
This iShares fund, focused on U.S. telecommunications, aims to replicate the financial performance of an underlying index. This benchmark consists entirely of shares from American companies operating within the telecom sector.
Is IYZ's expense ratio expensive, average, or a steal for its category?
Pro reveals the verdict on a 5-tier spectrum calibrated against ICI 2025 industry averages, with strategy-aware bands so the comparison is meaningful.

iShares U.S. Telecommunications ETF is a buy due to its stable cash flows and dividend income potential from mature telecom holdings. IYZ's top holdings—Cisco, Verizon, and AT&T—anchor the fund with durable networks, benefiting from AI infrastructure and fiber expansion. Despite underperforming peers like VOX and XTL, IYZ offers a higher dividend yield (1.69%) and attractive long-term risk/reward through steady income streams.

Investors have started to question how sustainable BDC dividends are. A lot of this skepticism is logical and justified by valid reasons. My calculus shows that on average BDCs could cut their dividends by 20% in order to avoid NAV erosion.

Yield for traditional income sources have started to compress. For income-oriented investors, who seek to build a reliable passive income machine it causes a real headache. To hit a certain target income figure, investors have to assume either higher risks, extend time horizon or save/invest more capital.

IYZ underperforms both its peer XTL and the S&P 500, with disappointing returns and unattractive projected industry growth. The U.S. telecom sector faces slow growth (3-3.7% CAGR), increasing headwinds from big tech, and limited upside from AI and 5G trends. Given industry perspectives, valuation concerns, and better alternatives, I do not recommend IYZ; targeted exposure to select companies is preferable.

Wednesday, July 23 came and went with another spate of earnings to report. While the still-hot theme of artificial intelligence (AI) living through big tech earnings may grab headlines, the communications sector specifically may also speak to investors.