United States Cellular (NYSE:USM) Stock

United States Cellular

United States Cellular Corp is a regional wireless carrier that serves about 4.4 million customers spread across four major geographic clusters: the Midwest, mid-Atlantic, New England, and the Pacific Northwest. These service territories encompass a total population of about 32 million people. The vast majority of the markets the firm serves are rural or second/third-tier cities, with only the greater Milwaukee and Oklahoma City regions boasting populations greater than 1 million. us Cellular also owns a 5.5% stake in Verizon Wireless' Los Angeles operations and, unlike its wireless carrier peers, owns most of its towers. The firm has agreed to sell its wireless operations and most of its spectrum licenses in a series of transactions with T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T.

United States Cellular Corporation Common Stock

United States Cellular Corp

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JP Morgan analyst Sebastiano Petti maintains United States Cellular (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USM#NYSE">USM</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $86 to $88.

News

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

JP Morgan Maintains Overweight on United States Cellular, Raises Price Target to $88

United States Cellular Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USM#NYSE">USM</a>) reported fourth-quarter operating revenue of $970.00 million, down by 3% year-on-year, topping the <a href="https://investors.uscellular.com/news/news-details/2025/UScellular-reports-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-2024-results/default.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">analyst consensus estimate of $965.87 million</a>. The adjusted EPS of $0.05 beat the analyst consensus loss estimate of $(0.05).
Service revenue declined 2% to $742 million, and equipment sales revenue decreased 7% to $228 million.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/39072552/t-mobiles-uscellular-acquisition-is-key-to-5g-leadership-and-market-expansion-analyst-says" rel="noreferrer noopener">T-Mobile&#8217;s USCellular Acquisition Is Key to 5G Leadership and Market Expansion, Analyst Says</a>
The company&#8217;s postpaid connections at the end of the quarter stood at 3.99 million, down from 4.11 million a year ago. The ARPU was $51.73 versus $51.61 a year ago. The churn rate stood at 1.29%, down from 1.44%.
The company&#8217;s free cash flow was negative $53 million during the quarter, compared to negative $44 million a year ago.
On May 24, 2024, Telephone and Data Systems, Inc and UScellular agreed to sell UScellular&#8217;s wireless operations and select spectrum assets to T-Mobile US, Inc <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/m-a/24/05/39036795/t-mobiles-4-4b-us-cellular-and-tds-deal-promises-enhanced-rural-5g-coverage" rel="noreferrer noopener">for $4.4 billion</a>. TDS holds an 83% stake in UScellular. Pending regulatory approval, the transaction will likely close in mid-2025.
Due to the pending transaction with T-Mobile, UScellular is not providing 2025 financial guidance.
In 2024, United States Cellular agreed with&nbsp;AT&amp;T Inc to sell a portion of its retained <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/11/41819222/at-t-buys-1-billion-in-spectrum-licenses-from-us-cellular-to-boost-network-reach" rel="noreferrer noopener">spectrum licenses for&nbsp;$1.018 billion</a>.
Last year, United States Cellular also agreed to sell part of its retained spectrum licenses to&nbsp;Verizon Communications Inc <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/10/41403665/us-cellular-sells-key-spectrum-licenses-to-verizon-in-1b-deal" rel="noreferrer noopener">for $1.0 billion</a>.
Price Action: USM stock is down 4.13% at $64.28 at last check Friday.
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Photo via Shutterstock.

Earnings

Equities

Guidance

Movers

TMUS

UScellular Q4 Earnings: 3.99 Million Postpaid Connections, Churn Drops To 1.29%, Withholds 2025 Guidance Due To T-Mobile Deal

United States Cellular (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USM#NYSE">USM</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $0.05 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $(0.05) by 200 percent. This is a 68.75 percent decrease over earnings of $0.16 per share from the same period last year. The company reported quarterly sales of $970.00 million which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $965.87 million by 0.43 percent. This is a 3.00 percent decrease over sales of $1.00 billion the same period last year.

Earnings Beats

United States Cellular Q4 2024 GAAP EPS $0.05 Beats $(0.05) Estimate, Sales $970.00M Beat $965.87M Estimate

U.S. stock futures were flat and swung between gains and losses on Friday following Thursday&#8217;s decline. The S&amp;P 500 futures were trading a little below the flatline whereas other indices were in green.
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NASDAQ">BABA</a>) shares jumped 14.56% in Hong Kong on Friday after exceeding the street&#8217;s expectations on Thursday. Other Chinese tech companies also rallied.
Gold neared the $3000 per ounce mark amid President Donald Trump and Elon Musk&#8216;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/commodities/25/02/43875860/trump-plans-fort-knox-gold-inspection-as-prices-soar-past-2940if-the-gold-isnt-there">remarks</a> to visit the Forth Knox for the inspection of precious bullion reserves.
The 10-year Treasury yield stood at 4.49%, while the two-year yield was at 4.26%. According to the CME Group's FedWatch <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">tool</a>, there is a 97.5% chance that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged for the March meeting. 
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Futures</td>
<td>Change (+/-)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>0.08%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>-0.01%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>0.09%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>0.25%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, fell in premarket on Thursday. SPY was up 0.049% to $610.68, and QQQ advanced 0.12% to $537.88, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
Cues From The Last Session
Sectors drove U.S. stock <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43875808/dow-tumbles-450-points-as-walmart-shares-plunge-investor-sentiment-declines-fear-greed-index-in-neutral-zone">declines</a> Thursday, with financials, consumer discretionary, and staples leading losses. Conversely, the energy and real estate sectors gained. 
Jobless claims for the week ending Feb. 15 rose to 219,000, above the 215,000 estimate, and the Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index sharply declined to 18.1
Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NASDAQ">WMT</a>) shares plunged 6.53% despite beating expectations as the retail giant&#8217;s growth forecast for the fiscal year 2026 was below the consensus.
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<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Index</td>
<td>Performance (+/-)</td>
<td>Value</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq Composite</td>
<td>-0.47%</td>
<td>19,962.36</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>-0.43%</td>
<td>6,117.52</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>-1.01%</td>
<td>44,176.65 </td>
</tr>
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<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>-0.91% </td>
<td>2,261.74</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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Insights From Analysts
&#8220;Volatility doesn't equal a permanent financial loss unless you sell,&#8221; said Peter Mallouk, in an X post.
CEO at Creative Planning, Mallouk shared a chart in an X post showing that the S&amp;P 500 index has fallen 58% in 1930, 49% in 2008, and 34% in 2020, but despite these sharp declines it has returned an average of 10% per year since 1928.
<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">The S&amp;P 500 has returned an average of 10% per year since 1928 and has done so despite an average intra-year drawdown of 16%, and often drawdowns that are much worse. The lesson? Volatility doesn't equal a permanent financial loss unless you sell. <a href="https://t.co/3aroEwPmoX">pic.twitter.com/3aroEwPmoX</a>
&mdash; Peter Mallouk (@PeterMallouk) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterMallouk/status/1892232172372996226?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Ryan Detrick, the chief market strategist at Carson Research highlighted that the second half of February is usually riskier for the S&amp;P 500 returns. He mapped the data from 1950 to 2024, which showed that on average, the index has declined consistently after peaking on Feb. 15.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">You are here. <a href="https://t.co/kNomjDgH4h">pic.twitter.com/kNomjDgH4h</a>
&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1892615024536907893?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Highlighting the fixed income opportunities, Scott Wren, the senior global market strategist at Wells Fargo said that investors should move money out of short-term instruments and into higher-yielding investment-grade fixed income further out on the maturity spectrum.
&#8220;We have conviction around our year-end target range of 4.50% – 5.00% for the U.S. 10-year Treasury note, and on that basis, we see attractive fixed-income opportunities for investors,&#8221; he said.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-trade-futures">How to Trade Futures </a>
Upcoming Economic Data
Here&#8217;s what investors will keep an eye on Friday:
<ul>
<li>February&#8217;s S&amp;P flash U.S. services PMI and manufacturing PMI will be out by 9:45 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The final consumer sentiment data for February and existing home sales data for January will be out by 10:00 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Fed Vice Chairman Philip Jefferson will speak again and San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly will also speak for the second time this week at 11:30 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
Stocks In Focus:
<ul>
<li>Telephone and Data Systems Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TDS#NYSE">TDS</a>) was up 0.18% in the premarket on Friday ahead of its earnings, which will be released before the opening bell. Analysts expect it to report a quarterly loss of 28 cents per share on the revenue of $1.25 billion.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Vipshop Holdings Ltd. ADR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VIPS#NYSE">VIPS</a>) jumped 10.19% as Wall Street expects it to report quarterly earnings of 82 cents per share on revenue of $4.77 billion before the opening bell.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Brady Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRC#NYSE">BRC</a>) was 0.09% higher ahead of its earnings, which will be released before the opening bell. Analysts expect it to report quarterly earnings of $1.03 per share on revenue of $359.11 million.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>United States Cellular Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USM#NYSE">USM</a>) advanced 2.89% as Wall Street expects it to report a quarterly loss of 5 cents per share on the revenue of $965.87 million after the closing bell.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Dropbox Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DBX#NASDAQ">DBX</a>) plunged 10.29% despite reporting better-than-expected earnings as its total annual recurring revenue decreased by $4.8 million quarter-over-quarter.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Celsius Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CELH#NASDAQ">CELH</a>) zoomed 32.28% after reporting a record 2024 revenue of $1.36 billion due to high demand for its functional beverages and acquired Alani Nu for $1.65 billion to expand its brand portfolio.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>COPT Defense Properties (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CDP#NYSE">CDP</a>) rallied by 30.94% as it increased its quarterly dividend by 3.4% to $0.305 per share for Q1 2025, payable April 16th to shareholders. This equates to an annualized dividend of $1.22 per share.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Soluna Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLNH#NASDAQ">SLNH</a>) rose 1.38% and Bit Digital Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BTBT#NASDAQ">BTBT</a>) advanced 1.02% as the companies expanded their partnership with a new 12-month, 5.5 MW hosting contract at Project Dorothy, Texas, bringing their total hosted capacity to over 12 MW.</li>
</ul>
Commodities, Gold And Global Equity Markets:
Crude oil futures were trading lower in the early New York session by 0.90% to hover around $71.83 per barrel.
The gold spot index was down by 0.31% to $2,929.69 per ounce after hitting a fresh record of $2,949.87. The Dollar Index was up 0.26% at 106.651 level.
Asian markets ended mostly higher on Friday. Except for Australia's ASX 200, and India's S&amp;P BSE Sensex index, all indices including, China's CSI 300, South Korea's Kospi, Hong Kong's Hang Seng, and Japan's Nikkei 225 index rose. European markets were mixed in trade.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/02/43875557/donald-trump-airs-fort-knox-inspection-as-gold-edges-closer-to-3000-it-is-an-essential-component-of-portfolio-says-expert">Gold Is An &#8216;Essential Component&#8217; Of Portfolio, Says Expert As It Nears $3000 While Trump, Musk Suggest Fort Knox Inspection Amid The Surge</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Government

Economics

Pre-Market Outlook

Markets

BABA

BTBT

CELH

SLNH

VIPS

US Stocks Likely To Open Mixed: 'Volatility Doesn't Equal ...Financial Loss Unless You Sell,' Says Expert

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed a decline in the overall market sentiment, while the index remained in the &#8220;Neutral&#8221; zone on Thursday.
U.S. stocks settled lower on Thursday, with the Dow Jones index falling around 450 points during the session.
Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) shares fell around 6.5% on Thursday following the release of quarterly results. Walmart said it sees first-quarter FY26 sales growth of 3% – 4% in CC and adjusted EPS of $0.57 – $0.58 against an estimate of $0.64. For FY26 Walmart expects sales to grow 3% – 4% in CC and an adjusted EPS of $2.50 – $2.60, below the $2.76 estimate.
On the economic data front, initial jobless claims increased by 5,000 from the prior week to 219,000 in the week ending Feb. 15, versus estimates of 215,000. The Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index fell to 18.1 in February from 44.3 in the previous month
Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a negative note, with financial, consumer discretionary and consumer staples stocks recording losses on Thursday. However, energy and real estate stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session higher.
The Dow Jones closed lower by over 450 points to 44,176.65 on Thursday. The S&amp;P 500 fell 0.43% to 6,117.52, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.47% at 19,962.36 during Thursday's session.
Investors are awaiting earnings results from Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TDS#NYSE">TDS</a>), United States Cellular Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USM#NYSE">USM</a>), and Brady Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRC#NYSE">BRC</a>) today.
What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?
At a current reading of 45.1, the index remained in the &#8220;Neutral&#8221; zone on Thursday, versus a prior reading of 46.7.
The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.
Read Next: 
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</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Trading Ideas

Dow Tumbles 450 Points As Walmart Shares Plunge: Investor Sentiment Declines, Fear & Greed Index In 'Neutral' Zone

<h3>Companies Reporting Before The Bell</h3>
• Brady (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRC#NYSE">BRC</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $1.03 per share on revenue of $359.20 million. 
• SES AI (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SES#NYSE">SES</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.20 per share on revenue of $361.90 million. 
• Atmus Filtration Techs (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ATMU#NYSE">ATMU</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $0.53 per share on revenue of $399.24 million. 
• AdvanSix (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASIX#NYSE">ASIX</a>) is expected to report quarterly loss at $0.37 per share on revenue of $377.15 million. 
• Vipshop Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VIPS#NYSE">VIPS</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $0.72 per share on revenue of $4.42 billion. 
• Arbor Realty Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABR#NYSE">ABR</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.39 per share on revenue of $86.28 million. 
• Oil States International (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OIS#NYSE">OIS</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.05 per share on revenue of $173.33 million. 
• United States Cellular (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USM#NYSE">USM</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $1.70 per share on revenue of $964.70 million. 
• Telephone and Data (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TDS#NYSE">TDS</a>) is likely to report quarterly loss at $0.23 per share on revenue of $1.26 billion. 
• Balchem (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BCPC#NASDAQ">BCPC</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $1.11 per share on revenue of $239.96 million. 
• Federal Agricultural (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AGM#NYSE">AGM</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $4.17 per share on revenue of $92.81 million. 
• Uniti Group (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNIT#NASDAQ">UNIT</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.33 per share on revenue of $295.37 million. 
• Sunstone Hotel Invts (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHO#NYSE">SHO</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.14 per share on revenue of $215.79 million. 
• TXNM Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TXNM#NYSE">TXNM</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $0.30 per share on revenue of $496.05 million. 
<h3>Companies Reporting After The Bell</h3>
• Hawaiian Electric Indus (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HE#NYSE">HE</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.34 per share on revenue of $1.16 billion. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

ASIX

ATMU

BCPC

TXNM

UNIT

Earnings Scheduled For February 21, 2025

With U.S. stock futures trading mixed this morning on Friday, some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are as follows:
<ul>
<li>Wall Street expects Telephone and Data Systems Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TDS#NYSE">TDS</a>) to report a quarterly loss at 28 cents per share on revenue of $1.25 billion before the opening bell, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>. Telephone and Data shares gained 0.9% to $40.00 in after-hours trading.</li>
<li>Analysts expect United States Cellular Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USM#NYSE">USM</a>) to post a quarterly loss at 5 cents per share on revenue of $965.87 million. The company will release earnings after the markets close. United States Cellular shares gained 1.4% to $68.00 in after-hours trading.</li>
<li>Dropbox Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DBX#NASDAQ">DBX</a>) reported better-than-expected earnings for its fourth quarter after Thursday&#8217;s closing bell. Total ARR was $2.574 billion, an increase of 2% from the same period last year. Total ARR decreased by $4.8 million quarter-over-quarter. Dropbox shares dipped 9% to $29.00 in the after-hours trading session.</li>
</ul>
Check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
<ul>
<li>Before the markets open, Vipshop Holdings Limited (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VIPS#NYSE">VIPS</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at 82 cents per share on revenue of $4.77 billion. Vipshop shares gained 1.8% to $14.79 in after-hours trading.</li>
<li>Analysts expect Brady Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRC#NYSE">BRC</a>) to post quarterly earnings at $1.03 per share on revenue of $359.11 million before the opening bell. Brady shares gained 1.9% to $76.01 in after-hours trading.</li>
</ul>
Check This Out:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43864993/top-3-health-care-stocks-you-may-want-to-dump-in-february"> </a>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43864993/top-3-health-care-stocks-you-may-want-to-dump-in-february">Top 3 Health Care Stocks You May Want To Dump In February</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Dropbox, Telephone and Data Systems And 3 Stocks To Watch Heading Into Friday

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: 6.59%</li>
<li>Scotiabank analyst Maher Yaghi maintained a Sector Perform rating and cut the price target from $47.25 to $47 on Oct. 23. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 71%.</li>
<li>UBS analyst John Hodulik maintained a Neutral rating and raised the price target from $43 to $44 on Oct. 23. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 73%.</li>
<li>Recent News: Frontier Communications Parent, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FYBR#NASDAQ">FYBR</a>) announced that its stockholders approved the acquisition by Verizon at its special meeting held on Nov. 13.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro's real-time newsfeed alerted to la<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent111424&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">test VZ news</a>.</li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent111424&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="907" height="708" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/14043144/image-148.png" alt="" class="wp-image-647403" style="width:650px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/14043144/image-148.png 907w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/14043144/image-148-300x234.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/14043144/image-148-768x599.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 907px) 100vw, 907px" /></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: 4.98%</li>
<li>Wells Fargo analyst Eric Luebchow maintained an Overweight rating and cut the price target from $25 to $24 on Oct. 24. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 69%.</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 69%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On Nov. 7, United States Cellular Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USM#NYSE">USM</a>) agreed with AT&amp;T to sell a portion of its retained spectrum licenses for $1.018 billion.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro's real-time newsfeed alerted to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent111424&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">latest T news.</a> </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent111424&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="905" height="846" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/14043226/image-149.png" alt="" class="wp-image-647405" style="width:657px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/14043226/image-149.png 905w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/14043226/image-149-300x280.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/14043226/image-149-768x718.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 905px) 100vw, 905px" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NXST#NASDAQ">NXST</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 4.07%</li>
<li>Barrington Research analyst James Goss maintained an Outperform rating with a price target of $200 on Oct. 12. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 65%.</li>
<li>Benchmark analyst Daniel Kurnos reiterated a Buy rating with a price target of $215 on Oct. 8. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 76%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On Nov. 13, the company appointed Bill Sammon as Senior Vice President of Washington, D.C., Editorial Content for The Hill and NewsNation.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro&#8217;s charting tool helped identify the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent111424&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">trend in NXST stock</a>. </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent111424&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="915" height="846" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/14043333/image-150.png" alt="" class="wp-image-647406" style="width:579px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/14043333/image-150.png 915w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/14043333/image-150-300x277.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/14043333/image-150-768x710.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 915px) 100vw, 915px" /></a></figure>
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Dividends

FYBR

NXST

Wall Street's Most Accurate Analysts Give Their Take On 3 Tech And Telecom Stocks With Over 4% Dividend Yields

United States Cellular Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USM#NYSE">USM</a>) has agreed with AT&amp;T Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/T#NYSE">T</a>) to sell a portion of its retained spectrum licenses for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/11/n41803957/uscellular-announces-sale-of-select-spectrum-assets-to-at-t-for-1-018-billion" rel="noreferrer noopener">$1.018 billion</a>.
The transaction aligns with UScellular's strategy, announced in May 2024, to capitalize on its remaining spectrum assets, which are not included in the proposed sale to T-Mobile US Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMUS#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>).
This sale follows <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/10/41403665/us-cellular-sells-key-spectrum-licenses-to-verizon-in-1b-deal" rel="noreferrer noopener">agreements made in</a> October 2024 to sell other retained licenses to Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) and two additional mobile network operators.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/11/41812585/datadog-beats-q3-estimates-margins-show-mixed-results" rel="noreferrer noopener">Datadog Beats Q3 Estimates, Margins Show Mixed Results</a>
Laurent C. Therivel, President and CEO of UScellular, emphasized the value generated through recent deals, noting that AT&amp;T's inclusion as a buyer expands the roster of networks set to benefit from UScellular's assets.
Therivel expressed confidence that AT&amp;T will utilize the acquired licenses to support communities across the U.S.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="750" height="650" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/07120304/newplot-4.png" alt="" class="wp-image-635850" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/07120304/newplot-4.png 750w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/07120304/newplot-4-300x260.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /></figure>
With this transaction and previous agreements, UScellular has established deals to monetize around 55% of its spectrum holdings (excluding mmWave) on an MHz-Pops basis.
These deals collectively amount to approximately $2.02 billion. Once the proposed T-Mobile transaction is finalized, UScellular will have agreements to monetize approximately 70% of its overall spectrum assets.
Therivel added that UScellular would retain 1.86 billion MHz-Pops of low- and mid-band spectrum and 17.2 billion MHz-Pops of mmWave spectrum. He highlighted the strategic value of UScellular's C-band licenses, which offer competitive mid-band frequencies, strong support in the 5G ecosystem, and extended build-out timelines through 2029 and 2033.
This flexibility allows UScellular to leverage or sell these assets in the future, with plans to explore further monetization options for the C-band and other remaining spectrum.
The agreement involves selling 1,250 million MHz-Pops of 3.45 GHz licenses and 331 million MHz-Pops of 700 MHz B/C block licenses to AT&amp;T for $1.018 billion, subject to potential adjustments outlined in the purchase agreement.
The transaction's completion hinges on closing the T-Mobile deal and obtaining regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.
Some licenses to be transferred to AT&amp;T are partially owned by a third party. Their sale will depend on UScellular's purchase of remaining equity in the third party, which is pending regulatory approval. These licenses account for around 15% of the MHz-Pops covered in this sale.
TDS, which holds an 83% stake in UScellular, has formally approved the transaction with AT&amp;T.
AT&amp;T generated $10.24 billion in operating cash flow and $5.095 billion in free cash flow for the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/10/41485572/at-t-q3-earnings-strong-postpaid-phone-adds-adj-ebitda-growth-4-4b-impairment-charge-and-more" rel="noreferrer noopener">September 30, 2024 quarter</a>. T is down 0.94%.
Price Action: USM stock is up 0.20% at $65.28 at the last check on Thursday.
Also Read:
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</ul>
Photo by Tdorante10 via Wikimedia Commons

AT&T Buys $1 Billion in Spectrum Licenses from US Cellular to Boost Network Reach

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades and downgrades, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">analyst ratings page</a>.
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/58933b2043eaaa0001698f4c/eric-coldwell">Baird analyst Eric Coldwell</a> upgraded the rating for McKesson Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCK#NYSE">MCK</a>) from Neutral to Outperform and raised the price target from $531 to $688. McKesson shares closed at $549.31 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MCK/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Raymond James analyst Ric Prentiss upgraded United States Cellular Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USM#NYSE">USM</a>) from Market Perform to Outperform and announced a price target of $86. United States Cellular shares closed at $65.15 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/USM/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/5e00b6e13513fb0001f03e9b/kristen-kluska">Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Kristen Kluska</a> upgraded the rating for Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SRPT#NASDAQ">SRPT</a>) from Neutral to Overweight and boosted the price target from $152 to $167. Sarepta Therapeutics shares closed at $127.97 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SRPT/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>JP Morgan analyst Alexei Gogolev upgraded Clearwater Analytics Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CWAN#NYSE">CWAN</a>) from Neutral to Overweight and raised the price target from $23 to $33. Clearwater Analytics shares closed at $28.58 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CWAN/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Wells Fargo analyst Steven Cahall upgraded the rating for Sinclair, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBGI#NASDAQ">SBGI</a>) from Underweight to Equal-Weight and increased the price target from $13 to $19. Sinclair shares closed at $17.41 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SBGI/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
</ul>
Considering buying MCK stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
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Upgrades

CWAN

SBGI

SRPT

This McKesson Analyst Turns Bullish; Here Are Top 5 Upgrades For Thursday

General

United States Cellular shares are trading higher after the company announced an agreement with AT&T to sell a portion of its retained spectrum licenses for $1.018 billion.

The transaction is part of the objective UScellular announced on May 28, 2024, to opportunistically monetize the spectrum that was not included in the proposed sale to T-Mobile; and follows the transactions previously announced on October 18, 2024, to sell a portion of the retained spectrum licenses to Verizon and two other mobile network operators.
Following this transaction, as well as those previously announced, UScellular will have reached definitive agreements to monetize approximately 55%, measured on a MHz-Pops basis, of the spectrum holdings (excluding mmWave) that were excluded from the proposed sale to T-Mobile, for a total consideration of approximately $2.02 billion. &nbsp;

Asset Sales

United States Cellular Enters Agreement With AT&T To Sell Portion Of Its Retained Spectrum Licenses For Total Consideration Of $1.018B

Raymond James analyst Ric Prentiss upgrades United States Cellular (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USM#NYSE">USM</a>) from Market Perform to Outperform and announces $86 price target.

Raymond James Upgrades United States Cellular to Outperform, Announces $86 Price Target

Wells Fargo analyst Eric Luebchow maintains United States Cellular (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USM#NYSE">USM</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $75 to $85.

Wells Fargo Maintains Overweight on United States Cellular, Raises Price Target to $85

WIIM

United States Cellular shares are trading lower after the company reported worse-than-expeted Q3 revenue results and revised its FY24 service revenue guidance.

In the current market session, United States Cellular Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USM#NYSE">USM</a>) stock price is at $60.80, after a 1.62% decrease. However, over the past month, the company's stock spiked by 5.15%, and in the past year, by 37.70%. Shareholders might be interested in knowing whether the stock is overvalued, even if the company is not performing up to par in the current session. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1730482234_0.png" alt="Past Year Chart" />

<h3>Comparing United States Cellular P/E Against Its Peers</h3>
The P/E ratio is used by long-term shareholders to assess the company's market performance against aggregate market data, historical earnings, and the industry at large. A lower P/E could indicate that shareholders do not expect the stock to perform better in the future or it could mean that the company is undervalued. 
Compared to the aggregate P/E ratio of 19.65 in the Wireless Telecommunication Services industry, United States Cellular Inc. has a higher P/E ratio of 74.46. Shareholders might be inclined to think that United States Cellular Inc. might perform better than its industry group. It's also possible that the stock is overvalued. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1730482234_1.png" alt="Guage" />

In summary, while the price-to-earnings ratio is a valuable tool for investors to evaluate a company's market performance, it should be used with caution. A low P/E ratio can be an indication of undervaluation, but it can also suggest weak growth prospects or financial instability. Moreover, the P/E ratio is just one of many metrics that investors should consider when making investment decisions, and it should be evaluated alongside other financial ratios, industry trends, and qualitative factors. By taking a comprehensive approach to analyzing a company's financial health, investors can make well-informed decisions that are more likely to lead to successful outcomes.

Intraday Update

Price Over Earnings Overview: United States Cellular

UScellular Revises FY24 Service Revenues Outlook From $2.95B- $3.05B To $2.95B - $3.0B

United States Cellular (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USM#NYSE">USM</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $0.26 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $0.13 by 100 percent. This is unchanged from the same period last year. The company reported quarterly sales of $922.00 million which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $939.81 million by 1.89 percent. This is a 4.26 percent decrease over sales of $963.00 million the same period last year.

Earnings Misses

United States Cellular Q3 2024 Adj EPS $0.26 Beats $0.13 Estimate, Sales $922.00M Miss $939.81M Estimate

As Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) and AT&amp;T Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/T#NYSE">T</a>) prepare to release their third quarter earnings, the stage is set for a head-to-head clash between the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/T/news">two telecom giants</a>. 
Verizon reports Tuesday with analysts expecting $1.18 EPS and $33.43 billion in revenue, while AT&amp;T follows up on Wednesday with consensus estimates of 57 cents EPS and $30.44 billion in revenue. 
Both companies have seen significant year-to-date stock recoveries, but who's leading the charge as they head into their respective earnings calls?
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Verizon: Spectrum Play Meets Bullish Sentiment</h2>
Verizon's year-to-date gains of 12.67% may pale in comparison to AT&amp;T, but the technical signals surrounding Verizon stock are flashing green. 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent102124&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="628" height="455" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/21125659/Screenshot-2024-10-21-at-10.26.28-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-605730" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/21125659/Screenshot-2024-10-21-at-10.26.28-PM.png 628w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/21125659/Screenshot-2024-10-21-at-10.26.28-PM-300x217.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 628px) 100vw, 628px" /></a></figure>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent102124&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chart created using Benzinga Pro</a>
Verizon stock, currently trading at $43.81, is supported by its eight-day simple moving average (SMA) of $43.55. Its 50-day SMA of $42.96 and 200-day SMA of $41.05 indicate a bullish trend in the near term.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent102124&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="628" height="455" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/21125704/Screenshot-2024-10-21-at-10.25.34-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-605731" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/21125704/Screenshot-2024-10-21-at-10.25.34-PM.png 628w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/21125704/Screenshot-2024-10-21-at-10.25.34-PM-300x217.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 628px) 100vw, 628px" /></a></figure>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent102124&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chart created using Benzinga Pro</a>
The Moving Average Convergence/Divergence (MACD) sits at 0.12, indicating bullish momentum, although the Relative Strength Index (RSI) of 51.77 suggests a slightly overbought status. While Verizon's technical outlook remains positive, its recent acquisition of spectrum licenses from United States Cellular Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USM#NYSE">USM</a>) for $1 billion is likely to boost future growth, keeping the company in a strong competitive stance.
But the stock is teetering on its 20-day SMA of $44.12, giving some analysts pause ahead of earnings. Verizon will need to deliver solid financials on Tuesday to maintain its upward trend, particularly with its recent $3.3 billion deal to lease wireless towers across the U.S., adding long-term operational strength.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">AT&amp;T: Strikes Behind, Stock Surge Ahead?</h2>
AT&amp;T has rebounded in a big way, with its stock up 26.23% year-to-date. 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent102124&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="628" height="455" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/21125737/Screenshot-2024-10-21-at-10.26.19-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-605734" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/21125737/Screenshot-2024-10-21-at-10.26.19-PM.png 628w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/21125737/Screenshot-2024-10-21-at-10.26.19-PM-300x217.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 628px) 100vw, 628px" /></a></figure>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent102124&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chart created using Benzinga Pro</a>
At a current price of $21.78, AT&amp;T has firmly planted itself above its eight-day SMA ($21.55), 20-day SMA ($21.73) and 50-day SMA ($20.98), indicating solid buying momentum. 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent102124&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="628" height="455" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/21125756/Screenshot-2024-10-21-at-10.25.46-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-605736" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/21125756/Screenshot-2024-10-21-at-10.25.46-PM.png 628w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/21125756/Screenshot-2024-10-21-at-10.25.46-PM-300x217.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 628px) 100vw, 628px" /></a></figure>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent102124&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chart created using Benzinga Pro</a>
Like Verizon, AT&amp;T is also benefiting from bullish technical signals, including a MACD of 0.16. The stock is trading in the upper range of its Bollinger Bands, signaling strong bullish momentum that aligns with the positive outlook from many analysts.
Additionally, AT&amp;T recently ratified agreements with the CWA, covering over 23,000 employees, and ensuring long-term labor peace. With a 19% wage increase locked in for Southeast employees, the carrier is laying the groundwork for steady operations—key as it gears up for its earnings. 
However, the long-term question remains: can AT&amp;T maintain its stock surge in the face of rising competition and slower 5G growth?
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Who Takes The Earnings Crown?</h2>
With both companies positioned in bullish territory, the deciding factor may ultimately hinge on their upcoming earnings performance.
Verizon&#8217;s spectrum deals and wireless tower agreements may offer longer-term strategic advantages, but AT&amp;T's strong labor agreements and impressive stock performance show it's not backing down from the fight.
As both telecom giants report earnings this week, investors will be watching closely to see who will come out on top. Will Verizon's strategic moves win out, or will AT&amp;T's stock momentum carry it to new heights?
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Photo: Jason Taylor AG and refrina/Shutterstock.com

Technicals

Previews

Verizon Vs. AT&T: Wireless Giants Brace For Q3 Earnings Face-Off

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) will release earnings results for its third quarter, before the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/VZ/earnings">opening bell on Tuesday, Oct. 22,</a>
Analysts expect the New York-based company to report quarterly earnings at $1.18 per share. That&#8217;s up from $1.11 per share in the year-ago period. Verizon projects to report revenue of $33.43 billion for the recent quarter, compared to $30.48 billion a year earlier, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
United States Cellular Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USM#NYSE">USM</a>) recently agreed to sell part of its retained spectrum licenses to Verizon for $1 billion.
With the recent buzz around Verizon, some investors may be eyeing potential gains from the company's dividends too. As of now, Verizon offers an annual dividend yield of 6.16%. That&#8217;s a quarterly dividend of 67.75 cents per share ($2.71 a year).
To figure out how to earn $500 monthly from Verizon, we start with the yearly target of $6,000 ($500 x 12 months).
Next, we take this amount and divide it by Verizon $2.71 dividend: $6,000 / $2.71 = 2,214 shares
So, an investor would need to own approximately $97,394 worth of Verizon, or 2,214 shares to generate a monthly dividend income of $500.
Assuming a more conservative goal of $100 monthly ($1,200 annually), we do the same calculation: $1,200 / $2.71 = 443 shares, or $19,488 to generate a monthly dividend income of $100.
Note that dividend yield can change on a rolling basis, as the dividend payment and the stock price both fluctuate over time.
The dividend yield is calculated by dividing the annual dividend payment by the current stock price. As the stock price changes, the dividend yield will also change.
For example, if a stock pays an annual dividend of $2 and its current price is $50, its dividend yield would be 4%. However, if the stock price increases to $60, the dividend yield would decrease to 3.33% ($2/$60).
Conversely, if the stock price decreases to $40, the dividend yield would increase to 5% ($2/$40).
Further, the dividend payment itself can also change over time, which can also impact the dividend yield. If a company increases its dividend payment, the dividend yield will increase even if the stock price remains the same. Similarly, if a company decreases its dividend payment, the dividend yield will decrease.
VZ Price Action: Shares of Verizon gained by 0.3% to close at $43.99 on Friday.
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<iframe loading="lazy" title="How to Find Dividend Stocks: Scan, Analyze, and Capture with Benzinga Pro" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pVF0O2lsEH4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Long Ideas

How To Earn $500 A Month From Verizon Stock Ahead Of Q3 Earnings Results

Press Releases

UScellular leverages latest Ericsson router technology to elevate 5G infrastructure in rural America

TDS Telecom and UScellular participating in upcoming September conferences

UScellular announces sale of select spectrum assets for $1.0 billion

TDS and UScellular to release third quarter operating results and host conference call on November 1, 2024

UScellular reports third quarter 2024 results

UScellular announces sale of select spectrum assets to AT&T for $1.018 billion

TDS and UScellular to attend upcoming conferences

TDS announces CEO transition

TDS and UScellular to release fourth quarter operating results and host conference call on February 21, 2025

UScellular reports fourth quarter and full year 2024 results

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