Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, telecom giant Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) has earned a respected four-star ranking.

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at Verizon's business and see what CAPS investors are saying about the stock right now.

Verizon facts

Headquarters (founded) New York (1983)
Market Cap $104.8 billion
Industry Integrated telecommunication services
Trailing-12-Month Revenue $107.4 billion
Management

CEO Lowell McAdam (since August 2011)

CFO Francis Shammo (since November 2010)
Return on Equity (average, past 3 years) 13.6%
Cash/Debt $6.8 billion / $54 billion
Dividend Yield 5.5%
Competitors

AT&T (NYSE: T)

Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S)

Source: S&P Capital IQ and Motley Fool CAPS.

On CAPS, 94% of the 4,816 members who have rated Verizon believe the stock will outperform the S&P 500 going forward. These bulls include johndunk and troym72.

Earlier this summer, johndunk tapped Verizon as a solid income opportunity: "Nigh-utility dividend play, with some bonuses on the side that people aren't going to be giving up their smartphones anytime soon and the cash flow that comes from those plans."

Over the next five years, in fact, Verizon is expected to grow its bottom line at a solid rate of 10% annually. That's faster than industry peers such as AT&T (4%), Sprint (1%), and China Mobile (NYSE: CHL) (2%).

CAPS member troym72 elaborates on the bull case:

Verizon may be #2 to AT&T as far a size, but the dividend yield of almost 6% makes Verizon a safe-house for equity investors afraid of a bear market. Anytime there is market uncertainty, what do you do? You run to the things that are guaranteed. Verizon is not likely to eliminate or reduce their dividend anytime soon. That makes it much more attractive than the larger equity market that is on a roller coaster ride. Even if we hit a double dip recession, no one is going to turn off their cell phone to save money. Cell phones are an integral part of life now -- they're like electricity and air conditioning. People don't even contemplate them as optional luxuries.

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