Core Viewpoint - Verizon's recent performance indicates a troubling trend in subscriber growth, with significant losses in the first quarter of 2025 following a brief gain at the end of 2024 [1][8] Subscriber Performance - In the first quarter of 2025, Verizon added 1.7 million consumer wireless retail postpaid phone subscribers on a gross basis, but this represents a 1% decline year over year, resulting in a net loss of 356,000 subscribers [2] - The company lost 194,000 net consumer retail postpaid phone subscribers in the first quarter of 2024, despite gaining 367,000 subscribers in the fourth quarter of 2024, indicating a volatile subscriber base [3] Revenue Trends - Total wireless service revenue for Verizon rose by 2.7% year over year, despite the ongoing subscriber losses [3] Customer Retention Strategies - Verizon introduced a three-year price lock on wireless plans to improve customer retention, although this excludes fees and perks associated with the plans [4] - The company also guarantees that existing customers can access the same promotions on new phones with trade-ins as new customers, which may increase costs but aims to reduce churn [5] Competitive Landscape - Competitors like AT&T are also implementing customer-friendly policies, such as bill credits for service outages, which may limit the effectiveness of Verizon's new strategies [6] - The industry is seeing a trend towards customer-first policies, which could dilute the impact of Verizon's initiatives on subscriber growth [6] Economic Considerations - The potential impact of tariffs on smartphones could increase costs for Verizon's free phone offers, and an economic slowdown may lead consumers to downgrade plans or seek cheaper alternatives [7] - Verizon's position in a potentially slowing economy, combined with its need to catch up with competitors, presents challenges for future subscriber growth [8]

Core Insights - Rogers Communications has been ranked as the most reliable 5G wireless network in Canada by umlaut, reinforcing its leadership in network reliability [1][2] - The company has won umlaut's "Best in Test" wireless benchmark award for seven consecutive years, demonstrating top performance in voice, data, and reliability [2][3] - Rogers has invested over $40 billion in its networks over the last decade and plans to invest an additional $4 billion in capital investments this year [4] Company Commitment - The company is dedicated to providing Canadians with the best networks and plans, emphasizing the importance of reliability for customers [3] - Rogers' 5G network now reaches more than 2,500 communities across Canada, showcasing its commitment to expanding network coverage [4] Benchmarking and Recognition - Umlaut, a global leader in independent benchmarking, conducts extensive drive tests and uses crowdsourced data to measure network performance across over 200 mobile networks in more than 120 countries [3]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Wireless service revenue increased by 2.7%, reaching the high end of the guided range [8][19] - Adjusted EBITDA reached $12.6 billion, marking a 4% growth and the highest reported result ever [9][19] - Free cash flow improved by over $900 million compared to the previous year, totaling $3.6 billion [9][19] - Adjusted EPS was $1.19 for the quarter, up 3.5% year over year [19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consumer postpaid phone net losses were 356,000, attributed to recent pricing actions [16] - Prepaid net adds were 137,000, the best performance since the TracFone acquisition [11][16] - Broadband offerings, including Fios and fixed wireless access, added 339,000 net customers, continuing to gain market share [18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is on track to deploy C band to 80-90% of planned sites by year-end [10] - Fixed wireless access is expected to reach 8-9 million subscribers by 2028 [12] - The company aims to cover over 100 million premises with broadband offerings over time [12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on growing wireless service revenue, expanding adjusted EBITDA, and generating strong free cash flow [14] - A multiyear business transformation is underway, emphasizing customer-first strategies and targeted offerings [25][39] - The company is committed to enhancing customer experience through AI and personalized services [23] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in navigating the current macroeconomic landscape and emphasized the essential nature of connectivity services [6][7] - The company anticipates improved churn rates in the second half of the year due to new pricing strategies and customer retention initiatives [50] - Management remains optimistic about achieving better consumer postpaid phone net adds in 2025 compared to 2024 [66] Other Important Information - The company is pursuing a pending acquisition of Frontier to enhance its broadband capabilities [9][21] - The Verizon Value Guarantee, which includes a three-year price lock and free phone guarantee, is expected to drive customer loyalty and revenue growth [31][36] Q&A Session Questions and Answers Question: Impact of tariffs on handsets and telecom equipment - Management indicated that tariffs on handsets could lead to increased costs for consumers, but they are prepared to manage these challenges without compromising capital expenditures [45][46] Question: Churn expectations with new plans and promotions - Management expects churn to improve in the second half of the year, attributing recent increases to specific pricing actions that were necessary for revenue stability [50] Question: March and April gross adds improvement - The company reported double-digit growth in gross adds in April, largely driven by the successful launch of the Verizon Value Guarantee [65] Question: Consumer behavior changes due to tariffs - Management noted no significant shifts in consumer behavior, with stable payment trends and continued demand for connectivity services [75][80] Question: Business EBITDA growth sustainability - Management expressed confidence in sustaining business EBITDA growth, attributing it to ongoing cost transformation efforts and a shift towards higher-margin wireless services [68][81]

Core Insights - Zillow Group, Inc. has partnered with HomeServices of America to enhance real estate agent capabilities through Zillow Showcase, an AI-powered solution [1][4] - Zillow Showcase features interactive visuals and improved discoverability, leading to increased customer engagement and interest in listings [2][3] Company Collaboration - HomeServices agents benefit significantly from Zillow Showcase, with listings selling for 2% more, adding approximately $9,000 to the average sale price [3] - Active showcase listings experience 81% more page views, 80% more saves, and 90% more shares compared to standard listings, enhancing agent effectiveness in a competitive market [3][5] Market Position and Growth Potential - The partnership with HomeServices of America, a major player in the U.S. real estate market, highlights Zillow's growing influence and the potential for long-term growth through advanced technology [4][6] - Zillow aims to introduce further AI advancements in 2025, focusing on visual and multimodal capabilities to improve home buying and selling experiences [6] Stock Performance - Zillow's stock has increased by 24.8% over the past year, contrasting with a 6% decline in the industry [7]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In 2024, capital expenditures decreased by 24% on a consolidated level, contributing to an increase in free cash flow [10] - Adjusted EBITDA increased by 7% for the full year on a consolidated basis [11] - Free cash flow for 2024 was $280 million, an increase of $88 million over 2023 [37] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - U.S. Cellular improved subscriber results and executed a strategic review, leading to a solid year in financial and operating results [26] - Postpaid handset gross additions increased by 16% year-over-year, while postpaid handset churn decreased by 14 basis points [34] - TDS Telecom increased residential revenues by 6% due to growth in broadband connections and average revenue per connection [49] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - U.S. Cellular's fixed wireless surpassed 150,000 customers, indicating growth in that segment [27] - Data usage by customers rose 37% year-over-year, reflecting increased demand for services [28] - TDS Telecom's total operating revenues increased by 1% in the fourth quarter and 3% for the full year [55] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to optimize its portfolio to focus on growth areas, including the fiber strategy and tower business [9][15] - TDS Telecom plans to deliver 150,000 fiber service addresses in 2025, with a target of 80% of total addresses served by fiber [61][59] - The company is focused on maintaining a culture dedicated to serving customers, associates, communities, and shareholders [17] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the strategic transactions with T-Mobile and other spectrum deals, expecting to close by mid-2025 [21][38] - The company anticipates continued investments in customer retention and acquisition strategies, particularly in the fiber segment [30] - Management acknowledged challenges in the competitive environment but remains optimistic about the long-term outlook for the tower business [22] Other Important Information - The company has made significant investments in 5G mid-band deployment and fiber programs, increasing its footprint by nearly 30% over the past three years [10] - U.S. Cellular's equity method investment interests produced $169 million in cash distributions in 2024 [24] - The company expects to incur cash income tax obligations related to the gain on sale in the T-Mobile transaction in the range of $225 to $325 million [44] Q&A Session Summary Question: Why was now the right time for the leadership change? - Management indicated that the board felt it was the right time for a change due to the transformative nature of the ongoing transactions [79] Question: Will there be changes in tower reporting? - Management confirmed plans to provide AFFO reporting post-T-Mobile transaction, but structuring the tower business as a REIT is not currently on the agenda [83][85] Question: What is the long-term vision for TDS? - Management emphasized that achieving 2025 priorities will position the company well for long-term growth in both the tower and fiber business [115] Question: How will capital allocation priorities be managed? - Management noted that while specific guidance is premature, the tower business generates attractive cash flows, and there is potential for returning capital to shareholders [123] Question: What are the expectations for fiber service address growth? - Management clarified that the new fiber goals are based on ongoing expansion programs and the EA CAM program, with a focus on pacing spending according to financial capacity [89][92]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4 2024, the company achieved over 8% growth in postpaid service revenue, more than double that of peers [16] - Core adjusted EBITDA grew by 10% in Q4 and 9% for the full year, leading the industry by a wide margin [16] - The company reported its highest ever diluted earnings per share and free cash flow of $17 billion, generating industry-leading cash flow conversion from service revenues of 26% [16][17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company led the industry in postpaid phone net additions with 903,000 in Q4, marking the third consecutive year of over 3 million postpaid phone net additions [10][9] - Postpaid average revenue per account (ARPA) grew at the highest rate in over 7 years, with over 60% of new customers selecting premium plans [10][16] - The business group also saw its best ever quarter in PhoneNet additions and the lowest total postpaid churn [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company captured its highest ever share of industry broadband net additions, leading the industry in broadband growth with 428,000 net additions in Q4 [14] - The company continues to deepen its market presence in both top 100 and smaller markets, gaining share in rural areas [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on delivering thoughtful, smart, and profitable growth, emphasizing sustainable long-term structural advantages [15] - The company plans to leverage its digital transformation to enhance customer experiences and drive growth [11] - The appointment of a new COO is expected to enhance operational focus and long-term strategy execution [18][19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in starting 2025 with the highest ever beginning of the year guidance for expected postpaid net additions [17] - The company anticipates approximately 5% growth in service revenue for 2025, up from the previously indicated 4% [22] - Management highlighted the importance of network investments and transformation for future growth [17][22] Other Important Information - The company activated STARLINK satellite capabilities during California wildfires, demonstrating its commitment to customer connectivity [7] - The acquisition of Vistar is seen as a transformative opportunity in the digital out-of-home advertising space, aiming to enhance measurability and impact [48][51] Q&A Session Summary Question: Guidance on service revenue growth - Management clarified that the 5% service revenue growth guidance is based on expected growth in postpaid customers and ARPA growth, despite anticipated declines in wholesale revenue [29][33] Question: Mix between ARPA growth and account growth - Management noted strong account growth in Q4, driven by existing customers opting for high-speed broadband, and emphasized ongoing ARPA growth across all product lines [41][43] Question: Broadband environment and pricing strategy - Management indicated that the growth rate of the broadband market is less critical than share-taking, and competitive pricing strategies are in place to attract price-sensitive customers [61] Question: Wholesale opportunities and pricing strategy - Management explained that wholesale opportunities are pursued based on the ability to reach audiences more effectively, with a focus on achieving attractive returns on network capacity [67][68] Question: Impact of acquisitions on EBITDA and free cash flow - Management stated that it is premature to provide aggregate EBITDA and free cash flow impacts from recent acquisitions, but all are expected to be value accretive in the long run [76][78] Question: Prepaid business stability and immigration impact - Management reported strong performance in the prepaid segment, with the lowest churn ever, and indicated that immigration trends have not significantly impacted the prepaid business [81][82] Question: Converged footprint and attach rates - Management noted that while competitors report high attach rates, the company has experienced similar benefits in areas where it offers both wireline and wireless services [92]