Verizon Communications (VZ)
Market Price (11/13/2025): $40.83 | Market Cap: $172.6 BilSector: Communication Services | Industry: Integrated Telecommunication Services
Verizon Communications (VZ)
Market Price (11/13/2025): $40.83Market Cap: $172.6 BilSector: Communication ServicesIndustry: Integrated Telecommunication Services
Investment Highlights
Why It Matters
Which of these 2 stories sounds closer for this stock?
1. Generates cash flow
The stock generated 4% or more of the share price (called cash flow yield), and shows moderate 10-15% or more growth.
2. Riding a trend
Think Tesla during the pandemic of 2020 when EVs were riding a cultural high, or Nvidia in the current AI boom, or even Figma. These companies don’t have enough yield, or, enough growth, or both - however - they are riding a trend. They have momentum. These can be more volatile - they don’t have the floor of strong cash flow
| Attractive yieldTotal YieldTotal Yield = Earnings Yield + Dividend Yield, Earnings Yield = Net Income / Market Cap Dividend Yield = Total Dividends / Market Cap is 18%, Dividend Yield is 6.6%, ERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is 14%, FCF Yield is 12% | Weak multi-year price returns2Y Excs Rtn is -26%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -46% | Debt is significantNet D/ENet Debt/Equity. Debt net of cash. Negative indicates net cash. Equity is taken as the Market Capitalization is 94% |
| Attractive operating marginsOp Mgn LTMOperating Margin = Operating Income / Revenue Reflects profitability before taxes and before impact of capital structure (interest payments). is 23% | Weak revenue growthRev Chg 3Y AvgRevenue Change % averaged over trailing 3 years is 0.5% | |
| Attractive cash flow generationCFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 28%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 15%, CFO LTM is 38 Bil, FCF LTM is 21 Bil | ||
| Low stock price volatilityVol 12M is 21% | ||
| Megatrend and thematic driversMegatrends include 5G & Advanced Connectivity, and Artificial Intelligence. Themes include Telecom Infrastructure, Wireless Services, Show more. |
| Attractive yieldTotal YieldTotal Yield = Earnings Yield + Dividend Yield, Earnings Yield = Net Income / Market Cap Dividend Yield = Total Dividends / Market Cap is 18%, Dividend Yield is 6.6%, ERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is 14%, FCF Yield is 12% |
| Attractive operating marginsOp Mgn LTMOperating Margin = Operating Income / Revenue Reflects profitability before taxes and before impact of capital structure (interest payments). is 23% |
| Attractive cash flow generationCFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 28%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 15%, CFO LTM is 38 Bil, FCF LTM is 21 Bil |
| Low stock price volatilityVol 12M is 21% |
| Megatrend and thematic driversMegatrends include 5G & Advanced Connectivity, and Artificial Intelligence. Themes include Telecom Infrastructure, Wireless Services, Show more. |
| Weak multi-year price returns2Y Excs Rtn is -26%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -46% |
| Debt is significantNet D/ENet Debt/Equity. Debt net of cash. Negative indicates net cash. Equity is taken as the Market Capitalization is 94% |
| Weak revenue growthRev Chg 3Y AvgRevenue Change % averaged over trailing 3 years is 0.5% |
Market Valuation & Key Metrics
VZ Stock
Why The Stock Moved
Qualitative Assessment
AI Generated Analysis | Feedback
**1. Surprise CEO Leadership Change Triggered Market Uncertainty.**
On October 6, 2025, Verizon Communications abruptly announced the replacement of its long-standing CEO Hans Vestberg with former PayPal CEO Dan Schulman. This unexpected leadership transition significantly unsettled investors, causing the stock to fall nearly 5% on the day of the announcement due to concerns about the company's immediate future direction.
**2. Q3 2025 Revenue Miss Amidst Analyst Expectations.**
Verizon reported its third-quarter 2025 earnings on October 29, 2025. While the company's adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.21 surpassed analyst consensus estimates of $1.19, its total operating revenue of $33.8 billion fell short of the anticipated $34.19 billion. This revenue miss, coupled with reports of shortfalls in postpaid and broadband net additions, contributed to investor caution.
**3. Increased Competitive Pressures in Key Markets.**
Verizon faces intense competition across its wireless and broadband segments from major rivals like AT&T and T-Mobile. The company's leadership change was partly driven by a need to aggressively tackle challenges in 5G monetization, broadband expansion, and lagging customer sign-ups. Additionally, new competitive offerings, such as Starlink's cheaper residential internet plans, have emerged, further intensifying the battle for customers.
**4. Analyst Downgrades and Reduced Price Targets.**
Several financial analysts downgraded their ratings or reduced their price targets for Verizon's stock during the period. For instance, Royal Bank of Canada lowered its price target from $46.00 to $44.00 on October 30th, and BNP Paribas Exane cut its rating from "outperform" to "neutral" on October 21st. These revised outlooks reflected a more cautious sentiment regarding the company's short-to-medium-term growth prospects.
**5. Continued Underperformance Relative to Market and Peers.**
Verizon's stock continued its trend of underperforming the broader market and its direct competitors. Year-to-date, Verizon's return of 9.05% lagged significantly behind the S&P 500's return of 12.96% (as of October 14, 2025). The company also underperformed peers like AT&T and T-Mobile over the year, indicating persistent investor concerns about its ability to generate significant growth in the highly competitive telecommunications sector.
Stock Movement Drivers
Return vs. Risk
Price Returns Compared
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Total [1] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Returns | |||||||
| VZ Return | -0% | -8% | -20% | 3% | 13% | 9% | -6% |
| Peers Return | -0% | 7% | -20% | -7% | 43% | 10% | 25% |
| S&P 500 Return | 16% | 27% | -19% | 24% | 23% | 16% | 112% |
Monthly Win Rates [3] | |||||||
| VZ Win Rate | 42% | 42% | 50% | 58% | 58% | 50% | |
| Peers Win Rate | 20% | 35% | 18% | 28% | 28% | 65% | |
| S&P 500 Win Rate | 58% | 75% | 42% | 67% | 75% | 70% | |
Max Drawdowns [4] | |||||||
| VZ Max Drawdown | -18% | -11% | -28% | -16% | 0% | -4% | |
| Peers Max Drawdown | -12% | -2% | -25% | -27% | -15% | -14% | |
| S&P 500 Max Drawdown | -31% | -1% | -25% | -1% | -2% | -15% | |
[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: CMCSA, FYBR, LUMN, GLIBA, GLIBK. See VZ Returns vs. Peers.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2025 data is for the year up to 11/12/2025 (YTD)
How Low Can It Go
| Event | VZ | S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 Inflation Shock | ||
| % Loss | -48.5% | -25.4% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 94.1% | 34.1% |
| Time to Breakeven | Not Fully Recovered days | 464 days |
| 2020 Covid Pandemic | ||
| % Loss | -18.7% | -33.9% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 22.9% | 51.3% |
| Time to Breakeven | 253 days | 148 days |
| 2018 Correction | ||
| % Loss | -21.5% | -19.8% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 27.4% | 24.7% |
| Time to Breakeven | 199 days | 120 days |
| 2008 Global Financial Crisis | ||
| % Loss | -45.6% | -56.8% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 83.7% | 131.3% |
| Time to Breakeven | 1440 days | 1480 days |
Compare to CMCSA, FYBR, LUMN, GLIBA, GLIBK
In The Past
Verizon Communications's stock fell -48.5% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 5/10/2021. A -48.5% loss requires a 94.1% gain to breakeven.
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Asset Allocation
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Latest Trefis Analyses
Trade Ideas
Select past ideas related to VZ. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.
| Date | Ticker | Company | Category | Trade Strategy | 6M Fwd Rtn | 12M Fwd Rtn | 12M Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10032025 | TTD | Trade Desk | Dip Buy | DB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow MarginsBuying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap | -15.1% | -15.1% | -16.6% |
| 10032025 | CABO | Cable One | Special | Short Squeeze PotentialShort Squeeze PotentialHas potential for a short squeeze. High short interest, rising short interest and high debt. | -36.0% | -36.0% | -36.0% |
| 09122025 | DV | DoubleVerify | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | -19.4% | -19.4% | -27.9% |
| 07312025 | CMCSA | Comcast | Monopoly | MY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S DeclineLarge cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple | -15.2% | -15.2% | -17.9% |
| 05312025 | PINS | Monopoly | MY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S DeclineLarge cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple | -12.2% | -12.2% | -17.2% |
| Date | Ticker | Company | Category | Trade Strategy | 6M Fwd Rtn | 12M Fwd Rtn | 12M Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10032025 | TTD | Trade Desk | Dip Buy | DB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow MarginsBuying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap | -15.1% | -15.1% | -16.6% |
| 10032025 | CABO | Cable One | Special | Short Squeeze PotentialShort Squeeze PotentialHas potential for a short squeeze. High short interest, rising short interest and high debt. | -36.0% | -36.0% | -36.0% |
| 09122025 | DV | DoubleVerify | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | -19.4% | -19.4% | -27.9% |
| 07312025 | CMCSA | Comcast | Monopoly | MY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S DeclineLarge cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple | -15.2% | -15.2% | -17.9% |
| 05312025 | PINS | Monopoly | MY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S DeclineLarge cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple | -12.2% | -12.2% | -17.2% |
Research & Analysis
Invest in Strategies
Wealth Management
Peer Comparisons for Verizon Communications
Financials
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| Mkt Price | 33.57 |
| Mkt Cap | 9.0 |
| Rev LTM | 9,365 |
| Op Inc LTM | 305 |
| FCF LTM | 672 |
| FCF 3Y Avg | 6,961 |
| CFO LTM | 3,329 |
| CFO 3Y Avg | 16,104 |
Growth & Margins
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| Rev Chg LTM | 2.5% |
| Rev Chg 3Y Avg | 0.5% |
| Rev Chg Q | -1.3% |
| QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM | -0.3% |
| Op Mgn LTM | 18.4% |
| Op Mgn 3Y Avg | 13.7% |
| QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM | -0.2% |
| CFO/Rev LTM | 33.5% |
| CFO/Rev 3Y Avg | 27.5% |
| FCF/Rev LTM | 12.4% |
| FCF/Rev 3Y Avg | 7.7% |
Valuation
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| Mkt Cap | 9.0 |
| P/S | 1.0 |
| P/EBIT | 0.2 |
| P/E | -3.2 |
| P/CFO | 3.0 |
| Total Yield | -11.7% |
| Dividend Yield | 0.0% |
| FCF Yield 3Y Avg | 0.4% |
| D/E | 1.1 |
| Net D/E | 1.0 |
Returns
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| 1M Rtn | -1.9% |
| 3M Rtn | -1.0% |
| 6M Rtn | 1.7% |
| 12M Rtn | 0.3% |
| 3Y Rtn | 32.6% |
| 1M Excs Rtn | -6.3% |
| 3M Excs Rtn | -8.1% |
| 6M Excs Rtn | -14.5% |
| 12M Excs Rtn | -15.8% |
| 3Y Excs Rtn | -42.1% |
Segment Financials
Revenue by Segment
| $ Mil | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer | 101,626 | 103,506 | 95,300 | 88,533 | 91,056 |
| Business | 30,122 | 31,072 | 31,042 | 30,962 | 31,443 |
| Corporate and other | 2,479 | 2,510 | 7,722 | 9,334 | 9,812 |
| Eliminations | -253 | -253 | -451 | -537 | -443 |
| Total | 133,974 | 136,835 | 133,613 | 128,292 | 131,868 |
| $ Mil | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer | 29,011 | 28,846 | 29,955 | 28,856 | 28,961 |
| Business | 2,066 | 2,631 | 3,437 | 3,773 | 3,762 |
| Legacy legal matter | 0 | 0 | |||
| Legal settlement | -100 | ||||
| Business transformation costs | -176 | 0 | |||
| Non-strategic business shutdown | -179 | 0 | |||
| Other components of net periodic pension and benefit charges | -248 | -387 | -769 | -817 | -813 |
| Asset and business rationalization | -480 | ||||
| Severance charges | -533 | -304 | -209 | -221 | -204 |
| Corporate and other | -643 | -319 | -449 | -1,472 | -1,403 |
| Verizon Business Group goodwill impairment | -5,841 | 0 | |||
| Asset rationalization | 0 | ||||
| Loss on spectrum licenses | 0 | -223 | -1,195 | ||
| Net gain from disposition of business | 0 | 706 | -126 | 261 | |
| Impairment charges | -186 | ||||
| Total | 22,877 | 30,467 | 32,448 | 28,798 | 30,378 |
Returns Analyses
Earnings Returns History
Expand for More| Forward Returns | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings Date | 1D Returns | 5D Returns | 21D Returns |
| 10/29/2025 | 2.3% | 0.0% | |
| 7/21/2025 | 4.0% | 5.5% | 8.7% |
| 4/22/2025 | 0.6% | -1.3% | 3.0% |
| 1/24/2025 | 0.9% | 0.7% | 10.6% |
| 10/22/2024 | -5.0% | -4.8% | -4.1% |
| 7/22/2024 | -6.1% | -3.7% | -2.1% |
| 4/22/2024 | -4.7% | -2.0% | -0.9% |
| 1/23/2024 | 6.7% | 6.2% | 3.8% |
| ... | |||
| SUMMARY STATS | |||
| # Positive | 13 | 13 | 9 |
| # Negative | 11 | 11 | 15 |
| Median Positive | 1.8% | 1.4% | 5.4% |
| Median Negative | -4.5% | -3.5% | -2.3% |
| Max Positive | 9.3% | 10.3% | 18.7% |
| Max Negative | -6.7% | -12.0% | -10.0% |
SEC Filings
Expand for More| Report Date | Filing Date | Filing |
|---|---|---|
| 9302025 | 10292025 | 10-Q 9/30/2025 |
| 6302025 | 7252025 | 10-Q 6/30/2025 |
| 3312025 | 4252025 | 10-Q 3/31/2025 |
| 12312024 | 2122025 | 10-K 12/31/2024 |
| 9302024 | 10252024 | 10-Q 9/30/2024 |
| 6302024 | 7252024 | 10-Q 6/30/2024 |
| 3312024 | 4252024 | 10-Q 3/31/2024 |
| 12312023 | 2092024 | 10-K 12/31/2023 |
| 9302023 | 10262023 | 10-Q 9/30/2023 |
| 6302023 | 7282023 | 10-Q 6/30/2023 |
| 3312023 | 4272023 | 10-Q 3/31/2023 |
| 12312022 | 2102023 | 10-K 12/31/2022 |
| 9302022 | 10252022 | 10-Q 9/30/2022 |
| 6302022 | 7282022 | 10-Q 6/30/2022 |
| 3312022 | 4272022 | 10-Q 3/31/2022 |
| 12312021 | 2112022 | 10-K 12/31/2021 |
External Quote Links
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| CNBC | Etrade |
| MarketWatch | Unusual Whales |
| YCharts | Perplexity Finance |
| FinViz |
