Verizon vs. T-Mobile: Which Telecom Stock Should You Bet On?

Core Insights - Verizon Communications Inc. and T-Mobile, US, Inc. are significant players in the U.S. telecom industry, providing a range of communication services including wireless and data services [1][3] - The U.S. telecom market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.6% from 2024 to 2030, driven by high data usage and government initiatives to expand network infrastructure [2] Verizon Analysis - Verizon's consumer wireless service revenue reached $17.4 billion in Q2, marking a 2.3% year-over-year increase, with a postpaid churn rate of 1.12% and average revenues per account rising to $147.5 [4] - The company added 278,000 fixed wireless access subscribers, bringing the total to over 5.1 million, and achieved 293,000 broadband net additions in the quarter [6] - Verizon is facing competition from AT&T, which is expanding its fiber footprint through acquisitions and partnerships, potentially threatening Verizon's fiber expansion efforts [7] - Verizon is exploring new revenue streams, such as its partnership with the Tampa Police Department to deploy 5G-enabled smartphones for public safety [8] T-Mobile Analysis - T-Mobile added 1.7 million postpaid net customers in the quarter, with a postpaid phone churn rate of 0.9% and average revenues per account increasing to $149.87 [9] - The company completed the acquisition of U.S. Cellular's wireless operations, enhancing its home broadband and fixed wireless capacity [11] - Despite strong growth, T-Mobile faces intense competition and pricing pressure in a saturated market, and its shares trade at a premium valuation of 20.33 times forward earnings compared to Verizon's 9.01 times [12][17] Financial Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects Verizon's 2025 sales growth at 2.51% and EPS growth at 2.4%, with upward revisions in estimates over the past 60 days [13] - T-Mobile's 2025 sales and EPS are expected to grow by 6.48% and 9.83%, respectively, although the EPS estimate for 2026 has declined [14] Price Performance - Year-to-date, T-Mobile's stock has gained 8.6%, while Verizon's has increased by 9.7%, compared to the industry's growth of 13.6% [16] Investment Outlook - Both companies are expanding their network infrastructure, but T-Mobile's premium valuation and high prepaid churn are concerns, while Verizon's fiber expansion and strong wireless momentum are positive indicators [19]