Core Viewpoint - Verizon Communications has shown significant improvement in its financial performance, making it an attractive option for income investors, particularly due to its robust free cash flow growth, accelerating earnings, and an improving underlying business. Group 1: Financial Performance - Verizon's shares increased by 11.83% following its Q4 update, reflecting positive investor sentiment [2][3] - The company reported free cash flow of $20.1 billion for 2025, an increase from $19.8 billion in the previous year, with guidance projecting a further growth of at least 7% to $21.5 billion in 2026 [3][4] - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) are projected to be between $4.90 and $4.95 in 2026, indicating a year-over-year growth of 4% to 5% [5][6] Group 2: Business Improvement - Verizon's underlying business is showing noticeable improvement, with the highest quarterly postpaid phone net additions since 2019 [6][8] - Wireless services revenue rose by 1.1% to $21 billion in Q4, while wireless equipment revenue increased by 9.1% year over year to $8.2 billion [8] - The company has successfully reduced its net unsecured debt to $110.1 billion at the end of Q4 2025, down from $113.7 billion the previous year [8] Group 3: Strategic Moves - The acquisition of Frontier Communications, set to close on January 20, 2026, is viewed as a pivotal step in Verizon's turnaround strategy, significantly expanding its fiber footprint to over 30 million homes and businesses [9]

We recently published 10 Big Names Ending January With Explosive Gains.  Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ)  was one of the top performers on Friday. Verizon extended its winning streak to a third day on Friday, jumping 11.82 percent to finish at $44.52 apiece as investor sentiment was bolstered by its highly optimistic outlook for 2026, coupled with a strong earnings performance last year. In an updated report, Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) announced targets of retail postpaid phone net addit ...

Core Viewpoint - Uniti Group Inc. has experienced significant stock performance, with a 10.64% increase to close at $8.32, driven by positive investor sentiment following the successful raising of $960 million through secured fiber network revenue term notes [1]. Group 1: Fundraising and Financial Strategy - Uniti Group raised $960 million through the issuance of secured fiber network revenue term notes, which are backed by residential fiber network assets and customer agreements in multiple states including Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, and Texas [2]. - The proceeds from the fundraising will be allocated for general corporate purposes, including capital expenditures and repayment of outstanding debts [3]. - Additionally, Uniti's subsidiary, Kinetic, has established a $150 million variable funding note facility to enhance liquidity reserves and address potential payment shortfalls [3]. Group 2: Management Commentary - CFO Paul Bullington expressed enthusiasm about the successful completion of the inaugural fiber-to-the-home securitization, highlighting unprecedented investor demand and the transaction's role in funding fiber buildouts and strengthening the company's balance sheet at an attractive cost [4]. Group 3: Upcoming Financial Reporting - Uniti Group is scheduled to release its earnings results for the fourth quarter and full-year 2025 on March 2, 2026, before the market opens [5].

Core Insights - Verizon Communications reported its strongest subscriber gains in years, leading to a significant increase in stock price by over 11% [1][2]. Subscriber Growth - In the fourth quarter, Verizon achieved its highest quarterly net customer additions since 2019, gaining 616,000 postpaid phone subscribers and 372,000 broadband subscribers [2]. Competitive Strategy - New CEO Dan Schulman aims to strengthen Verizon's market position, stating that the company will no longer be an easy target for competitors like AT&T and T-Mobile [3]. Financial Performance - Verizon's total operating revenue for the fourth quarter rose by 2% year over year to $36.4 billion, while adjusted earnings per share slightly declined by less than 1% to $1.09, surpassing Wall Street's expectations of $1.06 [5]. Future Outlook - The company generated $20.1 billion in free cash flow in 2025, with management projecting a growth of approximately 7% to at least $21.5 billion in 2026, supported by anticipated retail postpaid phone net additions of 750,000 to 1 million [6].

We came across a bullish thesis on VEON Ltd. on Value investing subreddit by Itchy-Commission-195. In this article, we will summarize the bulls’ thesis on VEON. VEON Ltd.'s share was trading at $55.72 as of January 29th. VEON’s trailing and forward P/E were 6.12 and 14.10 respectively according to Yahoo Finance. Cisco (CSCO) Soars to 25-Year High on Earnings Blowout hin255/Shutterstock.com Veon Ltd. (VEON) operates as a leading telecom provider across frontier markets, including Pakistan, Ukraine, Kazak ...

Core Insights - AT&T is experiencing a concerning trend in customer behavior amid increased competition, prompting the company to implement a bold strategy to retain customers [1][7] Customer Metrics - In Q4 2025, AT&T added 421,000 new postpaid phone customers, but the postpaid churn rate increased to 0.98%, up 13 basis points from 2024 [1][2] - The prepaid segment saw a loss of 255,000 customers, resulting in a churn rate of 2.89%, an increase of 16 basis points year over year [2] Pricing and Discounts - AT&T reduced its autopay discount for debit card users from $10 to $5 and eliminated it for credit card users, which has contributed to customer dissatisfaction [3] - The Administrative & Regulatory Cost Recovery fee was raised from $3.49 to $3.99 per line, further straining customer relationships [4] Competitive Landscape - Approximately 34% of AT&T customers are considering switching carriers due to better pricing and promotions offered by competitors [7] - Smaller carriers like Consumer Cellular and Mint Mobile have significantly higher customer experience scores compared to AT&T [7] Strategic Initiatives - AT&T is focusing on bundling phone and internet services to reduce churn, a strategy that has shown success in areas where fiber is offered [8][9] - The company added 283,000 new AT&T Fiber customers and 221,000 AT&T Internet Air customers in Q4, reflecting a growing demand for its internet services [11] Revenue Growth Expectations - AT&T anticipates total wireless service revenue growth of 2% to 3% annually over the next three years, driven by increased consumer relationships and convergence of services [14] - The company plans to expand its fiber internet footprint by 5 million locations annually through the end of the decade [14][15] Market Trends - There is a notable shift in consumer behavior as customers are moving away from traditional cable internet services to options provided by phone carriers [12] - AT&T's reliance on bundling services may provide short-term relief from churn but poses risks in a competitive market [16][17]

In a week of stock market newsworthiness, the hits keep coming this Friday morning. President Trump’s new Fed Chair has been announced: former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh. We also see a key wholesale inflation report hitting the tape for December, along with Big Oil companies reporting Q4 earnings results.Ahead of the opening bell, the Dow is -250 points, the S&P 500 is -35, the Nasdaq -180 and the small-cap Russell 2000 -30. This is a rather inauspicious start to the trading day, but we’re thus far flat for t ...

Core Insights - Verizon Communications Inc. reported strong fourth-quarter 2025 results, exceeding both adjusted earnings and revenue estimates, while fulfilling its 2025 guidance [1] Financial Performance - Net income for the quarter was $2.45 billion, or 55 cents per share, down from $5.11 billion, or $1.18 per share, in the prior year, primarily due to increased operating expenses [3] - For 2025, GAAP earnings totaled $17.61 billion, or $4.06 per share, compared to $17.95 billion, or $4.14 per share, in 2024; adjusted earnings were $4.71 per share, up from $4.59 [4] - Total operating revenues increased by 2% to $36.38 billion, driven by higher wireless equipment revenues and customer growth, surpassing the consensus estimate of $35.94 billion; total revenues for 2025 reached $138.19 billion, a 2.5% year-over-year increase [5] Segment Results - Consumer segment revenues rose by 3.2% year-over-year to $28.44 billion, with service revenues up 0.9% to $20.25 billion and wireless equipment revenues increasing by 9.6% to $7.11 billion [6] - Business segment revenues decreased by 1.8% to $7.37 billion, impacted by lower wholesale and enterprise revenues, despite growth in business markets [9] Subscriber Growth - The company achieved 319,000 net additions in fixed wireless access, bringing the total subscriber base to nearly 5.7 million, with a target of 8 to 9 million by 2028 [2][10] - Wireless retail postpaid churn was recorded at 1.21%, while retail postpaid phone churn was 0.95% [7] Operating Metrics - Operating income declined to $5 billion, down 32.6% due to an 11% increase in total operating expenses, which reached $31.38 billion [12] - EBITDA for the consumer segment improved by 0.3% to $10.38 billion, with a margin of 36.5%, down from 37.5% in the prior year [8] Cash Flow and Liquidity - Verizon generated $37.14 billion in net cash from operating activities for 2025, compared to $36.91 billion in 2024; free cash flow was $20.13 billion, up from $19.82 billion [13] Future Guidance - For 2026, Verizon anticipates flat wireless service revenue, with total mobility and broadband service revenues expected to grow by 2-3%; adjusted earnings are projected to increase by 4-5% to a range of $4.90-$4.95 per share [14]

Core Viewpoint - Verizon Communications reported fourth-quarter earnings, revenue, and wireless subscriber additions that exceeded Wall Street estimates, leading to a positive market reaction and a strong profit outlook for 2026 under new leadership [1]. Group 1: Financial Performance - Verizon's fourth-quarter earnings and revenue surpassed analyst expectations, indicating strong operational performance [1]. - The company announced a stock repurchase program of up to $25 billion over the next three years, reflecting confidence in its financial position and future growth [1]. Group 2: Subscriber Growth - Verizon achieved significant wireless subscriber additions, contributing to its overall positive earnings report and market performance [1]. Group 3: Future Outlook - The guidance for profits in 2026 was higher than expected, suggesting a robust growth trajectory under the new chief executive [1].

Core Insights - Charter Communications is focusing on enhancing customer value through new product offerings and competitive pricing strategies, including a guarantee of $1,000 in savings for customers who bundle internet and mobile services [1][5] Product Developments - Charter plans to launch a new product called "Invincible Wi-Fi" in February, which will combine Wi-Fi 7 technology with battery backup and backup 5G service, aimed at providing seamless connectivity during outages [2] - The company is expanding its hybrid mobile network capabilities and already offers converged connectivity across its service areas [2] Rural Expansion and Network Upgrades - Charter expects to complete its rural expansion by 2026, adding over 1.7 million new subsidized rural passings [3] - By the end of 2026, 50% of the Spectrum network is expected to be upgraded to symmetrical and multi-gig service, with the remaining upgrades planned for completion in 2027 [3] Customer Metrics and Performance - In the fourth quarter, Charter lost 119,000 internet customers, although this was an improvement compared to the previous year due to lower disconnects [8] - The company added nearly 2 million mobile lines in 2025, marking a 19% growth, and reported improved video performance with a net increase of 44,000 video customers in the fourth quarter [5][15] Financial Overview - Charter's revenue declined by approximately 0.5% in 2025, while EBITDA grew by about 0.5%. The fourth-quarter revenue fell by 2.3% year over year [9][11] - Total operating expenses decreased by 3.1% year over year, with a notable 8.4% decline in programming costs [11] Capital Expenditures and Cash Flow - Charter reported fourth-quarter capital expenditures of $3.3 billion, with full-year 2025 capex totaling $11.66 billion [12] - The company anticipates a reduction in capital spending after expansion initiatives conclude, aiming for a normalized capex of $7.5 billion to $8 billion by 2028 [13] Debt and Shareholder Returns - Charter ended the quarter with $95 billion in debt and a weighted average cost of debt of 5.2%. The company repurchased 2.9 million shares for $760 million [14] - The company plans to maintain leverage at or slightly below 4.25x and aims to reach a target leverage of 3.5x to 3.75x within three years post-transaction [16]