Is Verizon Communications Stock Outperforming Its Rivals?
Verizon‘s stock has posted strong returns over the past year, but how does it truly stack up against telecom and cable rivals amid evolving 5G, AI, and competitive market dynamics? A closer look reveals robust profitability and steady revenue growth, with positive 2026 guidance for subscriber additions and cash flow. Despite a moderate valuation and a shift to fiscally responsible growth, intense competition and capital intensity in network investments could temper significant upside compared to peers with more aggressive growth profiles.
- VZ’s 21.2% operating margin, bolstered by high-margin wireless, surpasses most peers but trails CHTR’s 24.3% from enhanced operational efficiency.
- VZ’s 2.5% revenue growth is low, trailing T and TMUS’s subscriber-driven 5G expansion, but outpaces CMCSA, CHTR, LUMN in a saturated market.
- VZ’s 21.0% stock gain and 12.0 PE reflect valuation below its “Fair Ratio”, while LUMN’s 67.8% return signals investor speculation on its turnaround.
Here’s how Verizon Communications stacks up across size, valuation, and profitability versus key peers.
| VZ | T | TMUS | CMCSA | CHTR | LUMN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap ($ Bil) | 206.8 | 194.9 | 235.6 | 112.0 | 29.0 | 7.0 |
| Revenue ($ Bil) | 138.2 | 125.6 | 88.3 | 123.7 | 54.8 | 12.7 |
| PE Ratio | 12.0 | 8.9 | 21.4 | 5.6 | 5.8 | -4.2 |
| LTM Revenue Growth | 2.5% | 2.7% | 8.5% | -0.0% | -0.6% | -4.6% |
| LTM Operating Margin | 21.2% | 19.9% | 21.0% | 16.7% | 24.3% | 1.3% |
| LTM FCF Margin | 14.2% | 15.5% | 17.5% | 15.5% | 8.1% | 9.7% |
| 12M Market Return | 21.0% | 7.9% | -18.3% | -2.5% | -35.4% | 49.5% |
For more details on Verizon Communications, read Buy or Sell VZ Stock. Below we compare VZ’s growth, margin, and valuation with peers across years
Revenue Growth Comparison
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| LTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VZ | 2.5% | 2.5% | 0.6% | -2.1% | |
| T | 2.7% | 2.7% | -0.1% | 1.4% | |
| TMUS | 8.5% | 8.5% | 3.6% | -1.3% | |
| CMCSA | -0.0% | -0.0% | 1.8% | 0.1% | |
| CHTR | -0.6% | -0.6% | 0.9% | 1.1% | |
| LUMN | -4.6% | – | -10.0% | -16.7% | -11.2% |
Operating Margin Comparison
| LTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VZ | 21.2% | 21.2% | 21.3% | 21.4% | |
| T | 19.9% | 19.9% | 19.7% | 20.1% | |
| TMUS | 21.0% | 21.0% | 22.1% | 18.1% | |
| CMCSA | 16.7% | 16.7% | 18.8% | 19.2% | |
| CHTR | 24.3% | 24.3% | 24.0% | 22.9% | |
| LUMN | 1.3% | – | 3.6% | 8.4% | 18.8% |
PE Ratio Comparison
| LTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VZ | 12.0 | 10.0 | 9.6 | 13.7 | |
| T | 8.9 | 8.1 | 15.0 | 8.4 | |
| TMUS | 21.4 | 20.8 | 22.8 | 22.8 | |
| CMCSA | 5.6 | 5.5 | 9.0 | 11.7 | |
| CHTR | 5.8 | 5.7 | 9.6 | 12.7 | |
| LUMN | -4.2 | – | -139.5 | -0.5 | -1.2 |
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