Premium services will spur Verizon

Article Excerpt

VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC. $46 (New York symbol VZ, Conservative Growth and Income Portfolios, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 4.2 billion; Market cap: $193.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.3; Dividend yield: 4.8%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.verizon.com) says strong price competition will likely slow its wireless division’s growth, particularly sales of cheaper mobile phones and service plans. Wireless accounts for 70% of Verizon’s revenue. However, the company is doing a good job of getting customers to upgrade from basic cellphones to more profitable smartphones. In addition, demand for its FiOS high-speed fibre optic Internet and TV services continues to improve. Verizon is a buy. buy. …