Verizon Communications Inc.
VZ - NYSE - $48.11 ▲ +%0.17
-
Earnings Tue 21 Jul

Verizon opens the
books on Tuesday evening.

4 analysts' median target is $52[FMP target], stock is $48, +8.1% upside potential. After Q1 +5.8% EPS beat[FMP earnings], the stock moved +0.3%.

↓ summary below
Quick Take - in 40 seconds
B+
HOLD Council 2/6 - Moonshot 39

B+ = MoonshotScore 39[9-pillar formula] + Council 2/6[6-lens rule]. Form 4: 0 transactions[FMP Form 4].

Q4 consensus: revenue $35.5B[FMP est], EPS $1.28[FMP est]. 5 consecutive quarters of beat[FMP earnings].

Detailed analysis below ↓
$1.28 EPS Estimate Last year $1.09 - +5% YoY YoY
5 Beat Streak Expectations beaten consecutively for the last 5 quarters

Q1 EPS +5.8% beat[FMP] but the stock +0.3% D+1[FMP D+1]. Tony Skiadas promised $4.2B CapEx + a sequential decline in Q4 during the Q1 earnings call[Tony Skiadas capex transcript].

Watchlist

5 metrics stand out this quarter.

5% Expectation / Guide

Eps Growth Guidance

eps_growth_guidance

VZ raised its adjusted EPS growth guidance to 5% to 6% due to strong Q1 performance.

"We are raising our guidance for adjusted EPS growth to 5% to 6% versus the prior range of 4% to 5%."

- Daniel Schulman, CEO - Q1 FY26 Earnings Call - April 27, 2026
$750,000 Expectation / Guide

Postpaid Net Adds Guidance

postpaid_net_adds_guidance

VZ now anticipates its postpaid phone net adds to be in the upper half of its $750,000 to $1 million range.

"We also now anticipate our postpaid phone net adds to be in the upper half of our $750,000 to $1 million range."

- Daniel Schulman, CEO - Q1 FY26 Earnings Call - April 27, 2026
2013 Investor Focus

Postpaid Phone Net Adds

postpaid_phone_net_adds

VZ achieved positive postpaid phone net adds in Q1 for the first time in 13 years.

"In mobility, we are pleased that for the first time since 2013, we generated a positive first quarter total postpaid phone net additions."

- Anthony Skiadas, CFO - Q1 FY26 Earnings Call - April 27, 2026
$5 billion Investor Focus

Opex Savings Target

opex_savings_target

VZ is well on its way towards its OpEx savings target of $5 billion in 2026.

"Consequently, we are well on our way towards our OpEx savings target of $5 billion in 2026."

- Daniel Schulman, CEO - Q1 FY26 Earnings Call - April 27, 2026
35% Investor Focus

Cost Reduction

cost_reduction

VZ is driving more disciplined and fiscally responsible growth by reducing customer acquisition and retention costs by approximately 35%.

"Our cost of acquisition and retention in March was down approximately 35% relative to the end of Q4 and we expect to maintain a lower cost of acquisition and retention as we look forward."

- Daniel Schulman, CEO - Q1 FY26 Earnings Call - April 27, 2026

Stock Expert AI - Methodology

Do our 9 pillars, 7 perspectives, and Munger lens point in the same direction?

MoonshotScore 39 / 100

9-pillar methodology. Cash Runway strong. Revenue Growth weak.

How is it calculated? ->
Revenue Growth0.0Q1 vs Q2: growth negative (-0.2%, contraction)
Gross Margin6.0Q1: high margin (60.3%)
Operating Leverage2.0op margin healthy (23.9%)
Cash Runway8.0FCF positive but absorbed ($3.8B vs $4.2B CapEx)
R&D Intensity3.0low R&D investment (0.0%, weak innovation)
Price Momentum4.0RSI 54.0 balanced, 50d below
News Sentiment4.0mixed (44% buy)
Council Score 2 / 6 Bullish

6 investor frameworks. 2 bullish (Ray Dalio, Buffett), 1 bearish (Ken Griffin), 3 neutral (Jim Simons, Klarman, Munger).

How is it calculated? ->
Ray Dalio macro - target upside +8.1%
Ken Griffin flow - 50d MA below
Jim Simons quant - RSI 54
Klarman value - target upside +8.1%
Buffett quality - ROE score 4/5
Munger valuation - target upside +8.1%
Munger's Mindset character & balance sheet lens
Fairly Valued

Quality business, trading at fair value.

How is it calculated? ->
Financial HealthModerate
Margin of SafetyWeak
Interest CoverageAdequate
ROIC vs WACCHealthy
Technical Levels - Pre-earnings positioning

What levels is the stock being tested at?

RSI(14)
54.0 RSI 54.0 balanced, 50d below
MACD
-1.70 price below 50d - resistance dominant
50d MA
$49 stock 1.7% below - short-term resistance
200d MA
$44 stock 9.8% above - long-term support
Volume (10d)
-9% decrease - low participation
Resistance
$52
Analyst median target - upgrade trigger if broken
Current
$48
Pre-earnings position
Support
$37
Invalidation - close below this is a technical breakdown
Pattern
Range
$37-$52 band - earnings breakout/breakdown trigger

Past Performance

Verizon's last 8 quarters: 5 consecutive beats.

BEAT
Q2 FY25
$1.22 vs $1.19 est - +1.1%
BEAT
Q3 FY25
$1.21 vs $1.19 est - -3.1%
BEAT
Q4 FY25
$1.09 vs $1.05 est - +0.2%
BEAT
Q1 FY26
$1.28 vs $1.21 est - +0.3%

Q1 (April 27, 2026): EPS $1.28 vs $1.21 est[FMP], +5.8% beat. D+1 movement: +0.3%[FMP D+1]. Decline despite beat - market reacted to guidance, not numbers.

Three scenarios: what could happen?

EPS < $1.24 (no guidance)

Q1: EPS $1.28 vs $1.21 beat[FMP], stock +0.3% D+1[FMP].

Backlog concentration

No RPO/backlog concentration disclosed in Q1 earnings call.

CapEx shock

Q1 CapEx $4.2B[FMP cashflow]. Q1 op margin 23.9%[FMP op margin] - this level in Q4 is sensitive to CapEx revision risk.

Framework - Position discipline

After the data arrives: 3 scenarios, 3 windows

Not advice - a structural framework for earnings night. Decision discipline is yours.

Scenario A - Beat
Q4 EPS > $1.28 + CapEx discipline
Threshold: EPS > $1.28[FMP est].
Target: Break above median target $52[FMP target]; high target $58[FMP] upper bound.
Scenario B - In-Line
EPS approx $1.28 + CapEx < $4.2B
Threshold: EPS approx $1.28[FMP est], Q4 CapEx < $4.2B[FMP].
Target: Consolidation in the band between current $48[FMP] and median $52[FMP].
Scenario C - Miss
EPS < $1.24 or CapEx >= $4.2B
Threshold: EPS < $1.24[FMP estx0.97].
Target: Current $48 below SMA200 $44[FMP], if rejection continues, $37[derived] support activates.
Sizing
Earnings volatility -> max portfolio 1-2%. Waiting for earnings is not a gamble, it's a position entrustment.
Timing
IV crush within 24 hours post-earnings. Waiting for premium decay makes options preferable to spot.
Staging
Don't go all-in at once, divide into 3: initial reaction, 24 hours later, after Friday's close.

Market Outlook

What do 4 analysts say?

Wall Street Consensus
$52
12-month median target price (+8.1% upside potential)
11
BUY
14
HOLD
0
SELL
Risk Management
$37
Invalidation level - critical support threshold
$49 - 50-day MA (below, -1.7%)
$44 - 200-day MA (above, +9.8%)
IV Crush risk (sudden drop in inflated option premiums before earnings): Option premiums are inflated before earnings.
Verdict - VZ Q4 FY26
B+

You read it in 5 minutes. When the numbers come out on Tuesday evening - you know what you're looking at.

Data arrives at night. The framework is ready now.

Data arrives on Tuesday evening. The framework is ready on this page: Q4 EPS threshold $1.28[FMP], CapEx threshold "below $4.2B"[Tony Skiadas]. Two anchors, three scenarios.

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Educational tool, not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Calendar

Catalyst Calendar - 90-day forward look

Jul 21, 2026EARNINGSQ4 FY26 results (after market close) + earnings call
Jul 22, 2026PRICEFirst trading day after earnings - 200dMA test + IV crush
Sep 4, 2026FILING10-Q deadline - segment breakdown + RPO detail (SEC rule: quarter-end + 45 days)
~Oct 21, 2026EARNINGSQ1 FY27 (next quarter, date not yet scheduled in FMP)

DATA GAP: Events not in the FMP /stable/calendar feed - Investor day, analyst day, product launches, regulatory dates. These require company IR page scraping or manual calendar entry.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the VZ earnings preview cover?

This VZ (VZ) earnings preview covers the analyst consensus, key catalysts, and what to watch on the earnings call.

What should investors watch for in VZ earnings?

Consensus EPS, revenue guidance, segment growth rates, and the tone of management commentary — the full breakdown with sources is on this page.