Latest news with #Verizon
Forbes
15 minutes ago
- Business
- Forbes
Apple's Surprise Free Offer To iPhone 13 Users Is Now Live For iPhones And More
When Apple made the surprise announcement that its iPhone 13 series was suddenly compatible with carrier-supported satellite connectivity, it was ushering in a new way to stay connected. The first network to support this, T-Mobile, has just gone live with its new T-Satellite service for iPhones and other handsets. Apple iPhone 13 Pro now has satellite connectivity with T-Mobile. T-Satellite works by connecting your phone to Starlink satellites (though, please note, it doesn't install Starlink on your phone as rumor-mongers previously claimed). T-Mobile's CEO Mike Sievert said in a post on X, 'Today marks a huge step in @TMobile's mission to end dead zones. T-Satellite is officially out of beta and available to anyone who wants it — including Verizon and AT&T customers,' he exclaimed. That's an important point: subscribers on other networks can sign up to T-Satellite by paying a monthly fee. Note that Verizon and AT&T are expected to offer their own versions of this service, but for now, T-Mobile has first-mover advantage. 'With 650+ satellites in orbit, the largest satellite-to-mobile constellation on the planet aims to connect you almost anywhere you can see the sky. It's already helping save lives during disasters and providing an extra level of safety for those who love to explore the great outdoors,' Sievert goes on. The service is available for compatible handsets, and that includes most current Android phones as well as all iPhones from iPhone 13 onwards. It went live on Wednesday, July 23, right on schedule — though had already been offered to customers impacted by the recent floods in Texas — and the new service has been called a game-changer because, unlike rival satellite options, including Apple's own Globalstar service, it doesn't require users to point their phone at the satellite. It works just like regular cell connections do, even in your pocket. If T-Mobile is your carrier and you have the Experience Beyond service, you get this new capability included. Others, including AT&T and Verizon customers, can access the service for $10 per month. The T-Mobile satellite service is limited to texting with iMessage and SMS, and data is not supported, though more capabilities may follow. For now, this is the beginning of a new way to stay in touch wherever you are, even if your phone is in your pocket.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
2 Billion More Reasons for Income Investors to Buy 6.4%-Yielding Verizon Stock
Key Points Verizon increased its full-year free-cash-flow guidance significantly, which makes its dividend more secure. There's more to like about the stock than just the dividend. Verizon's management team continues to do the things income investors should appreciate. 10 stocks we like better than Verizon Communications › Many income investors love Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) stock. It's easy to see why. After all, the telecom giant pays a juicy forward dividend yield of 6.4% at the current stock price. Verizon has also increased its dividend for 18 consecutive years. The company provided its 2025 second-quarter update on July 21. And income investors now have even more to love about this ultra-high-yield dividend stock. 2 billion more reasons to buy Verizon It might sound a little gimmicky to say that there are now 2 billion more reasons for income investors to buy Verizon stock. However, it's the truth. Verizon increased its full-year free cash flow guidance to between $19.5 billion and $20.5 billion from its previous outlook of $17.5 billion to $18.5 billion. This extra $2 billion at the ends makes the company's dividend more secure. It also puts Verizon in an even stronger position to extend its impressive streak of dividend hikes. If that doesn't make this stock more attractive to income investors, I don't know what will. Additionally, Verizon raised the lower end of its full-year adjusted earnings per share (EPS) growth guidance range by 1%. The company increased the lower end of its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) growth outlook range by 0.5%. What's behind Verizon's greater optimism about the rest of the year? It in part reflects the solid results the company delivered in Q2. Verizon topped Wall Street's revenue and earnings estimates. However, the company also expects to benefit from tax reform. More to like than just the dividend Verizon will appeal primarily to income investors because of its fantastic dividend. However, there's more to like about this stock than just the dividend. Value investors could find Verizon's forward price-to-earnings ratio of 8.7 intriguing. Not only is this only a fraction of the S&P 500's forward earnings multiple of 22.7, but it's also well below the valuations of other telecom leaders such as AT&T (NYSE: T) and T-Mobile US (NASDAQ: TMUS). I doubt that growth investors will be interested in Verizon. That doesn't mean the company won't be able to grow, though. Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg noted in the Q2 earnings call that the sales funnel for AI Connect "has nearly doubled to $2 billion" since the AI-enabled network, cloud, and private fiber connectivity solutions portfolio launched earlier in 2025. I think this will continue to be a strong growth driver for Verizon as AI applications move to the edge of networks. Verizon's pending acquisition of Frontier Communications (NASDAQ: FYBR) should boost growth, too. CFO Tony Skiadis said that Verizon "remain[s] on track for an early 2026 close" on this deal. He noted that eight states, the Federal Communications Commission, and the U.S. Department of Justice have already given their approvals to the transaction. Verizon is working with the remaining state regulatory agencies needed to finalize the acquisition. Bet on the jockey The additional $2 billion in free cash flow Verizon expects to generate this year wouldn't be possible if the company didn't have an exceptional management team. Income investors should take comfort in the fact that Vestberg and other executives are focused on what matters most. During the Q2 earnings call, I counted 18 times that management used the word "discipline" to describe their approach. At one point, Skiadis said, "we're not chasing growth for the sake of growth." Vestberg mentioned that management wants to put the board of directors in a position to continue growing the dividend. Those are the kinds of things income investors should love to hear. And while Verizon just gave 2 billion more reasons to buy the stock, perhaps the best long-term reason to do so is the old adage, "Bet on the jockey." Should you buy stock in Verizon Communications right now? Before you buy stock in Verizon Communications, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Verizon Communications wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $665,092!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,050,477!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,055% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 180% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 21, 2025 Keith Speights has positions in Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool recommends T-Mobile US and Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 2 Billion More Reasons for Income Investors to Buy 6.4%-Yielding Verizon Stock was originally published by The Motley Fool
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Verizon And Federal Wins Power Ribbon Communications' Confident Outlook
Ribbon Communications (NASDAQ:RBBN) reported a robust second quarter for 2025, driven by strong demand and key customer wins. Ribbon Communications reported total second-quarter 2025 revenue of $221 million, marking a 22% sequential increase and a 15% year-over-year rise, surpassing estimates by approximately $6 million. This growth was fueled by strong performance with major clients, including Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and U.S. federal agencies, and the successful closure of several previously delayed deals. Despite some pressure on gross margins due to a mix of hardware and professional services sales, the company's Cloud and Edge segment delivered record-high profitability, and its IP Optical segment saw a significant improvement in its financial performance. Ribbon Communications also maintained its full-year outlook, forecasting continued growth and the earnings report, Rosenblatt analyst Mike Genovese reaffirmed a Buy rating for Ribbon Communications and increased his price forecast from $5.50 to $6.00. This positive adjustment came despite a slight dip in the stock's trading price on the day of the announcement. Genovese highlighted that the impressive revenue growth was driven by continued strong demand from Verizon Communications, U.S. federal agencies, new wins in critical infrastructure, and Bharti Airtel in India. He said the company also secured a new contract with a Tier 1 telecom operator in Southeast Asia, while several previously delayed deals closed during the quarter. Domestic revenue reached $117 million, jumping 40% quarter-over-quarter and 45% year-over-year. International revenue came in at $104 million, rising 6% sequentially but declining 7% compared to the prior year. Genovese noted that the Cloud and Edge segment delivered $137 million in revenue, up 27% sequentially and 24% year-over-year, which was in line with expectations driven by robust growth from Verizon and government customers. He pointed out that Verizon accounted for 20% of Ribbon's total revenue and was the only customer exceeding 10% of sales, as it continues to modernize its voice network. Cloud and Edge gross margins contracted 110 basis points sequentially and 410 basis points year-over-year to 61.9%, largely due to a higher mix of professional services and hardware and a dip in maintenance and software sales. Despite the margin pressure, Genovese pointed out that the segment posted a record adjusted EBITDA of $37 million. The analyst said IP Optical revenue rose to $84 million, up 13% sequentially and 2% year-over-year, beating estimates by 6%. Sales in India and North America surged over 40% year-over-year. Excluding Eastern Europe, the IP Optical segment posted a 5% annual increase. He noted that the segment's gross margin expanded 760 basis points sequentially to 35.9%, supported by stronger North American sales, improved mix and margins in Asia-Pacific, and better fixed cost absorption from higher volume. The adjusted EBITDA loss for IP Optical narrowed to $5 million from a $15 million loss a year ago. Company-wide gross margin reached 52.1%, expanding 340 basis points quarter-over-quarter, though contracting 230 basis points year-over-year, missing estimates due to a greater share of hardware and services revenue, Genovese noted. The analyst said that operating margin expanded sharply to 12.5%, up 1,120 basis points sequentially and 300 basis points year-over-year, beating projections by 20 basis points. He noted that adjusted EBITDA totaled $32 million, representing a 433% increase sequentially and 47% growth year-over-year, at the high end of company guidance. Genovese noted that management guided third-quarter revenue between $213 million and $227 million, slightly below prior estimates. The analyst expects IP Optical revenue to grow sequentially, while Cloud and Edge revenue will likely decline, primarily due to project timing with Verizon. Gross margins are projected between 53.5% and 54%, below the prior 55.9% estimate, and adjusted EBITDA is forecast between $28 million and $34 million. The company reiterated its full-year 2025 outlook, maintaining revenue guidance of $870 million to $890 million, gross margins of 54%–55%, and adjusted EBITDA of $130 million to $140 million. However, management noted that GMs and EBITDA are trending toward the lower end of those ranges due to stronger-than-expected product and professional services sales and a $2 million quarterly opex impact from the weaker U.S. dollar. Genovese noted that management expects the fourth quarter to remain the strongest quarter of the year, as is typical for Ribbon. Additionally, the firm anticipates $15 million to $20 million in tax savings following a recent bill passed by Congress. Genovese highlighted that the Ribbon story remains attractive, especially at a valuation of 12.5x estimated 2026 EPS. The analyst emphasized Ribbon's ability to weather recent headwinds, such as its exit from Eastern Europe and timing-related delays in the Federal and Enterprise sectors, while consistently delivering on its guidance across multiple quarters. He also noted meaningful improvement in the Cloud and Edge narrative, particularly with Verizon's shift to next-gen voice infrastructure, enhancing Ribbon's growth prospects. Additionally, Genovese noted that Ribbon could win a similar deal with AT&T (NYSE:T), which has committed to fully modernizing its voice systems by 2029. He highlighted growing synergies between Ribbon's business segments, as Verizon now uses its routers for the Cloud and Edge upgrade, a signal of broader strategic alignment and opportunity ahead. Price Action: RBBN stock is trading lower by 11.7% to $3.76 at last check Thursday. Latest Ratings for RBBN Date Firm Action From To Jan 2021 B. Riley Securities Initiates Coverage On Buy Oct 2019 Northland Capital Markets Downgrades Outperform Market Perform Aug 2018 Cowen & Co. Upgrades Underperform Market Perform View More Analyst Ratings for RBBN View the Latest Analyst Ratings Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article Verizon And Federal Wins Power Ribbon Communications' Confident Outlook originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
T-Mobile's 5G Will Soon Get Better for Gaming and Video Calls
If you're frustrated with video calls or online gaming sessions that drop in and out, you may find a new upgrade from T-Mobile is going to improve your experience. The carrier is rolling out a new low-latency tech to its 5G network to reduce choppiness during intensive tasks. The technology is called L4S, and it's designed to improve delays stemming from network congestion which give you a stop and start experience in some apps. L4S means "Low Latency, Low Loss, Scalable Throughput." T-Mobile's blog post says, 'L4S consistently delivers low latency, minimal packet loss and real-time responsiveness — even under heavy traffic. It's a major step forward for performance-driven use cases where every millisecond matters, including cloud gaming, video calling, Extended Reality (XR) and even remote driving.' T-Mobile is leaning in to next-gen tech, such as remote driving, to talk about L4S with an ad showing what it can do, but many people will first experience the benefits through everyday experiences like FaceTime and other video calling apps. T-Mobile announced its rollout this week, but it says the tech has previously been available for some in its real-life testing. That may mean you have already used it without realizing. T-Mobile is the first US carrier to offer L4S, but it has been previously introduced elsewhere in the world, including Germany and the United Arab Emirates. There's no word yet from AT&T or Verizon whether this tech will be coming to those carriers. Exactly when you'll get to use L4S is unclear as T-Mobile has only said it is beginning to rollout across the US from now. There's no clear roadmap or news of whether T-Mobile is beginning with specific regions. It's also unlikely you'll know when you're using L4S. As with a lot of carrier tech, it can be difficult to know when an upgrade has begun to work as it's not clearly labelled as that new tech. The good news is you won't need anything new to reap the rewards as it will work automatically on your current 5G smartphone. L4S tech has been used in wired services previously with Xfinity being one of the most recent companies to introduce it in a rollout that began earlier this year.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ): They're Optimistic And That's Terrific, Says Jim Cramer
We recently published . Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer recently discussed. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) is one of the largest telecommunications carriers in America. Its shares have gained 6.8% year-to-date and marked a strong 4.3% jump in July after the firm's second-quarter results saw it raise its midpoint full-year free cash flow guide to $20 billion from an earlier $18 billion. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) 's adjusted EPS of $1.22 for the quarter also beat analyst estimates of $1.19, while its midpoint 3% operating income growth also overshot the estimates. Cramer was upbeat about the results: 'Oh my god. Even Verizon was good. Pressmaster/ Previously, Cramer linked Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ)'s dividend yield with the stock appearing more like a bond: 'I think it's okay. It's really just a bond. I mean, there's a lot of competition now in the telco business.' While we acknowledge the potential of VZ as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the . READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
