Michael Hodel

The merger will create an exceptionally well-positioned wireless carrier.

We don’t expect to materially change our $58 fair value estimate, and we view the shares as fairly valued.

We don’t expect to materially change our fair value estimate, and we view AT&T shares as fairly valued.

Reviewing our four 2019 dividend picks, and looking ahead to new ones.

As telecom and media valuations in the U.S. move sharply higher, Mexican firms Grupo Televisa and America Movil trade at a discount.

Industry gearing up for upcoming streaming wars.

We don't see much in the U.S. telecom industry that's attractive, but Comcast may be a place to start.

AT&T makes plans, Verizon adds customers, T-Mobile takes share, and Sprint brings up the rear.

We view the narrow-moat firm's shares as fairly valued.

We see little strategic reason for AT&T to combine wireless and media businesses.

The narrow-moat firm delivered solid wireless results during the second quarter.

Traditional telecom has lagged, but the rest of the sector has been strong.

These undervalued stocks all boast generous yields and secure dividends.

Charter and Altice USA are both narrow-moat cable companies we'd be interested in owning at lower prices.

AT&T is one of our favorite stocks today -- here's why.

We think it's done making bad capital-allocation decisions for a while.

And why we think AT&T is compelling.

Hefty yields permeate European telecom stocks.

The narrow-moat firm reported solid margins, and we don't expect to change our fair value estimate.

For investors looking for places to generate income with an equity portfolio, we like UPS, Wells Fargo, ExxonMobil, and KLA-Tencor.

Complexity and confusion, particularly in Europe, has created opportunities for investors.

We suspect AT&T will meet its 2019 leverage target given the extreme management focus on this effort, but we remain negative on the prospects for the consumer segment.

The firm's core cable business supports our wide-moat rating, and we think shares look attractive today.

Verizon shows continued strength in wireless customer growth while AT&T's entertainment segment dragged on results.

The firm's entertainment segment looks troubled, but our fair value estimate remains unchanged.

Our narrow moat rating and $58 fair value estimate remain intact.

Verizon is an attractive play for dividend investors at the current market price.

We continue to see value in communication services, even if the industry isn't delivering meaningful growth.

The decision to acquire Level 3 Communications is not entirely unreasonable, and putting these companies together makes good strategic sense.

We don't expect to change our $60 fair value estimate and view Comcast shares as fairly valued currently.

We plan to lower our fair value estimate for AT&T as the firm is paying a rich price for Time Warner and we see limited strategic benefits.

The $4.8 billion deal won’t move the needle on valuation, but we’re skeptical that Verizon will be able to reinvigorate Yahoo.

We still believe this telecom is a means to benefit from economic growth across Latin America.

Strong cable results, solid box-office receipts, and rapid theme-park growth drove Comcast’s third quarter, writes Morningstar’s Mike Hodel.

It remains the best-positioned wireless carrier in the industry and shares are currently modestly undervalued, writes Morningstar’s Mike Hodel.

Altice has offered much more than we thought the cable firm was worth on its own.

The business model is fantastic, but the industry isn't risk-free, and interest rate sensitivity could hurt.

Wireless-tower companies such as Crown Castle, American Tower, and SBA have dug themselves economic moats through high customer switching costs, but carrier consolidation is a risk.

The wide-moat media company is still not a bargain, though.

We have doubts that the two firms will be able to reach agreeable merger terms and think that both will seek out other partners.

Unlike the Comcast deal, Charter’s bid for Time Warner Cable is likely to succeed, but valuations across the cable industry look stretched.

The latest Open Internet Order won't magically level the playing field.

We remain skeptical of Verizon's potential in video as established players, like Google, and new firms attack the market.

The networking giant's earnings were pressured by emerging markets, but its competitive position overall remains strong, writes Morningstar analyst Mike Hodel.

Although the move away from subsidized rate plans is an overall positive for AT&T, changing customer behavior could create bumps, especially around cash flow.

The telecom giant will gain scale and focus regulators with the DirecTV buy, but the deal doesn't make financial and strategic sense, says Morningstar‘s Michael Hodel.

The deal will create a mammoth company, covering two thirds of the U.S., but shares are still overvalued, says Morningstar's Michael Hodel.

Sprint ended 2013 on a relatively solid note but investors should remain cautious and wait for a more attractive price before diving in, says Morningstar’s Mike Hodel.

Three key long-term considerations have caused us to change our view of the sustainability of Cisco's competitive advantage period.

Its wide moat comes from its networks; its overvaluation comes from hopes of a buyout.