Verizon CEO Claims Turnaround Is Officially Underway

Verizon Communications Inc. reported first-quarter 2026 results connected Monday, with the banal trading higher pursuing the release, arsenic adjusted net topped expectations portion gross came successful somewhat beneath estimates.

Adjusted EPS was $1.28, beating the $1.20 estimate, portion gross of $34.4 cardinal missed the $34.836 cardinal consensus. GAAP diluted EPS roseate 4.3% twelvemonth implicit twelvemonth to $1.20, and nett income accrued 3.3% to $5.1 billion.

Strong Profitability And Cash Flow Growth

Total operating gross grew 2.9% twelvemonth implicit twelvemonth to $34.4 billion. Adjusted EBITDA accrued 6.7% to $13.4 billion, marking a grounds quarterly level, portion adjusted EPS maturation of 7.6% was the strongest since 2021.

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Cash travel from operations was $8.0 billion, up 2.6%, and escaped currency travel roseate 4.0% to $3.8 billion.

Capital expenditures totaled $4.2 billion. Verizon ended the 4th with $142.5 cardinal successful full unsecured indebtedness and $130.1 cardinal successful nett unsecured debt.

The institution repurchased $2.5 cardinal successful shares and remains connected way for astatine slightest $3.0 cardinal for the afloat year. It besides paid down astir fractional of Frontier’s indebtedness and expects to repay the remainder by year-end.

Mobility, Broadband And Subscriber Trends

Mobility and broadband work gross roseate 1.6% to $22.9 billion, impacted by a January outage expected to people the year’s debased point.

Wireless instrumentality gross accrued 5.2% to $5.7 billion. Verizon added 55,000 postpaid telephone subscribers, 115,000 prepaid users, and 341,000 broadband customers, bringing its full to 16.8 cardinal connections.

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Consumer gross was $26.5 cardinal with a 29.2% margin, portion Business gross was $7.4 cardinal with an 11.9% margin.

“Our first-quarter 2026 results amusement that our turnaround is not lone progressing, it is gaining momentum,” said Verizon CEO Dan Schulman.

Updated Outlook And Capital Allocation

Verizon raised its full-year adjusted EPS guidance to $4.95 to $4.99 from $4.90 to $4.95, supra the $4.90 estimate, and expects postpaid telephone nett additions successful the precocious fractional of its 750,000 to 1 cardinal range.

It reaffirmed mobility and broadband work gross maturation of 2.0% to 3.0%, operating currency travel of $37.5 cardinal to $38.0 billion, and escaped currency travel of astatine slightest $21.5 billion.

Despite momentum, absorption flagged ongoing macro and competitory uncertainties, noting guidance reflects a “prudent view” of the environment.