AT&T vs. Verizon: Which Wireless Giant is a Better Buy Now?

Core Insights - AT&T and Verizon are major players in the mobile and wireless connectivity sector, each offering a wide range of communication and business solutions [1][2] AT&T Overview - AT&T is experiencing positive momentum in its postpaid wireless business, characterized by a lower churn rate and increased adoption of higher-tier unlimited plans [3] - The company is focused on enhancing its mobile 5G, fixed wireless, and edge computing services to drive growth [3] - AT&T has agreed to acquire wireless spectrum licenses from EchoStar for $23 billion, which will add significant low-band and mid-band spectrum to its portfolio, enhancing its market presence and operational efficiency [4] - Despite these efforts, AT&T faces challenges such as a nationwide wireless service outage that has impacted customer trust and increased competition from Verizon and T-Mobile [5] Verizon Overview - Verizon is capitalizing on the growing demand for its 5G services, supported by disciplined engineering and infrastructure investments [6] - The company is seeing strong adoption of its 5G and fixed wireless broadband services, aided by flexible pricing plans [7] - Verizon is expanding its Fios Forward initiative to promote digital inclusion and enhance service offerings for underserved households [9] - The company is also facing intense competition, leading to price wars and high capital expenditures for its 5G network build-out [10] Financial Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AT&T's 2025 sales indicates a year-over-year growth of 2.1%, while EPS is expected to decline by 8.8% [11] - For Verizon, the 2025 sales estimate suggests a growth of 2.3%, with EPS expected to grow by 2.4% [13] Price Performance and Valuation - AT&T is viewed as more attractive from a valuation perspective, with a price/sales ratio of 1.44 compared to Verizon's 1.88 [14] - Over the past year, AT&T has gained 10.9%, while Verizon has declined by 9.4% [16] - Both companies currently hold a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), but AT&T is considered to have a slight advantage in terms of price performance and valuation metrics [15]