Loading…
Loading…
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.
Look at telecom ETFs as companies report fourth-quarter 2024 earnings.
Look at how Telecom ETFs are performing after Q3 earnings.
iShares U.S. Telecommunications ETF holds a concentrated portfolio in the telecom and tech sectors, with 43% of assets in Cisco, Verizon, and Comcast. Despite strong profitability margins, IYZ struggles with poor revenue growth and lagging performance compared to peers, making it a hold for now. The telecom industry's future growth hinges on 5G infrastructure, but current performance issues make IYZ less attractive for immediate investment.