Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, has died at the age of 100. He died after spending more than a year in hospice care. Carter grew up on a peanut farm in Georgia and served in the U.S. Navy before turning to politics. He served one term as the president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. Following his time in the White House, Carter dedicated his life to humanitarian work, and was a major contributor to Habitat for Humanity. His post-presidential international diplomatic work earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec, 29, 2024.
Telecommunications company Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, with over 37% of the market. The company is also an outstanding dividend stock with a 6.2% dividend yield today and an ongoing streak of 18 consecutive annual dividend raises. So, if you're looking for passive income to cover your living expenses or to reinvest and supercharge your portfolio's compounding, Verizon is a great candidate for you right now. Are You Missing The Morning Scoop? Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free » But what about moving forward? The telecom industry is notoriously competitive among the few companies that dominate the U.S. market, and there's a constant need to spend to maintain and upgrade the vast infrastructure that makes wireless communications work. Here is what investors can expect from the stock over the next five years. Subscriber momentum is trending upward Consumers make Verizon's business go: Consumer wireless and wireline (Fios fiber optic services and landline phone connections) account for about 75% of the company's total revenue. Subscriber growth is critical because the industry is ruthlessly price competitive; acquiring customers is the best route to growth. Verizon's subscriber activity is lumpy. For example, Q4 is generally a big quarter due to the purchases consumers tend to make during the holidays (and the new iPhone usually launches in the fall). As you can see, subscriber losses have trended lower since Q1, turning positive this past quarter: Verizon acquired TracFone, a leading prepaid phone carrier with 20 million users at the time, in late 2021. However, Verizon has bled prepaid customers since closing the acquisition. It's encouraging to see Verizon slowly stem those losses and return to prepaid customer growth in Q3. However, Verizon's growth outlook is still limited Verizon has growth opportunities in fiber optics (Fios) and edge computing . As more devices connect to networks, they must transmit more data faster. This spans across the economy, from factory equipment to autonomous vehicles. Verizon is gradually expanding its Fios services, including fiber optic internet, allowing far higher bandwidth. The company has agreed to acquire Frontier Communications , the country's largest pure-play fiber provider, for $20 billion to expand its fiber optics footprint. Post-acquisition close, Verizon will have approximately 25 million fiber customers, with a 2028 goal of 30 million and a long-term goal of between 35 million and 40 million. Despite this opportunity, Verizon's mature consumer business (75% of total revenue) will likely continue to limit the company's broader growth prospects. Analysts recently raised their long-term earnings growth estimates but still anticipate just 2.4% annualized growth over the long term. What will the next five years look like? Verizon's lacking growth will ultimately make the stock a poor fit for investors who want to maximize their total investment returns. The good news is that Verizon's dividend remains on solid footing. Verizon's dividend payout ratio is 59% of 2024 earnings estimates, so there's room for the company to continue increasing its dividend over the coming years. Verizon's dividend has only grown by an average of 2% annually over the past five years, and I'd expect that pace to continue, given Verizon's similar growth prospects. Meanwhile, the stock trades at 9 to 10 times 2024 earnings estimates, which seems cheap compared to the broader market -- the S&P 500 trades at 23 times earnings. Again, Verizon's slow growth is the culprit. The reality is that Verizon's probably fully valued at its current price, perhaps even a touch expensive at a PEG ratio of 3.1 today. In that case, investors can expect mid- to high-single-digit annualized investment returns over the next five years. You'll get about 6% from the dividend plus another 2% in earnings growth, though any fluctuations in valuation could impact those returns. That makes Verizon attractive for retirees and other conservative, income-focused investors, but it is probably a pass for others. Should you invest $1,000 in Verizon Communications right now? Before you buy stock in Verizon Communications, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Verizon Communications wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $872,947 !* Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of December 2, 2024 Justin Pope has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy . Where Will Verizon Communications Be in 5 Years? was originally published by The Motley Fool
Despite a resounding defeat at the hands of Ronald Reagan in 1980, the Democrat forged a new path promoting causes such as electoral probity abroad, social justice and drives to rid the world of medical conditions. His first foreign visit as president was to the UK where then prime minister James Callaghan, as well as the usual visits in London, took his guest to the North East with a visit to Newcastle, Sunderland and Washington – the village bearing the name of the first ever president. Mr Carter delighted crowds in the North East by saying “Howay the lads” during a speech to the assembled throng. He also received a miner’s lamp from 12-year-old Ian McEree in Washington. The 39th US president also carried out more traditional presidential duties, including meetings with western European leaders during his time in London while the Cold War was still ongoing. The practising Baptist continued his globetrotting ways after leaving power, even without Air Force One as his vehicle. He was also part of the Elders, a group of experienced statesmen and women drawn from all corners of the world.Steve Sarkisian slams officials at halftime of Texas-Georgia SEC championship game
Mahakumbhnagar, December 28: As part of Mahakumbh 2025 preparations, a state-of-the-art multi-disaster response vehicle has been deployed to enhance safety and disaster readiness. Equipped with advanced tools, it aims to safeguard lives and streamline emergency management during the event. The multi-disaster response vehicle features a victim location camera and various state-of-the-art tools for efficient disaster response, ensuring the safety of millions of devotees attending the Mahakumbh. According to Maha Kumbh's Nodal and Chief Fire Officer Pramod Sharma, the vehicle features state-of-the-art equipment capable of handling situations ranging from natural disasters to road accidents. It includes a lifting bag with a capacity of 10 to 20 tonnes, enabling the rescue of individuals buried under debris, and specialised machines to lift and move heavy objects weighing up to 1.5 tonnes. Additionally, the vehicle is equipped with tools to cut and spread through strong debris during emergencies. The victim location camera is particularly effective in locating individuals trapped in collapsed structures. An inbuilt generator ensures the seamless operation of electronic equipment, even in challenging conditions. Apart from this, to ensure the safety of rescuers, the vehicle is stocked with protective gear such as life jackets, life rings, and life buoys. A temperature-measuring device further enhances its utility by providing accurate temperature readings during fire incidents. Pramod Sharma emphasized that the deployment of the multi-disaster response vehicle will significantly assist the administration in managing potential emergencies during the Mahakumbh. The vehicle will serve not only during the Kumbh Mela but also in other disaster management operations.
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