Barrons·Sep 16, 2026
Verizon and AT&T Dominate Communications Services. Why That's a Problem.Verizon and AT&T offer high, well-covered dividends, and relatively low volatility.
Verizon faces a challenging outlook characterized by stagnant top-line growth, which fluctuated between -0.3% and 5.2% over the last ten quarters, and persistent capital intensity that demands significant ongoing investment. While the company maintains a stabl...
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Revenue growth remains muted with quarterly fluctuations between -0.3% and 5.2%, while operating margins have struggled to move beyond the 23% level despite massive infrastructure investments.
Verizon's acquisition of Frontier has added approximately 15 million new locations, with 9 million already equipped with fiber, driving a projected 7% free cash flow growth for fiscal year 2026.
In Q1 2026, Verizon added 55,000 subscribers, marking its first quarter of net mobile additions since 2013, indicating a turnaround in customer acquisition.
Verizon is implementing a $5 billion transformation program aimed at cost savings and synergies from the Frontier acquisition, expected to enhance profitability.
Verizon has a substantial net debt of $165.8 billion, which has increased due to the Frontier acquisition, impacting free cash flow available for buybacks.
Verizon faces strong competition in the wireless and fiber markets from rivals like AT&T and T-Mobile, with its subscriber growth trailing competitors.
Despite recent improvements, Verizon's postpaid phone churn rate has increased in some periods, posing risks to revenue and profitability.
Trailing total returns as of 9/23/2026, which may include dividends or other distributions. Benchmark is S&P 500 (^GSPC).
Check whether operating performance supports the current valuation.
Recent results and news deserve attention only when they alter the forward view.
| Quarter | EPS (Act vs Est) | Revenue (Act vs Est) |
|---|---|---|
Q3 2026Latest Jul 24, 2026 | $1.30+2.4% vs $1.27 | $34.3B-2.6% vs $35.2B |
Q2 2026 Apr 27, 2026 | $1.28+4.9% vs $1.22 | $34.3B-1.6% vs $34.8B |
Q1 2026 Jan 30, 2026 | $1.09+3.8% vs $1.05 | $36.4B+0.9% vs $36.1B |
Q4 2025 Oct 29, 2025 | $1.21+1.7% vs $1.19 | $33.8B-1.3% vs $34.3B |
Verizon and AT&T offer high, well-covered dividends, and relatively low volatility.
Where you hold a high-yield dividend stock matters almost as much as which one you pick, and for ordinary-income payers like BDCs and REITs, the wrong account quietly erodes a portion of every distribution before it ever compounds.
VZ is advancing 6G with AI-native networks, real-world sensing trials and smart technologies, targeting the 2028 Olympics as a key test.
Zacks.com users have recently been watching Verizon (VZ) quite a bit. Thus, it is worth knowing the facts that could determine the stock's prospects.
Benchmark VZ against direct peers instead of judging its metrics in isolation.
Key metrics vs top competitors for Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ)
| Company | Price | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | Rev Growth (1Y) | Net Margin | ROE | Div Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $46.45 | $193.95B | 11.44 | 2.52% | 12.43% | 16.65% | 5.84% | |
| $25.12 | $172.13B | 8.26 | 2.71% | 16.89% | 16.82% | — | |
| $162.41 | $174.21B | 16.71 | 8.49% | 11.45% | 18.22% | — | |
| $6.38 | $6.57B | -3.65 | -5.39% | -8.65% | -52.11% | — | |
| $38.49 | $9.64B | -29.61 | 3.23% | -6.24% | -7.91% | — | |
| $12.31 | $681.54M | -17.34 | 9.08% | -15.16% | -4.43% | — |
Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) vs competitors — business, growth, and fundamentals comparison against the closest industry rivals.
Verify the primary filings, follow material updates, and answer the remaining questions.
Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) SEC filings — annual & quarterly reports (10-K, 10-Q)
Jul 24, 2026·SEC
Jul 24, 2026·SEC
Jun 29, 2026·SEC
Feb 17, 2026·SEC
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Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) stock FAQ — growth, dividends, profitability & financials explained
Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) reported $138.90B in revenue for fiscal year 2025. This represents a 376% increase from $29.16B in 1996.
Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) grew revenue by 2.5% over the past year. Growth has been modest.
Yes, Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) is profitable, generating $16.17B in net income for fiscal year 2025 (12.4% net margin).
Yes, Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) pays a dividend with a yield of 5.84%. This makes it attractive for income-focused investors.
Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) has a return on equity (ROE) of 16.6%. This is reasonable for most industries.
Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) generated $12.05B in free cash flow for fiscal year 2025. Positive FCF indicates the company can fund dividends, buybacks, or reinvestment.
Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) has a dividend payout ratio of 67%. This suggests the dividend is well-covered and sustainable.
