By Kevin Amado
Updated
- Price
- $46.60
- Analysts view
- Leaning bullish
- Discount category
- Close to intrinsic value
- Pick status
- Research only
- Next earnings
- Earnings Jan 26 · · estimated
- Market cap
- $193B
- Shares of Sep 30, 2026
- Yield at current rate
- 6.1%
- Current annual rate, at the price of Nov 12, 2026
- Dividend yield
- 6.0%
- Last 12 months, at the price of Nov 12, 2026
- P/E (trailing)
- 11.9
- Price of Nov 12, 2026
- EPS (trailing)
- $3.92
- 12 months to Sep 30, 2026
- 52-week range
- $38.68 – $51.68
- To Nov 12, 2026
- Beta
- 0.27
- Vs S&P 500, 5 years monthly, to Oct 30, 2026
- Average volume
- 24M
- 3 months, to Nov 12, 2026
Check the numbers:ExchangeGoogle FinanceYahoo FinanceSEC filings
In short
- Thesis
- The market prices Verizon for slow growth and high debt, and faster service revenue growth with strong free cash flow in 2027 can close the gap.
- Gap
- Can close. The Q4 2026 report and the 2027 guidance, expected in late January 2027, show whether service revenue growth reaches about 4%.
Company guidance: Adjusted EPS of $5.04 to $5.06 for 2026 (, Q3 2026 earnings release (8-K Ex. 99.1))
Price history
About
Verizon provides wireless phone service, home broadband and network services, mostly in the United States. Its largest business is postpaid mobile service for consumers and businesses. It also sells fiber broadband and fixed wireless access broadband. It bought Frontier Communications on January 20, 2026, which expanded its fiber network to 31 states and Washington, D.C., and it bought Starry on January 30, 2026.
Revenue was $138.2 billion in 2025. At September 30, 2026, Verizon had about 17.4 million broadband connections, from fixed wireless access and fiber. Dan Schulman is CEO.
Thesis
The market prices Verizon for slow growth and high debt. Total operating revenue rose only 1.5% in Q3 2026, because equipment revenue fell 9.0% as customers kept their phones longer and Verizon cut device subsidies. Unsecured debt was $136.1 billion at September 30, 2026, and the wireless market has strong price competition. Results improved during 2026.
Mobility and broadband service revenue growth rose from 1.6% in Q1 to 2.8% in Q2 and 2.9% in Q3, and postpaid phone net additions were 406,000 in Q3. Verizon raised its 2026 guidance for the third time. It now expects 1.1 million to 1.2 million postpaid phone net additions and free cash flow growth near 12%. For the gap to close, three things must be true.
Mobility and broadband service revenue growth must rise to about 4% in Q4 2026, as Verizon expects, and stay near that level in 2027. The subscriber gains must continue without price cuts that lower margins. Free cash flow must keep growing, so that Verizon can pay its dividend, buy back shares and reduce debt. The Q4 2026 report and the 2027 guidance, expected in late January 2027, are the next test.
If these checks pass, the gap can close over the next four to six quarters. The main reason it may not close is a price war in wireless, which can stop the subscriber gains or lower margins.
Checkpoints
- Oct 26, 2026PassedQ3 2026 earnings: service revenue growthMobility and broadband service revenue growth near 3% and positive postpaid phone net additions pass; slower service revenue growth or a guidance cut fails.Outcome: Mobility and broadband service revenue rose 2.9%, postpaid phone net additions were 406,000 and Verizon raised its 2026 guidance for the third time.
- Jan 26, 2027 · est.PendingQ4 2026 results and 2027 guidanceService revenue growth near 4% in Q4 2026 and 2027 guidance for free cash flow growth pass; growth below 3% or lower free cash flow guidance fails.
Recent events
- October 26, 2026Verizon reported Q3 2026 results. Mobility and broadband service revenue rose 2.9% to about $23.5 billion, and postpaid phone net additions were 406,000. Postpaid phone churn fell to 0.94%. EPS was $1.25, adjusted EPS was $1.31 and adjusted EBITDA was a record $13.8 billion. Free cash flow was $7.8 billion, up 12.1%. Verizon raised its 2026 guidance to adjusted EPS of $5.04 to $5.06, postpaid phone net additions of 1.1 million to 1.2 million and free cash flow growth near 12%. It also signed an agreement with Amazon Web Services that it values at more than $2 billion, for network capacity for AI workloads.
- September 25, 2026The board elected Charles Phillips, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Recognize Partners, as a director.
- July 24, 2026Verizon reported Q2 2026 results. Mobility and broadband service revenue rose 2.8% to about $23.4 billion, and postpaid phone net additions were 184,000. Adjusted EPS was $1.30 and adjusted EBITDA was a record $13.7 billion. Net income fell 22.9% to $3.9 billion because of $1.8 billion of special items. Verizon raised its 2026 guidance to adjusted EPS of $4.99 to $5.04 and raised its buyback target to up to $4.5 billion.
Show 2 older eventsHide older events
- June 28, 2026Verizon agreed with BT Group to combine their international wireline connectivity and managed network services businesses in a 50/50 joint venture. Verizon will pay $625 million in cash. It expected a loss of $700 million to $800 million in Q2 2026 when it classified its business as held for sale. The deal needs regulatory approvals.
- January 20, 2026Verizon completed the purchase of Frontier Communications, which expanded its fiber footprint to 31 states and Washington, D.C.
Latest news and filings
- Last earnings
- October 26, 2026 (8-K on sec.gov)
- Next earnings
- Expected about January 26, 2027. The company has not confirmed the date.
- 10-QQuarterly report for the period ended Sep 30, 2026Filed · vz-20260930
- 8-KEarnings releaseFiled · Press release and exhibits
- 8-KChange of directors or officersFiled · Read it on sec.gov
- 10-QQuarterly report for the period ended Jun 30, 2026Filed · vz-20260630
- 8-KChange of directors or officersFiled · Read it on sec.gov
- 8-KEarnings releaseFiled · Press release and exhibits
- 8-KInvestor disclosureFiled · Read it on sec.gov
- 8-KOther company newsFiled · Read it on sec.gov
- 8-KOther company newsFiled · Read it on sec.gov
- 8-KChange of directors or officers and Shareholder vote resultsFiled · Read it on sec.gov
Risks
- The wireless market has strong price competition. If competitors cut prices or raise promotions, Verizon can lose its subscriber gains or must accept lower margins.
- Unsecured debt was $136.1 billion at September 30, 2026. Higher interest rates increase the cost to refinance it, and the debt limits the money left for buybacks.
- Verizon is changing its business model, with lower device subsidies and large cost cuts. Q2 2026 included $397 million of severance charges and $258 million of asset charges. If the changes harm customer service, churn can rise.
- The joint venture with BT needs regulatory approvals. A delay or new conditions can change its value.
Balance sheet
- Cash
- $4.5B
- Debt
- $136.1B
- Net debt
- $131.6B
- Net debt / EBITDA
- 2.3×
- as the company states it
- Interest cover
- 4.1×
- times profit pays interest
Cash against debt
debt covered by cashnet debt $131.6B
Leverage: net debt / EBITDA
low, under 2×medium, 2× to 4×high, over 4×
Verizon funds its business with unsecured notes and other debt in several currencies. At September 30, 2026, unsecured debt was $136.1 billion, down from $136.5 billion at June 30, 2026, and cash was $4.50 billion. Total debt was $166.2 billion, and $23.9 billion of it matures within one year. Net unsecured debt as Verizon defines it was $123.7 billion, and net unsecured debt to consolidated adjusted EBITDA was 2.3 times. Interest cover is operating income divided by interest expense for the first nine months of 2026. Free cash flow was $18.0 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 14.3%.
As of
Show 1 sourceHide sources
Dividends
- Yield at the current rate
- 6.1% (current annual rate, at today’s price)
- Dividend yield
- 6.0% (last 12 months, at today’s price of $46.60)
- Paid per share
- $2.814 in the last 12 months (4 payments)
- Current annual rate
- $2.832 ($0.708 × 4 a year)
- Payout ratio
- 67% of the last fiscal year’s earnings (the year that ended December 31, 2025)
- Latest ex-dividend date
- October 9, 2026, $0.708 per share
Dividends per share by year
| 2016 | $2.273 | |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | $2.324 | |
| 2018 | $2.373 | |
| 2019 | $2.424 | |
| 2020 | $2.473 | |
| 2021 | $2.524 | |
| 2022 | $2.573 | |
| 2023 | $2.624 | |
| 2024 | $2.673 | |
| 2025 | $2.724 |
From 2020 to 2025, the dividend grew by about 2.0% a year. From 2015 to 2025, the dividend grew by about 2.1% a year.
Source: company filings and market data, read on November 13, 2026. The ex-dividend date is the first day a buyer no longer gets the next payment.
Questions about Verizon
What does Verizon do?
Verizon provides wireless phone service, home broadband and network services, mostly in the United States. Its largest business is postpaid mobile service for consumers and businesses. Its market cap is $193B at the current price of $46.60.
When does Verizon report earnings next?
This is an estimate: Verizon may report on January 26, 2027. It last reported results on October 26, 2026.
Is Verizon stock below its intrinsic value?
Verizon stock is close to intrinsic value. This is general information, not advice.
What changed recently at Verizon?
The latest update is from October 26, 2026. Verizon reported Q3 2026 results.
What are the main risks for Verizon?
The wireless market has strong price competition. Unsecured debt was $136.1 billion at September 30, 2026. Verizon is changing its business model, with lower device subsidies and large cost cuts.
How much debt and cash does Verizon have?
At September 30, 2026, Verizon had $136.1B of debt and $4.5B of cash.
Does Verizon pay a dividend?
Yes. The current annual dividend of Verizon is $2.832 per share. That is a dividend yield of 6.1% at the current price of $46.60. In the last 12 months, it paid $2.814 per share (6.0%). The latest ex-dividend date was October 9, 2026.
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