Welcome to the Vergecast, the flagship podcast of putting as many megapixels as you possibly can into your selfie camera. I'm your friend David Pierce and I am slowly losing my mind if I'm being completely honest with you. So, like I mentioned last week on the show, I am shopping for a new phone.This is a very fun thing for me to do. For a long time, I was a phone reviewer. So, I'd lived a totally abnormal phone life.I would switch phones like every six weeks based on what I was reviewing. But for the last ...

After the close of Robin Hood reports, people are starting to get unnerved by how closely aligned this stock is with the price of Bitcoin. Even if today's dramatic rebound, Bitcoin still feels like it's lost its luster. The precipitous decline of the cryptocurrency occurring at the same time as a weakening dollar calls into question whether it's a real storehold of value or even a hedge against inflation.We know nothing. We we we this vol thing used we used to think it could be a currency. That's not obviou ...

Core Insights - Zacks Premium offers tools for investors to enhance their stock market strategies and confidence, including daily updates, research reports, and stock screens [1][2] Zacks Style Scores - Zacks Style Scores are indicators that rate stocks based on value, growth, and momentum methodologies, helping investors identify stocks likely to outperform the market in the short term [2][3] - Stocks are rated from A to F, with A indicating the highest potential for outperformance [3] Value Score - The Value Style Score focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using financial ratios such as P/E, PEG, and Price/Cash Flow [3] Growth Score - The Growth Style Score assesses a company's financial health and future outlook by analyzing projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow [4] Momentum Score - The Momentum Style Score evaluates stocks based on price trends and earnings estimate changes, aiding investors in timing their positions in high-momentum stocks [5] VGM Score - The VGM Score combines all three Style Scores, providing a comprehensive indicator for investors who utilize multiple investing strategies [6] Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that uses earnings estimate revisions to identify stocks, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks achieving an average annual return of +23.83% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [7][8] - Investors are encouraged to select stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B for optimal success [9] Company Spotlight: Verizon Communications (VZ) - Verizon Communications Inc. is a leading provider of communication services in North America, having grown through mergers and acquisitions, including its merger with MCI Corporation and the acquisition of Alltel Wireless Corp. [11] - Verizon holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) and has a VGM Score of A, with a Momentum Style Score of A, reflecting a 16.1% increase in share price over the past four weeks [12] - Analysts have revised Verizon's earnings estimate upwards, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by $0.02 to $4.87 per share, and the company has an average earnings surprise of +2.9% [12][13]

Group 1 - The departure of a key executive occurs as Verizon is undergoing significant changes under the leadership of new CEO Dan Schulman [1]

Core Viewpoint - T-Mobile is expected to report fourth-quarter 2025 results on February 11, with a history of earnings surprises indicating strong performance in previous quarters [1][9] Revenue Expectations - Year-over-year revenue growth is anticipated, driven by postpaid subscriber additions, strong 5G adoption, and increased demand for premium wireless and broadband services [2][12] - Total service revenues are estimated at $18.6 billion, up from $16.9 billion in the same quarter last year, while equipment revenues are projected at $5 billion compared to $4.7 billion a year ago [8][12] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for total revenues is pegged at $23.6 billion, an increase from $21.9 billion reported in the previous year [9][12] Competitive Landscape - T-Mobile operates in a highly competitive U.S. wireless market, facing strong rivals like AT&T and Verizon, which may pressure pricing and limit growth [7] - The company maintains its leadership in the 5G market but faces rising capital and operating costs from network expansion and upgrades, potentially impacting margins [3] Innovations and Partnerships - The launch of Edge Control and T-Platform has strengthened T-Mobile's enterprise offerings, although the near-term revenue impact may be limited due to gradual adoption and high rollout costs [4] - T-Mobile's partnership with the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix has enhanced brand visibility, but immediate revenue impact is likely limited due to increased marketing and sponsorship costs [5] - The expansion of T-Satellite to power apps highlights T-Mobile's innovation, but short-term revenue gains are expected to be modest [6] Earnings Outlook - The adjusted earnings per share estimate is $2.11, indicating a decline from $2.57 reported a year ago [9] - The Earnings ESP for T-Mobile is -3.64%, suggesting that the model does not predict an earnings beat for the fourth quarter [10][11]

Core Insights - The chief of Verizon's consumer division, Sowmyanarayan Sampath, is resigning as the company embarks on a turnaround strategy under new CEO Dan Schulman [1] Company Developments - The leadership change comes as Verizon aims to improve its performance and adapt to market challenges [1] - Dan Schulman, the new CEO, is expected to implement strategies to enhance the company's competitive position in the wireless market [1]

Core Insights - Verizon reported Q4 earnings that exceeded expectations on both revenue and profit, leading to a rally in their shares, indicating positive market reception of the new CEO's strategies [1] Financial Performance - The company beat both top and bottom line estimates in their Q4 earnings report, showcasing strong financial performance [1]

Core Insights - AT&T Inc. has shown strong performance in Q4 2025, exceeding earnings and revenue estimates due to increased demand in mobility and broadband sectors [2] - The company is strategically expanding its fiber Internet service through the acquisition of Lumen Technologies' mass-market fiber business for $5.75 billion, adding over one million fiber subscribers [4] - Despite challenges in legacy services and margin pressures, AT&T plans to return $45 billion to shareholders from 2026 to 2028, supported by cost savings and enhanced free cash flow [3] Financial Performance - AT&T reported significant growth in wireless and broadband services, with fiber convergence rising to 42% and adding 283,000 net fiber subscribers and 221,000 Internet Air subscribers [2] - The stock price has increased by 6.4% over the past month, outperforming the Zacks S&P 500 composite and the Zacks Wireless National industry [5] - AT&T's current stock price is $26.83, with a market capitalization of approximately $190.21 billion [5] Strategic Moves - The acquisition of Lumen Technologies enhances AT&T's fiber Internet service footprint across 32 U.S. states, including major cities like Denver, Seattle, and Salt Lake City [4] - The company remains committed to investing in key areas such as 5G and fiber, adapting its strategies to align with market changes [3] - David Taylor's recent share purchase reflects investor confidence in AT&T's growth prospects [6]

Core Insights - PayPal Holdings has announced a leadership change, appointing Enrique Lores as the new president and CEO, effective March 1, replacing Alex Chriss [1] - Following the announcement, PayPal's stock experienced a decline [1] Group 1: Leadership Change - Enrique Lores, previously the president and CEO of HP, will take over the leadership role at PayPal [1] - Lores has a six-year tenure at HP, indicating experience in managing large organizations [1] Group 2: Market Reaction - The announcement of the new CEO led to a drop in PayPal's stock price, reflecting investor concerns about the company's direction [1]

Core Insights - Verizon Communications Inc. reported strong fourth-quarter 2025 results, with adjusted earnings and revenues exceeding Zacks Consensus Estimates due to robust mobility and broadband demand trends [1][8] - The company added 319,000 fixed wireless access subscribers, bringing the total to nearly 5.7 million, and is on track to reach 8-9 million subscribers by 2028 [1][8] Group 1: Financial Performance - Verizon's fourth-quarter results showed solid demand, with both earnings and revenue surpassing estimates [1][8] - The company has seen a decline in legacy services, leading to increased promotional spending and discounts that are impacting margins [6][14] Group 2: Strategic Developments - The acquisition of Frontier Communications has expanded Verizon's fiber footprint, enhancing its ability to deliver premium mobility and broadband services [3] - Verizon is focused on capital expenditures for the expansion of 5G mmWave and fiber infrastructure, which are critical for meeting growing traffic demands [2][7] Group 3: Market Position and Challenges - Verizon's stock has increased by 11.6% over the past year, outperforming industry peers like AT&T and T-Mobile [9] - Despite strong performance, there is skepticism about future growth, as earnings estimates for 2026 have decreased by 1.8% while those for 2027 have increased by 2.2% [9] Group 4: Future Outlook - The company is well-positioned to enhance connectivity through investments in fiber infrastructure and new technologies [13] - However, high capital expenditures and a competitive U.S. wireless market may continue to pressure margins and revenues [14]