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Verizon Communications

Wireless services account for about 70% of Verizon Communications' total service revenue and nearly all of its operating income. The firm serves about 93 million postpaid and 21 million prepaid phone customers (following the acquisition of Tracfone) via its nationwide network, making it the largest US wireless carrier. Fixed-line telecom operations include local networks in the Northeast, which reach about 29 million homes and businesses and serve about 8 million broadband customers. Verizon also provides telecom services nationwide to enterprise customers, often using a mixture of its own and other carriers' networks.

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VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS ORD

Have you ever walked into a dispensary, asked a budtender for advice and left wondering if they had any idea what you were talking about or needed? In an exclusive interview with Benzinga Cannabis, Martez Knox, founder and CEO of BakedBot AI, shared info on AI-driven bots are changing customer experiences and B2B transactions by making sure you get the right product every time. 
BakedBot AI launched in January 2023, but Knox's journey with AI began earlier when he worked in marketing automation and lead generation. 
Frustration with the budtender's lack of knowledge sparked the idea to leverage AI for more personalized cannabis recommendations.&nbsp;
&#8220;The idea hit me when I realized that the budtender had no clue what would work best for me as a customer,&#8221; Knox said. With advanced AI tools, his systems are boosting efficiency, sales and customer retention for dispensaries.
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Solving Dispensary Pain Points With AI</h3>
Knox identified several pain points in the cannabis industry, particularly the challenge of reaching customers through marketing channels.&nbsp;
"Bigger carriers like Verizon (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) and T-Mobile (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMUS#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>) often block messages containing certain words, making it difficult for dispensaries to connect with customers," <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/martezknox/">Martez</a> noted, adding that <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/bakedbot-ai/">BakedBot AI </a>addresses that issue. How? By using AI-powered autonomous agents that streamline customer engagement while improving outreach without relying on expensive marketing agencies.
One of BakedBot's flagship products, Smokey, the AI budtender, plays a crucial role in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/cannabis-marketing">personalizing</a> customer experience. 
Smokey uses customers&#8217; purchase histories and other data points to recommend strains based on individual preferences, from terpene profiles to personal preferences. 
&#8220;We're keeping their customers happy, lowering acquisition costs, and increasing lifetime value (LTV),&#8221; Knox explained, underscoring how AI-driven personalization enhances customer loyalty and reduces business costs.
Beyond personalization, Knox emphasized that BakedBot AI is designed to streamline daily operations for dispensaries, helping reduce losses and optimize workflow. Companies have found that after implementing AI tools, they can automate tasks such as price tracking against local competitors.&nbsp;
&#8220;We've saved marketers hours by automating the process of gathering competitor data,&#8221; Knox explained, highlighting how AI-powered tools enable businesses to maintain competitive pricing strategies without the need for manual input.
BakedBot's AI also help dispensaries optimize shelf space by analyzing sales trends and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/10/41176039/whats-the-difference-between-medical-and-recreational-cannabis-users-new-survey-reveals-market-t">customer preferences</a>. 
&#8220;We help owners determine which products should be discounted and which should remain at full price, based on real-time market data and customer demand,&#8221; Knox said. 
These tools not only prevent losses from overstocking slow-moving products but also help maximize profitability by focusing on top-selling items.
Read Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/08/40298228/think-you-can-do-it-all-20-000-reasons-why-automation-outperforms-a-broad-approach-in-cannabis">&nbsp;Think You Can Do It All? 20,000 Reasons Why Automation Outperforms A Broad Approach In Cannabis</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Creating Buyer Archetypes With AI</h3>
One of the key advantages of BakedBot AI is its ability to create detailed buyer archetypes. &#8220;AI is great at finding patterns in big data,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We look at <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/08/40533363/how-seo-trauma-is-costing-weed-brands-70-of-sales-and-why-most-dispensaries-fail-jp-donahue-unle">thousands of data points</a> to predict customer behavior, whether it&#8217;s a college student on a budget or a more established adult seeking specific effects.&#8221; This ability to build <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/06/39540101/budget-conscious-consumers-boost-sales-of-marijuana-multipacks-94-brands-vie-for-colorados-pre-r">buyer archetypes </a>ensures that dispensaries can tailor their marketing and product offerings more effectively.
&#8220;If a customer likes OG Kush with a high percentage of certain <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/05/38626097/why-does-tangie-smell">cannabinoids and terpenes</a>, there&#8217;s a good chance they&#8217;ll enjoy a similar strain.&#8221; 
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Integrating Local Knowledge Into AI Systems</h3>
Knox explained that BakedBot AI integrates both big data and local knowledge to create a comprehensive solution for dispensaries. &#8220;Dispensaries themselves can upload their data about local trends, customer preferences, and word of mouth into the system,&#8221; he said.&nbsp;
Read Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/09/40754415/transforming-a-5-000-year-old-craft-how-weed-companies-use-data-to-make-hash-without-losing-its-a">&nbsp;Transforming A 5,000-Year-Old Craft: How Weed Companies Use Data To Make Hash Without Losing Its Art</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Lead Generation And Data Ownership</h3>
Knox says there is great potential in AI's ability to drive lead generation. &#8220;Lead generation is all about getting customers into your funnel.&#8221; BakedBot's headless menu solution allows dispensaries to optimize <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/09/40753138/how-google-ai-and-digital-marketing-are-changing-weed-retailing-for-good-how-you-can-and-should-">product visibility on Google</a>, driving organic traffic without relying on external platforms. 
He was clear on the importance of dispensaries owning their customer data. &#8220;Dispensaries need their <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/04/38230062/your-next-weed-promo-could-go-viral-how-cannacribs-is-shaping-social-media-with-influencer-marke">web presence </a>to generate first-party data. If your dispensary is using the biggest marketplaces out there, you&#8217;re not getting access to first-party data,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We provide dispensaries with the tools to gather that data directly from their websites.
&#8220;AI is all about recognizing patterns,&#8221; Knox explained. &#8220;When you look at large language models, it&#8217;s essentially predictive analytics at work—identifying which words and phrases are most likely to follow others based on huge data sets. Machine learning comes into play by enabling systems to find these patterns and learn from them, improving predictions over time.&#8221;&nbsp;
He added that with AI, &#8220;it&#8217;s more like advanced predictive analytics, helping businesses make <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/05/38972587/who-is-buying-marijuana-and-why-market-data-provides-behavior-profiles-insights-for-investors">decisions based on vast amounts of data t</a>hat constantly refine as new information comes in.&#8221;
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">It's Freemium </h3>
"We offer a freemium model," Knox said, noting that small operators can access a limited version of Smokey for free. This model includes basic AI-driven features, such as the budtender tool and a headless menu solution. 
For more complex needs, such as advanced automation and in-depth analytics, dispensaries can upgrade to paid plans starting at $50 per month.
&#8220;This pricing model makes AI tools affordable for smaller operators while providing larger operations with the flexibility to scale up.&#8221; 
Read Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/23/08/33579692/cannabis-robots-meet-the-company-boosting-efficiency-and-margins-through-packaging-automation">&nbsp;Cannabis Robots: Meet The Company Boosting Efficiency And Margins Through Packaging Automation</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Meet The Bot </h3>
Knox said he&#8217;s confident the company will further disrupt cannabis retail. "We expect to be out of beta in a month or two," he said, hinting at future developments that could further enhance the dispensary experience.
BakedBot AI will be at the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/events/cannabis-conference/">Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference</a> in Chicago on October 8-9, 2024. Investors can check out how their AI tools drive critical improvements in margins, cost of goods, and shelf optimization through predictive analytics. 
With over 2,000 attendees and 200 investors expected, it&#8217;s a prime opportunity to see how AI can maximize profits in cannabis retail​.&nbsp;
Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40941818/how-this-cheese-aging-tech-is-boosting-profits-for-cannabis-growers-stop-throwing-cheddar-out-the-do">How This Cheese-Aging Tech Is Boosting Profits For Cannabis Growers: Stop Throwing Cheddar Out The Door</a>

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TMUS

Budtenders Letting You Down? Meet The Weed Bot That Actually Knows What You Want

New Verizon Access Platform Offers Customers Exclusive Access to Live Events at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, Beacon Theatre, The Theater at MSG, The Chicago Theatre and Sphere
Partnership Includes Creation of Two Verizon-Branded Hospitality Spaces at Madison Square Garden
NEW YORK, Oct. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSGE#NYSE">MSGE</a>) ("MSG Entertainment"), Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSGS#NYSE">MSGS</a>) ("MSG Sports") and Sphere Entertainment Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPHR#NYSE">SPHR</a>) (together, the "MSG Family of Companies") announced today an expanded partnership with Verizon (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>), naming America's leading telecommunications company the Official Mobile Wireless Partner across the MSG Family of Companies.

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The MSG Family Of Companies And Verizon Expand Partnership, Naming Verizon The Official Mobile Wireless Partner Across The Companies' Portfolio

SBA Communications&#39; (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/sbac#NASDAQ">SBAC</a>) extensive and geographically diverse wireless communication infrastructure portfolio is well-positioned to gain from the wireless carriers&#39; high capital spending for network expansion amid growth in mobile data usage and accelerated 5G network deployment efforts.
The long-term leases with its tenants assure stable revenues. Also, portfolio expansion moves, domestically and internationally, to capitalize on the secular trends of the industry are encouraging.
However, customer concentration and consolidation in the wireless industry are key near-term concerns. The churn arising from the Sprint-related decommissioning is likely to hurt top-line growth.
Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have risen 25.9% over the past three months, outperforming the industry&#39;s upside of 16.5%.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/25/80252.jpg?v=2118588955" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
<h2>What&#39;s Aiding SBAC?</h2>
The advancement in mobile technology, such as 4G and 5G networks, and the proliferation of bandwidth-intensive applications have propelled growth in mobile data usage globally. This has resulted in wireless service providers and carriers expanding their networks and deploying additional equipment for existing networks to boost network coverage and capacity to meet the rising consumer demand, poising tower real estate investment trusts like SBAC well for growth.
SBA Communications has a resilient and stable site-leasing business model. The company generates most of its revenues from long-term (typically five to 10 years) tower leases that have built-in rent escalators. With high operating margins, its tower-leasing business remains attractive.
As the company continues to expand its tower portfolio and seek new growth opportunities, it focuses on business expansion into domestic and select international markets with high growth characteristics. During the first half of 2024, SBAC acquired 128 towers and related assets. In the second quarter of 2024, it also built 100 towers. Subsequent to June 30, 2024, the company purchased or is under contract to purchase 106 communication sites for a total cash consideration of $49.3 million. Such portfolio expansion efforts will position SBA Communications to leverage secular trends in mobile data usage and wireless spending growth across the globe.
Solid dividend payouts are arguably the biggest enticement for investment in REIT stocks. SBAC has increased its dividend five times in the last five years, and its five-year annualized dividend growth rate is 22.42%. Given SBA Communications&#39; decent financial position and lower-than-industry dividend payout rate, the dividend distribution is expected to be sustainable over the long run.
<h2>What&#39;s Hurting SBAC?</h2>
The company has a high customer concentration, with T-Mobile (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tmus#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>), AT&amp;T (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/t#NYSE">T</a>) and Verizon (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vz#NYSE">VZ</a>) accounting for the majority of its domestic site-leasing revenues. In the second quarter of 2024, T-Mobile, AT&amp;T and Verizon accounted for 38.2%, 29.7% and 20.2%, respectively, of SBAC&#39;s domestic site-leasing revenues.
The loss of any of these customers, consolidation among them or a reduction in network spending might hurt the company&#39;s top line significantly. The churn arising from the Sprint-related decommissioning is likely to weigh on its performance in the near term.
SBA Communications has a substantially leveraged balance sheet, with $12.4 billion of total debt and net debt to the annualized adjusted EBITDA leverage of 6.4X as of the end of the second quarter of 2024. The high amount of debt is likely to keep SBA Communications&#39; financial obligations elevated. Moreover, its debt-to-capital ratio is higher than the industry average. A high debt-to-capital ratio limits its strength to withstand any credit crisis and unexpected negative externalities in the future.
Note: Anything related to earnings presented in this write-up represents funds from operations (FFO), a widely used metric to gauge the performance of REITs.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2345624/is-it-wise-to-retain-sba-communications-stock-in-your-portfolio-now?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|zer_report_update-2345624">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

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Is it Wise to Retain SBA Communications Stock in Your Portfolio Now?

When Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) announced plans to acquire Frontier Communications Parent, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FYBR#NASDAQ">FYBR</a>) in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40727235/verizon-to-acquire-frontier-in-20b-deal-reaffirms-fy24-outlook">September for $20 billion</a>, some investors were likely eyeing potential gains from the company's dividends. 
As of now, Verizon offers an annual dividend yield of 6.02%. That&#8217;s a quarterly dividend of 67.75 cents per share ($2.71 a year).
So, how can investors exploit its dividend yield to pocket a regular $500 monthly?
To earn $500 per month or $6,000 annually from dividends alone, you would need an investment of approximately $99,741 or around 2,214 shares. For a more modest $100 per month or $1,200 per year, you would need $19,957 or around 443 shares.
To calculate: Divide the desired annual income ($6,000 or $1,200) by the dividend ($2.71 in this case). So, $6,000 / $2.71 = 2,214 ($500 per month), and $1,200 / $2.71 = 443 shares ($100 per month).
Note that dividend yield can change on a rolling basis, as the dividend payment and the stock price both fluctuate over time.
How that works: The dividend yield is computed by dividing the annual dividend payment by the stock&#8217;s current price.
For example, if a stock pays an annual dividend of $2 and is currently priced at $50, the dividend yield would be 4% ($2/$50). However, if the stock price increases to $60, the dividend yield drops to 3.33% ($2/$60). Conversely, if the stock price falls to $40, the dividend yield rises to 5% ($2/$40).
Similarly, changes in the dividend payment can impact the yield. If a company increases its dividend, the yield will also increase, provided the stock price stays the same. Conversely, if the dividend payment decreases, so will the yield.
Price Action: Shares of Verizon fell 0.4% to close at $45.05 on Wednesday.
On Oct. 1, Tigress Financial analyst Ivan Feinseth maintained Verizon with a Buy rating and raised the price target from $52 to $55.
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Read More: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/10/41156151/wall-streets-most-accurate-analysts-give-their-take-on-3-consumer-stocks-delivering-high-dividend-yi">Wall Street&#8217;s Most Accurate Analysts Give Their Take On 3 Consumer Stocks Delivering High-Dividend Yields</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Long Ideas

FYBR

How To Earn $500 A Month From Verizon Stock

Several European telecom companies, including Vodafone, Telefonica, and Orange, are considering legal action against Elon Musk's SpaceX if the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) relaxes radio emission rules for its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/starlink">Starlink system</a>.
What Happened: European telecom giants have expressed their concerns in a letter to the FCC, warning that any relaxation of emission limits could negatively impact licensed terrestrial mobile network operators and their users.
"Any relaxation that degrades the utility of spectrum that mobile operators have licensed from their respective national authorities, and which would undermine service quality and increase deployment costs, would be legal grounds for claiming damages," the companies said in the complaint.
Alongside U.S. companies like AT&amp;T Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/T#NYSE">T</a>) and Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>), the European carriers argue that SpaceX&#8217;s technology could cause radio interference if allowed to exceed current limits.
SpaceX, however, has requested a waiver from the FCC, claiming that without it, their system may struggle to provide reliable real-time communications, especially during emergencies.
SpaceX asserts that its technology is designed to avoid interference with ground networks and requires the waiver only when satellites are over the U.S. It recently announced that its Starlink customer base has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41061483/spacexs-starlink-now-connects-4m-customers-with-more-than-6k-operational-satellites-adds-a-million-u">reached the four million mark</a>, adding a million new customers in four months.
Despite this, resistance from telecom companies continues to grow, with many supporting a rival provider, AST SpaceMobile, which is also developing satellite systems.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41156900/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-says-demand-for-next-gen-blackwell-gpu-platform-insane-everyone-wants-to-hav?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Says Demand For Next-Gen Blackwell GPU Platform Insane</a>
Why It Matters: The legal threat from European telecom giants comes at a time when <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40848351/a-week-after-elon-musks-spacex-launched-7-000th-starlink-satellite-fcc-chair-jessica-rosenworcel-cal">SpaceX&#8217;s Starlink</a> has reached a significant milestone with its 7,000th satellite launch.
This achievement has prompted FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel to call for increased competition in the space industry, emphasizing that it will lead to lower prices and more innovation.
Additionally, SpaceX&#8217;s Starlink has demonstrated its capability in emergency communications. Earlier this month, T-Mobile US Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMUS#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40826886/t-mobile-sends-first-wireless-emergency-alert-via-spacexs-starlink-satellites-in-space">successfully sent and received</a> the first-ever wireless emergency alert via Starlink satellites, showcasing the system&#8217;s potential in public safety scenarios.
Despite these advancements, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has criticized the FCC&#8217;s decision to deny Starlink nearly $900 million in subsidies, labeling it as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41113339/elon-musk-resumes-slamming-fccs-decision-to-deny-starlink-885m-subsidy-after-fema-sends-its-terminal">&#8220;contemptible political lawfare.&#8221;</a>
This comes as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has turned to Starlink to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41138209/elon-musks-spacex-to-give-free-starlink-access-to-hurricane-helene-victims">provide connectivity</a> in regions affected by Hurricane Helene, further highlighting the system&#8217;s importance in disaster response.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41086806/elon-musk-mocks-vinod-khosla-after-openai-investor-mixes-up-argentinas-poverty-and-unemployment-rate?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Mocks Vinod Khosla After OpenAI Investor Mixes Up Argentina&#8217;s Poverty And Unemployment Rates</a></li>
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo by Wirestock Creators on Shutterstock

SPACE

European Telecom Giants Threaten Legal Action Against Elon Musk's Starlink Over Potential FCC Rule Changes

Zeta Global Holdings Co. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/zeta#NYSE">ZETA</a>) is a data-driven marketing technology company that provides an artificial intelligence (AI) powered customer intelligence and marketing automation platform. The stock has taken a meteoric rise, up 234% year-to-date (YTD). This relatively obscure computer and technology sector company boasts many A-list clients serving 40% of the Fortune 100 companies, including American Express Co. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/axp#NYSE">AXP</a>), Marriott International Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mar#NASDAQ">MAR</a>), United Airlines Holdings Inc., T-Mobile US Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tmus#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>), AT&amp;T Inc.&nbsp;and Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vz#NYSE">VZ</a>). The big question is how a little-known company is bagging major clients and why these major brands are attracted to Zeta and its AI-powered, all-on-one unified marketing platform.
<h2>Zeta&#39;s Competitive Advantage is Data, Data, and More Data </h2>
&quot;AI-powered&quot; is a term that gets tossed around a lot, especially with marketing companies. However, the Zeta Customer Data Platform (CDP), a core component of the Zeta Marketing Platform, is unique in the massive oceans of data it collects around the clock. Its platform processes data from 12.7 billion global identifiers, over 1 trillion content consumption signals monthly, over 950 interest and intent audiences, and more than 250 million people in the United States.
Ingesting, analyzing, and distilling its massive datasets leveraging AI is done to turn strangers into customers and predict customers&#39; intent. It provides smarter analysis and intelligence, providing real-time reports and insights. The Zeta Marketing Platform is an all-in-one platform to manage and automate marketing campaigns. Zeta&#39;s clients are major marketers and agencies that have major brand customers.
Zeta CDP ingests data by collecting it from numerous sources, including marketing automation platforms, social media, website analytics, offline channels, and CRM systems. Zeta CDP ingests and unifies the data to construct a single customer profile providing a holistic view of each customer with no silos.
Zeta Media Engine provides Zeta&#39;s Intelligence, audience modeling, media activation, and ID resolution to marketers and agencies using Snowflake Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/snow#NYSE">SNOW</a>).
<h2>Zeta Leverages AI in a Useful and Quantifiable Way</h2>
The Zeta Messaging component of the Zeta Marketing Platform leverages AI to make email segmentation and targeting seamless and personalized.&nbsp;Customers can&nbsp;automate campaigns based on factors like transactions, events, and audiences using the knowledge of past purchases, real-time interest, channel preferences, and predictive intent.&nbsp;It&#39;s been able to increase the average order value by 9% with 51% less email volume and a 587% increase in revenues. Zeta was recognized as a leader in the Forrester Wave Email Marketing Services Providers of 2024, receiving the highest possible score of 13 out of 22 criteria, including process and workflow automation, personalization, AI and vision.
<h2>Zeta Growth Accelerating Also with Clients </h2>
Zeta reported its second quarter of 2024 EPS loss of 16 cents, matching consensus estimates. Revenues climbed 32.6% YoY to a record $227.8 million, beating $212.44 million consensus analyst estimates. Zeta grew quarterly scaled customer average revenue per user (ARPU) 22% YoY to $479,000, twice as fast as Q1 2024.
Zeta&#39;s AI-powered personas and chatbots and over 400 AI-powered &quot;Intelligent Agents&quot; helped drive strong customer retention, enabling clients to show 3X revenue improvement over initial deployment levels.
<h2>Zeta Issues Upside Q3 and Full Year 2024 Guidance</h2>
Zeta Global provides upside Q3 2024 revenue guidance of $237.2 million to $241.2 million versus $230.52 million consensus estimates. The company increased adjusted EBITDA guidance from $46.8 million to $47.3 million, up from the previous guidance of $45.3 million. Full-year 2024 revenues are expected to be between $920 million and $930 million, crushing analyst consensus estimates of $900.49 million. Adjusted EBITDA was raised by $4.5 million to $174.5 million to $176.5 million from previous guidance of $171 million. Free cash flow is expected to be between $80 million and $90 million.
Zeta Global CEO David Steinburg commented, &quot;Artificial Intelligence is disrupting legacy marketing clouds, which, in some cases, are even shutting down parts of their business, creating a large opportunity for more innovative, agile, and AI-powered marketing technology companies like Zeta.
Steinburg emphasized, &quot;As I have stated before, AI has moved from science fiction to a boardroom conversation. Boards are asking CEOs what is their AI strategy. In turn, CEOs are asking their CTOs, CMOs, and CIOs for their plans. And they are turning to us because we turn AI into real-world results for marketers.&quot;
<h2>ZETA Stock Forms a Parabolic Arc </h2>
A parabolic arc is a topping pattern comprised of a swing high followed by a rounding bottom that rips back up through the swing high in a steep, surging manner. As the stock makes a blow-off top, it forms a market structure high (MSH) trigger following its highest high candle.
<img alt="ZETA stock chart" class="aligncenter" src="https://www.marketbeat.com/logos/articles/med_20240929174223_chartc-zeta.jpg" style="height:751px; width:915px" />
ZETA formed its initial swing high at $25.53 below, falling back down to $19.90, forming a rounding bottom that rose back up through its $35.53 swing high and proceeded to accelerate to $32.11. The daily market structure high (MSH) sell triggers under $28.91. The daily anchored VWAP support is at $26.01. The daily relative strength index (RSI) peaked and fell below the 70-band. Fibonacci (Fib) pullback support levels are at $27.37, $24.76, $31.64 and $19.39. 
Zeta Global&#39;s average consensus analyst price target is $32.50, and its highest analyst price target sits at $37.00. Analysts have given it 13 Buy ratings and one Hold rating.
Actionable Options Strategies: ZETA stock is up 234% in 2024, and a daily MSH sell triggers under $28.91. Bullish investors should&nbsp;be patient and may consider buying on pullbacks using&nbsp;cash-secured puts at the lower Fib&nbsp;pullback support levels to buy the dip and write covered calls to execute a wheel strategy for income.
The article &quot;<a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/stock-ideas/zeta-globals-ai-cloud-your-secret-weapon-for-massive-growth/">Zeta Global&#39;s AI Cloud: Your Secret Weapon for Massive Growth</a>&quot; first appeared on MarketBeat.

Mid Cap

Guidance

Price Target

Technicals

SNOW

ZETA

Zeta Global's AI Cloud: Your Secret Weapon for Massive Growth

Tigress Financial analyst Ivan Feinseth maintains Verizon Communications (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $52 to $55.

Tigress Financial Maintains Buy on Verizon Communications, Raises Price Target to $55

In the settlement with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC,) T-Mobile US Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMUS#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>) has pledged to significantly improve its cybersecurity infrastructure.
What Happened: According to the FCC, T-Mobile has agreed to key future commitments as part of settling the investigations.
These include addressing core security vulnerabilities, enhancing cyber hygiene, and implementing modern frameworks such as zero trust and phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication.
The telecom behemoth will also remit&nbsp;$15.75 million in civil penalties&nbsp;to the U.S. Treasury, mirroring&nbsp;its internal cybersecurity investment.
&#8220;Consumers' data is too important and much too sensitive to receive anything less than the best cybersecurity protections.&nbsp; We will continue to send a strong message to providers entrusted with this delicate information that they need to beef up their systems or there will be consequences,&#8221; stated FCC chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in a release on Monday.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41078582/tim-cook-led-apple-reportedly-abandons-openai-funding-round-discussions-but-nvidia-and-microsoft-cou?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tim Cook-Led Apple Reportedly Abandons OpenAI Funding Round Discussions, But Nvidia And Microsoft Could Still Invest In ChatGPT-Parent</a>
T-Mobile has been plagued by multiple data breaches over recent years, jeopardizing the personal data of millions of customers, including&nbsp;social security numbers, addresses, and&nbsp;driver's license numbers.
The settlement brings closure to several investigations into T-Mobile&#8217;s&nbsp;cybersecurity incidents in 2021, 2022,&nbsp;and 2023. The FCC noted that these breaches varied in nature, exploitation, and apparent methods of attack.
In August, T-Mobile paid a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/08/40395188/t-mobile-hit-with-60m-fine-for-data-security-violations-report">$60 million penalty</a>&nbsp;for failing to report&nbsp;unauthorized access to sensitive data,&nbsp;breaching&nbsp;its national security agreement upon&nbsp;acquiring Sprint.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It Matters: In January last year, it was reported that a data breach at <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/01/30497322/t-mobile-breach-put-37m-customers-at-risk-will-likely-book-significant-expenses">T-Mobile put 37 million customers</a> at risk. The company had to book significant expenses to manage the fallout.
Just a month later,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/02/30892566/t-mobile-network-suffers-major-outage-in-us-iphone-users-forced-into-sos-mode">T-Mobile faced a major network outage</a>&nbsp;in the U.S., forcing Apple&#8217;s smartphones to go into &#8220;SOS&#8221; mode. The SOS icon shows up on the iPhone status bar when a cellular network is accessible for emergency calls.
However, despite these setbacks, earlier this month, T-Mobile announced <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41000661/t-mobile-to-raise-2-5b-via-debt-for-buybacks-and-growth">plans to raise $2.5 billion through</a> a secondary senior notes offering for general corporate purposes.
Meanwhile, on Monday, Verizon&nbsp;Communications (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>)&nbsp; said that it had fully resolved a network disruption that affected thousands of U.S. customers — just hours after the FCC stated it would investigate the issue.
Earlier that day, Downdetector, a site monitoring tech outages, received over 100,000 reports. By 8 p.m. ET, the number had dropped to around 2,500.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Verizon engineers have fully restored today&#39;s network disruption that impacted some customers. Service has returned to normal levels.  If you are still having issues, we recommend restarting your device. We know how much people rely on Verizon and apologize for any inconvenience.…
&mdash; Verizon News (@VerizonNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/VerizonNews/status/1840893978411221191?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41086806/elon-musk-mocks-vinod-khosla-after-openai-investor-mixes-up-argentinas-poverty-and-unemployment-rate?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Mocks Vinod Khosla After OpenAI Investor Mixes Up Argentina&#8217;s Poverty And Unemployment Rates To Draw Parallels Between Javier Milei And Trump: &#8216;Vinod Is Just Actually Not Smart&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

T-Mobile Commits To Major Cybersecurity Investment Following FCC Settlement

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Here's the list of options activity happening in today's session: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>RDDT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$66.00</td>
<td>$40.2K</td>
<td>847</td>
<td>5.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>META</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/04/24</td>
<td>$570.00</td>
<td>$35.9K</td>
<td>1.8K</td>
<td>4.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BILI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$24.00</td>
<td>$42.0K</td>
<td>10.8K</td>
<td>2.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BIDU</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$31.3K</td>
<td>547</td>
<td>878</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DJT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$15.50</td>
<td>$38.6K</td>
<td>145</td>
<td>298</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VZ</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$27.9K</td>
<td>353</td>
<td>193</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ROKU</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$29.2K</td>
<td>594</td>
<td>82</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RBLX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$47.50</td>
<td>$25.4K</td>
<td>2.9K</td>
<td>40</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TMUS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/25/24</td>
<td>$200.00</td>
<td>$25.9K</td>
<td>27</td>
<td>32</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NFLX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$720.00</td>
<td>$50.7K</td>
<td>358</td>
<td>17</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding RDDT (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RDDT#NYSE">RDDT</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 18 day(s) on October 18, 2024. Parties traded 115 contract(s) at a $66.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $40.2K, with a price of $350.0 per contract. There were 847 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 5771 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For META (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 4 day(s) on October 4, 2024. This event was a transfer of 51 contract(s) at a $570.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $35.9K, with a price of $702.0 per contract. There were 1810 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 4028 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For BILI (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BILI#NASDAQ">BILI</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 109 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 98 contract(s) at a $24.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 19 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $42.0K, with a price of $440.0 per contract. There were 10828 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2084 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding BIDU (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIDU#NASDAQ">BIDU</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 18 day(s) on October 18, 2024. Parties traded 145 contract(s) at a $100.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 22 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $31.3K, with a price of $216.0 per contract. There were 547 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 878 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding DJT (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DJT#NASDAQ">DJT</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 18 day(s) on October 18, 2024. Parties traded 183 contract(s) at a $15.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 10 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $38.6K, with a price of $211.0 per contract. There were 145 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 298 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding VZ (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>), we observe a put option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 172 day(s) on March 21, 2025. Parties traded 100 contract(s) at a $45.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.9K, with a price of $279.0 per contract. There were 353 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 193 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For ROKU (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ROKU#NASDAQ">ROKU</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 18 day(s) on October 18, 2024. This event was a transfer of 45 contract(s) at a $80.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.2K, with a price of $650.0 per contract. There were 594 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 82 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For RBLX (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RBLX#NYSE">RBLX</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 81 day(s) on December 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 40 contract(s) at a $47.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.4K, with a price of $635.0 per contract. There were 2932 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 40 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding TMUS (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMUS#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 25 day(s) on October 25, 2024. Parties traded 27 contract(s) at a $200.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.9K, with a price of $960.0 per contract. There were 27 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 32 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For NFLX (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 81 day(s) on December 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 12 contract(s) at a $720.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $50.7K, with a price of $4230.0 per contract. There were 358 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 17 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more news on unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Options

BIDU

BILI

NFLX

RBLX

RDDT

ROKU

10 Communication Services Stocks With Whale Alerts In Today's Session

During times of turbulence and uncertainty in the markets, many investors turn to dividend-yielding stocks. These are often companies that have high free cash flows and reward shareholders with a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/yield-investments"> high dividend payout</a>.
Benzinga readers can review the latest analyst takes on their favorite stocks by visiting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. Traders can sort through Benzinga's extensive database of analyst ratings, including <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">by analyst accuracy</a>.
Below are the ratings of the most accurate analysts for three high-yielding stocks in the communication services sector.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 6.04%</li>
<li>B of A Securities analyst David Barden maintained a Neutral rating and raised the price target from $41 to $45 on Sept. 26. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 65%.</li>
<li>Citigroup analyst Michael Rollins maintained a Buy rating and increased the price target from $47 to $49 on Sept. 25. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 77%</li>
<li>Recent News: Vay collaborated with Verizon Communications to integrate Verizon 5G connectivity into Vay's fleet of teleoperated electric vehicles.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro's real-time newsfeed alerted to<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent093024&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"> latest VZ news</a>. </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent093024&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="916" height="858" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/30045916/image-230.png" alt="" class="wp-image-571915" style="width:697px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/30045916/image-230.png 916w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/30045916/image-230-300x281.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/30045916/image-230-768x719.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 916px) 100vw, 916px" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">AT&amp;T Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/T#NYSE">T</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 5.07%</li>
<li>Tigress Financial analyst Ivan Feinseth maintained a Buy rating and raised the price target from $29 to $30 on Sept. 27. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 73%.</li>
<li>Citigroup analyst Michael Rollins maintained a Buy rating and increased the price target from $21 to $24 on Sept. 11. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 77%</li>
<li>Recent News: The company's board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of $27.75 cents per share on common shares.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro's real-time newsfeed alerted to <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent093024&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">latest T news</a>. </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent093024&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="918" height="852" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/30045930/image-231.png" alt="" class="wp-image-571917" style="width:683px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/30045930/image-231.png 918w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/30045930/image-231-300x278.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/30045930/image-231-768x713.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 918px) 100vw, 918px" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IPG#NYSE">IPG</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 4.17%</li>
<li>Barclays analyst Julien Roch maintained an Equal-Weight rating and cut the price target from $35 to $34 on July 25. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 62%.</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley analyst Benjamin Swinburne downgraded the stock from Equal-Weight to Underweight and cut the price target from $34 to $28 on July 22. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 76%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On Sept. 18, Interpublic named Alex Hesz as Chief Strategy Officer.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro&#8217;s charting tool helped identify the <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent093024&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">trend in IPG stock.</a> </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent093024&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="918" height="842" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/30050005/image-232.png" alt="" class="wp-image-571918" style="width:661px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/30050005/image-232.png 918w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/30050005/image-232-300x275.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/30050005/image-232-768x704.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 918px) 100vw, 918px" /></a></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
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</figure>
Read More: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/09/41075978/top-4-materials-stocks-that-may-implode-in-q3">Top 4 Materials Stocks That May Implode In Q3</a></li>
</ul>

Pre-Market Outlook

Wall Street's Most Accurate Analysts Give Their Take On 3 Tech And Telecom Stocks Delivering High-Dividend Yields

The transaction is structured as a prepaid lease with upfront proceeds of approximately&nbsp;$2.8 billion&nbsp;in cash.
Under the terms, Verizon will enter into a 10-year agreement&nbsp;to lease back capacity on the towers from Vertical Bridge, serving as the anchor tenant, with options that could extend the lease term up to 50 years.&nbsp;
Under the terms, Verizon will enter into a 10-year agreement1&nbsp;to lease back capacity on the towers from Vertical Bridge, serving as the anchor tenant, with options that could extend the lease term up to 50 years.&nbsp;

Contracts

Vertical Bridge To Obtain Exclusive Rights To Lease, Operate And Manage 6,339 Wireless Communications Towers From Subsidiaries Of Verizon For ~$3.3B, Including Certain Commercial Benefits

Verizon Communications's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) short percent of float has risen 22.02% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 56.02 million shares sold short, which is 1.33% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.23 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Verizon Communications Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1727375421_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Verizon Communications has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Verizon Communications's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Verizon Communications's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 1.73%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

Looking Into Verizon Communications's Recent Short Interest

B of A Securities analyst David Barden maintains Verizon Communications (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $41 to $45.

B of A Securities Maintains Neutral on Verizon Communications, Raises Price Target to $45

Citigroup analyst Michael Rollins maintains Verizon Communications (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $47 to $49.

Citigroup Maintains Buy on Verizon Communications, Raises Price Target to $49

Verizon Business and SK Shieldus have agreed to collaborate to deliver cybersecurity solutions to South Korean and Asian enterprises operating on a global scale. This strategic relationship will leverage Verizon Business' extensive global reach and SK Shieldus' deep-rooted expertise to provide comprehensive, world-class protection addressing the unique needs of Asian businesses. &nbsp;
By combining their strengths in real-time threat intelligence, vulnerability assessment, incident response, and managed security services, Verizon Business and SK Shieldus aim to empower enterprises to confidently navigate the complex global threat landscape, safeguarding their operations and assets worldwide.
Verizon Business works with 99% of Fortune 500 companies and governments worldwide and offers a suite of management and data security services. The company operates nine Security Operations Centers, six forensics labs and one of the largest IP networks in the world, monitoring 61 billion security events annually. In addition, Verizon's investigative response team boasts more than 400 security experts and conducted 500+ IT investigations in 2023.

Verizon and SK Shieldus Team Up to Strengthen Cybersecurity for Asian Enterprises

Raymond James analyst Frank Louthan maintains Verizon Communications (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $44 to $48.

Raymond James Maintains Outperform on Verizon Communications, Raises Price Target to $48

Teledriving car-share company Vay collaborated with Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) &nbsp;to integrate Verizon 5G connectivity into Vay&#8217;s fleet of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/09/g40999776/verizon-business-inks-5g-connected-vehicle-deal-with-teledriving-car-share-company-vay" rel="noreferrer noopener">teleoperated electric vehicles</a>.
The deal also includes custom data plans to help manage data generated by Vay vehicles&#8217; sensors and cameras.
&#8220;Verizon&#8217;s technology has been critical for Vay&#8217;s entry into the U.S. market from Europe, and we look forward to continuing our relationship with them as we expand our commercial and B2B businesses,&#8221; said Thomas von der Ohe, Vay co-founder and CEO.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41000661/t-mobile-to-raise-2-5b-via-debt-for-buybacks-and-growth" rel="noreferrer noopener">T-Mobile To Raise $2.5B Via Debt For Buybacks and Growth</a>
Vay currently operates its commercial service in Las Vegas. Users can order an electric car via the Vay app and have it delivered to them by a Vay teledriver.
When the trip is complete, after the user exits the vehicle, a Vay teledriver remotely drives it to the next customer.&nbsp;
The move reflects Verizon&#8217;s attempts to unlock value as telecom companies are resorting to cost-cutting initiatives upon lackluster quarter results.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40840777/verizon-to-record-up-to-1-9-billion-in-costs-for-layoffs-asset-sales-in-q3" rel="noreferrer noopener">Verizon recently disclosed</a> an expected severance charge of $1.7 billion—$1.9 billion in the third quarter under its&nbsp;voluntary separation plan. In September, Verizon also planned to discontinue certain real estate assets and exit non-strategic portions of certain businesses.
Verizon reported a&nbsp;second-quarter topline growth of&nbsp;0.6% to $32.8 billion, missing the analyst consensus of $33.1 billion.&nbsp;&nbsp;The company ended the quarter with 11.5 million broadband subscribers, up 17.2%.
Verizon Communications stock is up close to 34% in the last 12 months. Investors can gain exposure to the stock through Invesco Dow Jones Industrial Average Dividend ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DJD#NYSE">DJD</a>) and SPDR Series Trust SPDR Portfolio S&amp;P Sector Neutral Dividend ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPDG#NYSE">SPDG</a>).
Price action:&nbsp;VZ stock is up 1.03% at $44.72 at the last check on Tuesday.
Also Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40727235/verizon-to-acquire-frontier-in-20b-deal-reaffirms-fy24-outlook" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Verizon To Acquire Frontier In $20B Deal, Reaffirms FY24 Outlook</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock

SPDR Series Trust SPDR Portfolio S&P Sector Neutral Dividend ETF

SPDG

Verizon Powers Vay's Teledriving Electric Fleet With 5G Connectivity

On Monday, T-Mobile US, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMUS#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>) disclosed plans to raise $2.5 billion through a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/09/b40993659/t-mobile-agrees-to-sell-2-5-billion-of-senior-notes" rel="noreferrer noopener">secondary senior notes offering</a> for general corporate purposes, including share repurchases, dividends, and refinancing of existing indebtedness.
T-Mobile USA subsidiary looks to sell the $700 million aggregate principal amount of its 4.200% Senior Notes due 2029, the $900 million aggregate principal amount of its 4.700% Senior Notes due 2035, and the $900 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.250% Senior Notes due 2055.
Recently, analysts re-rated T-Mobile after it shared its three-year plan, which focused on improving customer experience and dividend boost at a time when its rivals <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40944666/t-mobile-announces-3-year-ai-plan-analyst-says-could-mean-sizable-capital-returns-t" rel="noreferrer noopener">focused on cost-cutting</a>.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40925493/t-mobile-partners-with-nvidia-ericsson-and-nokia-to-pioneer-ai-driven-mobile-networks" rel="noreferrer noopener">T-Mobile Partners with NVIDIA, Ericsson, And Nokia to Pioneer AI-Driven Mobile Networks</a>
Oppenheimer analyst Timothy Horan flagged the company&#8217;s transformation into a wireless carrier in spectrum depth, network performance, growth, free cash flow margins, and its lead in generative artificial intelligence.
KeyBanc analyst Brandon Nispel expects T-Mobile targets to help it become a leading home broadband provider by customer count, beating AT&amp;T Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/T#NYSE">T</a>) and&nbsp;Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>).
T-Mobile reported <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/07/40067376/t-mobiles-q2-earnings-net-postpaid-adds-record-free-cash-flow-subscriber-boost-and-more" rel="noreferrer noopener">3% topline growth</a> in the second quarter, reaching revenue of $19.77 billion, above the analyst consensus of $19.55 billion. The company&#8217;s quarterly postpaid net account additions stood at 301 thousand. The high-speed internet net customer additions were 406 thousand.
T-Mobile stock is up 45% in the last 12 months. Investors can gain exposure to the stock through BlackRock U.S. Equity Factor Rotation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DYNF#NYSE">DYNF</a>) and Vanguard Growth ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VUG#NYSE">VUG</a>).
Price Action: TMUS stock is down 0.23% at $201.99 premarket at the last check Tuesday.
Also Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40826886/t-mobile-sends-first-wireless-emergency-alert-via-spacexs-starlink-satellites-in-space" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">T-Mobile Sends First Wireless Emergency Alert Via SpaceX&#8217;s Starlink Satellites In Space</a></li>
</ul>
Photo by viewimage on Shutterstock

Financing

DYNF

T-Mobile To Raise $2.5B Via Debt For Buybacks and Growth

7 analysts have shared their evaluations of Verizon Communications (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) during the recent three months, expressing a mix of bullish and bearish perspectives.
The following table summarizes their recent ratings, shedding light on the changing sentiments within the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Indifferent</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">5</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Analysts have recently evaluated Verizon Communications and provided 12-month price targets. The average target is $45.21, accompanied by a high estimate of $51.00 and a low estimate of $42.00. Witnessing a positive shift, the current average has risen by 1.6% from the previous average price target of $44.50.
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1727100009_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Diving into Analyst Ratings: An In-Depth Exploration</h2>
In examining recent analyst actions, we gain insights into how financial experts perceive Verizon Communications. The following summary outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Kutgun Maral</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Sector Perform</td>
<td>$46.00</td>
<td>$42.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jonathan Atkin</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Sector Perform</td>
<td>$42.00</td>
<td>$42.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brandon Nispel</td>
<td>Keybanc</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$44.00</td>
<td>$46.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dan Brennan</td>
<td>TD Cowen</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$51.00</td>
<td>$48.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Philip Cusick</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$46.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jonathan Atkin</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Sector Perform</td>
<td>$42.00</td>
<td>$42.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Maher Yaghi</td>
<td>Scotiabank</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Sector Perform</td>
<td>$46.50</td>
<td>$45.50</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts adapt their recommendations to changing market conditions and company performance. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their response to recent developments related to Verizon Communications. This information provides a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Analyzing trends, analysts offer qualitative evaluations, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey expectations for the relative performance of Verizon Communications compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts navigate through adjustments in price targets, providing estimates for Verizon Communications's future value. Comparing current and prior targets offers insights into analysts' evolving expectations.</li>
</ul>
Analyzing these analyst evaluations alongside relevant financial metrics can provide a comprehensive view of Verizon Communications's market position. Stay informed and make data-driven decisions with the assistance of our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/VZ/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Verizon Communications analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Unveiling the Story Behind Verizon Communications</h2>
Wireless services account for about 70% of Verizon Communications' total service revenue and nearly all of its operating income. The firm serves about 93 million postpaid and 21 million prepaid phone customers (following the acquisition of Tracfone) via its nationwide network, making it the largest US wireless carrier. Fixed-line telecom operations include local networks in the Northeast, which reach about 29 million homes and businesses and serve about 8 million broadband customers. Verizon also provides telecom services nationwide to enterprise customers, often using a mixture of its own and other carriers' networks.
<h3>Verizon Communications: Financial Performance Dissected</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: Above industry benchmarks, the company's market capitalization emphasizes a noteworthy size, indicative of a strong market presence.
Positive Revenue Trend: Examining Verizon Communications's financials over 3 months reveals a positive narrative. The company achieved a noteworthy revenue growth rate of 0.61% as of 30 June, 2024, showcasing a substantial increase in top-line earnings. As compared to competitors, the company encountered difficulties, with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Communication Services sector.
Net Margin: The company's net margin is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive net margin of 14.0%, the company showcases strong profitability and effective cost control.
Return on Equity (ROE): Verizon Communications's ROE stands out, surpassing industry averages. With an impressive ROE of 4.82%, the company demonstrates effective use of equity capital and strong financial performance.
Return on Assets (ROA): Verizon Communications's ROA surpasses industry standards, highlighting the company's exceptional financial performance. With an impressive 1.21% ROA, the company effectively utilizes its assets for optimal returns.
Debt Management: Verizon Communications's debt-to-equity ratio surpasses industry norms, standing at 1.8. This suggests the company carries a substantial amount of debt, posing potential financial challenges.
<h2>What Are Analyst Ratings?</h2>
Analyst ratings serve as essential indicators of stock performance, provided by experts in banking and financial systems. These specialists diligently analyze company financial statements, participate in conference calls, and engage with insiders to generate quarterly ratings for individual stocks.
Some analysts publish their predictions for metrics such as growth estimates, earnings, and revenue to provide additional guidance with their ratings. When using analyst ratings, it is important to keep in mind that stock and sector analysts are also human and are only offering their opinions to investors.
If you want to keep track of which analysts are outperforming others, you can view updated analyst ratings along withanalyst success scores in <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Breaking: Wall Street's Next Big Mover
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This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Analyst Ratings For Verizon Communications

RBC Capital analyst Kutgun Maral maintains Verizon Communications (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) with a Sector Perform and raises the price target from $42 to $46.

RBC Capital Maintains Sector Perform on Verizon Communications, Raises Price Target to $46

The telecom industry is on the verge of massive growth, fueled by the rapid expansion of 5G technology. Thus, investors looking to capitalize on this trend could consider investing in telecom giants, such as T-Mobile US (TMUS), Verizon Communications (VZ), and AT&T (T), which are well-positioned to ride the 5G wave and deliver solid returns. Learn more… The telecom sector has evolved significantly, driven by the growing demand for 5G technology and the need for high-speed, low-latency networks. The ongoing expansion of 5G, alongside the anticipation of 6G deployment, represents a strategic shift that is fueling substantial growth within the industry.
Amid this backdrop, investors could consider buying fundamentally sound telecom stocks T-Mobile US, Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/TMUS/">TMUS</a>), Verizon Communications Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/VZ/">VZ</a>), and AT&amp;T Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/T/">T</a>), which are leading the 5G technology expansion and are well-positioned to benefit from the increasing demand for advanced connectivity.
Telecom companies offering 5G networks are enabling the development of advanced technologies like augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and edge computing. These advancements boost efficiency and productivity across other industries as they adopt 5G networks. According to a <a href="https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/industries/technology/publications/economic-impact-5g.html">PwC report</a>, the US economy will be expected to add $15 billion by using 5G applications in industrial manufacturing by 2030.
The future outlook of the telecom is bright and promising, especially as 5G networks become more widespread. The global 5G infrastructure market is projected to reach $590.18 billion by 2032, exhibiting a <a href="https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/5g-infrastructure-market-100869">CAGR of 42.7%</a>. With that, global connections are forecasted to reach <a href="https://www.5gamericas.org/global-5g-connections-surge-to-1-76-billion-66-percent-growth-year-over-year-as-north-america-leads-charge/">7.9 billion by 2028</a>, driven by innovation and collaboration.
Given these favorable market trends, let's look at the fundamentals of the top three <a href="https://stocknews.com/category/telecom-domestic/">Telecom – Domestic</a> stocks, beginning with the third choice.
Stock #3: Verizon Communications Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/VZ/">VZ</a>)
VZ offers communications, information, and entertainment products and services to consumers, businesses, and governmental agencies. It operates through two segments, Verizon Consumer Group and Verizon Business Group, providing wireless and wireline communications services and products in the United States.
On September 5, VZ announced that it would acquire Frontier Communications Parent, Inc. for a $20 billion cash deal. This acquisition will considerably expand VZ's fiber footprint and intelligent edge network for digital innovations like AI and IoT across the nation to current as well as new customers. Frontier's 2.2 million fiber subscribers will join VZ's connections, expanding its network reach to 25 million premises across 31 states and Washington, D.C.
On September 4, buoyed by strong financial performance, the company increased its quarterly dividend by 1.25 cents to $0.6775 per share, payable to its shareholders on November 1, 2024.
VZ has raised its annual dividend for 18 consecutive years. It pays an annual dividend of $2.71, which translates to a yield of 6.04% at the current share price. Its four-year average dividend yield is 5.83%. Moreover, the company's dividend payouts have increased at an impressive CAGR of 2% over the past five years.
In the fiscal second quarter that ended on June 30, 2024, VZ's total operating revenues increased marginally year-over-year, amounting to $32.80 billion. Its <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/o/operatingincome.asp">operating income</a> rose 8.3% from the year-ago value to $7.82 billion. The company's consolidated adjusted EBITDA came in at $12.30 billion, up 2.8% year-over-year, and its EPS stood at $1.09. In addition, its total broadband subscribers stood at 11.5 million, representing an increase of nearly 69% year-over-year.
According to VZ's guidance and outlook for its fiscal year 2024, it is projecting adjusted EBITDA to grow between 1% to 3%. Additionally, its adjusted EPS guidance ranges from $4.50 to $4.70. The company also expects total wireless services revenue growth to range between 2% and 3.5%.
Street expects VZ's revenue for the fiscal fourth quarter (ending December 2024) to increase marginally year-over-year to $35.53 billion. Its EPS for the same period is expected to register a 2.7% growth from the prior year, settling at $1.11. In addition, it surpassed the consensus EPS estimates in three of the trailing four quarters, which is promising.
The stock has gained 38.6% over the past year and 20.3% over the past nine months to close the last trading session at $44.89.
VZ's <a href="https://stocknews.com/powr-ratings/">POWR Ratings</a> reflect this robust outlook. The stock has an overall rating of B, which equates to Buy in our proprietary rating system. The POWR Ratings are calculated by considering 118 different factors, with each factor weighted to an optimal degree.
VZ has a B grade for Stability. It is ranked #7 out of 18 stocks in the <a href="https://stocknews.com/category/telecom-domestic/">Telecom - Domestic</a> industry. <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/VZ/">Click here</a> to see the additional ratings for VZ (Growth, Value, Momentum, Sentiment, and Quality).
Stock #2: AT&amp;T Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/T/">T</a>)
T is a leading global telecommunication, media, and technology service provider that operates through two segments: Communications and Latin America. It provides wireless and wireline telecom services to consumers and businesses worldwide.
On September 9, T expanded its high-speed fiber internet to new geographies, reaching more people. This expansion will be continued through joint ventures and other commercial open-access agreements aiming to expand Gigapower's fiber footprint in new locations.
On September 27, the company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.2775 per share, payable to its shareholders on November 1. T pays an annual dividend of $1.11 per share, which translates to a yield of 5.07% on the prevailing share price. Also, its four-year average dividend yield is 6.38%.  
T's operating revenues from service for the second quarter (ended June 30, 2024) increased marginally year-over-year to $25.01 billion. Its attributable net income came in at $3.55 billion, and its earnings per share stood at $0.49. The company's free cash flow grew 9.5% from the year-ago value to $4.60 billion. Also, it reported an adjusted EBITDA of $11.34 billion, indicating a 2.6% growth from the prior year's quarter.
Looking ahead, T anticipates full-year adjusted EBITDA for the fiscal year 2024 to be in the range of 3%, and capital investment and free cash flow are anticipated to be in the range of $21-$22 billion and $17-$18 billion, respectively. The company also projects adjusted EPS to fall between $2.15 and $2.25.
Analysts expect T's revenue and EPS for the current year (ending December 2024) to be $122.67 billion and $2.19, respectively. For the fiscal year 2025, both its revenue and EPS are expected to grow by 1.6% and 3.5% from the prior year to $124.68 billion and $2.26, respectively.
T shares have surged 47.3% over the past year and 32.1% over the past nine months to close the last trading session at $21.90.
T's bright prospects are reflected in its POWR Ratings. The stock has an overall rating of B, which translates to a Buy in our proprietary rating system.
It also has a B grade for Quality. Within the same Telecom - Domestic industry, it is ranked #3. <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/T/">Click here</a> to see T's ratings for Growth, Value, Momentum, Stability, and Sentiment.
Stock #1: T-Mobile US, Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/TMUS/">TMUS</a>)
TMUS is a provider of mobile communications services, including voice, messaging, and data, under its flagship brands, T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile. It offers mobile communications services primarily using its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network and its 5G technology network. 
On September 18, TMUS and Open AI entered a multi-year agreement to customize the first intent-driven AI-decisioning platform, IntentCX. This platform will use real-time data to understand customers' needs and intent and proactively take action and resolve issues.
On the same day, demonstrating its commitment to returning value to shareholders, the company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.88 per share, up 35% from the previous quarter, payable to its shareholders on December 12, 2024. TMUS pays an annual dividend of $3.52, which translates to a yield of 1.72% at the current share price. Its four-year average dividend yield is 0.17%.
For the second quarter of 2024, which ended on June 30, TMUS' total revenues increased 3% year-over-year to $19.77 billion, while its postpaid service revenues grew 6.9% from the same period last year to $12.90 billion.
The company's adjusted EBITDA for the quarter amounted to $8.05 billion, representing an increase of 8.8% year-over-year. Its net income stood at $2.92 billion, up 31.7% year-over-year, while its earnings per share rose 33.9% from the prior year's quarter to $2.49. Also, TMUS' adjusted free cash flow grew 54.3% from the year-ago value to $4.44 billion.
Building on this quarter's momentum, the company updated its guidance for 2024. TMUS anticipates that the full-year core adjusted EBITDA will range between $31.50 billion and $31.80 billion. It also forecasts adjusted free cash flow in the range of $16.60 billion to $17 billion and postpaid net customer additions to be between 5.4 million and 5.7 million.
The consensus revenue estimate of $20 billion for the fiscal third quarter (ending September 2024) represents a 3.9% increase year-over-year. The consensus EPS estimate of $2.45 for the current quarter indicates a 22.8% improvement year-over-year. The company has an impressive earnings surprise history; it surpassed the consensus EPS estimates in three of the trailing four quarters.
Over the past year, the stock has surged 46.9%, closing the last trading session at $205.18.
It's no surprise that TMUS has an overall rating of B, equating to a Buy in our POWR Ratings system. It has a B grade for Growth, Stability, Sentiment, and Quality. Out of 18 stocks in the same industry, TMUS is ranked #2.
Beyond what is stated above, we've also rated TMUS for Value and Momentum. Get all TMUS ratings <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/TMUS/">here</a>.
What To Do Next?
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<hr />
TMUS shares were unchanged in premarket trading Monday. Year-to-date, TMUS has gained 29.39%, versus a 21.36% rise in the benchmark S&amp;P 500 index during the same period.
<hr><div style="clear:both;"></div> <h2>About the Author: Shweta Kumari</h2> <img src='https:/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Shweta-Kumari_Image-2.jpg' style="float:left; padding:5px;width:125px;">Shweta's profound interest in financial research and quantitative analysis led her to pursue a career as an investment analyst. She uses her knowledge to help retail investors make educated investment decisions.<a href="https://stocknews.com/authors/?author=shweta-kumari">More...</a>The post <a href=https://stocknews.com/news/tmus-vz-t-3-top-rated-telecom-stocks-to-buy-for-5g-growth/>3 Top-Rated Telecom Stocks to Buy for 5G Growth</a> appeared first on <a href=https://stocknews.com/>StockNews.com</a>

3 Top-Rated Telecom Stocks to Buy for 5G Growth

As economic sentiments fluctuate, high-dividend stocks are the only ones that provide cushion regardless of the situation. To capture the steady market, you might consider investing in Verizon Communications (VZ), AT&T (T), and Altria Group (MO) this month. Keep reading… As we all know, dividend-paying stocks are a popular choice during market volatility, as they offer a stable and steady income stream even when the prices fluctuate. Thus, investors looking for such could consider adding high-dividend yield stocks like Verizon Communications Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/VZ/">VZ</a>), AT&amp;T Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/T/">T</a>), and Altria Group, Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/MO/">MO</a>) to their portfolios.
The elevated interest rates and the inflation worries are imminent in the economy. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the PCE price index, excluding food and energy, increased <a href="https://www.bea.gov/data/personal-consumption-expenditures-price-index-excluding-food-and-energy">2.6% year-over-year</a> in the month of July. With inflation falling substantially, the <a href="https://www.euronews.com/business/2024/09/18/federal-reserve-is-set-to-cut-interest-rates-for-the-first-time-in-4-years">Fed is poised to cut interest rates</a> for the first time in four years.
On the other hand, with the U.S. job market weakened and unemployment still being noticeably present, it is concerning for the economy. However, the <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/273909/seasonally-adjusted-monthly-unemployment-rate-in-the-us/">unemployment rate</a> in the month of August was 4.2%, compared to 4.3% in July.
Despite the economic uncertainty, high-dividend yield stocks offer a promising future for investors. They not only provide a steady income but also have the potential for price appreciation. Moreover, these stocks act as a hedge against economic uncertainty, ensuring income regardless of the economy's momentum.
Given this backdrop, let's examine the fundamentals of the above-mentioned stocks in detail:
Verizon Communications Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/VZ/">VZ</a>)
VZ is a holding company that, through its subsidiaries, provides communications, information, and entertainment products and services to consumers, businesses, and governmental agencies. It operates through two segments: Verizon Consumer Group and Verizon Business Group.
On September 9, VZ announced that it would acquire Frontier Communications Parent, Inc. for a $20 billion cash deal. This acquisition will considerably expand VZ's fiber footprint and intelligent edge network for digital innovations like AI and IoT across the nation to current as well as new customers. Frontier's 2.2 million fiber subscribers will be joining VZ's connections.
On September 4, buoyed by strong financial performance, the company increased its quarterly <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/dividend.asp">dividend</a> by $0.0125 to $0.6775 per share, payable to its shareholders on November 1, 2024.
VZ has raised its annual dividend for 18 consecutive years. It pays an annual dividend of $2.66, which translates to a yield of 6.02% at the current share price. Its four-year average dividend yield is 5.82%. Moreover, the company's dividend payouts have increased at an impressive CAGR of 2% over the past five years.
In the fiscal second quarter that ended on June 30, 2024, VZ's total operating revenues increased marginally year-over-year, amounting to $32.80 billion. Its operating income rose 8.3% from the year-ago value to $7.82 billion. The company's consolidated adjusted EBITDA came in at $12.30 billion, up 2.8% year-over-year, and its EPS stood at $1.09.
In addition, its retail postpaid phone net additions are 148,000, and retail postpaid net additions are 340,000.
According to VZ's guidance and outlook for its fiscal year 2024, it is projecting adjusted EBITDA to grow between 1% to 3%. Additionally, its adjusted EPS guidance ranges from $4.50 to $4.70. The company also expects total wireless services revenue growth to range between 2% and 3.5%.
Street expects VZ's revenue for the fiscal fourth quarter (ending December 2024) to increase marginally year-over-year to $35.54 billion. Its EPS for the same period is expected to register a 2.1% growth from the prior year, settling at $1.10. In addition, it surpassed the consensus EPS estimates in three of the trailing four quarters, which is promising.
The stock has gained 30.5% over the past year and 18% over the past nine months to close the last trading session at $44.08.
VZ's <a href="https://stocknews.com/powr-ratings/">POWR Ratings</a> reflect this robust outlook. The stock has an overall rating of B, which equates to Buy in our proprietary rating system. The POWR Ratings are calculated by considering 118 different factors, with each factor weighted to an optimal degree.
VZ has a B grade for Stability. It is ranked #5 out of 18 stocks in the <a href="https://stocknews.com/category/telecom-domestic/">Telecom - Domestic</a> industry. <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/VZ/">Click here</a> to see the additional ratings for VZ (Growth, Value, Momentum, Sentiment, and Quality).
AT&amp;T Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/T/">T</a>)
T is a holding company that provides telecommunications and technology services internationally. The company operates through two segments: Communications and Latin America. It provides wireless and wireline telecom services to consumers and businesses worldwide.
On September 9, T expanded its high-speed fiber internet to new geographies, reaching more people. This expansion will be continued through joint ventures and other commercial open-access agreements and will aim to expand Gigapower's fiber footprint in new locations.
On August 1, the company paid a quarterly dividend of $0.2775 per share to its shareholders. T pays an annual dividend of $1.11 per share, which translates to a yield of 4.98% on the prevailing share price. Also, its four-year average dividend yield is 6.38%.
T's service from operating revenues for the second quarter (ended June 30, 2024) increased marginally year-over-year to $25.01 billion. Its attributable net income came in at $3.55 billion, and its earnings per share stood at $0.49. The company reported a free cash flow of $4.60 billion, indicating a 9.5% growth from the prior year's quarter.
Looking ahead, T anticipates full-year adjusted EBITDA for the fiscal year 2024 to be in the range of 3%, and capital investment and free cash flow are anticipated to be in the range of $21-$22 billion and $17-$18 billion, respectively. The company also projects adjusted EPS to range from $2.15 to $2.25.
Analysts expect T's revenue and EPS for the current year (ending December 2024) to be $122.68 billion and $2.19, respectively. For the fiscal year 2025, both its revenue and EPS are expected to grow by 1.7% and 3.5% from the prior year to $124.71 billion and $2.26, respectively.
T shares have surged 43% over the past year and 31.8% over the past nine months to close the last trading session at $21.78.
T's bright prospects are reflected in its POWR Ratings. The stock has an overall rating of B, which translates to a Buy in our proprietary rating system.
It also has a B grade for Quality. Within the same Telecom - Domestic industry, it is ranked #2 out of 18 stocks. <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/T/">Click here</a> to see T's ratings for Growth, Value, Momentum, Stability, and Sentiment.
Altria Group, Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/MO/">MO</a>)
MO manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products. The company provides cigarettes mainly under the Marlboro brand, large cigars, and pipe tobacco under the Black &amp; Mild brand, moist smokeless tobacco, and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands. The oral tobacco segment products are under the name of on! brand.
On August 22, demonstrating its commitment to returning value to shareholders, the company declared a quarterly dividend of $1.02 per share, up 4.1% from the previous rate, payable to its shareholders on October 10.
With 54 years of consecutive dividend growth, MO pays an annual dividend of $4.08, which translates to a yield of 7.89% at the current share price. Its four-year average dividend yield is 8.03%. Also, the company's dividend payouts have increased at a CAGR of 4.4% over the past three years.
On June 21, MO received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorization for the marketing of NJOY's menthol e-vapor products. The marketing for the product will aim at smoke-free alternatives to traditional adult smokers.
For the second quarter of 2024, which ended on June 30, MO's oral products segment reported that net revenues increased 4.6% year-over-year to $711 billion.
The company's net earnings for the quarter amounted to $3.80 billion, representing an increase of 79.6% year-over-year, with its EPS growing 85.7% from the prior year's quarter to $2.21.
Building on this quarter's momentum, the company updated its guidance for 2024, MO now anticipates that the full-year adjusted EPS will range between $5.07 and $5.15, representing a growth of 2.5%-4.0% from its base in 2023.
The consensus revenue estimate of $5.35 billion for the fiscal third quarter (ending September 2024) represents a marginal increase year-over-year. The consensus EPS estimate of $1.35 for the current quarter indicates a 5.6% improvement year-over-year.
Over the past year, the stock has surged 21%, closing the last trading session at $50.50.
It's no surprise that MO has an overall rating of B, equating to a Buy in our POWR Ratings system. It has an A grade for Quality. Out of 10 stocks in the B-rated <a href="https://stocknews.com/category/tobacco/">Tobacco</a> industry, MO is ranked #5.
Beyond what is stated above, we've also rated MO for Growth, Value, Momentum, Stability, and Sentiment. Get all MO ratings <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/MO/">here</a>.
What To Do Next?
Discover 10 widely held stocks that our proprietary model shows have tremendous downside potential. Please make sure none of these "death trap" stocks are lurking in your portfolio:
<a href="https://report.stocknews.com/free-report/10-stocks-to-sell/?formplacement=artbotad_10sell">10 Stocks to SELL NOW! &gt;</a>

<hr />
VZ shares were trading at $44.11 per share on Wednesday afternoon, up $0.03 (+0.07%). Year-to-date, VZ has gained 22.88%, versus a 19.34% rise in the benchmark S&amp;P 500 index during the same period.
<hr><div style="clear:both;"></div> <h2>About the Author: Anushka Dutta</h2> <img src='https:/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Anushka-Dutta_Headshot_3.jpg' style="float:left; padding:5px;width:125px;">Anushka is an analyst whose interest in understanding the impact of broader economic changes on financial markets motivated her to pursue a career in investment research.<a href="https://stocknews.com/authors/?author=anushka-dutta">More...</a>The post <a href=https://stocknews.com/news/vz-t-mo-3-high-dividend-yield-stocks-to-buy-before-september-ends/>3 High-Dividend Yield Stocks to Buy Before September Ends</a> appeared first on <a href=https://stocknews.com/>StockNews.com</a>

3 High-Dividend Yield Stocks to Buy Before September Ends

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