“New Zealand’s largest company, Telecom New Zealand, provides telecom and information technology (IT) products and services to residential and business customers in New Zealand and Australia.

“NZT is now priced at or near its 52-week low; it is also among the best international dividend stocks (7%).

“Fourth quarter profits fell as the company suffered from reduced margins in the face of stiff competition from Australia’s Telstra and the UK’s Vodafone.

“Telecom New Zealand (NYSE: NZT) is considered one of the cheapest, high-quality companies in the world,” saysd David Fried editor of the top-notch The Buyback Letter.

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“NZT has gone through an extended period of upheaval after the government forced the company to split into three and open up its networks to rivals in an effort to enhance competition.

“Company leaders think it is performing well in this period of profound change, and granted cumulative dividends for the year of 29 cents per share.

“Telecom New Zealand has a positive zeal for buybacks. In the past 12 months, the company reduced shares outstanding by a whopping 36.4%.”