Verizon Communications (VZ)

A changed company. Older business model was volume-based, now has a bit more of an entrepreneurial spirit and is a bit more growthy. Cutting back on getting the customer at any price to a higher-quality customer. New focus is turning up in cashflow. Returning a lot of cash to investors, lots of buybacks. 

Defensive play. Yield is 5.67%.

Is down 6.5% today on a restructuring charge, so the stock is on sale. It pays a dividend yield of 6.5%.

It has a new CEO and shares are moving up, 18.6% in the past 6 months.

Revenues last quarter were spectacular. Returns going forward may not be the same. Global memory chip shortage, as chips get redirected to AI. Consider taking profits, but don't sell it all (collect the healthy dividend).

Never buy a common stock purely for income. These are not bonds. Buy a common stock for growth, and added income is great. VZ is -5% the past months and will fall further.

Pays a 6.7% dividend, but lacks growth.

Has long owned this like a bond, for its steady, dependable dividend. Her compound annualized return is 7%. Has long owned it. Expects a boring report next week, no fireworks.

It acts like a bond. There's a lot of competition in telcos.

Verizon and AT&T have good yields and reporting better-than-expected earnings. Their businesses have little cyclicality.

It reports Friday. Some like its 7% dividend but he feels mixed about the risk/reward here. Doesn't have much faith.

He doesn't buy a stock purely for its yield, but it must show growth.

Hasn't done much in 2024 relative to the market. General malaise with US and Canadian telecoms. Lots of people buy it for the dividend. Seasonally, not the right time. Will probably hang in here, meandering. Doesn't see big gains.

Likes it. The Frontier acquisitions was smart. The stock is cheap.