3 dividend-paying stocks with attractive charts as broader market struggles
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jul 25 2024
0mins
Source: CNBC
Investment Strategy in Bearish Markets: In July, investors are advised to focus on high dividend-paying stocks in defensive sectors, such as AT&T, British American Tobacco, and Eversource Energy, which have shown positive technical patterns and provide decent income streams.
Market Outlook: As major market averages struggle, these stocks offer potential opportunities for savvy investors looking for stability and income during bearish phases, despite the uncertainty surrounding broader market trends.
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Analyst Views on T
Wall Street analysts forecast T stock price to fall
15 Analyst Rating
8 Buy
5 Hold
2 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 28.310
Low
20.00
Averages
28.27
High
33.00
Current: 28.310
Low
20.00
Averages
28.27
High
33.00
About T
AT&T Inc. is a holding company. The Company is a provider of telecommunications and technology services globally. The Company’s segments include Communications and Latin America. The Communications segment provides wireless and wireline telecom and broadband services to consumers located in the United States and businesses globally. The business units of the Communication segment include Mobility, Business Wireline, and Consumer Wireline. Mobility provides nationwide wireless service and equipment. Business Wireline provides advanced Ethernet-based fiber services, Internet Protocol (IP) Voice and managed professional services, as well as legacy voice and data services and related equipment, to business customers. Consumer Wireline provides broadband services, including fiber connections. Consumer Wireline provides legacy telephony voice communication services. The Latin America segment provides wireless services and equipment in Mexico.
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.
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- Significant Revenue Growth: Sezzle achieved a remarkable 66.1% revenue growth in fiscal 2025, and while it anticipates a slowdown to 25% to 30% in 2026, this still underscores its leadership position in the rapidly growing BNPL sector, reflecting strong market demand and customer base.
- Expansive Market Opportunities: The BNPL industry is projected to grow at a 27% compound annual growth rate through 2033, and Sezzle is effectively expanding its market share by leveraging its innovative payment model and high merchant fees, helping consumers navigate high living costs.
- Diversification Strategy: Sezzle plans to apply for a bank charter, aiming to offer additional financial products and reduce reliance on partner banks, a move that could enhance profit margins and increase customer lifetime value.
- New Business Expansion: The upcoming launch of Sezzle Mobile, priced at $29.99 per month, aims to deliver tangible savings on everyday bills, further solidifying its market position in the fintech space.
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- Diverse Revenue Streams: Sezzle primarily profits from high merchant fees, but also generates revenue from consumer fees and subscription services, where customers can avoid fees by making timely payments, thus attracting more users to its platform.
- Industry Growth Potential: According to Grand View Research, the BNPL industry is projected to achieve a 27% compound annual growth rate through 2033, with Sezzle reporting a 32.2% year-over-year revenue growth in Q4, although its 66.1% growth for full-year 2025 indicates some deceleration, still outperforming the industry average.
- Market Expansion Plans: Sezzle is preparing to apply for a bank charter to offer additional financial products and reduce reliance on partner banks, while also launching Sezzle Mobile wireless service aimed at delivering tangible savings on everyday bills, which will further enhance customer lifetime value.
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- Surge of Lawsuits: A jury in New Mexico ruled Meta liable for child safety, while a Los Angeles case accused its product design of fostering addiction in minors, indicating increasing regulatory scrutiny on tech giants.
- AI Mode Controversy: Google's AI Mode is accused of disclosing personal information of Epstein victims, with plaintiffs arguing that this design intentionally incites harassment, potentially exposing the company to greater legal risks.
- Uncertain Industry Outlook: Although the financial penalties to date are under $400 million, these verdicts set a troubling precedent for the tech industry, which may affect future investments and innovation directions.
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- Impact of Rising Rates: As interest rates continue to rise, stocks are facing increasing pressure, particularly in the context of a month-long conflict that heightens inflation concerns, which may lead strategists to lower year-end targets.
- Strong Stock Recommendations: Experts suggest holding stocks with strong company-specific strengths during volatility, particularly those with high return on equity and solid earnings per share growth, to navigate market uncertainties.
- ROE Growth Rankings: Vertiv Holdings Co (VRT) leads the list with an impressive year-over-year ROE growth of 87.59%, followed closely by AT&T Inc. (T) and Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI), showcasing these companies' robust performance in the current economic climate.
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- Technical Analysis Tool: Comparing the current share price to the 200-day moving average can provide valuable insights for investors, helping them better assess market trends and timing for investments.
- ETF Trading Mechanism: Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) trade similarly to stocks, where investors are buying and selling 'units' that can be created or destroyed based on investor demand, impacting the ETF's liquidity and market performance.
- Inflows and Outflows Monitoring: Weekly monitoring of changes in shares outstanding for ETFs allows for the identification of those experiencing notable inflows (new units created) or outflows (old units destroyed), assessing their impact on underlying assets and market sentiment.
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- Investment Scale: AT&T has agreed to invest up to $2 billion to upgrade the Emergency Cellular Network used by public safety government agencies, significantly enhancing emergency response capabilities and service quality.
- Fee Adjustments: The company will lower certain rates charged to the federal government, a strategy expected to strengthen its partnership with government entities and enhance market competitiveness.
- Contract Acceleration: The Commerce Department has agreed to expedite approvals for these upgrades, facilitating faster implementation of network enhancements and improving service efficiency in the public safety sector.
- Long-term Partnership: As the exclusive network partner for the FirstNet Authority, AT&T is responsible for building and maintaining the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network until 2042, further solidifying its leadership position in the public safety communications market.
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Sezzle's Financial Growth and Market Outlook
- Significant Revenue Growth: Sezzle achieved a remarkable 66.1% revenue growth in fiscal 2025, and while it anticipates a slowdown to 25% to 30% in 2026, this still underscores its leadership position in the rapidly growing BNPL sector, reflecting strong market demand and customer base.
- Expansive Market Opportunities: The BNPL industry is projected to grow at a 27% compound annual growth rate through 2033, and Sezzle is effectively expanding its market share by leveraging its innovative payment model and high merchant fees, helping consumers navigate high living costs.
- Diversification Strategy: Sezzle plans to apply for a bank charter, aiming to offer additional financial products and reduce reliance on partner banks, a move that could enhance profit margins and increase customer lifetime value.
- New Business Expansion: The upcoming launch of Sezzle Mobile, priced at $29.99 per month, aims to deliver tangible savings on everyday bills, further solidifying its market position in the fintech space.
See More
Sezzle: Leading Fintech Transformation with BNPL Services
- Market Share Growth: Sezzle has rapidly transformed from a penny stock to a $2.2 billion fintech company by allowing consumers to split everyday purchases into four payments, and while its stock is down 65% from all-time highs, rising revenues and profits indicate long-term potential remains strong.
- Diverse Revenue Streams: Sezzle primarily profits from high merchant fees, but also generates revenue from consumer fees and subscription services, where customers can avoid fees by making timely payments, thus attracting more users to its platform.
- Industry Growth Potential: According to Grand View Research, the BNPL industry is projected to achieve a 27% compound annual growth rate through 2033, with Sezzle reporting a 32.2% year-over-year revenue growth in Q4, although its 66.1% growth for full-year 2025 indicates some deceleration, still outperforming the industry average.
- Market Expansion Plans: Sezzle is preparing to apply for a bank charter to offer additional financial products and reduce reliance on partner banks, while also launching Sezzle Mobile wireless service aimed at delivering tangible savings on everyday bills, which will further enhance customer lifetime value.
See More
Meta and Google Face Lawsuits Over Children's Mental Health
- Eroding Legal Protections: Meta and Google were found negligent in a child safety case, signaling a challenge to the protections under Section 230, which could lead to more lawsuits and impact their operational models.
- Surge of Lawsuits: A jury in New Mexico ruled Meta liable for child safety, while a Los Angeles case accused its product design of fostering addiction in minors, indicating increasing regulatory scrutiny on tech giants.
- AI Mode Controversy: Google's AI Mode is accused of disclosing personal information of Epstein victims, with plaintiffs arguing that this design intentionally incites harassment, potentially exposing the company to greater legal risks.
- Uncertain Industry Outlook: Although the financial penalties to date are under $400 million, these verdicts set a troubling precedent for the tech industry, which may affect future investments and innovation directions.
See More
Rising Rates Increasing Pressure on Stocks
- Impact of Rising Rates: As interest rates continue to rise, stocks are facing increasing pressure, particularly in the context of a month-long conflict that heightens inflation concerns, which may lead strategists to lower year-end targets.
- Strong Stock Recommendations: Experts suggest holding stocks with strong company-specific strengths during volatility, particularly those with high return on equity and solid earnings per share growth, to navigate market uncertainties.
- ROE Growth Rankings: Vertiv Holdings Co (VRT) leads the list with an impressive year-over-year ROE growth of 87.59%, followed closely by AT&T Inc. (T) and Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI), showcasing these companies' robust performance in the current economic climate.
- Diverse Industry Performance: The top ten stocks span various industries including electrical components, telecommunications, semiconductors, and data center REITs, indicating that strong financial performance is evident across different sectors, reflecting market diversity and potential opportunities.
See More
Analysis of XLC ETF's 52-Week Price Fluctuations
- Price Range Analysis: The XLC ETF's 52-week low is $84.02 per share, with a high of $120.405, while the last trade was at $110.50, indicating relative stability and potential investment appeal in the current market environment.
- Technical Analysis Tool: Comparing the current share price to the 200-day moving average can provide valuable insights for investors, helping them better assess market trends and timing for investments.
- ETF Trading Mechanism: Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) trade similarly to stocks, where investors are buying and selling 'units' that can be created or destroyed based on investor demand, impacting the ETF's liquidity and market performance.
- Inflows and Outflows Monitoring: Weekly monitoring of changes in shares outstanding for ETFs allows for the identification of those experiencing notable inflows (new units created) or outflows (old units destroyed), assessing their impact on underlying assets and market sentiment.
See More
AT&T to Invest $2B in Emergency Network Upgrades for Public Safety
- Investment Scale: AT&T has agreed to invest up to $2 billion to upgrade the Emergency Cellular Network used by public safety government agencies, significantly enhancing emergency response capabilities and service quality.
- Fee Adjustments: The company will lower certain rates charged to the federal government, a strategy expected to strengthen its partnership with government entities and enhance market competitiveness.
- Contract Acceleration: The Commerce Department has agreed to expedite approvals for these upgrades, facilitating faster implementation of network enhancements and improving service efficiency in the public safety sector.
- Long-term Partnership: As the exclusive network partner for the FirstNet Authority, AT&T is responsible for building and maintaining the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network until 2042, further solidifying its leadership position in the public safety communications market.
See More
