New Verizon CEO's Bold Plan Signals Shift Toward Smarter, Leaner Growth

Core Insights - Verizon Communications Inc. reported stronger-than-expected quarterly results, alleviating industry concerns regarding subscriber losses and pricing pressures [1][3] - The new CEO has outlined a disciplined growth strategy focusing on customer retention, cost savings, and divestment of non-core assets, indicating a more confident approach in a competitive wireless market [2][4] Financial Performance - Verizon's adjusted EPS was $1.21, surpassing Bank of America's estimate of $1.18 and the broader market's expectation of $1.20, supported by adjusted EBITDA of $12.78 billion, slightly above expectations [5] - Wireless postpaid phone net additions were 44,000, exceeding the consensus estimate of 28,000, while consumer postpaid phone net losses improved to 7,000, significantly better than forecasts of 53,000 and 21,000 [5] Strategic Focus - The new CEO emphasized a disciplined approach to marketing, operations, and service, with major investments planned to enhance customer experience and drive mobility and broadband growth [4] - The focus on pricing as a competitive tool and divesting non-core assets is expected to create a more constructive industry environment despite a shrinking net-add pool [6] Future Projections - Analyst projections indicate a 2.3% year-over-year growth in service revenue to $83.97 billion by 2025, with adjusted EBITDA growth of 2.9% to $50.2 billion [7] - Capital expenditures are projected at $17.3 billion, with free cash flow expected to reach $20.3 billion at the high end of guidance [7] Analyst Rating and Price Target - Bank of America Securities analyst maintained a Neutral rating on Verizon, reducing the price target to $45 from $49, reflecting execution risks associated with restructuring and renewed marketing efforts [3][8] - The price target is based on a 9.5x forward price-to-free-cash-flow multiple, below Verizon's 10-year average of 11x, to account for competitive pressures [8]