Core Insights - The Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team provided UAS support to the New Orleans Police Department during Mardi Gras, marking the first large-scale use of UAS for this event [2][5][9] - The initiative aimed to enhance situational awareness for first responders, with over 140 flights conducted, totaling more than 45 hours in the air [3][9] - Mardi Gras is a significant event for New Orleans, generating over $1 billion for the local economy and attracting millions of attendees [5] Company Overview - Verizon Frontline is designed to meet the unique needs of first responders, developed through three decades of collaboration with public safety officials [8] - The Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team offers emergency assistance to government agencies and emergency responders at no cost, providing portable cell sites, Wi-Fi hotspots, and other communication solutions [7] Industry Context - The NOPD's mission focuses on maintaining order and protecting life and property through community-oriented policing, emphasizing collaboration with neighborhoods and organizations [6] - The use of UAS technology in public safety operations is an innovative approach to enhance efficiency and reduce risks during large-scale events [4][5]

NEW YORK, April 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Verizon Communications Inc. ((NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ) will report first-quarter 2025 earnings on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. The company will present results on a webcast beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. First-quarter 2025 materials will be available at 7:00 a.m. ET on Verizon's Investor Relations website, https://www.verizon.com/about/investors. These materials will include: Detailed information on Verizon's first quarter results, including a recording and transcript ...

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the potential of dividend stocks as attractive investments during bear markets, highlighting their ability to provide passive income and offset share price declines. Group 1: AT&T - Following asset sales, AT&T is better positioned to deliver dependable dividends, outperforming the S&P 500 index in 2025 [3][4] - The company has refocused on its core wireless and broadband businesses, divesting WarnerMedia and DirecTV, which allowed it to pay down debt and expand its 5G and fiber networks [4] - AT&T gained 1.7 million postpaid phone customers and 1 million fiber customers in 2024, marking its seventh consecutive year of adding over 1 million high-speed internet accounts [5] - The company plans to grow its fiber network to over 50 million locations by the end of the decade, with consumer fiber broadband revenue expected to rise by "mid-teens" percentages in 2025 [6] - AT&T forecasts free cash flow of over $16 billion in 2025, with projected dividend payments exceeding $20 billion over the next three years, yielding 3.9% [7] Group 2: Kinder Morgan - Kinder Morgan is positioned to benefit from the AI boom while providing substantial cash payouts to investors [8] - The company operates the largest natural gas transmission network in the U.S., with 66,000 miles of pipeline transporting about 40% of the country's gas [9] - Kinder Morgan's fee-based contracts help insulate its business from commodity price fluctuations, reducing risks for investors [10] - The company is expected to benefit from rising U.S. LNG exports, increasing natural gas demand in the industrial sector, and a projected 160% rise in data center power demand due to the AI boom by 2030 [10][12] - With a projected cash payout of $1.17 per share in 2025, Kinder Morgan offers an attractive forward yield of 4.2% [11]

Core Viewpoint - Verizon Communications is viewed as a reliable defensive stock but has struggled to outperform the market, particularly during bull markets [1][2][12] Group 1: Performance and Market Comparison - Since the current bull market began on October 12, 2022, the S&P 500 has risen by 51%, while Verizon's stock has only increased by 28% [2] - In 2023, Verizon's stock rallied by 14% as the S&P 500 declined by 8%, indicating its defensive nature during economic uncertainty [2] - Over the past 20 years, Verizon's stock has only risen by 34%, with a $10,000 investment growing to $13,400, compared to an S&P 500 index fund that would have grown to approximately $43,140 [3][4] Group 2: Financial Metrics and Debt - Verizon's adjusted earnings per share (EPS) has had a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of only 3% from 2004 to 2024 [4] - The company's year-end debt increased from $39.3 billion to $168.4 billion, primarily due to a $130 billion acquisition of Vodafone's stake in Verizon Wireless in 2014 [5] - Verizon expects its wireless revenue to grow by 2% to 2.8% in 2025, with adjusted EBITDA projected to grow by 1% to 3% [8] Group 3: Subscriber Growth and Market Strategy - In 2023, Verizon struggled to gain new wireless subscribers, attributing the slowdown to competition from AT&T, T-Mobile, and other smaller players [6] - In 2024, Verizon doubled its postpaid phone net additions, thanks to localized incentives, marketing campaigns, and a partnership with Walmart [7] - The wireless retail churn rate improved from 1.67% in 2023 to 1.62% in 2024, indicating better customer retention [7] Group 4: Future Outlook - Verizon's enterprise value is $329 billion, trading at 7 times this year's adjusted EBITDA, with a forward dividend yield of 6.1% [9] - If Verizon maintains a CAGR of 3% for adjusted EPS and EBITDA over the next 20 years, its stock could potentially rise by more than 90% to around $88 per share by 2045 [11] - Despite potential gains, Verizon is expected to underperform compared to the S&P 500, which has delivered an average annual return of over 10% since 1957 [11][12]

Core Viewpoint - Verizon Communications Inc. has introduced a three-year price lock guarantee for its myPlan and myHome network plans, aiming to attract new customers and retain existing ones in a challenging economic environment [1][17]. Group 1: Customer-Centric Initiatives - The price lock guarantee ensures that core monthly plan prices for calling, data, and texting will remain unchanged for three years, excluding taxes and fees [1]. - Verizon offers a free phone from major brands like Apple, Google, or Samsung with any myPlan enrollment when users trade in any phone, along with free home internet routers for myHome plans [2]. - Customers can enjoy free satellite text messaging services on qualifying devices and save over 40% on popular subscription services like Netflix and Disney+ [2][3]. Group 2: 5G and Infrastructure Development - Verizon is experiencing significant adoption of 5G and fixed wireless broadband, supported by premium unlimited plans and a mix-and-match pricing strategy [4]. - The company is focused on enhancing its 5G network through massive spectrum holdings, deep fiber resources, and deploying small cells [3][5]. - High capital expenditures are being made to support the launch and build-out of the 5G Ultra Wideband network and significant fiber assets [9][10]. Group 3: Strategic Partnerships - Verizon is exploring a partnership with Banco Santander to enhance customer satisfaction, which may lead to increased customer additions [6][7]. - Santander aims to leverage Verizon's customer base to develop its technology platform for consumer banking in the U.S. [7]. Group 4: Financial Performance and Market Position - Verizon's stock has gained 8.3% over the past year, lagging behind competitors like AT&T and T-Mobile, which have seen gains of 64.2% and 66.3%, respectively [12]. - Earnings estimates for Verizon for 2025 and 2026 have declined by 0.2% and 0.4%, indicating bearish sentiment towards the stock [16]. - The company's wireline division is facing challenges with persistent losses in access lines due to competitive pressures [8][11].

Market Overview - As the first quarter of 2025 concluded, initial market optimism faded due to trade war fears and economic uncertainty [1] - No S&P 500 sector achieved double-digit gains, with energy leading at an 8.08% rise [2] Top Performers - CVS Health emerged as the top-performing S&P 500 stock, surging 52.8% following stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings [3] - Philip Morris International followed with a 33.1% gain, driven by growth in its smoke-free product segment and high dividend appeal [5] - Newmont Corporation rose 30.5% due to increasing gold prices amid market uncertainty [6] - AT&T Inc. gained nearly 26%, benefiting from its domestic business model that insulated it from tariff volatility [7] Financial Highlights - CVS Health exceeded Wall Street estimates on revenue and adjusted earnings per share, trading at $66.79 [4] - Philip Morris International offers a quarterly dividend of $1.35 per share, with shares trading at $161.75 [5] - Newmont Corporation's stock is trading at $47.60 [6] - AT&T's stock is currently at $28.73, favored by income-focused investors due to its strong dividend yield [7]

Group 1 - Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (ACHC) has been added to the Zacks Rank 5 (Strong Sell) List due to a 17.4% downward revision in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings over the last 60 days [1] - Blackbaud, Inc. (BLKB) is also on the Zacks Rank 5 (Strong Sell) List, with a 6.7% downward revision in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings over the last 60 days [1] - Cable One, Inc. (CABO) has been included in the Zacks Rank 5 (Strong Sell) List, with an 8.5% downward revision in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings over the last 60 days [2]

Core Viewpoint - Investors often prefer stocks with a low price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, believing that a lower P/E indicates higher stock value and potential for growth [1][2] Group 1: P/E Ratio Insights - Stocks with a rising P/E ratio can also yield strong returns, indicating that as earnings rise, stock prices should follow suit [2][3] - A rising P/E ratio suggests investor confidence in a company's fundamentals and expected future earnings growth [4] - Historical data shows that stocks can experience P/E ratio increases of over 100% from their breakout points, presenting significant investment opportunities if identified early [5] Group 2: Stock Screening Criteria - The screening parameters for identifying stocks with increasing P/E include: - Current year EPS growth estimate should be greater than or equal to last year's actual growth [7] - Price changes over four weeks should exceed those over 12 weeks, and similarly for 12 weeks over 24 weeks, indicating consistent price increases [7][8] - Price change for 12 weeks should be at least 20% higher than for 24 weeks but not exceed 100%, signaling potential uptrends without overvaluation [8] Group 3: Selected Stocks - Four stocks identified with a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) include: - **Context Therapeutics (CNTX)**: Focuses on women's oncology with an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 22.37% [9][10] - **Blue Bird (BLBD)**: Engaged in school bus manufacturing with an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 49.64% [10] - **Dycom Industries (DY)**: A specialty contractor in the telecom sector with an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 26.99% [10] - **Leidos (LDOS)**: A leader in science and technology serving various markets, with an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 28.34% [11]

Core Insights - Verizon is advancing its consumer business transformation with a strong value commitment aimed at enhancing long-term customer relationships across its mobile and home services [1][2] - The company is introducing a three-year price lock guarantee on all myPlan and myHome network plans, which is a first in the industry, ensuring price stability for customers [6] Business Strategy - The transformation journey began two years ago, focusing on redefining consumer relationships through innovative offerings and a robust network [2] - Verizon aims to improve customer retention, sustainable revenue growth, and long-term shareholder value by providing unprecedented value and predictability [2] Customer Value Enhancements - The new offerings include a price lock guarantee, a free phone with every myPlan, and a home router included at no additional cost [3][4][6] - Customers can save over 40% on popular subscription services like Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu, with additional savings available for those who have both myPlan and myHome [6] Market Position - Verizon positions itself as the first and only carrier to offer a three-year price lock guarantee, automatically enrolling existing customers and resetting the price lock with any plan change [6] - The company emphasizes its unique market position by providing free satellite text messaging on qualifying devices and various savings opportunities through partnerships like the Verizon Visa Credit Card [6]

Core Insights - China Mobile launched the "Digital Rural Upgrade Action" at the "Moving Towards New Digital Agriculture" event, achieving nationwide coverage of "dual gigabit in every township and full connectivity in every village" with 5G and gigabit broadband, completing the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's "Broadband Frontier" goal a year ahead of schedule [1][2] Group 1 - The digital infrastructure in rural and remote areas of China has seen significant advancements over the past decade, establishing a vital connection to the digital economy [2] - By 2025, China Mobile plans to fully implement the digital rural upgrade initiative, focusing on enhancing agricultural efficiency, rural vitality, and farmers' income [3] - The initiative will leverage AI models and intelligent platforms to empower new types of information infrastructure and services, through five upgrades: AI + new infrastructure, AI + new rural areas, AI + new agriculture, AI + new farming households, and AI + new agricultural education [3] Group 2 - Zhejiang province is a pioneer in digital rural construction, achieving 100% 5G coverage in administrative villages and over 10.9 million households connected to broadband [3] - Successful case studies include a 5,000-acre oil tea base that increased yield by 40% and reduced disaster impact by 30% through real-time data analysis via 5G, and a poultry farm that generated an annual profit of 1.5 million yuan by monitoring chicken activity with smart devices [3]