Group 1: Amazon - Amazon has developed a strong artificial intelligence (AI) business within its Amazon Web Services (AWS) division, presenting a significant growth opportunity [5] - The company reported a 13% year-over-year sales increase in the second quarter, with AWS growing nearly 18% and e-commerce sales up 11% [6] - Amazon's operating income rose from $14.7 billion to $19.2 billion year-over-year, exceeding management's guidance, and its current P/E ratio of 34 is less than half its five-year average of 76, indicating a potentially attractive valuation [7] - Billionaire investors, including Bill Ackman, have significantly increased their holdings in Amazon, with Ackman purchasing 5,823,316 shares worth $1.2 billion [8] Group 2: Restaurant Brands International - Restaurant Brands International operates four major fast-food chains: Burger King, Tim Hortons, Popeye's, and Firehouse Subs, with over 32,000 stores globally [10] - The franchise model allows for low capital expenditures and high cash generation, making it appealing to value investors [11] - The company reported a 5.3% year-over-year increase in total restaurant sales and a 16% rise in revenue in the second quarter [12] - Stanley Druckenmiller and Bill Ackman have invested in Restaurant Brands, with Ackman's fund holding an 11% position [13] - The stock offers a dividend yield of 3.8%, making it attractive for passive income investors [14] Group 3: Whirlpool - Whirlpool is a U.S. manufacturer of home appliances, sensitive to housing market conditions, and has faced challenges due to high interest rates [15] - The company may benefit from a resurgence in home buying and has a $2 billion builders business, positioning it well for future growth [16] - Whirlpool is currently trading at a forward P/E ratio of 11, indicating it may be undervalued, and billionaire David Tepper purchased 266,092 shares worth $27 million [18]

Restaurant Brands, which belongs to the Zacks Retail - Restaurants industry, posted revenues of $2.41 billion for the quarter ended June 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.91%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $2.08 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates two times over the last four quarters. The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary ...

Company Overview - Restaurant Brands is expected to report quarterly earnings of $0.97 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of +12.8% [3] - Revenues are anticipated to reach $2.34 billion, representing a 12.6% increase from the previous year [3] Earnings Estimates and Revisions - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised 0.4% higher in the last 30 days, indicating a positive reassessment by analysts [4] - The Most Accurate Estimate for Restaurant Brands is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, resulting in an Earnings ESP of +0.15% [12] Earnings Surprise Prediction - A positive Earnings ESP reading suggests a higher likelihood of an earnings beat, especially when combined with a Zacks Rank of 3 [10][12] - Historically, Restaurant Brands has beaten consensus EPS estimates in two out of the last four quarters [14] Industry Context - In comparison, Jack In The Box is expected to report earnings of $1.16 per share, which indicates a year-over-year decline of -29.7% [18] - Jack In The Box's revenue is projected to be $340.36 million, down 7.8% from the previous year [18]

Core Viewpoint - The average yield of stocks in the S&P 500 is 1.3%, but there are several high-yielding stocks available that can provide better returns for long-term investors [1] Group 1: UnitedHealth Group - UnitedHealth Group offers a yield of 2.9% and is considered a strong long-term holding despite recent struggles related to billing practices and rising costs, which have led to a 40% decline in stock price this year [4][6] - The company reported over $400 billion in sales and a profit of $14 billion last year, with a modest payout ratio of 35%, indicating a strong capacity to maintain dividend payments [6] - Although facing current challenges, the long-term outlook remains positive as the issues may be resolved over time, potentially leading to a recovery in share price [5] Group 2: Restaurant Brands International - Restaurant Brands International has a yield of 3.8% and owns well-known brands like Burger King and Tim Hortons, benefiting from acquisitions and market expansion [7][8] - The company earned $1.4 billion in profit on sales of $8.4 billion last year, achieving a profit margin of 17%, with a payout ratio around 80%, suggesting sustainability of its dividend [10] - Despite challenges in the fast-food sector, the company remains a strong option for long-term investment due to its established brands and low-cost offerings [9] Group 3: AT&T - AT&T has the highest yield at 4% and has seen a 53% increase in share price over the past year, reflecting improved operational stability [11] - The company is focusing on its telecom operations after selling its stake in DirecTV and plans to acquire Lumen's mass-market fiber business to expand its fiber reach to 60 million locations by 2030 [12] - AT&T expects to generate at least $16 billion in free cash flow this year, which supports its annual dividend cost of approximately $8.3 billion, making it an attractive option for income investors [13]

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the potential of dividend stocks as a stable income source for investors amid trade negotiations and geopolitical tensions affecting market sentiment [1] Group 1: Verizon Communications - Verizon Communications declared a quarterly dividend of $0.6775 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 6.3% [3] - Citi analyst Michael Rollins noted Verizon's goal to double its converged wireless subscriptions from 16% to 17% of its customer base over the next three years [4] - Rollins expects Verizon to add more postpaid phone subscriptions in 2025 and sees Q3 results as a potential catalyst for stock performance [6] - The analyst maintains a buy rating on Verizon with a price target of $48, indicating an under-appreciated value in its financial prospects [7] Group 2: Restaurant Brands International - Restaurant Brands International offers a quarterly dividend of $0.62 per share, translating to an annualized dividend of $2.48 and a yield of approximately 3.7% [9] - The company aims for 8% organic adjusted operating income growth on average between 2024 and 2028 [10] - Evercore analyst David Palmer believes QSR can achieve its profit growth targets despite lower sales projections, citing effective cost management [12] - Palmer reiterated a buy rating with a price target of $86, suggesting a valuation multiple closer to competitors [14] Group 3: EOG Resources - EOG Resources announced a $5.6 billion acquisition of Encino Acquisition Partners, which is expected to enhance its free cash flow and shareholder returns [16] - The company increased its dividend by 5% to $1.02 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.1% [17] - RBC Capital analyst Scott Hanold highlighted the strategic value of the Encino acquisition, maintaining a buy rating with a price target of $145 [18] - Following the acquisition, EOG's net debt to book capital is 0.3x, with a focus on returning 100% of free cash flow to shareholders [20]

Core Viewpoint - Restaurant Brands (QSR) reported quarterly earnings of $0.75 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.78 per share, but showing an increase from $0.73 per share a year ago [1][2] Financial Performance - The company posted revenues of $2.11 billion for the quarter ended March 2025, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.13%, compared to $1.74 billion in the same quarter last year [3] - The earnings surprise for the quarter was -3.85%, while the previous quarter saw a positive surprise of 2.53% with earnings of $0.81 per share against an expectation of $0.79 [2] Stock Performance - Restaurant Brands shares have increased approximately 4.2% since the beginning of the year, contrasting with a -4.3% decline in the S&P 500 [4] - The current Zacks Rank for the stock is 3 (Hold), indicating expected performance in line with the market in the near future [7] Future Outlook - The consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.96 on revenues of $2.35 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $3.67 on revenues of $9.25 billion [8] - The outlook for the industry, specifically the Retail - Restaurants sector, is currently in the bottom 22% of over 250 Zacks industries, which may impact stock performance [9]