Quality Stock Picks Amid Middle East Unrest
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1 hour ago
0mins
Source: Fool
- Market Reaction Analysis: The unrest in the Middle East has led to significant market volatility, negatively impacting many stocks; however, high-quality, low-volatility companies like Enbridge and Verizon have shown strong performance over the past year and month, demonstrating resilience during downturns.
- Stability and Scale: Enbridge's pipelines transport approximately 30% of the crude oil and 20% of the natural gas used in the U.S., while Verizon boasts over 146 million retail wireless connections, with market caps of $117 billion and $211 billion respectively, ensuring stock price stability.
- Dividend Yield Advantage: Both companies offer dividend yields around 5%, significantly higher than the S&P 500 average; Verizon has raised its dividend for 20 consecutive years, while Enbridge has done so for 31 years, enhancing investor confidence in long-term holdings.
- Strong Financial Performance: Enbridge reported an annual EPS of $3.23, up 38%, while Verizon's 2025 revenue reached $138.2 billion, with a slight EPS decline; however, its scale and stable cash flows allow it to remain competitive even in high oil price environments.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy VZ?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
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: 49.980
Low
43.00
Averages
46.42
High
51.00
Current: 49.980
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.
Quality Stock Picks Amid Middle East Unrest
- Market Reaction Analysis: The unrest in the Middle East has led to significant market volatility, negatively impacting many stocks; however, high-quality, low-volatility companies like Enbridge and Verizon have shown strong performance over the past year and month, demonstrating resilience during downturns.
- Stability and Scale: Enbridge's pipelines transport approximately 30% of the crude oil and 20% of the natural gas used in the U.S., while Verizon boasts over 146 million retail wireless connections, with market caps of $117 billion and $211 billion respectively, ensuring stock price stability.
- Dividend Yield Advantage: Both companies offer dividend yields around 5%, significantly higher than the S&P 500 average; Verizon has raised its dividend for 20 consecutive years, while Enbridge has done so for 31 years, enhancing investor confidence in long-term holdings.
- Strong Financial Performance: Enbridge reported an annual EPS of $3.23, up 38%, while Verizon's 2025 revenue reached $138.2 billion, with a slight EPS decline; however, its scale and stable cash flows allow it to remain competitive even in high oil price environments.
See More
Verizon and Enbridge Report Revenue Growth in 2025
- Stable Dividend Yields: Both Verizon and Enbridge offer dividend yields around 5%, significantly higher than the S&P 500 average, indicating their ability to provide reliable cash flow to investors even during market turbulence.
- Strong Financial Performance: Enbridge reported a 2025 EPS of $3.23, up 38%, with distributable cash flow reaching $12.5 billion, a 3.8% increase, showcasing the stability and risk resilience of its pipeline business model.
- Market Reaction and Volatility: Despite unrest in the Middle East affecting the broader market, Verizon and Enbridge exhibit low stock price volatility with three-year betas well below average, reflecting their stability and ability to withstand uncertain environments.
- Long-Term Growth Potential: Verizon achieved $138.2 billion in revenue for 2025, a 2.5% increase, although EPS dipped 2% due to one-time severance costs; however, its scale allows it to effectively manage rising fuel costs, demonstrating strong market adaptability.
See More
Analysis of DVY ETF's 52-Week Price Fluctuations
- Price Range Analysis: DVY ETF's 52-week low is $115.94 per share, with a high of $158.915, and the latest trade at $148.01 indicates the current price is near its high, potentially attracting investor interest.
- Technical Analysis Tool: Comparing the latest share price to the 200-day moving average can provide valuable insights for investors, helping to assess market trends and identify potential buying opportunities.
- ETF Trading Mechanism: Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) trade like stocks, where investors buy and sell 'units' that can be created or destroyed based on demand, impacting the underlying asset holdings.
- Liquidity Monitoring: Weekly monitoring of changes in shares outstanding for ETFs helps identify significant inflows or outflows, where inflows necessitate purchasing underlying assets, while outflows may lead to selling, affecting the ETF's overall performance.
See More
Top High-Yield Stocks for Reliable Dividends
- Realty Income REIT: Realty Income boasts a 5.1% dividend yield and a portfolio of over 15,500 properties, showcasing a strong financial foundation and stable rental income, particularly with an average lease length of 8.8 years providing additional security during economic downturns.
- Energy Infrastructure Advantage: Enterprise Products Partners offers a 5.8% dividend yield supported by its North American energy infrastructure; despite rising geopolitical tensions, its business model ensures stable cash flow, having increased distributions annually for 27 consecutive years, demonstrating resilience against risks.
- Sticky Telecom Customers: Verizon attracts investors with a 5.7% dividend yield; despite fierce competition, its strong customer loyalty creates a stable income stream, and it has increased dividends for 19 years, highlighting its commitment to shareholder returns.
- High Yield and Robust Business Synergy: All three companies exhibit strong cash flows and high yields, with Realty Income, Enterprise, and Verizon's business models ensuring long-term reliable dividend payments, making them suitable for income-focused investors.
See More
High-Yield Stock Analysis: Real Estate, Energy, and Telecom
- REIT Advantages: Realty Income boasts a 5.1% dividend yield and a portfolio of over 15,500 properties, showcasing a strong financial foundation and stable rental income, particularly with an average lease length of 8.8 years providing additional security during economic downturns.
- Energy Sector Stability: Enterprise Products Partners offers a 5.8% dividend yield supported by its fee-based model in North American energy infrastructure; despite rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, its 27 consecutive years of distribution increases and a 1.7x cash flow coverage ratio demonstrate business resilience.
- Telecom Risks and Opportunities: Verizon's 5.7% dividend yield is crucial in the competitive telecom market, and while the new CEO's strategy remains untested, the company's commitment to shareholder returns is evident with 19 consecutive years of dividend increases.
- Investor Considerations: Although Verizon did not make Motley Fool's top stock list, the stable cash flows and high yields of Realty Income and Enterprise Products Partners position them as attractive long-term investment options for dividend-seeking investors.
See More
Investment Strategy for Quality Dividend Stocks
- Dividend Stock Advantages: Owning dividend stocks can not only outperform the market but also provide cash flow for long-term investors, highlighting the importance of understanding the underlying business to ensure the effectiveness of the investment strategy.
- Selected Stock Recommendations: The video introduces three stocks with strong fundamentals that, while not the most popular in the market, offer attractive dividend yields, making them suitable for investors seeking stable returns.
- Market Performance Analysis: Stock prices as of March 18, 2026, indicate that these stocks have shown relative stability in the market, suggesting their potential long-term investment value, especially in a volatile market environment.
- Investor Education: Released on March 20, 2026, the video aims to educate investors on how to identify and select quality dividend stocks, thereby enhancing their investment decision-making capabilities and promoting more informed investment choices.
See More
Quality Stock Picks Amid Middle East Unrest
- Market Reaction Analysis: The unrest in the Middle East has led to significant market volatility, negatively impacting many stocks; however, high-quality, low-volatility companies like Enbridge and Verizon have shown strong performance over the past year and month, demonstrating resilience during downturns.
- Stability and Scale: Enbridge's pipelines transport approximately 30% of the crude oil and 20% of the natural gas used in the U.S., while Verizon boasts over 146 million retail wireless connections, with market caps of $117 billion and $211 billion respectively, ensuring stock price stability.
- Dividend Yield Advantage: Both companies offer dividend yields around 5%, significantly higher than the S&P 500 average; Verizon has raised its dividend for 20 consecutive years, while Enbridge has done so for 31 years, enhancing investor confidence in long-term holdings.
- Strong Financial Performance: Enbridge reported an annual EPS of $3.23, up 38%, while Verizon's 2025 revenue reached $138.2 billion, with a slight EPS decline; however, its scale and stable cash flows allow it to remain competitive even in high oil price environments.
See More
Verizon and Enbridge Report Revenue Growth in 2025
- Stable Dividend Yields: Both Verizon and Enbridge offer dividend yields around 5%, significantly higher than the S&P 500 average, indicating their ability to provide reliable cash flow to investors even during market turbulence.
- Strong Financial Performance: Enbridge reported a 2025 EPS of $3.23, up 38%, with distributable cash flow reaching $12.5 billion, a 3.8% increase, showcasing the stability and risk resilience of its pipeline business model.
- Market Reaction and Volatility: Despite unrest in the Middle East affecting the broader market, Verizon and Enbridge exhibit low stock price volatility with three-year betas well below average, reflecting their stability and ability to withstand uncertain environments.
- Long-Term Growth Potential: Verizon achieved $138.2 billion in revenue for 2025, a 2.5% increase, although EPS dipped 2% due to one-time severance costs; however, its scale allows it to effectively manage rising fuel costs, demonstrating strong market adaptability.
See More
Analysis of DVY ETF's 52-Week Price Fluctuations
- Price Range Analysis: DVY ETF's 52-week low is $115.94 per share, with a high of $158.915, and the latest trade at $148.01 indicates the current price is near its high, potentially attracting investor interest.
- Technical Analysis Tool: Comparing the latest share price to the 200-day moving average can provide valuable insights for investors, helping to assess market trends and identify potential buying opportunities.
- ETF Trading Mechanism: Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) trade like stocks, where investors buy and sell 'units' that can be created or destroyed based on demand, impacting the underlying asset holdings.
- Liquidity Monitoring: Weekly monitoring of changes in shares outstanding for ETFs helps identify significant inflows or outflows, where inflows necessitate purchasing underlying assets, while outflows may lead to selling, affecting the ETF's overall performance.
See More
Top High-Yield Stocks for Reliable Dividends
- Realty Income REIT: Realty Income boasts a 5.1% dividend yield and a portfolio of over 15,500 properties, showcasing a strong financial foundation and stable rental income, particularly with an average lease length of 8.8 years providing additional security during economic downturns.
- Energy Infrastructure Advantage: Enterprise Products Partners offers a 5.8% dividend yield supported by its North American energy infrastructure; despite rising geopolitical tensions, its business model ensures stable cash flow, having increased distributions annually for 27 consecutive years, demonstrating resilience against risks.
- Sticky Telecom Customers: Verizon attracts investors with a 5.7% dividend yield; despite fierce competition, its strong customer loyalty creates a stable income stream, and it has increased dividends for 19 years, highlighting its commitment to shareholder returns.
- High Yield and Robust Business Synergy: All three companies exhibit strong cash flows and high yields, with Realty Income, Enterprise, and Verizon's business models ensuring long-term reliable dividend payments, making them suitable for income-focused investors.
See More
High-Yield Stock Analysis: Real Estate, Energy, and Telecom
- REIT Advantages: Realty Income boasts a 5.1% dividend yield and a portfolio of over 15,500 properties, showcasing a strong financial foundation and stable rental income, particularly with an average lease length of 8.8 years providing additional security during economic downturns.
- Energy Sector Stability: Enterprise Products Partners offers a 5.8% dividend yield supported by its fee-based model in North American energy infrastructure; despite rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, its 27 consecutive years of distribution increases and a 1.7x cash flow coverage ratio demonstrate business resilience.
- Telecom Risks and Opportunities: Verizon's 5.7% dividend yield is crucial in the competitive telecom market, and while the new CEO's strategy remains untested, the company's commitment to shareholder returns is evident with 19 consecutive years of dividend increases.
- Investor Considerations: Although Verizon did not make Motley Fool's top stock list, the stable cash flows and high yields of Realty Income and Enterprise Products Partners position them as attractive long-term investment options for dividend-seeking investors.
See More
Investment Strategy for Quality Dividend Stocks
- Dividend Stock Advantages: Owning dividend stocks can not only outperform the market but also provide cash flow for long-term investors, highlighting the importance of understanding the underlying business to ensure the effectiveness of the investment strategy.
- Selected Stock Recommendations: The video introduces three stocks with strong fundamentals that, while not the most popular in the market, offer attractive dividend yields, making them suitable for investors seeking stable returns.
- Market Performance Analysis: Stock prices as of March 18, 2026, indicate that these stocks have shown relative stability in the market, suggesting their potential long-term investment value, especially in a volatile market environment.
- Investor Education: Released on March 20, 2026, the video aims to educate investors on how to identify and select quality dividend stocks, thereby enhancing their investment decision-making capabilities and promoting more informed investment choices.
See More
