Core Viewpoint - Verizon Communications experienced a nationwide outage affecting text, voice, and data services, leading to customer complaints and the issuance of emergency alerts. The company has promised account credits to affected customers, which may impact its stock performance in the future [1][2][5]. Group 1: Outage Details - The outage lasted for several hours, causing significant inconvenience for customers who rely on their phones for work, emergencies, and digital transactions [2]. - Verizon confirmed that the outage has been resolved and announced plans to provide account credits to affected customers, specifically a $20 credit [3][4]. Group 2: Financial Implications - If all of Verizon's over 140 million customers qualify for the credits, the total cost could exceed $2.8 billion, with potential increases as the company contacts business customers directly [6]. - The financial impact of the outage is expected to be reflected in Verizon's first quarter results, with speculation on whether the company will disclose specific figures related to the outage or provide general guidance [7].

Core Viewpoint - Verizon Communications experienced a nationwide outage affecting text, voice, and data services, leading to customer dissatisfaction and potential financial implications for the company [1][2][5]. Group 1: Outage Impact - The outage lasted for several hours, causing significant inconvenience for customers who rely on their phones for work, emergencies, and digital transactions [2]. - Verizon has committed to providing account credits of $20 to affected customers, which could total over $2.8 billion if all 140 million customers qualify [3][6]. - The company acknowledged the disruption and apologized, stating that the credits are not meant to fully compensate for the outage but to recognize the inconvenience caused [4]. Group 2: Financial Implications - The financial impact of the outage is expected to be reflected in Verizon's first-quarter results, with analysts closely monitoring how the company addresses this in its upcoming earnings report [7][10]. - Analysts predict Verizon will report fourth-quarter revenue of $36.06 billion, an increase from $35.70 billion, and earnings per share of $1.06, down from $1.10 in the previous year [8]. - Despite the outage, Verizon shares initially closed higher, but later saw a decline of 1.3% to $39.30, indicating investor concerns about the potential long-term effects on earnings and customer retention [9][11].