues estimated at $16.22 billion, reflecting a 3.7% year-over-year improvement [9] - For 2026, earnings per share and revenues are projected to increase by 12.7% and 5% respectively from the 2025 estimates [9] Dividend and Capital Deployment - PFG raised its dividend for the seventh consecutive quarter in Q2 2025, supporting a dividend yield of 3.7%, which is higher than the industry average of 2.7% [7][18] - The company targets $1.4 billion to $1.7 billion in capital deployments for 2025, planning to allocate 35-45% of net income for share buybacks and about 10% for strategic M&A activities [19] Strategic Advantages - PFG is expected to benefit from long-term revenue growth driven by higher premiums, fees, and improved net investment income across its segments [12][13] - The company maintains a strong capital position with sufficient cash generation capabilities and liquidity, revising its RBC target to a range of 375%-400% [17] - PFG's extensive distribution network and operational discipline are anticipated to enhance asset management growth [16] Market Position - The average price target from 13 analysts for PFG is $85.31 per share, indicating a potential upside of 6.8% from the last closing price [10] - PFG's financial stability and favorable growth estimates suggest positive prospects, although the premium valuation may lead investors to seek a better entry point [20]

Core Viewpoint - Investors are increasingly interested in stable income streams, making Domino's Pizza's upcoming earnings report and dividend offerings particularly noteworthy [1] Earnings Report Expectations - Domino's Pizza is expected to report quarterly earnings of $3.96 per share, a decrease from $4.03 per share in the same period last year [2] - Projected quarterly revenue is $1.14 billion, up from $1.1 billion a year earlier [2] - Morgan Stanley analyst Brian Harbour has maintained an Overweight rating for Domino's Pizza and raised the price target from $510 to $514 [2] Dividend Insights - Domino's currently offers an annual dividend yield of 1.48%, translating to a quarterly dividend of $1.74 per share, or $6.96 annually [3] - To achieve a monthly dividend income of $500, an investor would need to own approximately 862 shares, equating to a total investment of about $404,019 [4] - For a more conservative monthly income goal of $100, an investor would need 172 shares, requiring an investment of around $80,616 [4] Dividend Yield Calculation - The dividend yield is calculated by dividing the annual dividend payment by the current stock price, which can fluctuate based on stock price changes [5] - For example, if the annual dividend is $2 and the stock price is $50, the yield is 4%. If the stock price rises to $60, the yield drops to 3.33% [5] - Conversely, if the stock price falls to $40, the yield increases to 5% [5] Dividend Payment Variability - The dividend payment can change over time, affecting the dividend yield. An increase in dividend payment raises the yield if the stock price remains constant, while a decrease lowers it [6] - Domino's Pizza shares rose by 0.7% to close at $468.70 on Thursday [6]

Core Viewpoint - Kinross Gold Corporation (KGC) has experienced a significant share price increase of 67.9% year-to-date, outperforming both the Zacks Mining – Gold industry and the S&P 500 index, driven by strong earnings and higher gold prices [1][7]. Performance Comparison - KGC's peers, including Barrick Mining Corporation, Newmont Corporation, and Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, have seen share price increases of 36.9%, 57%, and 53.1%, respectively, during the same period [2]. Technical Indicators - KGC has been trading above its 200-day simple moving average (SMA) since March 6, 2024, and is also above its 50-day SMA, indicating a bullish trend [5]. Development Projects - Key development projects such as Great Bear and Round Mountain Phase X are expected to enhance KGC's production and cash flow [10]. - The commissioning of the Manh Choh project is anticipated to significantly increase cash flow at the Fort Knox operation [10]. Financial Health - KGC ended Q1 with a liquidity position of approximately $2.3 billion, which supports debt reduction and dividend safety [12]. - The company generated record free cash flows of around $1.3 billion in 2024, with free cash flow more than doubling year-over-year to $370.8 million in Q1 [12]. Debt Management - KGC repaid $800 million of debt in 2024 and reduced its net debt to around $540 million, with a long-term debt-to-capitalization ratio of 14.4% [13]. Gold Price Impact - Gold prices have increased by roughly 28% this year, reaching a record high of $3,500 per ounce on April 22, 2025, and currently hovering above $3,300 per ounce, which is expected to enhance KGC's profitability [14]. Dividend Information - KGC offers a dividend yield of 0.8% with a payout ratio of 14%, indicating a sustainable dividend backed by strong cash flows [15][16]. Analyst Sentiment - Earnings estimates for KGC have been rising, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings at $1.17, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 72.1% [17]. Valuation Metrics - KGC is trading at a forward price/earnings ratio of 12.29X, slightly below the industry average of 12.41X, indicating a favorable valuation compared to peers [18]. Investment Outlook - KGC presents an attractive investment opportunity with a strong pipeline of development projects, solid financial health, and favorable market conditions, making it a strong buy recommendation [21][22].

Company Overview - Peoples Financial Services (PFIS) is based in Dunmore and operates in the Finance sector, with a year-to-date share price change of -0.25% [3] - The company is the holding entity for Peoples Security Bank and Trust, currently offering a dividend of $0.62 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 4.84% [3] Dividend Performance - The current annualized dividend of $2.47 represents a 20.2% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past five years, PFIS has raised its dividend four times, achieving an average annual increase of 11.43% [4] - The company's current payout ratio stands at 52%, indicating that it distributes 52% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Expectations - PFIS is projected to see earnings growth this fiscal year, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 at $5.97 per share, reflecting a 58.36% increase from the previous year [5] Investment Appeal - PFIS is characterized as an attractive dividend investment, with a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), suggesting it is a compelling investment opportunity [6] - The company is positioned favorably compared to the Banks - Northeast industry, which has a dividend yield of 2.72%, and the S&P 500, which has a yield of 1.55% [3]

Company Overview - Sierra Bancorp (BSRR) is headquartered in Porterville and has experienced a price change of 5.95% this year [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.25 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.26%, which is higher than the Banks - West industry's yield of 2.86% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.55% [3] Dividend Performance - The current annualized dividend of Sierra Bancorp is $1.00, reflecting a 6.4% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past 5 years, the company has increased its dividend 3 times year-over-year, with an average annual increase of 3.88% [4] - The current payout ratio is 35%, indicating that the company paid out 35% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth and Future Outlook - For the fiscal year, Sierra Bancorp expects solid earnings growth, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 at $2.95 per share, representing a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 4.61% [5] - Future dividend growth will depend on earnings growth and the payout ratio [4] Investment Opportunity - Sierra Bancorp presents a compelling investment opportunity as it offers an attractive dividend and has a strong Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) [6]

Earnings Report - PepsiCo is set to release its second-quarter earnings results on July 17, with analysts expecting earnings of $2.03 per share, down from $2.28 per share in the previous year [1] - Projected quarterly revenue for PepsiCo is $22.3 billion, a slight decrease from $22.5 billion a year earlier [1] Analyst Ratings - Barclays analyst Lauren Lieberman has maintained an Equal-Weight rating on PepsiCo and lowered the price target from $135 to $132 [2] - The company currently offers an annual dividend yield of 4.31%, translating to a quarterly dividend of $1.42 per share, or $5.69 annually [2] Dividend Income Calculations - To achieve a monthly dividend income of $500, an investor would need to own approximately 1,054 shares of PepsiCo, equating to an investment of about $141,036 [3] - For a more conservative monthly income goal of $100, an investor would need 211 shares, requiring an investment of around $28,234 [3] Dividend Yield Dynamics - Dividend yield can fluctuate based on changes in stock price and dividend payments, calculated by dividing the annual dividend by the current stock price [4] - For instance, if a stock with a $2 annual dividend rises to $60, the yield drops to 3.33%, while a drop to $40 increases the yield to 5% [5] Stock Performance - PepsiCo shares fell by 1.3% to close at $133.81 on Tuesday [5]