Verizon vs. AT&T: Which Telecom Stock Has More Upside Potential?

Core Insights - Verizon Communications Inc. and AT&T, Inc. are major players in the U.S. telecommunications industry, providing a wide range of communication services to various customer segments [1] - The U.S. telecom services market is projected to grow at a 6.6% CAGR from 2024 to 2030, with the Fiber to the home market expected to increase from $10.7 billion to $21.5 billion by 2030, reflecting a CAGR of 12.7% [2] AT&T Analysis - AT&T is modernizing its network infrastructure to capitalize on the 5G boom, driven by high-end applications such as AI, IoT, and C-V2X [3] - The company plans to deploy a nationwide mobile 5G network using millimeter wave spectrum in dense areas and mid- and low-band spectrum in suburban and rural regions, reaching 30 million locations with its fiber broadband network [4] - AT&T is collaborating with Ericsson to implement an Open RAN architecture, aiming for 70% of its wireless network traffic to utilize open-capable platforms by late 2026 [5] - The partnership with Microsoft will transition AT&T's 5G core to the cloud, enhancing productivity and service delivery [6] - Despite these advancements, AT&T faces intense competition from T-Mobile and Verizon, which could impact its margins [7] Verizon Analysis - Verizon is enhancing its 5G Ultra-Wideband coverage through extensive spectrum holdings, deep fiber resources, and small cell deployment [9][10] - The company employs a customer segmentation strategy to provide tailored solutions, which aids in client retention and revenue growth [11] - Verizon's high capital expenditures for 5G and fiber infrastructure may pressure margins, and the competitive landscape limits pricing flexibility [12] - The introduction of advanced use cases, such as the Edge Transportation Exchange for connected vehicles, aims to create new revenue streams [13] Financial Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Verizon's 2025 sales and EPS indicates year-over-year growth of 2.51% and 2.4%, respectively, with upward revisions noted [14] - For AT&T, the 2025 sales estimate suggests a growth of 2.16%, while EPS is projected to decline by 9.29%, although estimates have trended upward [16] Price Performance & Valuation - Over the past year, Verizon's stock has increased by 9.6%, while AT&T has seen a gain of 50.8% [17] - Verizon's shares trade at a forward P/E ratio of 9.28, which is lower than AT&T's 13.41, indicating a more attractive valuation for Verizon [17] Conclusion - Both companies are rapidly enhancing their 5G and fiber broadband capabilities, but AT&T's customer-centric approach and strategic collaborations may provide a competitive edge in the postpaid wireless market [21]