Wall Street Tells Scared Investors To Buy Verizon Stock - 24/7 Wall St. S&P 5006,424.00 +1.17% Dow Jones45,779.20 +1.14% Nasdaq 10023,253.60 +1.30% Russell 20002,452.63 +1.60% FTSE 10010,223.00 +1.41% Nikkei 22551,779.80 +1.47% Stock Market Live March 31, 2026: S&P 500 (SPY) Pops on News Trump Could End War Investing Wall Street Tells Scared Investors To Buy Verizon Stock This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken throu ...

Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) ranks among the best most active stocks to buy right now. On March 3, Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) announced its plan of action at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media, and Telecom Conference 2026, with Co-CEO Mike Cavanagh emphasizing its growth ambitions in the face of increased competition in broadband and wireless. Copyright: jetcityimage / 123RF Stock Photo In terms of finances, Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) had solid momentum, with Peacock’s performanc ...

Industry Overview - The U.S. wireless market is highly competitive, with major operators like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile generating over $352 billion in revenue last year despite market saturation [2] - Wireless access is increasingly viewed as essential, with 98% of Americans owning a cellphone and 89% stating they cannot live without their smartphone [1] Company Performance - AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile are all performing well, with AT&T and T-Mobile reporting low postpaid phone churn rates of 0.98% and 0.93% respectively in 2025 [7] - Verizon anticipates retail postpaid net phone additions to reach between 750,000 to 1 million in 2026, significantly higher than the previous year [7] Customer Loyalty and Engagement - AT&T has been recognized as America's favorite wireless service for 17 consecutive years, attributed to its strong branding and extensive coverage [8] - The company covers over 99% of the U.S. population, providing access to 4G LTE and 5G services [8] Investment in Infrastructure - AT&T has invested over $150 billion in its network from 2020 to 2024, including spectrum acquisitions [9] - The company is set to enhance its 5G services with an additional $23 billion investment to acquire 50 megahertz of low-and-mid-band spectrum, expected to close in mid-2026 [9]

Q4 2025 Earnings March 2, 2026 Important Information Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements All statements we make during this call, other than statements of historical fact, constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results to be materially different from historical results and from ...

Core Viewpoint - Comcast has demonstrated strong financial performance with consistent dividend growth, making it an attractive option for dividend investors despite challenges in the broadband sector [2][5]. Dividend Performance - Comcast recently paid a dividend of $0.33 per share in January 2026, marking the eighteenth consecutive year of dividend growth [2][5]. - The current dividend yield stands at 4.09%, with a conservative payout ratio of 24.49%, indicating sustainability in dividend payments [3][5]. Financial Metrics - Comcast achieved a record free cash flow of $21.9 billion in 2025, reflecting a 41.3% year-over-year increase [5][7]. - The free cash flow provides a coverage ratio of 4.48x for the $4.9 billion paid out in dividends, significantly above the typical safe threshold of 2.0x [7][8]. Growth and Strategy - The company has increased its quarterly dividend from $0.1575 in 2017 to $0.33 in 2026, representing a 109% increase over nine years, or approximately 8.5% compounded annually [9]. - CFO Jason Armstrong highlighted the company's commitment to investing in growth, maintaining a strong balance sheet, and returning capital to shareholders during the Q4 2025 earnings call [9]. Market Position - Comcast's dividend metrics received an overall grade of A, with Wall Street consensus ratings indicating a current price of $32.40 and a price target of $33.06, suggesting a potential upside of 2% [4][6]. - The company’s wireless revenue surged by 18%, adding 1.5 million lines, while broadband experienced a loss of 181,000 subscribers in Q4 [5].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The fourth quarter revenue rose 3.4% in Mexican peso terms to MXN 245 billion, and was up 6.2% at constant exchange rates, with service revenue expanding 5.3% [8][9] - EBITDA increased by 4.2% in Mexican peso terms to MXN 95 billion, and was up 6.9% at constant exchange rates [9] - Net profit for the quarter was MXN 19 billion, which was four times larger than the previous year, equivalent to MXN 0.32 per share or $0.35 per ADR [10] - Free cash flow for the year 2025 was MXN 82 billion, representing a nearly 40% year-on-year increase [11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company added 2.5 million wireless subscribers in the quarter, with 2.8 million postpaid net gains and 298,000 prepaid losses, ending December with 331 million wireless subscribers [5][6] - The mobile postpaid base grew by 8.4% year-on-year, while broadband accesses expanded by 5.6% [8] - Fixed line service revenue increased by 3.6% year-over-year, with fixed broadband revenue rising by 6.4% [10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The dollar depreciated against most currencies in the region, declining 2.3% versus the Mexican peso and 5.7% versus the Chilean peso [5] - Brazil led in postpaid net additions with 644,000 subscribers, followed by Colombia with 276,000 and Peru with 148,000 [6] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to maintain a capital expenditure target of around 14%-15% of revenues, approximately $6.8 billion to $7 billion for 2026 [16][20] - The management is focused on reducing debt and preparing for potential consolidation opportunities in the region, particularly in small fiber companies [40][41] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The management noted that the U.S. government shutdown raised uncertainty about economic activity, impacting employment and economic indicators [4] - The competitive landscape in Latin America is changing, with expectations of further consolidation in the market, which could benefit the company [66] Other Important Information - The company disconnected 79,000 voice lines in the fixed line segment, while adding 77,000 pay TV units [7] - The comprehensive financing costs were roughly half those of the previous year [10] Q&A Session Summary Question: CapEx outlook for 2026 - The company targets a CapEx of around 14%-15% of revenues, approximately $6.8 billion to $7 billion for 2026 [16][20] Question: Pre-tax non-operating expenses - The management acknowledged the increase in pre-tax non-operating expenses and suggested contacting investor relations for detailed information [24][26] Question: Telefónica's sale of operations in Chile - The company decided not to proceed with a bid for Telefónica's operations due to regulatory complexities and high leverage concerns, but remains committed to competing in Chile [32][34] Question: Capital allocation strategy - The management emphasized a focus on reducing debt and preparing for potential M&A opportunities, while also considering shareholder returns through buybacks and dividends [39][41] Question: Impact of FX on results - The management discussed the complexities of managing multiple currencies and emphasized the importance of constant exchange rates for accurate financial reporting [52][54] Question: Regulatory environment and consolidation in Latin America - The management sees potential for consolidation in the market, particularly in mobile and fixed services, and believes this will be beneficial for the company [61][66] Question: Brazilian number portability trends - The management indicated that both NuCel and the company's postpaid operations are contributing to strong number portability trends in Brazil [72][73] Question: Sustainability of broadband growth in Mexico - The management expressed confidence in sustaining broadband growth due to successful promotions and high customer satisfaction with service bundles [80]

Core Insights - AT&T is recognized as a solid company with strong dividend payments, but it is not considered a growth stock despite expected profit improvements in the near future [1] Group 1: Business Growth Drivers - The primary driver of AT&T's anticipated growth is its fiber-optic broadband segment, which has seen significant investment, including a recent $5.8 billion acquisition of Lumen's fiber business [4] - AT&T plans to expand its fiber service footprint to over 40 million customer locations by the end of this year, marking a 25% increase from 32 million locations at the end of 2025 [4] Group 2: Revenue Composition - Approximately 70% of AT&T's revenue is derived from wireless services, while less than 15% comes from fiber-optic connectivity for consumers and businesses [5] - Despite being a smaller segment, the fiber business is projected to be a significant profit growth engine, with 40% of consumers who can subscribe to AT&T's broadband service doing so [6] Group 3: Customer Growth Potential - An additional 8 million locations are expected to lead to 3.2 million new paying broadband customers, increasing the customer base from 10.6 million to 13.6 million, representing a 30% growth [6] - The average fiber customer pays around $73 per month, which could result in nearly $3 billion in additional annual revenue [6] Group 4: Financial Projections - AT&T's CFO provided guidance indicating adjusted EPS is expected to be in the range of $2.25 to $2.35 by 2026, with a projected double-digit compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2028 [7] - Analysts predict a low-double-digit growth rate for AT&T's per-share profits, estimated to increase by just over 10% annually through 2028 [7]

Core Insights - Verizon Communications reported fourth-quarter earnings and revenue that exceeded analyst expectations, leading to a more than 9% increase in shares intraday [1] Financial Performance - The company posted adjusted earnings per share of $1.09, surpassing consensus estimates of $1.06 [2] - Revenue reached $36.4 billion, exceeding expectations of $36.1 billion [2] - Wireless service revenue rose 1.1% year over year to $21.0 billion [3] - Wireless equipment revenue climbed 9.1% to $8.2 billion [3] Subscriber Growth - Verizon recorded its highest quarterly total mobility and broadband volumes since 2019, including 616,000 postpaid phone net additions [2] - Broadband subscriber additions totaled 372,000, which included 319,000 fixed wireless access customers and 67,000 Fios internet additions [3] Future Outlook - For 2026, Verizon projected adjusted earnings per share of $4.90 to $4.95, well above analyst consensus of $4.76 [4] - The company forecasted total retail postpaid phone net additions of 750,000 to 1.0 million [4] - Total mobility and broadband service revenue growth is expected to be between 2.0% to 3.0% [4]

Core Viewpoint - Verizon issued a bullish forecast for the year, highlighting a significant turnaround in its performance with substantial net additions in postpaid phone connections [1][7] Group 1: Financial Performance - In the fourth quarter, Verizon gained a net 616,000 postpaid phone connections, marking its largest quarterly combined mobile and broadband net additions since 2019 [1] - The company's fourth-quarter revenue rose 2% year over year to $36.4 billion, slightly exceeding analyst expectations [3] - Verizon reported per-share earnings of 55 cents, or $1.09 excluding special items, impacted by severance charges from layoffs [4] Group 2: Strategic Initiatives - Dan Schulman, the new CEO, initiated significant cost-cutting measures, including the largest job cuts in the company's history, aiming for a more competitive and efficient operation [2][5] - The company expects to achieve $5 billion in operating expenditure savings this year as part of its strategic turnaround [2][5] Group 3: Market Position and Outlook - Verizon ended the period with 146.9 million total wireless retail connections, with wireless service revenue at $21 billion, its largest business segment [4] - The company anticipates adding between 750,000 and one million net postpaid phone connections this year, with expectations of flat wireless-service revenue and 2% to 3% growth in total mobility and broadband-service revenue [6][7]

Core Insights - Verizon Communications Inc. reported strong fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results, indicating a significant turnaround for the company driven by strategic initiatives under CEO Dan Schulman [1][2] Financial Performance - In 2025, Verizon's total operating revenue reached $138.2 billion, up from $134.8 billion in 2024, with consolidated net income of $17.6 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $50.0 billion [7] - For the fourth quarter of 2025, Verizon reported total operating revenue of $36.4 billion, with consolidated net income of $2.4 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $11.9 billion [7] - Earnings per share (EPS) for 2025 was $4.06, while adjusted EPS, excluding special items, was $4.71 [7][24] Customer Growth and Market Strategy - Verizon achieved over 1 million total net additions across mobility and broadband in the fourth quarter, the highest since 2019, including 616,000 postpaid phone net additions [6][7] - The acquisition of Frontier, completed on January 20, 2026, expanded Verizon's fiber footprint to over 30 million homes and businesses, enhancing its mobility and broadband convergence strategy [2][6] Future Outlook - For 2026, Verizon anticipates total retail postpaid phone net additions of 750,000 to 1 million, with mobility and broadband service revenue growth projected at 2.0% to 3.0% [16] - The company expects adjusted EPS to be between $4.90 and $4.95, representing a year-over-year growth of 4.0% to 5.0% [16] - Free cash flow is forecasted to exceed $21.5 billion, marking a growth of approximately 7.0% from 2025 [16][28]