3 Defensive Dividend ETFs to Mitigate a Possible Market Decline
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 08 2026
0mins
Should l Buy VZ?
Source: Barron's
Market Performance: The S&P 500 has experienced three consecutive years of double-digit returns, indicating a strong market performance during this period.
Investment Strategy: Dividend investors are encouraged to explore strategies that can provide more downside protection for their portfolios in light of potential market fluctuations.
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Analyst Views on VZ
Wall Street analysts forecast VZ stock price to fall
14 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
10 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 50.910
Low
43.00
Averages
46.42
High
51.00
Current: 50.910
Low
43.00
Averages
46.42
High
51.00
About VZ
Verizon Communications Inc. is a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, provides communications, technology, information and streaming products and services to consumers, businesses and government entities. Its Consumer segment provides wireless and wireline communications services. It also provides fixed wireless access (FWA) broadband through its 5G or 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE) networks portfolio. The Company's Business segment provides wireless and wireline communications services and products, including FWA broadband, data, video and advanced communication services, corporate networking solutions, security and managed network services, local and long-distance voice services and network access to deliver various Internet of Things (IoT) services and products. It provides these products and services to businesses, public sector customers and wireless and wireline carriers across the U.S. and a subset of these products and services to customers around the world.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
FRACTUS AND VERIZON REACH SETTLEMENT IN DECEMBER 2024 PATENT INFRINGEMENT LAWSUIT
Settlement Reached: Fractus has reached a settlement with Verizon regarding a patent infringement lawsuit.
Litigation Details: The lawsuit was filed in December 2024, focusing on patent infringement issues.
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Top Dividend Stocks to Secure Stable Income
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- Enbridge's Growth Potential: Enbridge offers a 5.3% dividend yield and has increased its dividend for 31 consecutive years, with expected cash flow growth of 3% to 5% annually, providing robust support for future dividend increases.
- Realty Income's Investment Plans: Realty Income has a 5.3% dividend yield and plans to invest $8 billion in new properties this year, maintaining a 75% payout ratio of cash flow, which supports ongoing dividend increases and demonstrates its solid financial health.
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Analysis of High-Yield Dividend Stocks
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- High-Yield Investment Opportunity: EPR Properties recently boosted its monthly dividend by over 5%, currently yielding 7.1%, ensuring stable rental income through long-term leasing models, thereby enhancing its appeal in the high-yield investment sector.
- Robust Financial Performance: T. Rowe Price offers a 6% dividend yield and has increased its dividend for 40 consecutive years while managing $1.8 trillion in client assets, showcasing resilience and ongoing profitability amid market fluctuations.
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VERIZON: MOFFETT NATHANSON INCREASES TARGET PRICE TO $56, UP FROM $49
- Verizon Price Increase: Verizon has raised its target price for its stock from $49 to $56.
- Market Impact: This adjustment reflects a positive outlook on Verizon's performance and potential growth in the market.
See More
Verizon Stock Surge: Promising Investment Outlook
- Strong Stock Performance: Verizon's stock has surged 24% this year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 4% decline, indicating a robust market comeback that has captured investor interest.
- Impressive Earnings Report: In 2025, Verizon reported revenue of $138.2 billion, a 2.5% increase, and achieved the highest quarterly net adds since 2019, boosting investor confidence and demonstrating progress under new CEO Dan Schulman.
- Attractive Valuation: Verizon currently trades at a trailing P/E of 12, well below rival AT&T's over 12, and offers a 5.7% dividend yield, making it an appealing choice for investors amid economic uncertainty, potentially driving further stock price increases.
- Future Growth Potential: Despite the recent stock surge, Verizon is still down 11% over the past five years, indicating room for further gains, and with strong profit forecasts, investor sentiment remains optimistic about its long-term growth prospects.
See More
Verizon's Impressive Quarterly Results Boost Stock Significantly
- Strong Quarterly Performance: Verizon's latest earnings report revealed the highest quarterly net adds since 2019, with a modest 2.5% revenue increase to $138.2 billion and a 2% rise in operating income to $29.3 billion, indicating progress under new CEO Dan Schulman.
- Impressive Stock Performance: The stock has surged 24% this year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 4% decline, and despite an 11% drop over the past five years, it currently trades at a P/E of 12, which is attractive compared to AT&T's 12.
- High Dividend Attracts Investors: With a dividend yield of 5.7%, Verizon appeals to investors seeking stable returns amid economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, potentially driving further stock price increases in the near future.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: The company’s strong profit and cash flow forecast exceeded analysts' expectations, reflecting progress in its growth strategy and boosting investor confidence, which may lead to continued stock price appreciation.
See More
FRACTUS AND VERIZON REACH SETTLEMENT IN DECEMBER 2024 PATENT INFRINGEMENT LAWSUIT
Settlement Reached: Fractus has reached a settlement with Verizon regarding a patent infringement lawsuit.
Litigation Details: The lawsuit was filed in December 2024, focusing on patent infringement issues.
See More
Top Dividend Stocks to Secure Stable Income
- EPR Properties Performance: EPR Properties boasts a 7.1% dividend yield, ensuring stable rental income through long-term triple-net leases, and recently raised its dividend by 5.1%, reflecting its strong cash flow and investment capacity.
- Enbridge's Growth Potential: Enbridge offers a 5.3% dividend yield and has increased its dividend for 31 consecutive years, with expected cash flow growth of 3% to 5% annually, providing robust support for future dividend increases.
- Realty Income's Investment Plans: Realty Income has a 5.3% dividend yield and plans to invest $8 billion in new properties this year, maintaining a 75% payout ratio of cash flow, which supports ongoing dividend increases and demonstrates its solid financial health.
- T. Rowe Price's Steady Performance: T. Rowe Price offers a 6% dividend yield while managing $1.8 trillion in client assets, continuously launching new financial products to support its 40-year dividend growth streak, showcasing its strong competitive position in investment management.
See More
Analysis of High-Yield Dividend Stocks
- Dividend Growth Streak: Realty Income has extended its dividend growth streak to 114 consecutive quarters, demonstrating its stable cash flow and strong financial position, which is expected to continue attracting investor interest and enhancing market confidence.
- High-Yield Investment Opportunity: EPR Properties recently boosted its monthly dividend by over 5%, currently yielding 7.1%, ensuring stable rental income through long-term leasing models, thereby enhancing its appeal in the high-yield investment sector.
- Robust Financial Performance: T. Rowe Price offers a 6% dividend yield and has increased its dividend for 40 consecutive years while managing $1.8 trillion in client assets, showcasing resilience and ongoing profitability amid market fluctuations.
- Future Growth Potential: Enbridge expects its cash flow per share to grow at a 3% compound annual rate, supporting dividend growth, and its strong balance sheet provides billions in investment capacity, ensuring long-term dividend payment capability.
See More
VERIZON: MOFFETT NATHANSON INCREASES TARGET PRICE TO $56, UP FROM $49
- Verizon Price Increase: Verizon has raised its target price for its stock from $49 to $56.
- Market Impact: This adjustment reflects a positive outlook on Verizon's performance and potential growth in the market.
See More
Verizon Stock Surge: Promising Investment Outlook
- Strong Stock Performance: Verizon's stock has surged 24% this year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 4% decline, indicating a robust market comeback that has captured investor interest.
- Impressive Earnings Report: In 2025, Verizon reported revenue of $138.2 billion, a 2.5% increase, and achieved the highest quarterly net adds since 2019, boosting investor confidence and demonstrating progress under new CEO Dan Schulman.
- Attractive Valuation: Verizon currently trades at a trailing P/E of 12, well below rival AT&T's over 12, and offers a 5.7% dividend yield, making it an appealing choice for investors amid economic uncertainty, potentially driving further stock price increases.
- Future Growth Potential: Despite the recent stock surge, Verizon is still down 11% over the past five years, indicating room for further gains, and with strong profit forecasts, investor sentiment remains optimistic about its long-term growth prospects.
See More
Verizon's Impressive Quarterly Results Boost Stock Significantly
- Strong Quarterly Performance: Verizon's latest earnings report revealed the highest quarterly net adds since 2019, with a modest 2.5% revenue increase to $138.2 billion and a 2% rise in operating income to $29.3 billion, indicating progress under new CEO Dan Schulman.
- Impressive Stock Performance: The stock has surged 24% this year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 4% decline, and despite an 11% drop over the past five years, it currently trades at a P/E of 12, which is attractive compared to AT&T's 12.
- High Dividend Attracts Investors: With a dividend yield of 5.7%, Verizon appeals to investors seeking stable returns amid economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, potentially driving further stock price increases in the near future.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: The company’s strong profit and cash flow forecast exceeded analysts' expectations, reflecting progress in its growth strategy and boosting investor confidence, which may lead to continued stock price appreciation.
See More
