10 large-cap stocks whose dividend yield is more than 4%

                 Forward Dividend & Yield

• Rio Tinto Group (RIO)   4.35 (6.66%)

• Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ)  2.71 (6.16%)

• Pfizer Inc. (PFE)  1.68 (5.75%)

• TotalEnergies SE (TTE)  3.43 (5.28%)

• BHP Group Limited (BHP)  2.92 (5.11%) 

• AT&T Inc. (T)  1.11 (5.08%)

• United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS)   6.52 (4.80%)

• Philip Morris International Inc. (PM)    5.40 (4.49%)

• Chevron Corporation (CVX)  6.52 (4.33%)

• Shell plc (SHEL)  2.75 (4.11%)

         

===AT&T (T) reported earnings on Thur 19 Oct 23 (b/o)

 

A&T (T) reports Q3 (Sep) results, revs in-line; raises FCF guidance

AT&T Inc.  (T) posted better-than-expected third quarter earnings Wednesday, while lifting its full-year free cash flow forecast and profit growth forecasts, as its aggressive moves to win new Apple iPhone customers adds to its top and bottom lines.

AT&T said adjusted earnings for the three months ending in September were pegged at 64 cents per share, down 5.9% from last year but just ahead of the Street consensus forecast of 63 cents per share.

Revenues, the company said, rose 1.2% from last year to $30.35 billion, just ahead of Street forecasts of $30.04 billion, while the group's free cash flow was pegged at $5.2 billion, firmly ahead of forecasts and a $1 billion quarter-on-quarter, amid the group's ongoing cost-cutting efforts.

-=AT&T(T) to merge WarnerMedia with Discovery (DISCA)

 

AT&T's WarnerMedia and Discovery (DISCA) creating standalone company by combining operations to form new global leader in entertainment

Under the terms of the agreement, which is structured as an all-stock, Reverse Morris Trust transaction, AT&T would receive $43 billion (subject to adjustment) in a combination of cash, debt securities, and WarnerMedia's retention of certain debt, and AT&T's shareholders would receive stock representing 71% of the new company; Discovery shareholders would own 29% of the new company. The Boards of Directors of both AT&T and Discovery have approved the transaction.

The companies expect the transaction will create substantial value for AT&T and Discovery shareholders by: Bringing together the strongest leadership teams, content creators, and high-quality series and film libraries in the media business. Accelerating both companies' plans for leading direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming services for global consumers. Uniting complementary and diverse content strengths with broad appeal - WarnerMedia's robust studios and portfolio of iconic scripted entertainment, animation, news and sports with Discovery's global leadership in unscripted and international entertainment and sports. Forming a new company that will have significant scale and investment resources with projected 2023 Revenue of approximately $52 billion, adjusted EBITDA of approximately $14 billion, and an industry leading Free Cash Flow conversion rate of approximately 60%. Creating at least $3 billion in expected cost synergies annually for the new company to increase its investment in content and digital innovation, and to scale its global DTC business.

-=Federal judge : AT&T (T) can acquire Time Warner (TWX) without any conditions

• Update 6/15/18:   Time Warner is changing its name to WarnerMedia now that its $85 billion deal with AT&T has closed, and Turner CEO John Martin is departing the company, according to an internal memo from an AT&T executive.
• A federal judge ruled in favor of AT&T (T) in its drawn-out legal battle with the Justice Department. 
• The ruling could reshape the media landscape, setting the stage for other deals. Comcast (CMCSA), for instance, has been waiting on the AT&T/Time Warner ruling before deciding whether to engage in a bidding war with WaltDisney (DIS) over the bulk of 21st Century Fox's (FOXA) assets.

-=Time Warner (TWX) reported earnings on Thur 26 Apr 2018 (b/o); being acquired by AT&T (T)

Time Warner beats by $0.54, reports revs in-line; being acquired by AT&T 

• Reports Q1 (Mar) earnings of $2.28 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.54 better than the Capital IQ Consensus of $1.74; revenues rose 3.4% year/year to $8 bln vs the $7.93 bln Capital IQ Consensus due to growth at Turner and Home Box Office, partially offset by a decline at Warner Bros. Adjusted Operating Income decreased 8% to $2.0 billion due to declines at all operating divisions, partially offset by positive intersegment eliminations.
• "We look forward to the resolution of the legal challenge to our pending merger with AT&T and remain excited about the benefits of the merger, such as the potential to further strengthen our businesses by accelerating our innovation and increasing our ability to connect more directly with consumers."
• Company continues to expect its 2018 full-year Adjusted Operating Income to increase in the high single-digits, based on current foreign exchange rates.
• DOJ case vs. AT&T (T), trying to block its acquisition of TWX, is winding down.

AT&T (T) reported earnings on Wed 25 Apr 2018 (a/h)
AT&T misses by $0.03, misses on revs; reaffirms guidance 

• Reports Q1 (Mar) earnings of $0.85 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.03 worse than the Capital IQ Consensus of $0.88; revenues fell 3.4% year/year to $38.04 bln vs the $39.36 bln Capital IQ Consensus. On a comparative basis, declines in legacy wireline services, domestic video, and wireless service revenues, were partially offset by growth in wireless equipment and strategic business services. On a comparative basis, revenues were $38.9 billion, a decrease of 1.1%.
• U.S. wireless results: Strong year-over-year improvement in postpaid phone net adds Continued prepaid growth with 192,000 phone net adds Best-ever first-quarter postpaid phone churn of 0.84%
• Entertainment Group results: 312,000 DIRECTV NOW net adds to reach nearly 1.5 million subscribers 125,000 total video net adds with DIRECTV NOW stabilizing total video customer base since DIRECTV acquisition 154,000 IP broadband net adds; 82,000 total broadband net adds; more than 8 million customer locations passed with fiber

=AT&T (T) warns of video losses

AT&T said it lost 90,000 video subscribers in the U.S. in the third quarter. It's a steeper drop than the same period last year, even though gains from its newer, cheaper online cable-like service, DirecTV Now, are included. DirecTV Now wasn't available in the July-September quarter in 2016.

DirecTV Now added 300,000 subscribers in the quarter, so AT&T lost about 390,000 satellite TV and cable customers.

AT&T, which is also the No. 2 wireless carrier in the U.S., blames tough competition from both traditional TV providers like Comcast and newer digital-video services like YouTube TV. It also blames the impact from hurricanes and stricter credit standards for customers.

AT&T's prediction, issued after the market closed Wednesday, echoed Comcast's forecast in early September of third-quarter losses of 100,000 to 150,000 video customers due. That would be Comcast's largest quarterly loss since 2014. Comcast also blamed competition and weather.

Rising prices for traditional TV bundles and those growing digital options are increasingly driving customers online and away from traditional TV.

=AT&T (T) reported earnings on Tue 25 July 17 (a/h)

• AT&T Q2 Adjusted Profit Beats, Pay-TV Video Subscribers Fall

AT&T (T) Tuesday reported second-quarter adjusted profit that topped views and in-line revenue as pay-TV subscriber losses were higher than expected.

AT&T said adjusted second-quarter earnings were 79 cents a share, up from 72 cents a year ago, with revenue falling 1.7% to $39.8 billion. Analysts expected AT&T to report profit of 74 cents on sales of $39.80 billion for the period ended June 30.

AT&T said its DirecTV satellite TV business lost 156,000 subscribers vs. a 342,000 gain in the year-earlier period. AT&T's landline U-verse TV service lost 195,000 subscribers, less than the 391,000 shed a year ago. AT&T's new DirecTV Now internet service added 152,000 subscribers. AT&T has been packaging the online video service with wireless products.

AT&T said wireless revenue was flat at $9.73 billion. Legacy voice and data service revenue fell nearly 16% to $3.5 billion.

AT&T said it lost 89,000 postpaid phone subscribers, narrowing its loss from 180,000 in the year-earlier-period. Analysts had estimated that AT&T would lose 256,000 postpaid phone subscribers.

The telecom conglomerate's wireless growth has slowed amid intensified competition from T-Mobile US (TMUS), Sprint (S) and Verizon Commuications (VZ). AT&T is seeking regulatory approval to buy media giant Time Warner (TWX).

Time Warner (TWX) to be acquired by AT&T(T) for $86 billion or $110 per share

AT&T Inc. is near an agreement to acquire Time Warner Inc. for about $86 billion, people with knowledge of the matter said, a deal that would create a media behemoth that offers TV, wireless and the programming that goes with it.

 

CNBC 10/24/16

The terms value Time Warner at about $110 a share and are structured as a 50-50 cash and stock split, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the information is private. It would be the biggest acquisition of the year, surpassing Bayer AG’s $66 billion takeover of U.S. seed giant Monsanto Co., announced in May.

Buying Time Warner would give AT&T -- already a top U.S. supplier of pay-TV, mobile phone and home internet services -- premium entertainment programming to offer its millions of subscribers, from HBO to the NBA to the Cartoon Network. CEO Randall Stephenson is transforming the Dallas-based phone company into a media and entertainment giant, and now has one of Hollywood’s top film and TV producers in his crosshairs.