Verizon Communications Option Alert: Jan 16 $42 Calls at the Bid: 5000 vs 9148 OI; Earnings 7/21 Before Open 

Verizon Communications Option Alert: Jan 16 $42 Calls at the Bid: 5000 @ $2.7 vs 9148 OI; Earnings 7/21 Before Open Ref=$42.915

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) Azioni

VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC

Verizon Communications

Wireless services account for nearly 75% of Verizon Communications' total service revenue and nearly all of its operating income. The firm serves about 93 million postpaid and 20 million prepaid phone customers via its nationwide network, making it the largest US wireless carrier. Fixed-line telecom operations include local networks in the Northeast, which reach about 30 million homes and businesses, including about 20 million with the Fios fiber optic network. These networks 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. Verizon agreed to acquire Frontier Communications in September 2024.

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I titoli con rendimenti elevati attirano gli investitori, mentre il mercato si concentra su strategie efficaci per massimizzare i profitti.

Dividendi alti e strategie di investimento: le 3 azioni sotto i riflettori

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Mercati in attesa dei conti di VZ, MMM, TSLA. CALX (+15%) e AZZ (-7%) già in movimento post-market. Le stime da monitorare oggi.

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Analisi sui titoli più vulnerabili dopo l&#39;annuncio. Quali sono le aziende che rischiano di più a causa delle nuove politiche commerciali?

Le aziende che &#34;potrebbero soffrire di più&#34; a causa dei dazi di Trump

Verizon Communications Inc

VIZIO HLDG CORP CL A COM

Vizsla Silver Corp

BofA Securities analyst Michael J. Funk <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/telecommunications" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reinstated coverage with</a> a Buy rating on T-Mobile US Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMUS#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>) and separate company notes.
The telecom industry is often viewed as homogeneous. Still, Funk noted that AT&amp;T (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/T#NYSE">T</a>), rated as a Buy with a price target of $32; T-Mobile, rated Neutral with a price target of $255 and Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>), rated Neutral with a price target of $45, have unique characteristics tied to strategy, M&amp;A, metric prioritization and return on capital.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46069198/t-mobile-to-roll-out-satellite-data-service-this-october" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">T-Mobile Partners With Elon Musk&#8217;s SpaceX To Roll Out Satellite Data Service</a>
The analyst recommended a perceptive approach that prioritizes multiple expansion opportunities, return on capital, a well-defined fiber or wireless convergence strategy and estimates with greater upside potential than downside risk.
He noted that telecom stocks are under-owned by institutional investors and overlooked as being in a sleepy, mature industry.
However, since 2023, T-Mobile has posted a total return of 53%, AT&amp;T logged 84% and Verizon fell short of the S&amp;P 500 by 800bp at 27%, Funk wrote. Thus, the analyst said that company-specific factors, rather than industry strength or macro, are growing in importance as competition increases and strategies diverge.
AT&amp;T has the most excellent flexibility to compete effectively and return capital, which he noted as the best opportunity to drive stock performance.
Funk noted that AT&amp;T also offers the highest projected return on capital — dividends and buybacks in 2026 — at 7.2% of market cap.
The analyst noted that T-Mobile&#8217;s focus on net addition targets, coupled with a premium valuation, leaves less room for positive estimate revisions and multiple expansions.
He said Verizon is balancing responsible growth and protecting its premium subscriber base. Funk said its proposed acquisition of Frontier Communications adds execution uncertainty and should initially pressure free cash flow.
Territorial integrity is being tested, and competitive intensity is increasing, per the analyst. He noted that telcoms are expanding their broadband footprints through fiber builds, M&amp;A, joint ventures and fixed wireless access (FWA).
Funk noted that cable companies are signaling greater competition as they defend broadband markets and strive for broadband or wireless convergence. Consequently, the analyst noted fewer opportunities for price increases to be prevalent and drive growth in the price times quantity equation.
He said handset subsidies and buyout offers may increase as carriers and cable companies seek to catalyze churn, grow subscribers and lock in stickier converged customers.
Funk said executive and legislative actions, such as immigration and bonus depreciation, are tangential factors for telcom stock performance. The analyst noted the bonus tax depreciation passage was positive for AT&amp;T and Verizon and neutral for T-Mobile.
He estimated that reinstating bonus depreciation would increase AT&amp;T&#8217;s 2026E and 2027E free cash flow by 21% and 26%, respectively.
Immigration reform is a drag on wireless but is manageable, said Funk. The analyst estimated the immigration reform risk to be at least 2.1 million potential subscribers. However, he noted the risk is contained as 20% or less of subscribers at AT&amp;T, T-Mobile and Verizon are prepaid, and deep-value Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) brands are most likely to face material subscriber loss.
Price Actions: T-Mobile stock is down 1.18% at $237.91; Verizon is down 1.65% at $42.83 and AT&amp;T is slightly up at $28.34 at publication on Monday.
Read Next:
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Photo: Shutterstock

Reiteration

Telecom Stocks Are No Longer One-Size-Fits-All, Analyst Says — Here's Which Company Stands Out

B of A Securities analyst Michael Funk reinstates Verizon Communications (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) with a Neutral and announces $45 price target.

Initiation

B of A Securities Reinstates Neutral on Verizon Communications, Announces $45 Price Target

Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) has demonstrated significant momentum, with its stock surging 43.4% in the last three months and 99% over the past year.
The company&#8217;s market cap recently reached half a trillion dollars (its current market cap is $552 billion), as its stock hit a 52-week high of $1,341.
This impressive growth is fueled by a robust content strategy, including hits like Squid Game and Stranger Things, the successful integration of NFL games, a burgeoning ad-supported tier, and an effective crackdown on password sharing.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42791013/netflixs-strong-execution-and-innovative-content-strategy-impress-analyst" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bearish Analyst Regrets Not Upgrading Netflix To Buy In 2023</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Earnings</h2>
The streaming giant&#8217;s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/25/04/44877995/netflix-crushes-q1-says-its-working-hard-to-improve-and-expand-its-offering" rel="noreferrer noopener">first-quarter revenue</a> climbed 12.5% year over year to $10.54 billion, exceeding Street estimates. Earnings per share, at $6.61, similarly beat expectations.
Netflix anticipates continued strong performance, projecting second-quarter revenue of $11.04 billion (up 15.4% year over year) and maintaining its full-year revenue guidance of $43.5 billion—$44.5 billion.
Live events are a key focus, with WWE RAW consistently ranking in Netflix&#8217;s global top 10, alongside upcoming boxing matches and a second NFL Christmas Day game in 2025. The recent premiere of Squid Game Season 3 and its companion game, Squid Game: Unleashed, further solidify its content dominance.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Analyst Opinion</h2>
Analysts remain bullish, with a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NFLX/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">consensus price forecast</a> of $1,153 from 32 analysts and a high of $1,600 from Pivotal Research on June 20, 2025.
With an average price forecast of $1508.33 between Pivotal Research, Wells Fargo, and Oppenheimer, there&#8217;s an implied 12.73% upside for Netflix from these most recent analyst ratings.
In April, Bank of America Securities (BofA) analyst Jessica Reif Ehrlich forecasted Netflix <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/25/04/44826592/netflix-wants-to-be-the-next-1-trillion-company-analyst-highlights-growth-path" rel="noreferrer noopener">to reach a $1 trillion</a> valuation by 2030, driven by advertising, global expansion, and subscriber growth.
Netflix&#8217;s ad-supported plan now reaches 94 million monthly users, boosting its appeal to advertisers, especially among 18–34-year-olds, Ehrlich had said.&nbsp;
Netflix&#8217;s market capitalization of $552 billion significantly surpasses Walt Disney Co.&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>) $223 billion, despite Disney&#8217;s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/reiteration/25/06/46148033/can-disneys-experiences-segment-truly-bring-the-magic-back-for-investors" rel="noreferrer noopener">recent 27% surge</a> primarily due to its Experiences segment.
Comcast Corp&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMCSA#NASDAQ">CMCSA</a>),&nbsp;Verizon Communications&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>), and&nbsp;AT&amp;T&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/T#NYSE">T</a>) have indeed faced subscriber losses in their video services due to the rise of Netflix and other streaming services.
This reflects a broader trend, as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/entertainment/25/06/45978982/streaming-dethrones-tv-giants-netflix-youtube-lead-the-takeover" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nielsen reports</a> streaming viewership, led by Netflix and Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (GOOG) YouTube, now accounts for 44.8% of total TV time, surpassing broadcast and cable combined.
Price Action: NFLX stock is trading lower by 0.16% to $1,295 at last check Thursday.
Read Next:
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Photo via Shutterstock

CMCSA

GOOGL

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Netflix Is Worth Half Trillion And One Analyst Forecasts Trillion Dollar Valuation

The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/dow-jones-industrial-average">Dow Jones Industrial Average</a> was up around 4% in the first half of 2025, with 21 of the 30 components positive year-to-date through the first six months.
The index, which contains a diverse basket of stocks across sectors, offers many dividend stocks, with some having high yields for investors.
What Happened: When looking <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/dividends">for dividend stocks</a>, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is one place with the index having a basket of what are considered blue-chip American companies.
The 30 index components have strong track records of revenue and earnings growth, and in many cases, a long history of paying dividends and raising the dividend amounts.
While investors can buy an ETF like the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>), which tracks the entire index, another option is to buy the &#8220;Dogs of the Dow.&#8221;
The "Dogs of the Dow" is a popular strategy that often coincides with the beaten-down stocks of the index which also offer high dividend payouts.
Here are the current top-yielding dividend stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average after the first six months of 2025.
<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>): 6.3%</li>
<li>Chevron Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>): 4.8%</li>
<li>Merck &amp; Co Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>): 4.1%</li>
<li>Amgen Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMGN#NASDAQ">AMGN</a>): 3.4%</li>
<li>Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>): 3.4%</li>
<li>Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>): 2.9%</li>
<li>UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>): 2.8%</li>
<li>Procter &amp; Gamble (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PG#NYSE">PG</a>): 2.7%</li>
<li>Home Depot Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HD#NYSE">HD</a>): 2.5%</li>
<li>McDonald's Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>): 2.4%</li>
</ol>
In the Dow Jones Industrial Average, 28 of the 30 stocks pay out dividends. The average dividend yield of the 30 companies is 2% with the 10 highest averaging a yield of 3.5%.
Twenty of the 30 stocks in the index pay out at least a 1% dividend yield based on current stock prices.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/large-cap/25/07/46200141/dow-jones-2025-first-half-scoreboard-top-10-winners-losers-where-do-nvidia-apple-stock-rank">Dow Jones 2025 First Half Scoreboard: Top 10 Winners, Losers — Where Do Nvidia, Apple Stock Rank?</a>
Why It's Important: Along with stock price gains, dividends can be a nice form of consistent growth for companies and investors.
Investors can choose to collect dividend yield and put the capital to work in other stocks, or use it as income for other investments or spending. Investors can also reinvest the dividends back into the companies from which they got dividends.
Over a long period of time, dividend stocks can offer strong returns for investors with yields sometimes outpacing the returns of the overall stock market or other asset classes such as bonds and treasuries.
Read Next: 
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Photo: Shutterstock

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SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust

Dogs Of The Dow: How You Can Get Dividend Stocks With Yields Up To 6.3%

Verizon Communications (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) Verizon Business,&nbsp;Thames Freeport, and Nokia Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOK#NYSE">NOK</a>) on Wednesday announced a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/06/g46087422/verizon-business-wins-multisite-private-5g-contract-fueling-a-multibillion-dollar-regeneration-pro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">partnership to deploy</a> Verizon Private 5G Networks across multiple key logistics, manufacturing, and innovation sites along the River Thames Estuary in U.K.&nbsp;
Verizon Private 5G Networks will serve as the technology foundation for a multiyear,&nbsp;multibillion-dollar&nbsp;operational transformation and economic revival for the region, one of the busiest maritime logistics hubs in U.K.
The Private 5G Networks buildout provides a scalable, long-term connectivity foundation for advanced data, AI, edge computing, and IoT infrastructure deployments to transform port and manufacturing operations.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44930091/t-mobiles-long-game-five-year-price-lock-takes-a-jab-at-verizon" rel="noreferrer noopener">T-Mobile&#8217;s Long Game: Five-Year Price Lock Takes A Jab At Verizon</a>
Thames Freeport has already created 1,400 jobs and plans to reach 5,000 by 2030, focusing on high-skilled training for local communities, the company said in a press release.
The Verizon Private 5G Networks will enable advanced data and application capabilities for AI-driven data analytics, predictive maintenance, process automation, autonomous vehicle control, safety monitoring, and real-time logistics orchestration.
Nokia is the network&#8217;s sole hardware and software provider, which will incorporate the Nokia Digital Automation Cloud (DAC) platform and Nokia MX Industrial Edge (MXIE).
The Verizon Private 5G Networks will be deployed to DP World London Gateway, DP World Logistics Park, Port of Tilbury, and Ford Dagenham.
The move marks Verizon&#8217;s attempt to unlock value beyond U.S. The stock is up just 4% in the last 12 months as it grappled with weaker subscriber numbers due to competition from AT&amp;T (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/T#NYSE">T</a>) and T-Mobile US (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMUS#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>).
Verizon reported&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44920917/verizon-struggles-with-subscriber-losses-from-price-increases-competition-and-lower-government-support" rel="noreferrer noopener">fiscal&nbsp;first-quarter</a> revenue growth of 1.5% year-over-year, reaching $33.49 billion, topping the&nbsp;analyst consensus estimate of $33.24 billion. Adjusted EPS of $1.19 topped the&nbsp;analyst&nbsp;consensus estimate of $1.15.
Total wireless service revenue was $20.8 billion, up 2.7% Y/Y.
Postpaid phone net losses were 289,000 versus 114,000 net losses Y/Y driven by price hikes, rival promotional offers, and lesser government support. Verizon attributed some of the loss to lower spending by some federal agencies.
Verizon reiterated a 2.0%-2.8% growth in wireless service revenue. It reaffirmed an adjusted EPS of $4.59-$4.73 versus consensus of $4.67.
Price action:&nbsp;On Tuesday, Verizon shares edged up 0.64%, closing the session at $42.63.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/04/44947739/att-adds-324-thousand-postpaid-subscribers-in-q1-outpaces-verizons-289-thousand-loss" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AT&amp;T Adds 324 Thousand Postpaid Subscribers In Q1, Outpaces Verizon&#8217;s 289 Thousand Loss</a></li>
</ul>
Photo by Karolis Kavolelis via Shutterstock

Large Cap

Verizon Teams Up With Nokia To Bring High-Tech 5G Boost To Busy British Ports

<ul>
<li>Verizon Business, in collaboration with Nokia, will deliver multiple Verizon Private 5G Networks to industrial campuses across the Thames Freeport, one of the UK's busiest maritime logistics and manufacturing regions.</li>
<li>The Thames Freeport is a designated UK "Free Trade Zone," established to boost economic growth, create high-value jobs and attract global investment as part of a long-term effort to revive the UK's River Thames Estuary region.</li>
<li>Thames Freeport will use Verizon Private 5G to enhance port operations with AI-driven data analytics, autonomous vehicle control, real-time logistics orchestration, innovation research &amp; development, and more.</li>
</ul>

Nokia And Verizon Partner To Build Private 5G Backbone For Thames Freeport's AI-Driven Logistics, Autonomous Vehicles, And Real-Time Operational Insights

The Trump Organization's push into the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45990957/trump-mobile-plans-to-launch-499-t-1-phone-made-in-the-usa-but-expert-says-you-dont-have-the-employees-that-can-do-it">smartphone business</a> leans on a tiny Florida-based wireless company headquartered in a Trump Tower condo.
What Happened: To power Trump Mobile's "Made in America" smartphone and wireless plan, the Trump Organization partnered with Liberty Mobile Wireless, a little-known mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) founded in 2018, <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/8b58f16e-fafa-4cfe-a5dc-353fe39f87c7">reported</a> the Financial Times.
A mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) is a business that leases network capacity from major carriers like AT&amp;T (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/T#NYSE">T</a>), Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>), and T-Mobile U.S. Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMUS#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>), and then resells it under its own brand to customers.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45830549/pierre-ferragu-takes-apple-to-task-for-dismissing-the-ai-revolution-has-its-head-in-the-sand" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pierre Ferragu Takes Apple To Task For Dismissing The AI Revolution: ‘Has Its Head In The Sand'</a>
The company is registered at a unit inside the luxury Trump Tower in Miami and lists fewer than 50 employees on LinkedIn.&nbsp;
Despite billing itself as the backbone of Trump Mobile's national rollout, Liberty Mobile Wireless's website still features placeholder text — five identical entries answering the question, "What is Lorem Ipsum?"
Company filings link Liberty Mobile to entrepreneur Matt Lopatin, who has previously launched and dissolved several small ventures.
Why It's Important: Trump Mobile launched earlier this month with promises of a U.S.-made smartphone called the "T1," <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45954307/donald-trump-wants-you-to-use-his-new-47-mobile-plan-with-a-499-gold-phone-made-in-america">retailing for $499</a>.
The order page briefly crashed after its launch on Monday due to what one employee on Wednesday described as a "rush of inquiries," the report noted.&nbsp;
Launching in August alongside a new wireless service called Trump Mobile, the device will reportedly be manufactured in Alabama, California and Florida. However, industry experts are doubtful about large-scale U.S. smartphone production.
Previously, Roger Entner of Recon Analytics noted that no major smartphones have been made in the U.S. since the 2G/3G era due to a lack of infrastructure, skilled labor and supply chains.
Analyst Dan Ives also suggested the project might work on a small scale but would face serious challenges if production exceeds 20,000–40,000 units.
Benzinga&#8217;s Edge Stock Rankings show a continued downward trend for TMUS in the short and medium term, while indicating an upward trend over the long term. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">More performance insights are available here</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/25003308/Screenshot-2025-06-25-at-10.01.16%E2%80%AFAM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-960787" /></a></figure>
Photo Courtesy: Joey Sussman on Shutterstock.com
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Media

Trump's 'Made in America' Phone Plan Is Backed By A Little-Known Network Based In His Miami Condo, Whose Website Still Says 'What Is Lorem Ipsum?'

Verizon Unveils AI-Powered Customer Experience Overhaul Built On America's Fastest, Most Reliable 5G Network

T-Mobile&nbsp;US (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMUS#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>) is looking to launch a new data service on its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43582884/elon-musks-spacex-and-t-mobile-go-live-with-starlink-powered-satellite-to-cell-service-heres-how-much-it-will-cost" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">satellite-to-cell network</a>, powered by SpaceX&#8217;s Starlink, by October.
T-Satellite, T-Mobile&#8217;s satellite-to-cell network service, will commercially launch on July 23. It will offer SMS texting, MMS, picture messaging, and short audio clips.
Over 1.8 million customers have signed up for the service since its beta program launch in 2024, including customers from AT&amp;T (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/T#NYSE">T</a>) and Verizon Communications (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) following the Super Bowl ad, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing Mike Katz, President of Marketing, Strategy and Products at T-Mobile <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsr6tnlq1k0" rel="noreferrer noopener">during an event</a>.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/05/45448903/t-mobile-palo-alto-partner-to-enhance-5g-cybersecurity-for-us-businesses" rel="noreferrer noopener">T-Mobile, Palo Alto Partner To Enhance 5G Cybersecurity For US Businesses</a>
The telecom company will launch a data service on October 1 to allow application experiences on the satellite network.
With over 657 Starlink satellites, the US wireless carrier is looking to extend connectivity to over 500,000 square miles in the US, which is unpenetrable to traditional cell towers.
This move addresses a significant coverage gap, bringing service to remote and underserved areas.
In May 2024, SpaceX itself demonstrated the capabilities of its direct-to-cell Starlink satellite technology with a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/24/05/38950223/spacex-conducts-first-starlink-cell-video-satellite-call-what-you-need-to-know" rel="noreferrer noopener">live video call</a> on X.
While T-Mobile is partnering with Starlink, competitors are also making strides in this area; Verizon and AT&amp;T have tapped AST SpaceMobile to provide <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/39062478/whats-going-on-with-ast-spacemobile-stock-on-wednesday" rel="noreferrer noopener">satellite service</a>, with Verizon already having introduced satellite <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/04/44644607/verizons-new-3-year-price-lock-free-phone-offer-strategic-move-to-boost-customer-retention" rel="noreferrer noopener">text messaging</a> for its customers.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) is also <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44578567/tim-cooks-apple-and-elon-musks-spacex-engage-in-a-heated-battle-over-satellite-tech-and-app-control-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">actively investing</a> in satellite-based communication, and reports suggest competition between Apple and SpaceX for limited spectrum rights.
The broader satellite communication market is experiencing significant growth, having been valued at $84.47 billion in 2023 and projected to reach $194.55 billion by 2032, exhibiting a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.72% from 2024-2032.
This growth is driven by increasing demand for high-speed internet, expanding applications of satellite-based services in defense and commercial sectors, and continuous improvements in satellite technology.
Price Action: T-Mobile US stock is trading higher by 0.43% to $227.95 premarket at last check Tuesday. 
Read Next:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/25/06/45992133/vodafone-ast-spacemobile-partner-to-bring-satellite-phone-service-to-remote-parts-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vodafone, AST SpaceMobile Partner To Bring Satellite Phone Service To Remote Parts Of India</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock

T-Mobile Partners With Elon Musk's SpaceX To Roll Out Satellite Data Service

Billionaire Mark Cuban questioned the manufacturing details of President Donald Trump&#8216;s family business&#8217;s newly announced mobile phone venture, writing on X Monday, &#8220;I just want to know who makes them and where,&#8221; following Eric Trump&#8216;s announcement that &#8220;Trump Mobile is going to revolutionize cell phones.&#8221;
What Happened: Cuban suggested the strategic play involves cryptocurrency integration, stating the game company is &#8220;probably playing is to put a crypto wallet on the phone that leverages World Liberty Financial (WLF), OFFICIAL TRUMP (TRUMP) and their stable coins.&#8221;
&#8220;Whatever transactions they can create generates fees for them and there are so many way to sell things and pre-load whatever they want,&#8221; Cuban wrote. 
Trump&#8217;s sons Eric and Donald Jr. unveiled Trump Mobile during a Monday event at Trump Tower in New York, marking the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45954307/donald-trump-wants-you-to-use-his-new-47-mobile-plan-with-a-499-gold-phone-made-in-america">latest business venture from the president&#8217;s family</a>. The service will operate as a mobile virtual network operator using T-Mobile US Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMUS#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>) network infrastructure through Liberty Mobile.
The company promises &#8220;made in America&#8221; phones, with a gold-colored T1 model priced at $499 available for September 2025 preorder with a $100 deposit. Trump Mobile&#8217;s flagship offering, &#8220;The 47 Plan,&#8221; costs $47.45 monthly, referencing Trump&#8217;s status as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45954307/donald-trump-wants-you-to-use-his-new-47-mobile-plan-with-a-499-gold-phone-made-in-america">both the 45th and 47th president</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">I just want to know who makes them and where. <a href="https://t.co/7MHdrqz5N1">https://t.co/7MHdrqz5N1</a>
&mdash; Mark Cuban (@mcuban) <a href="https://twitter.com/mcuban/status/1934697756737851881?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">I think the smart game they are probably playing is to put a crypto wallet on the phone that leverages WLF , <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24Trump&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$Trump</a> and their stable coins. Whatever transactions they can create generates fees for them and there are so many way to sell things and pre-load whatever they want <a href="https://t.co/NX1YIDiCnx">https://t.co/NX1YIDiCnx</a>
&mdash; Mark Cuban (@mcuban) <a href="https://twitter.com/mcuban/status/1934831120052572186?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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Plans include unlimited calling and texting to over 100 countries, plus telemedicine and roadside assistance features. Customers can use existing devices or purchase Trump-branded phones.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/treasuries/25/06/45960637/treasury-yields-near-5-after-soft-foreign-demand-a-red-flag-for-stocks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Treasury Yields Near 5% After Soft Foreign Demand: A Red Flag For Stocks?</a>
Why It Matters: The launch follows recent complications in Trump family crypto ventures. Their cryptocurrency wallet project was suspended earlier this month amid internal disputes at World Liberty Financial, though Eric Trump confirmed continued commitment to the TRUMP meme coin, which has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/45829666/trump-branded-crypto-wallet-project-suspended-amid-internal-dispute-says-eric-trump">contributed nearly $2.9 billion</a> to President Trump&#8217;s net worth.
Trump Mobile enters a market dominated by AT&amp;T Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/T#NYSE">T</a>), Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>), and T-Mobile. The venture raises potential regulatory concerns given Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr&#8216;s Republican appointment by Trump while overseeing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45954307/donald-trump-wants-you-to-use-his-new-47-mobile-plan-with-a-499-gold-phone-made-in-america">telecommunications regulation</a>.
Cuban&#8217;s skepticism highlights industry questions about whether Trump phones will be manufactured domestically from launch or represent a future goal, particularly <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45954307/donald-trump-wants-you-to-use-his-new-47-mobile-plan-with-a-499-gold-phone-made-in-america">as Trump has threatened to impose tariffs</a> on Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) devices made in China and India.
Read Next: 
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</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Social Media

Politics

Mark Cuban Casts Doubt On Trump Mobile's 'Made In America' Claim, Suggests Crypto Wallet Play Behind $499 Phone Launch: 'Sell Things And Pre-load Whatever They Want'

President Donald Trump may have a solution to costly mobile phone plans and smartphones like Apple Inc&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) iPhone being <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/04/44632659/trump-tariffs-could-blow-up-apple-analyst-estimates-39-5-billion-impact">produced in other countries</a>.
Trump Mobile is launching soon. Here are the details.
What Happened: President Trump's sons Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. unveiled Trump Mobile during an event at Trump Tower in New York on Monday, with details of a new mobile phone service to be the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40412973/trump-made-300k-from-bible-endorsement-over-500k-from-a-maga-journey-and-millions-from-book-royaltie"> latest product launch</a> from the president.
"We've partnered with some of the greatest people in the industry to make sure that real Americans get true value from their mobile carriers," Trump Jr. said, as reported by <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-16/trump-launches-self-branded-mobile-phone-service-in-the-us?srnd=homepage-americas&amp;sref=TBDibEcD">Bloomberg</a>.
Trump Mobile will operate on U.S. wireless networks with phones that are "made in America," according to the company.
Plans on Trump Mobile will offer unlimited calling and texting to more than 100 countries, along with features like telemedicine help and roadside assistance.
Customers will be able to use their existing phones or purchase a Trump-branded phone, called the T1, which will be made in America. The Verge <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/687418/trump-mobile-network-t1-trademark-application">reported </a>a $499 gold version of the phone with a currently listed release of September 2025, which is available for preorder now with a $100 deposit.
Trump Mobile will offer plans such as "The 47 Plan," which costs $47.45 per month, a nod to Trump&#8217;s being both the 47th and 45th president of the United States.
Terms of Use for Trump Mobile say the network is "powered by Liberty Mobile," a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) using the T-Mobile network.
"Trump Mobile is going to revolutionize cellphones, mobile calling," Eric Trump told Fox News on Monday.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/25/04/45069781/trumps-first-100-days-what-he-delivered-where-he-fell-short-how-markets-reacted">Trump&#8217;s First 100 Days: What He Delivered, Where He Fell Short, How Markets Reacted</a>
Why It's Important: The new phone company and phone service could test the waters of loyalty for Trump fans and see if they can disrupt the "Big 3" wireless operators in the United States. AT&amp;T Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/T#NYSE">T</a>), Verizon (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) and T-Mobile US (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMUS#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>).
T-Mobile U.S. could end up being the winner in the launch as it is the MVNO being used. T-Mobile also provides its network for other cheaper mobile offerings like Mint Mobile, Metro and U.S. Mobile.
Trump&#8217;s sons emphasize the importance of the Trump Mobile phones being made in the U.S., but questions remain about whether they will be from the start or if that is the future goal. The push for made-in-America phones comes as Trump battles Apple over their smartphones being made in China and India, with the president placing tariffs on phones made in other countries.
The launch of Trump Mobile follows some celebrities who have dipped their toes in the telecommunications market. Ryan Reynolds was an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/m-a/23/03/31362824/ryan-reynolds-mobile-company-gets-1-35b-buyout-from-t-mobile-will-he-purchase-an-nhl-team-with-that">investor in Mint Mobile</a>, which sold to T-Mobile in 2023.
Actors Will Arnett, Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes, the trio behind the "SmartLess" podcast, recently announced a new mobile company called SmartLess Mobile.
One potential red flag and conflict of interest for Trump Mobile will be the president's involvement in the company and the fact that FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a Republican appointed by Trump, will oversee the company&#8217;s regulation.  
Trump and his family&#8217;s launch of a mobile network follows several recent business ventures since he first became president, including a social media network, NFTs, bibles, sneakers, a meme cryptocurrency, and more.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/04/38030730/how-ryan-reynolds-builds-billion-dollar-companies">How Ryan Reynolds Builds Billion Dollar Companies</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Donald Trump Wants You To Use His New $47 Mobile Plan With A $499 Gold Phone Made In America

Hollywood actors turned hosts of the popular podcast &#8220;SmartLess,&#8221; Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes, expanded their brand on Tuesday by launching a new mobile phone service<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42221861/joe-rogans-interview-with-donald-trump-cant-put-podcaster-at-top-of-apples-2024-rankings-heres-who-beat-him"> called SmartLess Mobile.&nbsp;</a>
What To Know: SmartLess Mobile, a direct-to-consumer wireless provider, aims to offer affordable plans by focusing on customers who use less data than traditional unlimited plans provide.&nbsp;
"If you own your phone, spend most of your day on Wi-Fi, and are on an unlimited data plan, moving to SmartLess Mobile could literally cut your monthly bill in half. Seriously, if your phone bill knew how often you're on Wi-Fi, it would be embarrassed," Hayes said in a statement.&nbsp;
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45885805/nvidias-jensen-huang-sparks-quantum-stock-frenzy?utm_source=articleShare">Nvidia&#8217;s Jensen Huang Sparks Quantum Stock Frenzy</a>
Bateman highlighted that most SmartLess podcast listeners engage with the show through their phones, making the move into the mobile sector a natural extension of the brand.
"Our SmartLess podcast now reaches millions of listeners each month, almost all of whom listen on their phones," said Bateman. "Extending the SmartLess brand into mobile is a logical next step."
SmartLess Mobile is positioning itself as a value-driven alternative to major carriers like 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>) by providing cost-effective plans for consumers who don't need unlimited data. 
The initiative may have been inspired by the success of celebrity-backed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/management/25/06/45816039/the-investment-ryan-reynolds-says-hes-more-proud-of-than-anything-hes-done-in-his-life">mobile venture</a> Mint Mobile (co-founded by actor Ryan Reynolds), which was acquired by T-Mobile US, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMUS#NYSE">TMUS</a>) for $1.3 billion in 2023. 
Celebrity brands have become dominant forces by leveraging star power to drive consumer interest, sales and brand loyalty. For example, e.l.f Beauty, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ELF#NYSE">ELF</a>) purchased rhode, Hailey Bieber&#8216;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/05/45677382/elf-beauty-buys-hailey-biebers-brand-rhode-for-1-billion-now-shes-richer-than-husband-justin-bieber">prestige cosmetics brand</a>, in May for $1 billion. 
Consumers are drawn to brands where celebrities are genuinely involved, and social media amplifies their reach, which could drive success for SmartLess Mobile.&nbsp;
Read Next:&nbsp;
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/06/45851086/these-are-the-3-hottest-stock-market-themes-trending-now?utm_source=articleShare">These Are The 3 Hottest Stock Market Themes Trending Now</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy of SmartLess Mobile

Entertainment

General

Hollywood Has A New Take On The Phone Plan--Meet SmartLess Mobile

In the age of meme stocks, moonshot tech plays, and crypto quick wins, it might seem out of character for a young investor to get excited about Coca-Cola (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>), or Lockheed Martin (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>), or a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">dividend ETF</a> that doesn't promise to 10x your money overnight.
But a revolution is quietly cooking in the portfolios of Gen-Z&#8217;ers and Millennials who follow the FIRE philosophy — Financial Independence, Retire Early. And large part of this movement is a tactic your financial advisor&#8217;s father may have suggested: dividend growth investing. In that context, Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHD#NYSE">SCHD</a>) is emerging as a solid contender for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/specialty-etfs/25/05/45532640/schd-the-dividend-etf-turning-quiet-compounding-into-long-term-wealth">passive income investing</a>.
Let&#8217;s explore the mood further. SCHD has a low 0.06% expense ratio, pays a 4% dividend yield, and owns stalwarts such as Verizon (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>), ConocoPhillips (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COP#NYSE">COP</a>), and Coca-Cola. The fund is tightly rules-based, emphasizing only those firms with 10 years of dividend payment, good fundamentals, and heavy trading volume.
And that&#8217;s what attracts FIRE followers. The emotional roller coaster involved in pursuing meme tickers and &#8220;to the moon&#8221; mania is bound to lose charm, and young investors are constructing long-term portfolios intended to accumulate wealth quietly, sustainably, and with little drama.
The Philosophy 
FIRE is not about instant wealth. It&#8217;s about working hard, investing harder, and retiring earlier than the conventional age of 65-70, on a self-directed, passive income stream robust enough to pay for everything.
Dividend growth investing checks all the boxes: It offers compounding income from quarterly payments, less volatility than high-beta growth stocks, protection against inflation as dividends rise with time, and sector diversification without the drudgery of selecting individual stocks.
And SCHD? It does it all, no Reddit forum necessary.
A Financial Workhorse
With assets of more than $67 billion and an average daily volume of more than 15 million shares, it&#8217;s a big player in the dividend ETF universe. Its top 10 holdings, such as Lockheed Martin, Cisco (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>), and Verizon, are among the most financially secure U.S. corporations. And its built-in guardrails, such as a sector exposure cap (no more than 25%) and focus on return on equity (29.06% as of April 30), prevent it from crossing into dangerous territory.
Even during periods of market volatility, SCHD&#8217;s performance has been robust due to its mix of consumer staples, healthcare, and energy exposure. It&#8217;s not cool, but it&#8217;s reliable. And in a FIRE portfolio, that is a superpower.
Final Thought
In an era where financial news streams are dominated by AI chip makers and blockchain soap operas, SCHD is working its magic behind the scenes, assisting investors in achieving their objectives one dividend check at a time. For the next generation pursuing financial independence, and not merely flashy charts, it might be just the turtle that outpaces all the hares on the track.
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</ul>
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Specialty ETFs

CSCO

SCHD

From Meme Stocks To Mature Moves: Why SCHD Might Be A Good Bet For Young Investors For Passive Income Power

Contracts

NMAX

Newsmax Announces It Has Entered Into A Multi-Year Renewal For Distribution With Verizon Fios For Its Cable Channel Newsmax.

Verizon Communications's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) short percent of float has risen 9.47% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 87.75 million shares sold short, which is 2.08% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.9 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?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">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?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">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/2025/1748271619_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://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Verizon Communications's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 1.23%, which means the company has more 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?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">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

Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) Elon Musk amplified a cost-cutting move by President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on Wednesday, stating that the U.S. government may be wasting $100 million a year on inactive phone lines.
What Happened: In a post on X, formerly Twitter, DOGE's official handle revealed that an internal audit found 198 out of 1,048 phone lines at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) were either unused or duplicated — roughly 19% of the total.
DOGE said canceling the lines took one hour and would save around $100,000 annually.
"Since OPM is ~0.1% of the federal government, this suggests that ~$100M/yr is wasted on unused lines," the agency wrote.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/05/45534314/elon-musk-just-got-grilled-on-doge-spending-hits-back-with-were-not-kings-here">Elon Musk Just Got Grilled On DOGE Spending, Hits Back With &#8216;We&#8217;re Not Kings Here&#8217;</a>
Musk, who helped lead DOGE's early initiatives but announced <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45381782/elon-musk-vows-to-spend-less-time-in-white-house-doge-office-investors-warn-the-damage-is-done-and-teslas-troubles-are-far-from-over">plans to reduce</a> his involvement during <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/04/44937440/tesla-q1-misses-estimates-as-tariff-pressures-weigh-on-outlook-lower-cost-evs-still-on-track">Tesla's first-quarter earnings call</a>, reposted the update and added:
"Government is wasting about $100 million per year on unused phone lines!"
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Government is wasting about $100 million per year on unused phone lines! <a href="https://t.co/UZQflu9jhl">https://t.co/UZQflu9jhl</a>
&mdash; Kekius Maximus (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1925367674894270940?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
This latest move by DOGE could impact leading telecom providers that deliver services to both residential and business customers.
Only 2% of U.S. adults use landlines exclusively, according to a 2023 <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/06/23/landline-telephone-holdouts/">report</a> by The Washington Post. In 2019, the Federal Communications Commission scrapped requirements that made it compulsory to run copper wires to each home. The report noted that Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) is the dominant landline player in the Northeast of the country.
Photo courtesy: Joshua Sukoff / Shutterstock.com
Read Next:&nbsp;
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

ATUS

CHTR

DTEGY

FYBR

LUMN

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Elon Musk Wants The US Government To Hang Up The Phone: 'Government Is Wasting About $100 Million Per Year On Unused Phone Lines'

<a href="https://www.fcc.gov/transactions/verizon-frontier" title="https://www.fcc.gov/transactions/verizon-frontier">https://www.fcc.gov/transactions/verizon-frontier</a>
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<a href="https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-25-421A1.pdf" title="https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-25-421A1.pdf">https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-25-421A1.pdf</a>
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Federal Communications Commission Approves Verizon's $20B Acquisition Of Frontier Communications After Verizon Drops Diversity Policies

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">Shutterstock, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSTK#NYSE">SSTK</a>)</h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Dividend Yield: 6.83%</li>
<li>JMP Securities analyst Andrew Boone reiterated a Market Perform rating on May 5, 2025. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 76%.</li>
<li>Needham analyst Bernie McTernan maintained a Buy rating and cut the price target from $45 to $30 on March 7, 2025. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 65%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On May 2, the company posted downbeat quarterly results</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro&#8217;s real-time newsfeed alerted to latest <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0514">SSTK news</a>. </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0514"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="896" height="811" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/14044751/image-156.png" alt="" class="wp-image-914631" style="width:590px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/14044751/image-156.png 896w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/14044751/image-156-300x272.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/14044751/image-156-768x695.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 896px) 100vw, 896px" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>)</h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Dividend Yield: 6.35%</li>
<li>Tigress Financial analyst Ivan Feinseth maintained a Buy rating and raised the price target from $55 to $56 on April 28, 2025. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 73%.</li>
<li>Scotiabank analyst Maher Yaghi maintained a Sector Perform rating and increased the price target from $48.5 to $49 on April 23, 2025. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 67%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On May 13, Verizon announced a $5 billion commitment to continue investing in America and supporting small businesses.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro's real-time newsfeed alerted to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0514">latest VZ news</a> </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0514"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="907" height="837" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/14044824/image-157.png" alt="" class="wp-image-914632" style="width:698px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/14044824/image-157.png 907w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/14044824/image-157-300x277.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/14044824/image-157-768x709.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 907px) 100vw, 907px" /></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 class="wp-block-list">
<li>Dividend Yield: 4.27%</li>
<li>Benchmark analyst Daniel Kurnos maintained a Buy rating and raised the price target from $215 to $220 on May 9, 2025. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 76%.</li>
<li>Wells Fargo analyst Steven Cahall maintained an Overweight rating and cut the price target from $216 to $200 on May 1, 2025. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 65%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On May 8, Nexstar Media Group reported better-than-expected first-quarter EPS results.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro&#8217;s real-time newsfeed alerted to latest NXST <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0514">news </a></li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0514"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="895" height="826" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/14044903/image-158.png" alt="" class="wp-image-914635" style="width:671px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/14044903/image-158.png 895w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/14044903/image-158-300x277.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/14044903/image-158-768x709.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 895px) 100vw, 895px" /></a></figure>
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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?start=1&#038;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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Read More: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/05/45375319/jim-cramer-ok-harrow-recommends-buying-this-energy-stock">Jim Cramer Is &#8216;OK&#8217; With Harrow, Recommends Buying This Energy Stock</a> </li>
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Photo via Shutterstock

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

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bullish stance on Verizon Communications.
Looking at options history for Verizon Communications (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) we detected 8 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 50% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 37% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 5 are puts, for a total amount of $351,695 and 3, calls, for a total amount of $209,010.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $38.0 and $45.0 for Verizon Communications, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Verizon Communications's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Verizon Communications's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $38.0 to $45.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>Verizon Communications Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1747162860_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Largest Options Trades Observed:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>VZ</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$0.44</td>
<td>$0.41</td>
<td>$0.42</td>
<td>$39.00</td>
<td>$169.6K</td>
<td>9.8K</td>
<td>4.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VZ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$5.55</td>
<td>$5.45</td>
<td>$5.45</td>
<td>$38.00</td>
<td>$109.0K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
<td>200</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VZ</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$0.29</td>
<td>$0.27</td>
<td>$0.28</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$70.0K</td>
<td>18.4K</td>
<td>2.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VZ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/18/26</td>
<td>$5.15</td>
<td>$5.05</td>
<td>$5.05</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$68.1K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
<td>137</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VZ</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$1.19</td>
<td>$1.18</td>
<td>$1.18</td>
<td>$43.00</td>
<td>$48.3K</td>
<td>2.1K</td>
<td>639</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Verizon Communications</h3>
Wireless services account for nearly 75% of Verizon Communications' total service revenue and nearly all of its operating income. The firm serves about 93 million postpaid and 20 million prepaid phone customers via its nationwide network, making it the largest US wireless carrier. Fixed-line telecom operations include local networks in the Northeast, which reach about 30 million homes and businesses, including about 20 million with the Fios fiber optic network. These networks 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. Verizon agreed to acquire Frontier Communications in September 2024.
<h3>Present Market Standing of Verizon Communications</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 10,562,484, the price of VZ is up by 0.86%, reaching $43.37.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be approaching oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 69 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Verizon Communications</h3>
Over the past month, 2 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $52.5.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Tigress Financial has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Verizon Communications, which currently sits at a price target of $56. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Scotiabank has decided to maintain their Sector Perform rating on Verizon Communications, which currently sits at a price target of $49. 
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Verizon Communications with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Options

Verizon Communications Unusual Options Activity

What you need to know:
<ul>
<li>Verizon announces a substantial $5 billion commitment over the next five years with the launch of a new Small Business Supplier Accelerator.</li>
<li>Verizon Small Business Digital Ready launched a new grant cycle where eligible small businesses can apply for $10,000 grants (open until June 30, 2025).</li>
</ul>
NEW YORK, May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Verizon today announced a commitment to invest $5 billion over the next five years in US small business suppliers with the launch of its new Small Business Supplier Accelerator. The program helps create a pipeline for American small businesses, many of which are owned by veterans, to work with Verizon and other large corporations. This program is designed to strengthen small businesses — the backbone of the US economy — and to help the country create a more resilient supply chain.

Verizon Announces $5B Commitment to Boost US Small Business Suppliers Through New Accelerator Program

Press Releases

Verizon announces pricing terms of its private exchange offers for 10 series of notes and related tender offers open to certain investors

Verizon announces expiration and preliminary expiration date results of its private exchange offers for 10 series of notes and expiration of related tender offers open to certain investors

Verizon announces final results of its private exchange offers for 10 series of notes and related tender offers open to certain investors

Verizon, America's Most Reliable 5G Network, Launches Industry-Leading, AI Powered Customer Experience Innovations

Nokia selected by Verizon as hardware and software provider for Thames Freeport multisite private 5G deal

Verizon Business wins multisite private 5G contract fueling a multibillion dollar regeneration project

New "Verizon Frontline Verified" partner - Semtech

Financing

Verizon contributes $10K in response to devastating flooding in West Virginia

NYSE Content advisory: Pre-Market update + first half trade to end with S&P 500 up 5.2% this year

Verizon celebrates 25 years of powering how people live, work and play

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