More than $25 million worth of Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) shares have already changed hands in late morning trade on Monday.
And after all that action, shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) telco are right where they closed at on Friday, trading for $4.97 apiece.
This sees Telstra underperforming the benchmark index today, with the ASX 200 up 0.3% at this same time.
Over the past year however, Telstra shares have surged 28.5%, or more than twice the 13.1% gains posted by the benchmark over this same period.
Atop those welcome capital gains, the ASX 200 telco also offers some substantial passive income.
During the last 12 months, Telstra has paid out a total of 18.5 cents a share in fully franked dividends. That sees the stock trading on a fully franked trailing dividend yield of 3.7%.
With this picture in mind, here are three reasons Shaw and Partners' Jed Richards is optimistic on the outlook for the big Aussie telco in the year ahead (courtesy of The Bull).
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Should you buy Telstra shares today?
"The telecommunications giant offers a strong fully franked dividend yield, making it attractive for income focused investors," said Richards, citing the first reason he has a buy recommendation on Telstra shares.
Then there's the inherent defensive nature of the ASX 200 telco's business.
"Telstra's consistent growth and dominant market position in Australian telecommunications provide a defensive buffer against economic volatility," Richards said.
"With solid infrastructure, expanding 5G coverage and a loyal customer base, Telstra remains the clear leader in its sector," he added.
As for the third reason you may want to buy Telstra shares today, Richards concluded, "The company's stable earnings and reliable cash flow support ongoing dividend payments. TLS is well positioned for long term value, particularly in uncertain market conditions."
What's ahead for the ASX 200 telco?
Offering some insight into Telstra's future earnings and dividends in a 27 May announcement linked to the company's Connected Future 30 strategy, CFO Michael Ackland said, "Our goal is to deliver resilient, predictable and consistent growth in shareholder value and returns."
He added, "We aim to achieve this through a combination of mid-single digit compound annual growth in cash earnings' to FY30, and a sustainable and growing dividend."
Telstra is aiming for an underlying return on invested capital of 10% by FY 2030, up from around 8% currently.
Telstra shares will be high on investor radars this Thursday, 14 August. That's when Telstra is scheduled to release its full-year results (FY 2025).
