Based on the aggregated intelligence of 165,000-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 and see what CAPS investors are saying about the stock right now.

Verizon facts

Headquarters (Founded)

New York City (1983)

Market Cap

$84.7 billion

Industry

Integrated telecommunication services

Trailing-12-Month Revenue

$108 billion

Management

CEO Ivan Seidenberg (since 2002)
CFO John Killian (since 2009)

Return on Equity (Average, Past 3 Years)

8.8%

Cash/Debt

$5.2 billion / $57.5 billion

Dividend Yield

6.3%

Competitors

AT&T (NYSE: T)
Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S)

Sources: Capital IQ (a division of Standard & Poor's) and Motley Fool CAPS.

On CAPS, 94% of the 4,294 members who have rated Verizon believe the stock will outperform the S&P 500 going forward. These bulls include RyanOrr85 and kbdunn9.

Just last month, RyanOrr85 explained why the stock is for more than those with just Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) in their eyes: "They may get the iPhone but they don't need it. With their solid network and focus on the Android platform they will grow with Google (Nasdaq: GOOG)."

While the possibility of landing Apple's iPhone when AT&T's exclusivity ends next year serves as a powerful catalyst for Verizon's stock, many in our community think the company is more than investment-worthy as it stands. With more than 92 million customers and coverage of more than 95% of the U.S. population, Verizon is easily the country's largest wireless provider. And although Google's Android hasn't matched the iPhone's level of popularity just yet, Verizon's customer loyalty remains quite high at a time when close foes AT&T and Sprint are having serious customer churn concerns of their own.

CAPS member kbdunn9 elaborates on the bull case:

Rumors of a Verizon iPhone coming in January are stronger than in previous years. Engadget reports that Verizon will move to a tiered data plan pricing structure similar to the one AT&T currently has for the iPhone. Verizon's CTO, Dick Lynch, hinted at switching to such a pricing structure this coming January. Though the evidence is still circumstantial, Verizon's current price, solid network, and selection of formidable Android phones still make it an attractive buy even if a Verizon iPhone isn't in the works.

What do you think about Verizon, or any other stock for that matter? If you want to retire rich, you need to put together the best portfolio you can. Owning exceptional stocks is a surefire way to secure your financial future, and on Motley Fool CAPS, thousands of investors are working every day to find them. CAPS is 100% free, so get started!