Verizon Beats Expectations, Boosts Outlook — Here's Why Analysts Still See More Room To Grow

Core Insights - Verizon Communications reported a strong second-quarter performance with a revenue growth of 5.2% year-over-year, reaching $34.50 billion, surpassing analyst expectations [1][4] - The company has revised its full-year guidance upwards, indicating improved financial outlooks for adjusted EBITDA, EPS, and free cash flow [11][12] Financial Performance - Quarterly revenue of $34.50 billion was 2.2% above consensus estimates, driven by robust wireless equipment sales [4] - Adjusted EBITDA increased by 4.1% to $12.8 billion, and adjusted EPS of $1.22 exceeded expectations by 3% [4] - Free cash flow reached $5.2 billion, surpassing the forecast of $4.8 billion, aided by lower capital expenditures of $3.8 billion [4] Growth Projections - Verizon expects free cash flow for 2025 to be between $19.5 billion and $20.5 billion, an increase from previous estimates of $17.5 billion to $18.5 billion [3] - The company anticipates adjusted EBITDA growth of 2.5% to 3.5% and adjusted EPS growth of 1% to 3% for fiscal 2025 [11] Subscriber Metrics - Postpaid phone net losses were 9,000 in the second quarter, with a churn rate of 0.97%, reflecting competitive pressures [6] - Consumer revenue rose by 6.9% to $26.6 billion, driven by a 30% increase in equipment revenue [8] - Broadband net additions of 293,000 fell short of expectations due to softer demand and nearing saturation in C-Band coverage [9] Strategic Focus - The company is shifting its strategy to prioritize service revenue and EBITDA growth over postpaid phone net additions [5] - Verizon aims for disciplined, high-margin subscriber growth, avoiding aggressive marketing tactics [13] - The company is investing in AI-driven infrastructure to support long-term growth while managing short-term subscriber pressures [10] Market Position - Verizon's stock is trading higher, reflecting positive market sentiment following the strong quarterly results [16] - The stock offers an attractive dividend yield of approximately 6.5%, positioning it as a defensive holding with stable domestic revenue [13]