Verizon and AT&T Have Traded Places | Barron's Streetwise

  • Dividend Strategy: Verizon has a strong track record of 18 consecutive years of dividend increases, with a current yield of over 6%, positioning it as one of the highest in the S&P 500.
  • Market Dynamics: Verizon and AT&T have experienced a role reversal, with AT&T’s stock outperforming due to strategic focus on fiber broadband and reduced 5G spending.
  • Valuation: Verizon is trading at a significant discount to AT&T, with a forward earnings multiple of 9.4, suggesting potential for a price rebound.
  • Growth Opportunities: Verizon’s acquisition of Frontier Communications is expected to expand its fiber broadband customer base, enhancing its competitive position against cable companies.
  • Industry Trends: The telecom sector is seeing increased competition in fiber broadband, with Verizon and AT&T leveraging bundled services to reduce customer churn.
  • Investment Outlook: Analysts are optimistic about Verizon’s long-term growth, driven by strategic acquisitions and a focus on stabilizing wireless subscriber gains.
  • Company Insights: Verizon’s CFO emphasizes a commitment to maintaining a strong dividend, investing in network infrastructure, and achieving a long-term leverage target to potentially enable share buybacks.
  • Sector Analysis: T-Mobile faces challenges due to its high valuation and lack of fiber infrastructure, which could impact its growth prospects compared to Verizon and AT&T.