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When quality dividend stocks drift toward 52-week lows, patient income investors often find their best opportunities hiding in plain sight. Five household names are sitting at beaten-down prices right now, and the yields they are offering demand a closer look.

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Investors love high-yield dividend stocks because they provide dependable passive income streams and an excellent opportunity for solid total return. Total return includes interest, capital gains, dividends, and distributions realized over time. In other words, the total return on an investment or portfolio consists of income and stock appreciation. At 24/7 Wall St., we have focused on dividend stocks for 20 years because, despite the stock market’s ups and downs, many people need reliable passive income streams to supplement their income from employment or other sources such as Social Security and pensions.

Let’s examine total return. If you purchase a stock at $20 that pays a 3% dividend ($0.60 per share) and the price rises to $22 in a year, your total return is ($22 + $0.60 – $20) = 13%. This combines the price appreciation and the dividend received.

With the stock market trading near all-time highs, we screened our 24/7 Wall St. high-yield dividend stock research database for well-known companies trading at or near 52-week lows. Typically, quality well-known stocks fall for a variety of reasons. These include choppy earnings, sector competition, C-suite changes, and other factors. But as we saw with Intel (NASDAQ: INTC | INTC Price Prediction) and other large technology companies over the past year, sometimes sector leaders go dormant for a while, only to return with a vengeance and help patient investors ring the register.

Why Do We Cover High-Yield Dividend Stocks?

Since 1926, dividends have accounted for approximately 32% of the S&P 500’s total return, while capital appreciation has accounted for 68%. Therefore, sustainable dividend income and the potential for capital appreciation are essential to total return expectations. A study by Hartford Funds, in collaboration with Ned Davis Research, found that dividend stocks delivered an annualized return of 9.18% over the 50 years from 1973 to 2023. Over the same timeline, this was more than double the annualized return for non-payers (3.95%).

Here are five well-known companies paying reliable dividends that are trading at or near 52-week lows. While better suited to patient passive-income investors, they all have attributes that make them attractive now.

Clorox With products that never go out of style, a 26% discount, a 0.74 price-to-fair-value ratio, and a massive 5.34% dividend, this is the perfect buy for conservative investors. Clorox (NYSE: CLX) is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer and professional products. Despite some earnings turbulence in recent years, Clorox has maintained its dividend streak and is expected to reach 50 years in 2027. Clorox trades at roughly 15x earnings versus a 37x five-year average.

The company operates through four segments:

Health and Wellness Household Lifestyle International The Health and Wellness segment consists of cleaning, disinfecting, and professional products marketed and sold under these brands:

Clorox Clorox2 Pine-Sol Scentiva Tilex Liquid-Plumr Formula 409 Its Household segment consists of bags and wraps, cat litter, and grilling products marketed and sold under the Glad, Fresh Step, Scoop Away, and Kingsford brands in the United States. The Lifestyle segment consists of food, water-filtration, and natural personal care products marketed and sold under the Hidden Valley, Brita, and Burt’s Bees brands. International products consist of those sold outside the United States. Its products in this segment include laundry additives, home care products, bags and wraps, cat litter, water filtration products, and others.

Comcast Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA) is an American multinational telecommunications and media conglomerate. With a dependable 4.98% yield, this is a solid idea now. This global media and technology conglomerate offers an 18-year dividend-growth streak, averaging ~7.5% annual payout growth over five years. Weakness reflects broader cord-cutting and streaming competition pressures, which it is addressing with a corporate spin-off.

It operates through four segments:

Residential Connectivity & Platforms Business Services Connectivity Media, Studios Theme Parks The Residential Connectivity & Platforms segment provides residential broadband and wireless connectivity services, residential and business video services, Sky-branded entertainment television networks, and advertising. The Business Services Connectivity segment offers connectivity services for small business locations, including broadband, wireline voice, and wireless services. It also offers solutions for medium-sized customers, larger enterprises, and small business connectivity services in the United Kingdom.

The Media segment operates NBCUniversal’s television and streaming business, including:

National and regional cable networks The NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks Owned local broadcast television stations Peacock, a direct-to-consumer streaming service It also operates international television networks comprising the Sky Sports networks and other digital properties. The Studios segment operates NBCUniversal and Sky film and television studio production and distribution operations.

The Theme Parks segment operates Universal theme parks in:

Orlando, Florida Hollywood, California Osaka, Japan Beijing, China Comcast announced earlier this year that it is spinning off most of its NBCUniversal cable television networks into a new, independent public company called “SpinCo.” This new entity will include popular cable channels like USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Bravo, E!, Syfy, and Oxygen, along with digital assets like Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes. By separating these mature cable channels, Comcast aims to isolate its declining linear television business from its higher-growth core assets, which will remain under Comcast. These retained core businesses include the Xfinity broadband and wireless operations, the Peacock streaming service, NBC broadcast television, Universal Pictures film studio, and Universal theme parks.

Duke Energy Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) is an American electric power and natural gas holding company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Headquartered in a growing region of the country, it pays a hefty 3.54% dividend, among the highest in the utility sector. Duke Energy and its subsidiaries operate as energy companies in the United States.

Its Electric Utilities and Infrastructure segment generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electricity in the Carolinas, Florida, and the Midwest. To generate electricity, Duke Energy uses the following:

Coal Hydroelectric Natural gas Oil Solar and wind sources Renewables Nuclear fuel This segment also sells electricity to municipalities, electric cooperative utilities, and load-serving entities.

The Gas Utilities and Infrastructure segment distributes natural gas to

Residential Commercial Industrial Power generation natural gas customers The segment also invests in pipeline transmission projects, renewable natural gas projects, and natural gas storage facilities.

General Mills With products that never go out of style and a strong 6.37% dividend yield, this rebound story will reward patient investors. General Mills (NYSE: GIS) is a global manufacturer and marketer of branded consumer foods and has a P/E ratio of 9.23, suggesting it may be undervalued relative to the consumer staples sector average. The company generates strong free cash flow, typically over $2 billion annually, which supports the current dividend even amid softer sales.

Its segments include:

North America Retail International North America Pet North America Foodservice The North America Retail segment includes grocery stores, mass merchandisers, membership stores, natural food chains, drug, dollar, and discount chains, convenience stores, and e-commerce grocery providers. The International segment consists of retail and foodservice businesses outside the United States and Canada. Its product categories include super-premium ice cream and frozen desserts, meal kits, salty snacks, snack bars, dessert and baking mixes, and shelf-stable vegetables.

The North America Pet segment includes pet food products sold in the United States and Canada in national pet superstore chains, e-commerce retailers, and grocery stores. The North America Foodservice segment includes ready-to-eat cereals, snacks, and baking mixes.

VICI Properties VICI Properties (NYSE: VICI) is a New York City-based real estate investment trust that specializes in casino and entertainment properties and pays a stellar dividend yield of 7.08%. This is one of Wall Street’s top picks in the net lease group and is ideal for more conservative investors seeking gaming exposure and a substantial dividend. VICI Properties is an S&P 500 experiential real estate investment trust with one of the largest portfolios of market-leading gaming, hospitality, and entertainment destinations, including three iconic entertainment facilities on the Las Vegas Strip:

Caesars Palace Las Vegas MGM Grand The Venetian Resort Las Vegas VICI Properties owns 93 experiential assets across a geographically diverse portfolio of 54 gaming properties and 39 other experiential properties across the United States and Canada. The portfolio comprises approximately 127 million square feet and features approximately 60,300 hotel rooms, as well as over 500 restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and sportsbooks. Gaming revenue has proven remarkably resilient in recent downturns, and its triple-net lease structure means it collects rent regardless of swings in tenant profitability.

Industry-leading gaming, leisure, and hospitality operators occupy its properties under these long-term, triple-net lease agreements.

VICI Properties has a growing array of real estate and financing partnerships with leading operators in other experiential sectors, including:

Bowlero Cabot Canyon Ranch Chelsea Piers Great Wolf Resorts Homefield Kalahari Resorts VICI Properties also owns four championship golf courses and 33 acres of undeveloped and underdeveloped land adjacent to the Las Vegas Strip.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Social Security's projected 2027 COLA raise sounds promising until you realize retirees feel higher prices months before benefits catch up. Five blue-chip dividend stocks already pay yields that outpace that adjustment, and some have raised their payouts for decades straight.

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Social Security’s 2027 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is currently projected to come in at 3.6%, according to estimates from the Senior Citizens League. That would be 0.8 percentage points higher than this year’s 2.8% COLA. If the projection holds, it would mark the largest annual adjustment in Social Security payments since 2023. The average retired worker received about $2,071 a month in Social Security benefits as of January, so a 3.6% COLA would raise that by roughly $75, to around $2,146 a month starting in 2027.

Seniors should note the estimate isn’t final. The Social Security Administration won’t announce the official 2027 adjustment until October 14, once September’s CPI report is available. Other forecasters have landed slightly lower: an independent analyst, Mary Johnson, has projected the 2027 COLA at around 3.4%, while AARP’s most recent estimate put it at 3.5%. Even if the higher figure holds, a bigger COLA doesn’t necessarily mean retirees end up ahead financially, since the adjustment is meant to help benefits keep pace with inflation rather than increase purchasing power. It’s backward-looking, so retirees feel higher prices before their benefits catch up.

While many seniors and retirees depend on Social Security, adding passive income sources, like blue-chip dividend stocks, makes sense now, especially with interest rates drifting higher. We screened our 24/7 Wall St. blue chip dividend stock database for large-cap companies that pay a higher dividend than the projected Social Security increase. While many high-yield savings accounts pay rates similar to the projected increase, they offer no growth or total return potential. Our five blue chips offer both. All are rated Buy by the top Wall Street firms we cover.

Why Do We Recommend Blue Chip Dividend Stocks?

Blue chip stocks are shares of large, well-established companies considered less risky and more financially stable than other stocks. They are often industry leaders with strong brand names, reputations, and a history of consistent growth. They also tend to raise dividends regularly.

Altria Altria (NYSE:MO | MO Price Prediction) is one of the world’s largest producers and marketers of cigarettes and other tobacco-related products. This tobacco stock offers value investors a solid entry point and a 6.10% dividend yield. Altria manufactures and sells smokable and oral tobacco products in the United States primarily to wholesalers, including distributors and large retail organizations, such as chain stores. The company’s payout ratio is around 100% of earnings, which sounds thin. Still, it’s backed by an unusually stable, cash-generative tobacco business with a very long history of dividend increases. The risk here is more about long-term volume decline than a near-term cut.

The company primarily sells cigarettes under the Marlboro brand, as well as:

Cigars and pipe tobacco, principally under the Black & Mild and Middleton brands Moist smokeless tobacco and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands on! Oral nicotine pouches e-vapor products under the NJOY ACE brand Altria used to own over 10% of Anheuser-Busch InBev (NYSE: BUD), the world’s largest brewer. In March 2024, the company sold 35 million of its 197 million shares through a global secondary offering. That represents 18% of its holdings but still leaves 8% of the outstanding shares in its back pocket. Altria also announced a $2.4 billion stock repurchase plan partially funded by the sale.

Altria increased its quarterly dividend in August by 4.7%, from $1.06 to $1.11 per share, marking its 58th consecutive dividend increase.

UBS has a Buy rating with a $79 target price.

Bristol Myers Squibb Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY) is a global biopharmaceutical company committed to discovering, developing, and delivering transformative medicines for patients with serious diseases across oncology, hematology, immunology, cardiovascular disease, neuroscience, and other therapeutic areas. It remains a solid long-term pharmaceutical stock, offering an outstanding entry point with a reliable 3.69% dividend.

The company’s platforms comprise chemically synthesized or small-molecule drugs, including protein degraders, as well as biologics produced through biological processes. These platforms also encompass ADCs, CAR-T cell therapies, and radiopharmaceutical therapeutics. Small-molecule drugs are typically administered orally as tablets or capsules, although other drug-delivery mechanisms are also used. Biologics are usually administered by injection or intravenous infusion. CAR-T cell therapies are administered by intravenous infusion.

Its growth portfolio includes:

Opdivo Opdivo Qvantig Orencia Yervoy Reblozyl Opdualag Bristol Myers Squibb’s legacy portfolio includes:

Eliquis Revlimid Pomalyst/Imnovid Sprycel Abraxane Roth Capital has a Buy rating with a $75 target price.

Comcast Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA) is an American multinational telecommunications and media conglomerate. With a dependable 4.95% yield, this is a solid idea now. This global media and technology conglomerate offers an 18-year dividend-growth streak, averaging ~7.5% annual payout growth over five years. Weakness reflects broader cord-cutting and streaming competition pressures, which it is addressing with a corporate spin-off. With a current yield well covered by earnings, a payout ratio of about 22% to 25%, this company is one of the lowest and best-covered of our blue-chip leaders.

Its Residential Connectivity & Platforms segment provides residential broadband and wireless connectivity services, residential and business video services, Sky-branded entertainment television networks, and advertising. The Business Services Connectivity segment offers connectivity services for small business locations, including broadband, wireline voice, and wireless services. It also offers solutions for medium-sized customers, larger enterprises, and small business connectivity services in the United Kingdom.

The Media segment operates NBCUniversal’s television and streaming business, including:

National and regional cable networks The NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks Owned local broadcast television stations Peacock, a direct-to-consumer streaming service It also operates international television networks comprising the Sky Sports networks and other digital properties. The Studios segment operates NBCUniversal and Sky film and television studio production and distribution operations.

The Theme Parks segment operates Universal theme parks in:

Orlando, Florida Hollywood, California Osaka, Japan Beijing, China Comcast announced earlier this year that it is spinning off most of its NBCUniversal cable television networks into a new, independent public company called “SpinCo.” This new entity will include popular cable channels like USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Bravo, E!, Syfy, and Oxygen, along with digital assets like Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes. By separating these mature cable channels, Comcast aims to isolate its declining linear television business from its higher-growth core assets, which will remain under Comcast. These retained core businesses include Xfinity broadband and wireless operations, the Peacock streaming service, NBC broadcast television, Universal Pictures, and Universal theme parks.

Rosenblatt Securities has a Buy rating with a $31 target price.

Franklin Templeton Franklin Templeton (NYSE:BEN) is a global investment management company serving clients in over 150 countries. Paying a solid 3.90% dividend, the company has raised the dividend every year since 1981, a remarkable 46-year streak of consecutive dividend growth. Through its specialist investment managers, it provides global capabilities across equity, fixed income, alternatives, and multi-asset solutions.

The company provides investment management and related services to retail, institutional, and high-net-worth investors worldwide. Its investment products include:

Sponsored funds Institutional and high-net-worth separate accounts Retail separately managed account programs Sub-advised products Other investment vehicles Its funds include registered funds (including exchange-traded funds) and unregistered funds. It offers its services and products under its various distinct brand names, including:

Alcentra Benefit Street Partners Brandywine Global Investment Management Canvas TD Cowen has a Buy rating with a $40 target price.

Verizon Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) is an American multinational telecommunications company that continues to offer tremendous value. It trades at 9.13 times its estimated 2026 earnings and pays a 5.52% dividend. Verizon provides a range of communications, technology, information, and entertainment products and services to consumers, businesses, and government entities worldwide.

Verizon’s trailing 12-month interest coverage ratio is 4.6× to 5×, providing ample cushion for dividend payments. With a very predictable revenue stream from telecom services, the company has less exposure to commodity cycles. In addition, its scale helps with financing and absorbing shocks. Public reports indicate that management has increased the dividend for 20 consecutive years and expects at least $21.5 billion in free cash flow this year.

It operates in two segments. The Consumer segment provides wireless services across the United States through Verizon and TracFone networks, as well as through wholesale and other arrangements. It also provides fixed wireless access (FWA) broadband through its wireless networks and related equipment and devices, such as:

Smartphones Tablets Smartwatches Other wireless-enabled connected devices The segment also offers wireline services in the Mid-Atlantic and northeastern United States through its fiber-optic network, Verizon Fios product portfolio, and copper-based network.

The Business segment provides wireless and wireline communications services and products, including:

FWA broadband Data Video and conferencing Corporate networking Security and managed network Local and long-distance voice Network access services to deliver various IoT services and products to businesses, government customers, and wireless and wireline carriers in the United States and internationally.

Raymond James has an Outperform rating with a $56 target price.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

TREVOSE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Comcast completes network expansion in Bloomsbury, NJ, bringing Xfinity and Comcast Business services to nearly 400 more residents and businesses.

On August 25, 2026, we conducted a DCF analysis for Comcast Corp CMCSA , which has seen a price increase of 5.7% over the past week and a notable 21.2% rise in the last month. However, the stock is down 11.4% over the past year, reflecting some volatility in its performance. Here are key insights from our analysis:

DCF Earnings-based intrinsic value of $54.25 compared to the current price of $27.02 (margin of safety: 50.2%) DCF Free Cash Flow-based intrinsic value of $70.27, providing a second opinion on valuation GF Score™ of 65/100 indicates moderate reliability of DCF inputs, but with a predictability rank of 2/5 stars, caution is advised What Is CMCSA Worth? DCF Earnings-Based Model The DCF earnings-based model for Comcast Corp estimates the intrinsic value based on projected earnings growth over a ten-year period followed by a terminal growth phase. The model assumes a current EPS of $3.79 and an annual growth rate of 8.3% for the first decade, followed by a terminal growth rate of 4% for the subsequent ten years.

Parameter Value Current EPS (TTM, excl. non-recurring) $3.79 10-Year Growth Rate 8.3% 10-Year Treasury Rate 4.67% Discount Rate (ceil(Treasury) + 6%) 11% Terminal Growth Rate 4% The two-stage model breaks down as follows:

Stage Description Value Growth Stage (Years 1-10) EPS growing at 8.3%, discounted at 11% $33.18 Terminal Stage (Years 11-20) 4% terminal growth, discounted at 11% $21.07 Intrinsic Value Growth + Terminal $54.25 With the current price at $27.02, this indicates that Comcast is significantly undervalued, presenting a margin of safety of 50.2%. It is important to note that GuruFocus uses EPS excluding non-recurring items as research indicates that stock prices correlate more closely with earnings than free cash flow.

For more detailed calculations, visit the CMCSA DCF Calculator.

What Does the Free Cash Flow DCF Say? The Free Cash Flow (FCF)-based intrinsic value for Comcast is estimated at $70.27. This value corroborates the earnings-based DCF model, reinforcing the conclusion that the stock is significantly undervalued, with a margin of safety of 61.5%.

How Does GF Value™ Compare to the DCF Models? The GF Value™ for Comcast stands at $37.10, providing yet another perspective on the stock's valuation. GF Value™ is a proprietary measure that considers historical trading multiples, past business growth, and future performance estimates. All three valuation models—DCF earnings, DCF FCF, and GF Value™—agree that Comcast is undervalued, suggesting a potential opportunity for investors.

For more insights, check the GF Value™ page.

What Does CMCSA's GF Score™ Tell Us? The GF Score™ evaluates a company's financial health and growth potential. Comcast's score of 65/100 indicates a moderate level of reliability in its financial metrics, but the low predictability rank of 2/5 stars suggests that the DCF model may be less reliable for this stock. Below is a summary of the GF Score™ metrics:

Metric Rating GF Score™ 65/100 Financial Strength 4/10 Profitability 9/10 Growth 5/10 Valuation 4/10 Momentum 1/10 For further details, visit the CMCSA stock page.

Key Assumptions and Limitations DCF models are highly sensitive to the assumptions made regarding growth rates and discount rates. Stocks with low predictability ratings, such as Comcast's 2/5 stars, tend to yield less reliable DCF estimates. Additionally, the terminal growth rate of 4% is a simplifying assumption that may not reflect future market conditions accurately.

What This Means for Investors In conclusion, all three valuation models—DCF earnings, DCF FCF, and GF Value™—indicate that Comcast is significantly undervalued. The consensus suggests a strong opportunity for potential investors, although the low predictability rank should be taken into account. Furthermore, the guru ownership signal shows that 28 gurus currently hold the stock, with 12 adding to their positions and 14 trimming their holdings in recent quarters, while insiders have sold $2.3M worth of shares over the past year. This mixed signal from gurus and insider activity warrants careful consideration. For a comprehensive analysis, visit the CMCSA DCF Calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions What is CMCSA's intrinsic value based on DCF?

According to our analysis, the earnings-based intrinsic value is $54.25, while the FCF-based intrinsic value is $70.27.

Is CMCSA overvalued or undervalued?

Both the DCF and GF Value™ models indicate that CMCSA is significantly undervalued.

How reliable is the DCF model for CMCSA?

The reliability of the DCF model for CMCSA is limited, as indicated by its predictability rank of 2/5 stars.

This stock alert was generated using automated technology and GuruFocus financial data to provide readers with timely and accurate market reporting. This content was reviewed by GuruFocus editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

Comcast remains a Buy at $26.90, trading at just 7.4x 2027 forward earnings with a nearly 5% dividend yield. Wireless and Peacock are now robust growth engines; Peacock achieved profitability, and wireless posted its best quarter ever with 448,000 net line adds. The planned NBCUniversal/Sky spin-off could unlock value, but uncertainty remains on post-split debt allocation and dividend policy.

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio & STEUBENVILLE, Ohio & ST. CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Comcast completes Eastern Ohio rural broadband expansion, bringing Xfinity and Comcast Business to more than 2,300 homes and businesses.

Comcast's Xfinity today announced thatmore than 1,100 additional homes and businesses across Allen County, including communities in Churubusco, Columbia City, F

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) announced that on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, Jason Armstrong, Chief Financial Officer of Comcast Corporation, will participate in the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference. A live webcast of the event will be available on the Company's Investor Relations website at www.cmcsa.com on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 11:10 A.M. Eastern Time. An on-demand replay will be available shortly after the conclusion of the p.

Comcast remains a buy despite recent PR backlash and Wall Street skepticism, with fundamentals now more attractive after a decade of underperformance. CMCSA's broadband monopoly has eroded, but strong growth in mobile and resilient NBCUniversal content and theme parks offer new profit centers. Xfinity Mobile's perpetual Verizon roaming deal and selective network deployment provide unique cost advantages and growth potential over other MVNOs.

Main Street Sports, the now-defunct owner of a portfolio of regional sports networks, is suing cable companies Comcast and Charter Communications in separate lawsuits for what it alleges are underpaid licensing fees.

The company that began its winddown earlier this year is alleging that Comcast and Charter — the two largest pay TV providers in the U.S. — breached their contracts and underpaid Main Street in the earlier part of 2026 when its networks were still delivering NBA and NHL games to local markets across the country, according to the lawsuits, which were seen by CNBC.

The suits were filed in Delaware Superior Court on Monday. Representatives for Comcast and Charter didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

Main Street, the entity that originated as Fox Sports networks, has been through a series of owners since 2019, as well as several name changes. The company emerged from bankruptcy protection in early 2025, when its channels took on the name of FanDuel Sports Network. It had about 15 channels, and at one point after its bankruptcy exit aired games for about 30 teams across Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League and the National Basketball Association.

However, despite touting subscriber growth as recently as the spring, Main Street continued to face liquidity issues when its MLB fees payments were due, CNBC previously reported. The company had long been weighed down by a heavy debt load.

The issues led to its inevitable winddown. While it aired its final local MLB games in 2025, the company aired the entirety of the NBA regular season, as well as the NHL regular season and first round of playoffs this year.

Problems have been piling up for regional sports networks as the pay TV bundle continues to bleed subscribers.

Regional sports networks were once a lucrative business model for teams and leagues, as the channels pay high fees to air local games that trickle down to team payrolls. However the proliferation of cord cutting has led many pay TV distributors to rework their agreements with these channels.

Even the direct-to-consumer streaming offerings for these networks have been in a state of change. Last month, two of New York's independently owned regional sports networks left their own streaming app for a deal to be distributed by streaming platform DAZN.

In Brief

Posted:

Image Credits:Jeff Fusco / Getty Images Comcast has rolled out a new motion-sensing technology to its latest home routers, allowing homeowners to receive notifications about activity detected inside their house while they are away.

The free feature, called Wi-Fi Motion, turns newer Xfinity gateways into motion sensors by detecting interruptions to the Wi-Fi signal of the wireless network and sends a notification through the Xfinity app.

As first reported by The Verge, the new Wi-Fi Motion feature works for advanced Xfinity gateways XB7 and newer models and is opt-in, which means users can choose whether to switch on the feature in the Xfinity app. As quoted by the publication, customers can use this feature for “motion detection in their home and for a basic level of security.”

There is a privacy trade-off. By enabling the feature, Comcast says it may disclose information generated from a customer’s use of Wi-Fi Motion to outside parties under a broad array of reasons — and Comcast says it doesn’t have to tell you.

“Comcast may disclose information generated by your Wi-Fi Motion to third parties without further notice to you in connection with any law enforcement investigation or proceeding, any dispute to which Comcast is a party, or pursuant to a court order or subpoena,” reads an Xfinity support page.

That’s something to consider before you switch on the feature, particularly if you’re privacy conscious.

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Latest in Security

Comcast (CMCSA.O) is expanding its Xfinity home security offerings with a new platform that combines Wi-Fi-based protection ​with cybersecurity and family controls, as it ‌seeks to make its broadband service stickier in a competitive market.

Here are more details:

Comcast said on Tuesday that the platform, ​called Xfinity Shield, is available for Xfinity ​Internet customers at no additional cost, while a $15-a-month ⁠option adds an indoor camera, door and window ​sensor, cloud video storage and 24/7 urgent response.

The company ​said the average Xfinity customer now connects 36 devices to WiFi, while its network identifies, filters and blocks an average of ​30 million threats each day.

The new features could ​help deepen customer engagement at a time when Comcast faces ‌pressure ⁠to retain subscribers in a highly competitive market.

"We're lowering dramatically the barrier of entry to the idea of a total security product under Xfinity Shield," Comcast ​product chief Fraser ​Stirling told ⁠Reuters in an interview.

The platform brings cybersecurity, WiFi Motion and family controls together ​in the Xfinity app. WiFi Motion uses ​the ⁠Xfinity Gateway, which sits at the center of the home network, and other connected devices to detect movement ⁠in ​the home, while Comcast said ​AI capabilities across its network and Gateway help support the service.

On August 18, 2026, we conducted a DCF analysis for Comcast Corp
CMCSA -2.33% 63

, which has shown a mixed price performance recently. The stock has experienced a year-to-date decline of 5.3% and a 14.4% drop over the past year, raising questions about its valuation.

DCF Earnings-based intrinsic value of $54.25 vs current price of $25.57 (margin of safety: 52.9%) DCF Free Cash Flow-based intrinsic value of $70.27 (second opinion) GF Score™ of 63/100 indicates moderate reliability of the DCF inputs What Is CMCSA Worth? DCF Earnings-Based Model The DCF earnings-based model for Comcast Corp indicates a significant undervaluation. The model operates on a two-stage approach, where the first stage reflects a growth phase over the next ten years, followed by a terminal phase. Below is a summary of the key assumptions used in the model:

Parameter Value Current EPS (TTM, excl. non-recurring) $3.79 10-Year Growth Rate 8.3% 10-Year Treasury Rate 4.74% Discount Rate (ceil(Treasury) + 6%) 11% Terminal Growth Rate 4% The calculation summary for the two-stage model is as follows:

Stage Description Value Growth Stage (Years 1-10) EPS growing at 8.3%, discounted at 11% $33.18 Terminal Stage (Years 11-20) 4% terminal growth, discounted at 11% $21.07 Intrinsic Value Growth + Terminal $54.25 With the current price at $25.57, the intrinsic value of $54.25 indicates that the stock is significantly undervalued, presenting a margin of safety of 52.9%. It is important to note that GuruFocus uses EPS excluding non-recurring items, as research shows that stock prices correlate more closely with earnings than with free cash flow. For further details, you can visit the CMCSA DCF Calculator.

What Does the Free Cash Flow DCF Say? The Free Cash Flow (FCF)-based intrinsic value for Comcast Corp is calculated at $70.27. This value corroborates the earnings-based DCF model, reinforcing the conclusion that the stock is significantly undervalued, with a margin of safety of 63.6%.

How Does GF Value™ Compare to the DCF Models? The GF Value™ for Comcast Corp stands at $37.12, providing a third perspective on valuation. GF Value™ is a proprietary measure from GuruFocus that combines historical trading multiples, past business growth, and future performance estimates. All three models—DCF earnings, DCF FCF, and GF Value™—agree that the stock is undervalued, suggesting a potential opportunity for investors. For more insights, check the GF Value™.

What Does CMCSA's GF Score™ Tell Us? The GF Score™ measures a stock's overall quality based on various factors, including financial strength, profitability, growth, and valuation. Comcast Corp has a GF Score™ of 63 out of 100, indicating a moderate level of quality. However, the predictability rank is low at 2 out of 5 stars, which implies that the DCF model may be less reliable for this stock.

Metric Rating GF Score™ 63/100 Financial Strength 4/10 Profitability 8/10 Growth 5/10 Valuation 4/10 Momentum 1/10 For more details about the stock, visit the CMCSA stock page.

Key Assumptions and Limitations It is crucial to recognize that DCF models are highly sensitive to assumptions regarding growth and discount rates. Stocks with low predictability ratings, such as Comcast Corp, yield less reliable DCF estimates. The terminal growth rate of 4% used in this analysis is a simplifying assumption that may not fully capture future performance.

What This Means for Investors In summary, all three valuation models—DCF earnings, DCF FCF, and GF Value™—indicate that Comcast Corp is significantly undervalued. The consensus suggests a potential opportunity for investors, although the low predictability rank should be taken into consideration. Additionally, the guru ownership signal shows that 28 gurus currently hold the stock, with 12 adding and 14 trimming their positions recently. Insider activity has been negative, with insiders selling $2.3 million worth of shares over the past year. This mixed signal from gurus and insiders adds a layer of complexity to the investment decision. For further analysis, explore the CMCSA DCF Calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions What is CMCSA's intrinsic value based on DCF?

Answer: earnings-based $54.25, FCF-based $70.27

Is CMCSA overvalued or undervalued?

Answer: Based on DCF and GF Value™, CMCSA is significantly undervalued.

How reliable is the DCF model for CMCSA?

Answer: The DCF model's reliability is affected by its predictability rank of 2 out of 5 stars.

This stock alert was generated using automated technology and GuruFocus financial data to provide readers with timely and accurate market reporting. This content was reviewed by GuruFocus editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

Investors today must choose between high-growth technology titans and steady, cash-generating telecommunications leaders. Deciding between Amazon.com (AMZN -0.66%) and Comcast (CMCSA -0.06%) requires weighing rapid expansion against deep value and consistent returns.

Amazon leads the world in online retail and cloud computing, while Comcast serves as a cornerstone of global connectivity through its broadband and media operations. An examination of their financials and risks will help you see which better fits your long-term goals. Both companies command massive market positions, but they appeal to very different investment styles.

The case for Amazon.comAmazon.com operates a vast global ecosystem that spans online retail, high-margin cloud computing, and digital advertising. The company serves individual consumers, third-party sellers, developers, and government agencies in over 190 different countries. It relies heavily on its proprietary logistics network and the AWS cloud platform to maintain its dominant position in the global marketplace.

In FY 2025, the company recorded revenue of approximately $716.9 billion, representing a growth rate of nearly 12.4% over the prior year. This increased scale helped drive net income to roughly $77.7 billion for the fiscal year. The net margin reached approximately 10.8%, showing an improvement over previous years as the company focused on operational efficiency.

As of its December 2025 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio was roughly 0.4x. This metric shows the company has 40 cents of debt for every dollar of shareholder equity. The current ratio, which measures the ability to pay short-term debts with assets like cash and inventory, was approximately 1.1x. Free cash flow, which is cash flow from operations minus capital expenditures, reached close to $7.7 billion during the year.

The case for ComcastComcast provides essential connectivity through its Xfinity broadband and wireless brands, while also operating Universal theme parks and film studios. The company serves hundreds of millions of viewers and guests worldwide through its diversified entertainment portfolio. This move allows the company to focus on its core strengths among media stocks and its expanding wireless business following the separation of several cable networks in early 2026.

During FY 2025, revenue was approximately $123.7 billion, which remained nearly unchanged from the previous year. Despite the flat revenue growth, the company achieved a net income of roughly $20.0 billion for the period. Its net margin reached approximately 16.2%, indicating that the company keeps a significant portion of its revenue as profit after all expenses.

Based on its December 2025 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio was roughly 1.1x. This indicates that total debt slightly exceeds the value of shareholder equity. The current ratio was approximately 0.9x, which means short-term assets are slightly lower than short-term liabilities. However, the company remains a major cash producer, generating nearly $21.9 billion in free cash flow, defined as cash from operations minus capital expenditures.

Risk profile comparisonAmazon.com faces intense global competition from well-funded rivals like Alphabet and Walmart. The company also deals with significant regulatory pressure, including a pending $2.5 billion settlement with the FTC and ongoing antitrust litigation in New Jersey. International operations in China and India remain sensitive to trade restrictions and complex local licensing requirements, which may require significant structural changes.

Comcast must navigate a landscape where streaming services and fiber-based providers like AT&T challenge its traditional broadband and video dominance. The company recently paid a $117.5 million settlement following a major data breach, highlighting its vulnerability to cybersecurity threats. Additionally, the rising costs of sports broadcasting rights and potential fluctuations in theme park attendance create consistent pressure on its long-term financial performance.

Valuation comparisonComcast appears significantly cheaper than Amazon.com when comparing valuations based on Forward P/E future earnings estimates and the P/S ratio.

MetricAmazon.comComcastForward P/E23.5x7.2xP/S ratio4.1x0.7xValuation metrics sourced from Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and may differ from other data providers.

Without a doubt, I'd go with Amazon, and after its most recent quarter, the case for this stock has never been stronger. But Comcast deserves credit for executing well in a difficult environment. Peacock just turned profitable for the first time, and the company beat earnings estimates in its most recent quarter. For investors who prioritize steady cash flows and a reliable dividend, it has its appeal.

But Comcast is fighting structural headwinds that show no sign of reversing. Broadband subscribers are declining while the core cable business faces increasing competition from fiber and fixed wireless providers The planned NBCUniversal spinoff also introduces complexity that will take years to sort out.

Amazon's AWS growth accelerated for the fifth consecutive quarter, the advertising business is surging, and operating income grew at more than double the rate of revenue. The company is also investing aggressively in AI infrastructure, with major partnerships pointing to durable demand for years ahead. For a long-term investor, owning a business firing on all cylinders across cloud, advertising, and retail beats holding a cable company navigating a slow-motion transition.

Comcast announced today Xfinity and Comcast Business high-speed, reliable Internet services are now available to more than 2,400 homes and businesses in Putnam

The Zacks Cable Television industry players are focusing on bundled offerings and on-demand programming to counter challenges from cord-cutting as consumers shift away from traditional pay-TV options, including cable TV and satellite TV, to over-the-top streaming services with innovative content. The industry is evolving by leveraging its broadband infrastructure to meet changing consumer preferences and balancing traditional cable services with new streaming options to maintain relevance in the rapidly changing media landscape. Cable companies are benefiting from consistent demand for high-speed broadband and WiFi devices, driven by hybrid work and learning environments. Increased media consumption has been a key catalyst for industry leaders like Comcast (CMCSA - Free Report) , Charter Communications (CHTR - Free Report) and Cable One (CABO - Free Report) .

Industry Description The Zacks Cable Television industry comprises companies offering integrated data, video and voice services, including pay-TV and Internet-based streaming content. These firms provide equipment like satellite dishes, digital set-top receivers and remote controls. Cable companies typically build or lease network backbones from telecom companies and purchase licenses to distribute programmers' content over these networks. They license content from programmers and sell advertising spots. The industry is capital-intensive, requiring significant investment in infrastructure and is heavily regulated by the Federal Communications Commission. Industry players must balance the need for ongoing investment in technology and infrastructure with evolving consumer preferences and regulatory compliance to maintain competitiveness in the media landscape.

4 Trends Shaping the Future of the Cable Industry Skinny Bundles, Original Content Driving Growth: Cable television’s ability to generate ad revenues outside traditional TV platforms, such as websites and any digitally consumed platform, provides increased scope for target-based advertising. Nevertheless, consumers’ unfavorable disposition, particularly toward advertising, has hit industry participants hard. Further, the growing consumer preference for digital and subscription services instead of linear pay-TV and rental or outright purchase has compelled industry players to alter their business models. Cable television companies are now offering a variety of alternative packages, including skinny bundles, which are delivered at lower costs than traditional offerings. These companies are also innovating in terms of original content to be competitive against streaming service providers.

High-Speed Internet Demand Key Catalyst: The growing demand for high-speed Internet, including broadband, has aided cable television industry participants like Comcast and Charter. Improving Internet speed is fueling the demand for high-quality video and the trend of binge viewing. Further, a strengthening broadband ecosystem in international markets, along with the proliferation of smart TVs, is anticipated to drive growth. Also, the work-from-home trend and online learning have boosted Internet usage, thus supporting industry participants.

Cord Cutting and Matured PayTV Industry Hurting Prospects: The cable television industry is witnessing the rapid evolution of distribution platforms as well as embracing new players and advanced technologies. Declining profits of residential video services due to rising programming costs and retransmission fees have made survival difficult for traditional companies. Additionally, the heightened need for on-demand content has led to the mushrooming of streaming service providers, making it particularly tricky for traditional cable television companies to maintain a viewer base. Furthermore, the traditional pay-TV industry is maturing with widespread consolidation. Moreover, residential voice service revenues are declining due to the rising shift to wireless voice services.

Softness in Advertising Demand Impeding Business Growth: Persistent inflation and higher interest rates are having a detrimental effect on ad spending. Besides, the challenge with TV ads is that marketers have difficulty getting actionable metrics and insights such as attribution data. At this time, marketers must look for outside-the-box solutions to extract conversion data from offline media. TV has taken a secondary role in most marketing strategies due to the growing influence of digital marketing. Many marketers are increasing ad spending on digital media due to their unmatched ability to deliver personalized messages that are easy to measure. Cable TV players are set to face competition for ad dollars from streaming service providers like Netflix and Disney, which are raising prices and introducing cheaper ad-supported packages now that their subscriber growth has slowed.

Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Bright Prospects The Zacks Cable Television industry is housed within the broader Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector. It carries a Zacks Industry Rank #63, which places it in the top 26% of more than 250 Zacks industries.

The group’s Zacks Industry Rank, which is the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates encouraging near-term prospects. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

The industry’s position in the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries is a result of a positive earnings outlook for the constituent companies in aggregate. Looking at the aggregate earnings estimate revisions, it appears that analysts are optimistic about this group’s earnings growth potential.

Before we present a few stocks that you may want to consider for your portfolio, let’s take a look at the industry’s recent stock-market performance and valuation picture.

Industry Lags Sector, S&P 500 The Zacks Cable Television industry has underperformed the broader Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector and the S&P 500 composite over the past year.

The industry has declined 28.6% over this period compared with the broader sector’s decline of 11.8%. The S&P 500 has risen 25% in the same time frame.

One-Year Price Performance

Industry's Current Valuation On the basis of the trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA, a commonly used multiple for valuing cable companies, we see that the industry is currently trading at 4.92X compared with the S&P 500’s 17.9X and the sector’s 9.69X.

Over the past five years, the industry has traded as high as 16.34X, as low as 4.57X and at the median of 7.47X, as the chart below shows.

EV/EBITDA Ratio (TTM)

3 Cable Stocks to Watch Comcast's strategic transformation is gaining meaningful momentum across its portfolio. The planned tax-free spin-off of NBCUniversal and Sky, announced June 29, 2026, is set to unlock focused, independent businesses better positioned to pursue distinct growth strategies. Wireless penetration stands at just 7% of total addressable lines within Comcast's footprint — with 10.2 million lines already active — signaling substantial convergence runway ahead. Business Services Connectivity, posting 56.7% EBITDA margins and 5% EBITDA growth, continues to demonstrate durable enterprise demand. Peacock's maiden quarterly profitability, supported by NBA, FIFA World Cup and a growing 48-million paid subscriber base, validates the streaming investment thesis. Studios is generating strong theatrical momentum, and free cash flow of $4.6 billion reinforces financial resilience as the structural separation progresses.

Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have lost 17.2% year to date. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Comcast’s 2026 earnings have remained steady at $3.52 per share in the past 60 days. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Price and Consensus: CMCSA

Charter Communications stands at an inflection point. The pending Cox Communications transaction will transform Charter into the nation's leading converged connectivity provider, unlocking scale advantages across broadband, mobile and commercial services. Spectrum Mobile continues its strong trajectory, adding 406,000 lines in second-quarter 2026, pushing the total to 12.5 million — a 15.5% year-over-year gain — with mobile service revenues up 18.9%. The June 2026 addition of Netflix to the Spectrum App Store enriches Charter's entertainment ecosystem, bolstering customer stickiness. The network evolution initiative targeting symmetrical multi-gigabit speeds across 58.9 million passings by 2027 positions Charter favorably for the next broadband upgrade cycle. Advertising revenues rose 12.3% year over year, while mid-market and large business PSUs grew 3.9%. Incoming COO Nick Jeffery adds operational momentum.

This Zacks Rank #3 company’s shares have lost 26.6% year to date. The consensus mark for 2026 earnings has moved north by 1.3% in the past 60 days to $42.73 per share.

Price and Consensus: CHTR

Cable One is demonstrating tangible progress on several fundamental fronts. Sparklight's June 2026 disclosure of nearly $1 billion invested over three years in its fiber-rich network underscores durable infrastructure strength — Gigabit service now spans all 24-state markets, with Multi-Gig speeds available in over half of service areas across 31,000-plus route miles. The July 2026 preliminary second-quarter outlook revealed residential data average revenue per unit holding firm at $80-$81 per month, signaling pricing resilience. Capital expenditure guidance of $72-$76 million for the second quarter reflects disciplined spending. With approximately $166 million in cash on hand as of June 30, liquidity remains adequate to fund operations and strategic priorities.

This Zacks Rank #3 company’s shares have declined 61.5% year to date. The consensus mark for 2026 earnings has remained steady at $36.05 per share in the past 60 days.

Price and Consensus: CABO

Billion-dollar films are back in Hollywood.

The theatrical industry welcomed its fourth billion-dollar film of 2026 this week as Sony and Marvel's "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" surpassed the coveted benchmark. It joins the three-comma ranks alongside Universal's "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie," Lionsgate's "Michael" and Disney and Pixar's "Toy Story 5." The group should soon be joined by Universal's "The Odyssey," which has tallied $912 million globally through Sunday and is set to play in theaters through at least mid-September.

Box office analysts expect Warner Bros.' "Dune: Part Three" and Disney and Marvel's "Avengers: Doomsday" to also reach the billion-dollar figure later this year.

As it stands, this is the highest number of billion-dollar film releases in a single year since the Covid pandemic shuttered movie theaters and halted production six years ago.

In 2019, nine films pulled in at least $1 billion at the box office. Seven of those films were Disney titles. Its co-production of "Spider-Man: Far From Home," in partnership with Sony, and Warner Bros.' "Joker" completed the list.

On Wednesday, Disney touted the success of "Toy Story 5" as helping to propel its studios division during its most recent quarter even as the live-action "Moana" and "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu" films fell short of expectations.

Of course, modern blockbusters are benefitting more from higher-priced tickets both for standard screenings and premium large format showings. Imax, Dolby Cinemas, ScreenX and 4DX have all reported record ticket sales because of films like "The Odyssey" and "Spider-Man: Brand New Day."

In 2025, more than 16% of tickets sold for domestic showtimes were for these PLFs, according to data from EntTelligence. That's up from 15% in 2024 and 13.8% in 2023. These premium tickets can cost upwards of $25 or more in places like New York City or Los Angeles, but average around $18.22 a piece nationally, EntTelligence reports. That's up 8% from 2023.

Standard movie tickets, too, are getting pricier. In 2019, the average movie ticket cost a little more than $9, according to data from Cinema United. Now, the average is closer to $13.50, EntTelligence reports.

Still, the hauls are a promising signal for a film industry that's still chasing 2019 levels, even with the benefit of higher prices.

The domestic annual box office is currently on pace to cross $10 billion for the first time in seven years. Through Monday, the year-to-date haul stands at $6.2 billion, down 11% from 2019.

"The billion-dollar club has always been treated as a special box office milestone," said Shawn Robbins, director of analytics at Fandango and founder of Box Office Theory. "It's also one that's become more challenging to achieve since the pandemic."

"The sheer number of films crossing this threshold can be a good indicator of a banner year," he added.

Unlike 2019, the 2026 class of billion-dollar films are spread across multiple studios and include not just sequels and franchise films but a musical biopic and a cinematic retelling of a 2,700-year-old epic poem.

The broad success signals to Hollywood it can take more risks on genre films and spreads the wealth among more players.

The resurgence in the number of billion-dollar films has been fueled in part by younger demographics that Hollywood and Wall Street previously worried would abandon cinemas in favor of their phones.

"The demise of the theatrical experience has once again been greatly exaggerated," said Mike Polydoros, CEO at cinema marketing firm PaperAirplane Media. "Driving much of this resurgence is the growing influence of Gen Z, which accounted for 49% of 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day's' opening-day audience and 30% of 'The Odyssey's' opening-day crowd."

watch now

Generation Z, which ranges from around 14 to 29 years old, is one of the most active moviegoing demographics and attends more films per year than some of their older peers. It also accounted for nearly 40% of all movie audiences in North America in 2025, Rentrak reported.

And the return to movie theaters isn't just happening domestically, but internationally, too. The foreign market is vitally important to Hollywood.

Among the the four films that have generated at least $1 billion globally this year, more than 50% of box office receipts have come from outside the U.S. and Canada.

"Notably, there has never been a film released domestically that has ever earned over a billion dollars in North America alone," Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends for Rentrak, told CNBC. "Only 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' has even come close, with $936.7 million."

Disclosure: Versant is the parent company of CNBC and Fandango.

Comcast is rated Buy with a $29.50 price target, offering ~26% upside from current levels. CMCSA trades at distressed multiples, pricing in terminal decline despite record free cash flow and a well-covered 5.5% dividend. A sum-of-the-parts analysis shows the current valuation is near bear-case trough multiples across all segments, providing notable downside protection.

A former Comcast worker is suing the company after a store manager allegedly humiliated salespeople by ordering them to tie up the lowest-ranked employee to a chair and smash a cream pie into their face every month, according to a lawsuit.

David Figueroa, who is seeking more than $15,000, alleged the bizarre “assaults” were the creation of store manager Sally Fuentes Peterson. She wanted to “bully” workers into hitting their sales goals and receiving positive customer surveys, according to the suit filed this month in Connecticut state court.

At Comcast’s Plainville, Conn., store, Peterson repeatedly ordered the highest-ranking sales person of the month to tie the lowest-ranked consultant to a chair in the “back office” and then “assault that person by violently smashing a cream pie in their face,” the complaint said.

A Comcast store manager allegedly ordered employees to smash cream pies into the lowest performers’ faces, according to a lawsuit. Getty Images Peterson videotaped the alleged assaults and ordered other employees to record them, too, according to the lawsuit.

She allegedly kept track of those who were recently assaulted and those scheduled to be assaulted on a whiteboard in a back room, where names were written down next to a frowny-face emoji getting pied, according to the lawsuit.

Comcast has denied the allegations in the lawsuit.

“The company has zero tolerance for harassment, humiliation, or any behavior that compromises a respectful and safe workplace,” a spokesperson for telecom company told The Post in a statement.

“This matter is in litigation so we will not comment on the specific allegations, other than to say that we disagree with the claims in the complaint and its characterization of the alleged events, and intend to fully respond through the legal process.”

Figueroa, who quit his job at the store, is suing Comcast for constructive discharge and negligence – alleging the store policy violates state worker protections and that he was not informed of it before he was hired in February, according to the suit.

On Feb. 25, Figueroa allegedly saw his co-worker, Ty – whose name was seemingly listed on the whiteboard – being tied-up and pied in the back room by a co-worker with better sales results after Peterson ordered it, according to the lawsuit.

An image of the alleged whiteboard where the store manager tracked employees who were getting pied. Superior Court JD of New Haven Figueroa also saw a video of an assistant sales manager named Jania, whose name is also listed on the whiteboard, being assaulted with a pie because she “had received a poor survey score from a customer,” the suit said.

On Feb. 27, Figueroa called Maranda Cody, a Comcast regional manager, and told her that the policies “made him feel uncomfortable and caused him concern as to whether he could continue being employed” by the company, according to the complaint.

Cody allegedly told Figueroa to send her a text documenting the complaints, so he messaged her, “I also felt uncomfortable with how the store handled reps not hitting certain metrics (tying them to a chair … and physically pieing them in the face),” the suit said.

Cody allegedly never responded to his message and Figueroa resigned, according to the suit.

Figueroa is seeking lost wages, damages, back pay, front pay and unspecified relief totaling at least $15,000, according to court filings.

Comcast's Xfinity today announced it started construction to connect more than 3,200 new homes and businesses in Northwood to multi-gigabit, symmetrical Interne

NBCUniversal's Peacock is officially landing on YouTube.

All of the streaming service's content — including NBC Sports' portfolio of the NFL and NBA, Universal films like the Minions franchise, and original Peacock and Bravo content like the Real Housewives franchise and "Love Island USA" — will be included in YouTube Premium subscriptions in the U.S. starting early next year.

YouTube Premium is the subscription version of the streaming platform that offers videos without ads and the ability to download most videos, depending on the subscription tier. The service offers a variety of plans beginning at $8.99 per month. Peacock Premium currently costs $10.99 per month.

The partnership was formed after Comcast co-CEO Brian Roberts reached out to YouTube CEO Neal Mohan about nine months ago, according to a person familiar with the matter. Following a meeting between the executive teams that took place at Google offices, the two companies began to brainstorm partnerships such as this, the person added.

NBCUniversal's partnership with YouTube comes at a fast-moving moment in the industry. Traditional media companies like Comcast-owned NBCUniversal, Warner Bros. Discovery and Disney have been chasing business initiatives to boost revenue and profitability while tech platforms like YouTube and TikTok grab increasing share of viewership time.

Media companies have also been shapeshifting as the business model changes due to consumers' departure from pay-TV bundles in favor of streaming. Paramount Skydance has agreed to acquire WBD; Fox Corp. reached a deal to acquire Roku; and Comcast is preparing to spin off NBCUniversal in the next year.

While streaming services have been announcing a growing slate of bundles to grab more subscribers, this partnership goes a step further and will see Peacock's content live inside YouTube — or be ingested into the platform so viewers don't have to leave YouTube to access the content.

According to YouTube's subscription page, it has over 125 million global Premium members.

NBCUniversal reported last week that Peacock counted 48 million paying subscribers as of June 30 and that the streaming platform hit profitability for the first time during the most recent quarter.

During Comcast's earnings call with investors, co-CEO Mike Cavanagh — who will become CEO of the NBCUniversal business following the separation — said he expects Peacock to remain profitable on an annual basis in the future, with some fluctuation between quarters.

The partnership announced Monday also extends NBCUniversal's multiyear distribution agreement with YouTube TV, the streaming-only TV bundle run by YouTube, as well as distribution of YouTube, YouTube TV and Premium on Comcast's Xfinity-branded cable TV and Xumo platforms.

It will also see enhance the advertising partnership and capabilities between the two companies, allowing NBCUniversal to monetize advertising for its Peacock content on YouTube's platform. Advertising has become a key driver of streaming growth across media companies.

Key Takeaways CMCSA wireless added a record 448K lines as Connectivity & Platforms EBITDA beat estimates.Peacock's first EBITDA profit helped Media EBITDA beat estimates on sports and ad strength.Studios EBITDA beat estimates, while Theme Parks EBITDA missed on weaker attendance. Comcast (CMCSA - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS of $1.04, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7 cents and declined 16.7% year over year.

Revenues of $29.94 billion beat the consensus mark by 2.33% and declined 1.2% year over year, though pro forma revenues, which adjust for the Versant separation and the sale of Sky's German operations, increased 4.7%. (Read More: Comcast's Q2 Earnings Surpass Estimates, Revenues Decrease Y/Y)

The company ended the quarter with 10.2 million domestic wireless lines, up from 8.5 million in the prior year period. However, total domestic broadband customers declined to 28.5 million from 29 million. Adjusted EBITDA declined 13.4% to $8.9 billion, or 5.3% on a pro forma basis.

Wireless and Peacock Strength Drive Segment BeatsDomestic wireless line net additions of 448,000 marked the company's best quarterly result on record and beat the consensus estimate by 11.64%. Domestic broadband customer net losses of 167,000 came in worse than expected, missing the consensus mark by 3.43%, while domestic video customer net losses of 280,000 also missed estimates by 2.28%.

At Media, Peacock achieved quarterly profitability for the first time, generating EBITDA of $189 million compared with a loss of $101 million in the prior year period, on the back of the NBA playoffs, the FIFA World Cup and Love Island USA. Media Adjusted EBITDA of $708 million beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 34.63%.

Studios also outperformed, with Adjusted EBITDA of $202 million beating the consensus mark by 18.07%, supported by strong theatrical performance across the slate.

Connectivity & Platforms Beats While Theme Parks MissTotal Connectivity & Platforms Adjusted EBITDA of $7.96 billion declined year over year but beat the consensus estimate by 0.69%. Within the segment, Residential Connectivity & Platforms Adjusted EBITDA of $6.45 billion beat estimates by 0.25%, while Business Services Connectivity Adjusted EBITDA of $1.52 billion beat by 2.34%, aided by growth in enterprise solutions offerings.

Theme Parks Adjusted EBITDA of $609 million missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 6.72%, pressured by softening attendance in Orlando amid higher travel costs and weaker consumer sentiment, as well as continued China-related travel restrictions affecting the Osaka park.

Total Content & Experiences Adjusted EBITDA of $1.33 billion beat the consensus mark by 13.48%, as strength in Media and Studios more than offset the Theme Parks shortfall.

Broadband and Advertising Revenue Top EstimatesDomestic broadband revenues declined 5.5% to $6.28 billion, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.45%, as lower average rates and a smaller customer base weighed on the top line despite the beat.

Media domestic advertising revenue rose 55% to $2.16 billion, beating the consensus mark by 12.24%, driven in part by incremental FIFA World Cup advertising along with stronger NBA and Peacock advertising demand.

Within Content & Experiences, Studios content licensing revenues declined slightly to $1.80 billion, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7.04%, as lower film studio licensing activity offset gains at the television studios.

Studios’ theatrical revenues, however, surged to $972 million from $284 million a year earlier, beating the consensus mark by 199.46%, powered by The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Obsession and the international distribution of Michael.

Comcast generated free cash flow of $4.6 billion in the quarter and returned $2.1 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.

Zacks Rank & Stocks to ConsiderComcast currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

Some better-ranked stocks in the broader Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector are Cimpress (CMPR - Free Report) , The Marcus (MCS - Free Report) and News Corporation (NWSA - Free Report) , each currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Shares of Cimpress have returned 46.2% in the year-to-date period. Cimpress is slated to report fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results on July 29.

Shares of The Marcus have returned 53.4% in the year-to-date period. The Marcus is slated to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 30.

Shares of News Corporation have returned 0.8% in the year-to-date period. News Corporation is slated to report its fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results on Aug. 05.

Key Takeaways Comcast reported Q2 EPS and revenues above estimates while advancing its broadband repositioning strategy.Comcast added 448,000 wireless lines, reaching 10.2 million total domestic wireless lines.CMCSA's Peacock reached quarterly profitability with $189 million EBITDA and 48 million paid subscribers. Comcast Corporation (CMCSA - Free Report) used its second-quarter earnings call to highlight progress in broadband repositioning, wireless expansion and the planned separation of NBCUniversal and Sky. Management emphasized execution milestones while acknowledging near-term pressure from investments.

The discussion centered on building long-term growth engines as the company reshapes its operating structure and customer strategy.

CMCSA Advances Broadband StrategyManagement said that the connectivity business is moving through a deliberate go-to-market transition focused on simpler pricing, improved customer experience and stronger wireless attachment. CEO Brian Roberts and CFO Jason Armstrong highlighted that these investments are weighing on near-term results while positioning the business for future growth.

CMCSA reported adjusted EPS of $1.04 for the quarter, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.97. Revenues were $29.94 billion, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $29.18 billion.

The company said that domestic broadband customer losses improved year over year, with losses of 167,000 compared with 201,000 in the prior-year quarter. Broadband ARPU declined 3.8% as pricing actions and wireless promotions affected near-term revenue trends.

Comcast Builds Wireless MomentumComcast highlighted wireless as a key growth opportunity, with total domestic wireless lines reaching 10.2 million. The company added 448,000 wireless lines in the quarter, its best quarterly result on record.

Steven Croney, CEO of Connectivity & Platforms, said that free wireless offers are helping increase awareness and customer adoption, while premium unlimited plans accounted for roughly 30% of postpaid phone connects.

Management stated that early free-line conversion cohorts are tracking in line with expectations, with a significant majority converting into paid relationships. The company expects monetization of these customers to support convergence revenue growth over time.

CMCSA Sees Media Growth OpportunitiesThe Media segment delivered a major milestone as Peacock reached quarterly profitability for the first time. Peacock generated $189 million in EBITDA, while paid subscribers increased by 2 million during the quarter to 48 million.

Management attributed Peacock momentum to sports, entertainment programming and major events, including the NBA playoffs, FIFA World Cup and Love Island. Media revenues increased 25.3% year over year, while EBITDA rose 3.7%.

Michael Cavanagh, co-CEO of Comcast, said the NBCUniversal and Sky businesses have the scale and assets needed to operate as a focused independent media company following the planned separation.

Comcast Balances Growth InvestmentsThe company continued investing in infrastructure and customer capabilities. Capital expenditures increased to $2.9 billion, including higher spending within Connectivity & Platforms on scalable infrastructure and customer equipment.

Business Services remained a relative strength, with revenues increasing 3.7% to $2.7 billion and EBITDA rising 5% to $1.5 billion. Management pointed to enterprise solutions as a driver of continued momentum.

Comcast generated $4.6 billion in free cash flow and returned $2.1 billion to shareholders during the quarter. The company paused share repurchases as it works through the separation process.

CMCSA Addresses Competitive PressureDuring Q&A, a UBS analyst asked about broadband competition from fiber, fixed wireless and emerging satellite alternatives. Management said that competition remains intense but emphasized network quality, WiFi capabilities and converged offerings as key advantages.

A Wells Fargo analyst questioned the timing of improvement in Connectivity & Platforms profitability. Armstrong said that pressure from pricing changes, wireless investments and customer experience spending should begin easing as the company laps the initial investment period.

Management also discussed AI-driven demand for connectivity, with Roberts highlighting rising upstream traffic and plans for multi-gig symmetrical networks.

Comcast Sets Focus AheadComcast’s leadership emphasized execution around two future businesses: a connectivity-focused company built around broadband and wireless, and a media company centered on NBCUniversal and Sky assets.

The company’s near-term focus remains on customer conversion, wireless monetization, operational improvements and completing the separation process while maintaining financial flexibility.

Zacks SignalsCMCSA currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). The Zacks Rank reflects earnings estimate revision trends and is designed to help identify stocks with stronger or weaker near-term performance potential.

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The stock has a Value Score of A, a Growth Score of D, a Momentum Score of F and a VGM Score of C. The Zacks Style Score evaluates value, growth and momentum characteristics, with higher grades indicating stronger attributes within each style category.

The Zacks Rank can change as analysts update earnings estimates following new company information, including quarterly results.

Thursday will go down in history as a major day in the history of the businesses that comprise Comcast (CMCSA -6.80%). Not only did the entertainment company’s high-profile Peacock streaming service log its first profitable quarter (at least by one metric), it also announced plans to effectively split itself in two.

There was a lot to digest in Comcast’s Thursday developments. So let’s not waste any time and dive right into them.

Image source: Getty Images.

One business flew well higherThe Peacock news was tucked inside Comcast’s second-quarter results, which were published well before market open that day.

For the period, total revenue slid by a little over 1% year over year to $29.4 billion, while net income not under generally accepted accounting principles (non-GAAP, or adjusted), declined notably more steeply. It tumbled by 20% to $3.7 billion, or $1.04 per share.  

Despite the decreases, Comcast’s key figures exceeded the average analyst estimates. The pundit consensus for revenue was under $29.3 billion, while that for adjusted net profit was $0.96 per share.

The larger of the company’s two primary reporting units, connectivity and platforms (essentially the broadband and cable infrastructure operations), saw its revenue dip by 3% to just under $19.8 billion. The division’s profitability also sank, with its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) withering by almost 6% to just under $8 billion.

Comcast attributed this to weakness in the residential segment, which was responsible for almost 87% of the unit’s revenue. The far smaller business segment saw a 3.7% rise, but this wasn’t enough to offset residential’s 4.3% slump.

Content and experiences, the business that will form the core and bulk of the NBCUniversal spinoff, was a movie with quite a different ending. It managed to crank its revenue 23% higher to $10.7 billion, while its adjusted EBITDA improved by 7% over the year-ago quarter to $1.3 billion.

Numerous pieces of Comcast content scored with audiences during the quarter. Millions of people were glued to their TVs or smart devices watching the FIFA World Cup and the high-profile reality show Love Island USA, for example. Also, ticket sales were brisk for silver screen offerings like The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and, especially, the low-budget sleeper horror hit Obsession.

Peacock deserves special mention here for that inaugural profitability milestone. Specifically, revenue and adjusted EBITDA “related” to the streaming service clocked in at $1.9 billion and $189 million, respectively. Those numbers were vast improvements over the $1.2 billion and $101 million of the second quarter of 2025.

Finally, Comcast’s eliminations of transactions within and between its business units totaled slightly over $1 billion during the period.

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Leaving the nestThe more important news item from Comcast is that it’s spinning off those growing media assets — plus the division’s theme parks and the U.K.-based media and telecom business Sky — to form the basis of NBCUniversal (Comcast will continue with most of the residential connectivity and platforms unit). Current Comcast shareholders will retain their Comcast stock and receive a tax-free distribution of NBCUniversal equity.

The exact number of shares hasn’t been made public yet. Comcast said it expects the spinoff to be completed in about one year.

Does any of this sound familiar? It should, because this isn’t Comcast’s first major business divestment in recent times. Early this year, it separated its legacy cable channels into a new standalone business, Versant Media Group (VSNT -1.74%).

In the press release trumpeting the coming spinoff, Comcast quoted co-CEO Mike Cavanagh as saying that the legacy company “will continue to build on its leadership in connectivity, while NBCUniversal, together with Sky, will have the scale, brands, content, and financial resources to compete as a premier global media and entertainment company.”

Cavanagh, incidentally, is to be the sole CEO of NBCUniversal. CFO Michael Angelakis will serve as CEO of the slimmed-down Comcast. He was formerly the company’s CFO.

A tale of 2 businessesWhat are we to make of all this? As with Versant, splitting Comcast’s business makes sense. Connectivity is a mature, relatively stable, cash-generating business, while media is a more volatile growth play. Having both under the same corporate structure risks failing to realize the full potential of either.

I think NBCUniversal, especially with Peacock’s impressive flight into profitability, will be an attractive stock straight out of the nest. After the split, legacy Comcast will likely pay most of the company’s present high-yield dividend (which pays out at 5.6%). So ideally, it’ll be a low-risk income stock.

There was much to like in Comcast’s second quarter, enough to consider holding on to both the new Comcast and NBCUniversal when the spinoff comes. I’m intrigued to see how the major upcoming development in the entertainment giant’s story unfolds.

Key Takeaways Comcast beat Q2 earnings estimates as reported revenues fell 1.2% year over year. CMCSA posted a record wireless quarter, while Peacock reached quarterly profitability for the first time.Comcast plans to separate NBCUniversal and Sky into two publicly traded companies through a tax-free spin-off. Comcast (CMCSA - Free Report) delivered adjusted earnings of $1.04 per share in the second quarter of 2026, down 16.7% from the year-ago period but ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 97 cents by 7.2%.

Consolidated revenues decreased 1.2% year over year to $29.94 billion but topped the consensus mark of $29.18 billion by 2.6%. On a pro forma basis, reflecting the Versant separation completed on Jan. 2, 2026, and the sale of Sky operations in Germany completed on May 31, 2026, revenues increased 4.7% year over year.

The quarter was shaped by continued traction in the company's go-to-market reset in Connectivity & Platforms, highlighted by the best wireless quarter on record alongside Peacock reaching quarterly profitability for the first time. Comcast also announced its intention to separate NBCUniversal and Sky into two publicly traded companies through a tax-free spin-off.

CMCSA Connectivity Pivot Shows Early TractionConnectivity & Platforms revenues (66.1% of revenues) decreased 3% year over year to $19.8 billion in the reported quarter as pressure in Residential Connectivity & Platforms outweighed continued gains in Business Services Connectivity.

Under the segment, Residential Connectivity & Platforms revenues decreased 4% year over year to $17.12 billion. Business Services Connectivity revenues increased 3.7% year over year to $2.67 billion.

Total Residential Connectivity & Platforms customer relationships decreased 230,000 to 47.7 million, reflecting decreases in both domestic and international customer relationships. Total domestic broadband residential customer net losses were 167,000. Total domestic wireless line net additions were 448,000, marking the company's best quarterly result on record, with total wireless lines rising to 10.2 million. Total domestic video customer net losses were 280,000.

 Content & Experiences revenues (35.8% of revenues) increased 22.9% year over year to $10.73 billion, driven primarily by Media and Studios.

Under the segment, Media revenues increased 25.3% year over year to $5.69 billion, including $440 million of incremental revenues from the FIFA World Cup. Peacock reached quarterly profitability for the first time with EBITDA of $189 million, increasing $290 million year over year, while paid subscribers rose by 2 million net additions in the quarter to 48 million, driven by the NBA Playoffs, the FIFA World Cup and Love Island USA.

Studios revenues increased 25% year over year to $3.04 billion, driven by higher theatrical revenues from The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Obsession and the international distribution of Michael. Theme Parks revenues increased 2.7% year over year to $2.41 billion, reflecting higher revenues at Orlando theme parks, partially offset by lower revenues at international parks.

CMCSA’s Operating DetailsCosts and expenses in the second quarter of 2026 increased 1.9% year over year to $24.78 billion.

Programming and production costs increased 10.7% from the year-ago quarter to $8.39 billion. Marketing and promotion expenses increased 4.2% year over year to $2.26 billion while other operating and administrative expenses rose 0.2% to $10.45 billion.

Adjusted EBITDA decreased 13.4% year over year to $8.9 billion. On a pro forma basis, reflecting the Versant separation and the Sky Germany sale, adjusted EBITDA declined 5.3% year over year.

Total Connectivity & Platforms adjusted EBITDA declined 5.7% year over year to $7.96 billion. Residential Connectivity & Platforms adjusted EBITDA decreased 8% year over year to $6.45 billion, reflecting investment in the new go-to-market strategy. Business Services Connectivity adjusted EBITDA increased 5% year over year to $1.52 billion, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 56.7%.

Content & Experiences adjusted EBITDA increased 7.1% year over year to $1.33 billion. Media adjusted EBITDA increased 3.7% year over year to $708 million. Studios adjusted EBITDA increased to $202 million from $61 million, driven by strong theatrical performance. Theme Parks’ adjusted EBITDA decreased 5.1% year over year to $609 million.

CMCSA's Cash Flow & LiquidityAs of June 30, 2026, cash and cash equivalents totaled $7.66 billion, which decreased from $9.47 billion as of March 31, 2026.

As of June 30, 2026, consolidated total debt was $90.38 billion, which decreased from $94.61 billion as of March 31, 2026.

Free cash flow was $4.6 billion in the reported quarter, which increased from $4.5 billion in the prior year quarter.

In the second quarter of 2026, Comcast generated $8.09 billion in cash from operations, which increased from $7.82 billion reported in the prior year quarter.

Comcast paid dividends totaling $1.2 billion and repurchased 33.8 million of its shares for $900 million, resulting in a total return of capital to shareholders of $2.1 billion. On June 29 2026, the company announced it would pause its share repurchase program as it works through the separation of its businesses into two independent publicly traded companies.

Zacks Rank & Stocks to ConsiderCMCSA currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

Some better-ranked stocks in the broader Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector are Cimpress (CMPR - Free Report) , The Marcus (MCS - Free Report) and News Corporation (NWSA - Free Report) , each currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Shares of Cimpress have returned 45.6% in the year-to-date period. Cimpress is slated to report fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results on July 29.

Shares of The Marcus have returned 53.5% in the year-to-date period. The Marcus is slated to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 30.

Shares of News Corporation have returned 2.8% in the year-to-date period. News Corporation is slated to report fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results on Aug. 5.