AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is one of the best communication services stocks according to Hedge Funds. On January 5, KeyBanc Capital Markets described AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) as one of its top Communications and IT Infrastructure picks for 2026. The firm assigned a Buy rating with a target price of $30, suggesting an upside potential of 25%. Cisco (CSCO) Soars to 25-Year High on Earnings Blowout hin255/Shutterstock.com KeyBank forecasts an EBITDA growth of 4% in the coming year, that will be followed by 4-5% range u ...

In a market where growth stocks often steal the spotlight, reliable income still matters, especially during periods of uncertainty. High-yield dividend stocks with solid business models and steady cash flows continue to earn Wall Street’s confidence, offering investors a blend of income and stability. Here are three high-yield dividend stocks Wall Street still trusts to deliver dependable income, even when markets turn volatile. More News from Barchart Dividend Stock #1: Verizon Communications (VZ) Va ...

Valued at a market cap of $167.9 billion, Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) is a telecommunications company that provides wireless, broadband, and wireline communication services to consumers, businesses, and government clients. The New York-based company is expected to announce its fiscal Q4 earnings for 2025 before the market opens on Friday, Jan. 30. Ahead of this event, analysts expect this telecommunications giant to report a profit of $1.06 per share, down 3.6% from $1.10 per share in the year-ago q ...

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer recently discussed. A caller asked if the stock remains an attractive dividend option given current market conditions and falling interest rates. In response, Cramer said: “Never buy a common stock as a bond. You buy common stocks for growth, and if they happen to give you income, that’s great, but common stocks are not bonds, and they’ll end up disappointing you. Verizon is down 5%…. I think in the last six months, and I think that tha ...

Summary of Optimum Communications Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Optimum Communications - **Industry**: Telecommunications Key Points and Arguments 2026 Priorities - The company is focused on stabilizing broadband as its first priority, which includes enhancing base management and leveraging AI and automation for better customer communication and service delivery [4][5] - Elevating customer experience and operational efficiency through AI investments is a significant focus area [6] - Continued investment in network infrastructure, including mid-splits and expanding fiber capabilities, is planned [6][7] - A major priority is to optimize the capital structure for sustainable long-term growth [7] Competitive Landscape - The competitive environment has intensified, particularly in Q4, with aggressive pricing strategies from competitors, including offers for gigabit services below $40 and various promotional incentives [13][14] - The company is testing new pricing and packaging strategies to stabilize broadband performance [14] - The macroeconomic environment is affecting customer mobility, with many consumers hesitant to move due to attractive mortgage rates [18] Financial Structure and Debt Management - Recent financing from JPMorgan has provided financial flexibility and a leverage-neutral position [10] - The company is focused on meaningful debt reduction and resetting its balance sheet to support long-term objectives [11][23] - The potential use of Asset-Backed Securities (ABS) for funding is being explored [12] Fiber Deployment and Market Position - The company has made progress in fiber deployment, with 3 million passings and 700,000 customers on its fiber network [26][34] - The focus is on driving fiber growth while managing capital constraints [22][23] - Improved Net Promoter Score (NPS) and reduced churn rates are observed in fiber markets [26] Mobile and Video Products - Mobile penetration is currently at 7%, with expectations for growth as the product matures [29][34] - The new video packages have achieved a 13% penetration rate, offering customers flexibility and choice [41][42] - Partnerships with streaming services like Netflix and Disney are enhancing the video offering [42] Operational Efficiency and Cost Management - The company has implemented a 5% workforce reduction aimed at improving efficiency without impacting frontline staff [56] - Significant reductions in call volume and service visits have been achieved, contributing to operational efficiency [56] Future Outlook - The company expects to see year-over-year EBITDA growth for the first time in 16 quarters, with a guidance of $3.3 to $3.4 billion for Q4 [55][56] - Continued focus on leveraging AI and automation to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency is planned [59] - The company remains open to value-accretive transactions but is primarily focused on its transformation efforts [60] Lightpath Opportunity - The Lightpath segment is expected to generate over $100 million in sales, with ongoing efforts to expand its footprint beyond the current service areas [48][50] - The team is actively pursuing new business opportunities in various locations, indicating a strong growth potential [50] Additional Important Insights - The company is committed to advocating for customer interests in negotiations with programming partners to manage video costs effectively [42] - The overall strategy emphasizes quality and value, aiming to simplify customer interactions and enhance service delivery through digital and automated solutions [46][47]

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) is one of the stocks on Jim Cramer’s radar recently. When a caller mentioned that they have had a position in the stock for the past two years, Cramer commented: “I’m going to liberate you from Verizon. Nope, I don’t want you, I want you to scale out of Verizon. It does yield 6.7%.” Stock market reports printed on a sheet of paper. Photo by RDNE Stock Project on Pexels Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) provides wireless, broadband, and wireline services. The c ...

Core Insights - TDS announced a new $500 million share repurchase authorization, reflecting the Board's confidence in the company's long-term strategy and capital allocation approach [6][11] - TDS reported total operating revenues of $308.5 million for Q3 2025, a decrease of 6% from $327.5 million in Q3 2024 [19] - The company achieved a net income of $40.2 million for Q3 2025, a significant improvement compared to a net loss of $100.4 million in the same quarter last year [19] Financial Performance - TDS Telecom's operating revenues decreased by 3% year-over-year, impacted by $6 million due to divestitures of non-strategic assets [8] - Array, the standalone tower company, reported an 83% increase in operating revenues to $47.1 million in Q3 2025 compared to $25.7 million in Q3 2024 [19] - Total operating expenses for TDS decreased by 21% to $376.5 million in Q3 2025 from $477.2 million in Q3 2024 [19] Operational Highlights - TDS Telecom crossed the milestone of 1 million fiber passings and continued to execute its fiber expansion strategy, delivering 42,000 marketable fiber service addresses in Q3 2025 [3][8] - The company reported 11,200 residential fiber net additions in Q3 2025, indicating growth in fiber connections [8][17] - TDS completed the sale of wireless operations and select spectrum assets to T-Mobile, which is expected to enhance its financial flexibility [8] Leadership Changes - Anthony Carlson was appointed as President and CEO of Array, effective November 16, 2025, succeeding Doug Chambers [4][8] - Doug Chambers was recognized for his contributions in establishing Array as a standalone tower business [5] Future Outlook - TDS maintains its full-year 2025 revenue estimates for TDS Telecom at $1,030-$1,050 million, with adjusted OIBDA and EBITDA estimates unchanged at $310-$340 million and $320-$350 million, respectively [7][19] - The company is expected to continue its capital expenditures in the range of $375-$425 million for 2025 [7]

Group 1 - AT&T Inc. is currently facing competitive pressures from Verizon and T-Mobile, leading to a complex market environment that may deter investment interest [1] - Despite the competitive landscape, AT&T's CEO, Stankey, is recognized for effective management, and the company offers a nearly 4% yield, indicating strong operational execution [1] - Historical sentiment towards AT&T's stock has shifted, with previous skepticism at $22, but a more favorable view emerging at $24, suggesting a potential for growth in the telecommunications sector [1] Group 2 - The article suggests that while AT&T has investment potential, certain AI stocks may present better upside opportunities with lower downside risks [1]

Customer Retention - Comcast slowed broadband and cable TV customer defections [1] - The company utilized an internet price-lock guarantee and bundled plans to aid customer retention [1]

Core Viewpoint - KT Corporation is transitioning into an AICT company, focusing on integrating IT and AI with telecommunications, while AT&T is enhancing its core wireless business and expanding 5G and fiber coverage in the U.S. [2][7] KT Corporation - KT is developing an AI lineup anchored by its proprietary Mi:dm2.0 large language model, with early contract wins from government and water resource sectors [2] - The company has partnered with Microsoft to integrate AI into its services and plans to introduce a tailored AI model by late 2025 [3] - KT's AI IT business revenues increased by 13.8% year over year, and KT Cloud revenues rose by 23% due to data center growth [3] - The company has a stable dividend policy and a KRW 1 trillion share buyback plan, reflecting confidence in future cash flows [4] - Management has committed KRW 1 trillion over five years for cybersecurity, which may pressure near-term profitability [5] - The domestic telecom market is heavily penetrated, limiting organic growth opportunities, and competition from SK Telecom and LG Uplus poses risks [6] AT&T - AT&T is focusing on its core wireless business and expanding its 5G and fiber coverage, with a strategy based on mobile 5G, fixed wireless, and edge computing [7] - The acquisition of mid-band spectrum from EchoStar is expected to enhance 5G performance and reduce capital investment needs [8] - AT&T reported 270,000 net adds for Internet Air, doubling year over year, and over 550,000 new subscribers to advanced broadband services [9] - The company aims to reach over 60 million fiber customer locations by 2030, with significant growth in fiber subscribers [10] - AT&T generated $4.9 billion in free cash flow in Q3 2025 and returned $3.5 billion to shareholders, indicating strong cash flow generation [11] - The wireline division faces persistent losses, with revenues down 7.8% year over year due to competitive pressures [12] Share Performance and Valuation - Over the past month, KT and AT&T shares declined by 1.9% and 9%, respectively [14] - KT's shares are trading at a price/book ratio of 0.75X, lower than AT&T's 1.45X [16] - Analysts have revised earnings estimates downward for KT, while AT&T's estimates remain unchanged [17][19] Consensus Estimates - Current earnings estimates for KT show a downward revision of 3.21% for F1 and 2.53% for F2 [18] - AT&T's earnings estimates have seen a positive revision trend, particularly for Q1 and F2 [19] Investment Outlook - AT&T holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), while KT Corporation has a rank of 4 (Sell), suggesting AT&T may be a better investment choice at this time [20]