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Verizon’s Transformation Actions Deliver Growth & Profitability in 1Q26; Company Raises Adjusted EPS Guidance

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Verizon (NYSE: VZ) reported 1Q26 results showing accelerating transformation and raised 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $4.95–$4.99 (up 5.0–6.0%). Key metrics: consolidated revenue $34.4B, adjusted EBITDA $13.4B (+6.7% YoY), adjusted EPS $1.28 (+7.6% YoY), free cash flow $3.8B, and first positive Q1 postpaid phone net adds since 2013 (+55k).

The company recorded 341k broadband net additions and completed $2.5B of share repurchases; net unsecured debt rose to $130.1B (net unsecured debt/adjusted EBITDA 2.6x).

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AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Positive

  • Adjusted EPS guidance raised to $4.95–$4.99 for 2026
  • First positive Q1 postpaid phone net adds since 2013: +55k
  • Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA reached $13.4B, +6.7% YoY
  • Adjusted EPS for 1Q26 was $1.28, +7.6% YoY
  • Broadband net additions of 341k in 1Q26
  • Share repurchases of $2.5B completed in 1Q26

Negative

  • Net unsecured debt increased to $130.1B at 3/31/26
  • Unsecured debt to consolidated net income ratio at 8.0x
  • Net unsecured debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio at 2.6x
  • Wireless service revenue saw an 80 bps headwind from January outage
  • Capital expenditures remain high: $4.2B in 1Q26; FY guide $16.0–16.5B

News Market Reaction – VZ

+1.55%
10 alerts
+1.55% News Effect
+$2.96B Valuation Impact
$193.87B Market Cap
121.21K Volume

On the day this news was published, VZ gained 1.55%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction. Our momentum scanner triggered 10 alerts that day, indicating notable trading interest and price volatility. This price movement added approximately $2.96B to the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $193.87B at that time.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

Total operating revenue: $34.4 billion Consolidated net income: $5.1 billion Consolidated adjusted EBITDA: $13.4 billion +5 more
8 metrics
Total operating revenue $34.4 billion 1Q 2026, up 2.9% year-over-year
Consolidated net income $5.1 billion 1Q 2026, up 3.3% year-over-year
Consolidated adjusted EBITDA $13.4 billion 1Q 2026, up 6.7% year-over-year
Diluted EPS $1.20 1Q 2026, up 4.3% year-over-year
Adjusted EPS $1.28 1Q 2026, up 7.6% year-over-year
Cash flow from operations $8.0 billion 1Q 2026, up from $7.8 billion in 1Q 2025
Capital expenditures $4.2 billion 1Q 2026, network build across mobility and fiber
Free cash flow $3.8 billion 1Q 2026, up 4.0% from $3.6 billion in 1Q 2025

Market Reality Check

Price: $47.73 Vol: Volume 26,425,254 is 1.03...
normal vol
$47.73 Last Close
Volume Volume 26,425,254 is 1.03x the 20-day average of 25,676,400 shares. normal
Technical Price at $46.38, trading above the 200-day MA at $43.67 and 10.26% below the 52-week high.

Peers on Argus

VZ was down 1.78% pre-release while peers were mixed: CMCSA -11.13%, T -0.85%, T...
1 Up 1 Down

VZ was down 1.78% pre-release while peers were mixed: CMCSA -11.13%, T -0.85%, TMUS -2.12%, CHT -0.16%, and AMX up 1.83%. Mixed peer moves and a stock-specific earnings release point to company-specific drivers rather than a broad telecom move.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Apr 23 (Positive)
Pattern 5 events
Date Event Sentiment Move Catalyst
Apr 23 Network product launch Positive +2.7% Nationwide expansion of Verizon Frontline Network Slice for first responders.
Apr 22 Earnings date notice Neutral -0.8% Announcement of timing for first-quarter 2026 earnings release and webcast.
Apr 16 Sponsorship & network Positive +3.9% FIFA World Cup 2026™ telecom sponsorship with major 5G and network upgrades.
Apr 09 Marketing promotion Positive -0.5% Total Wireless ticket giveaway campaign tied to FIFA World Cup 2026™.
Mar 30 Earnings date notice Neutral -0.0% Scheduling update for first-quarter 2026 earnings release and materials.
Pattern Detected

Recent product/partnership news has often coincided with modest positive moves, while marketing updates and earnings-date notices have seen flat-to-slightly-negative reactions.

Recent Company History

Over the last month, Verizon issued several operational and marketing updates, including the nationwide expansion of its Verizon Frontline Network Slice on Apr 23, 2026 and its role as Official Telecommunication Services Sponsor for FIFA World Cup 2026™ on Apr 16, 2026. Those network and sponsorship announcements saw positive moves of 2.7% and 3.89%, respectively. In contrast, two separate earnings-date notices on Mar 30 and Apr 22 generated almost flat to slightly negative reactions, framing today’s full 1Q26 earnings as the first substantive financial update in this sequence.

Regulatory & Risk Context

Active S-3 Shelf
Shelf Active
Active S-3 Shelf Registration 2025-08-29

An effective Form S-3ASR shelf filed on Aug 29, 2025 provides Verizon with pre-registered flexibility to issue various securities, including common and preferred stock and multiple debt security forms. The filing has been used at least 4 times via recent 424B2 supplements, indicating active utilization of the shelf program.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlighted improving fundamentals: 1Q26 operating revenue of $34.4 billion, recor...
Analysis

This announcement highlighted improving fundamentals: 1Q26 operating revenue of $34.4 billion, record consolidated adjusted EBITDA of $13.4 billion, and adjusted EPS of $1.28 with raised 2026 guidance. Free cash flow rose to $3.8 billion while the company continued investing $4.2 billion in its networks. Recent history shows modestly positive reactions to network-focused news and mixed responses to marketing items, suggesting investors may focus on how these earnings trends interact with Verizon’s debt profile and capital allocation under its active shelf registration.

Key Terms

adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow, fixed wireless access, 5G Ultra Wideband, +2 more
6 terms
adjusted EBITDA financial
"highest quarterly Adjusted EBITDA1 in company history"
Adjusted EBITDA is a way companies measure how much money they make from their core operations, like running a business, by removing certain costs or income that aren’t part of regular business activities. It helps investors see how well a company is doing without distractions from unusual expenses or gains, making it easier to compare companies or track performance over time.
free cash flow financial
"confidence in free cash flow1 guidance"
Free cash flow is the amount of money a company has left over after paying all its expenses and investing in its business, like buying equipment or updating facilities. It shows how much cash is available to reward shareholders, pay down debt, or save for future growth. This helps investors understand if a company is financially healthy and able to grow.
fixed wireless access technical
"includes total fixed wireless access net additions of 214,000"
Fixed wireless access is a way to deliver high-speed internet to homes and businesses using radio signals from nearby towers or rooftop equipment instead of running fiber or copper cables to each location. Think of it as getting broadband over a strong local Wi‑Fi signal broadcast from a neighborhood antenna. Investors watch it because it can speed customer growth and lower installation costs, but returns depend on coverage, equipment costs and access to usable radio frequencies.
5G Ultra Wideband technical
"The 5G Ultra Wideband virtual network slice provides dedicated"
5G Ultra Wideband is a high-capacity form of fifth-generation wireless service that uses very high radio frequencies and much wider slices of spectrum than older cellular networks, delivering much faster speeds and lower delay over short distances. For investors it matters because building and maintaining this type of network requires substantial spending on antennas, towers and compatible devices, can boost data-hungry services like video and virtual reality, and changes the value of spectrum and equipment much like expanding a highway increases traffic capacity and toll potential.
network slicing technical
"5G Ultra Wideband virtual network slice provides dedicated, prioritized network"
Network slicing is a way telecom operators create multiple virtual networks on the same physical infrastructure, each tuned for a specific purpose — like carving a cake into pieces for different tastes: one slice optimized for very fast mobile video, another for highly reliable industrial sensors. It matters to investors because slices let carriers sell tailored, higher-margin services, improve network efficiency and support new business models (enterprise contracts, IoT, critical communications), which can boost recurring revenue and change capital and partnership strategies.
non-GAAP financial
"Verizon does not provide a reconciliation for certain of the following adjusted (non-GAAP)forecasts"
Non-GAAP refers to financial measures that companies use to show their earnings or performance without including certain expenses or income that are often added back to give a different picture. It matters because it can make a company's results look better or more favorable, but it may also hide important costs, so investors need to look at both GAAP (official rules) and non-GAAP numbers to get a full understanding.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

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Verizon Achieved First Positive 1Q Postpaid Phone Net Additions Since 2013, a Year-Over-Year Improvement of Over 340,000; Guidance Raised to Top Half of 750,000 - 1M Range

Key 1Q26 Highlights: 

  • Strong consolidated net income leading to highest quarterly Adjusted EBITDA1 in company history
  • Solid earnings per share (EPS) growth, which drove highest quarterly Adjusted EPS1 growth since 2021
  • Strong cash flow from operating activities providing confidence in free cash flow1 guidance

NEW YORK, April 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) today reported first-quarter 2026 results that demonstrate accelerating momentum in its strategic transformation. The company delivered a strong quarter across core operating metrics, including its first positive first-quarter postpaid phone net adds since 2013. The achievements and performance this quarter were driven by healthier customer economics, including key improvements in customer acquisition and churn, and operational efficiency.

“Our first-quarter 2026 results show that our turnaround is not only progressing, it is gaining momentum," said Verizon CEO Dan Schulman. "We are beginning to reclaim our market leadership by putting the customer at the center of everything we do, reducing friction to increase loyalty and create genuine value. This disciplined approach is already delivering healthier economics, lower churn, and the first positive first-quarter postpaid phone net adds we've seen in over a decade. Given our strong performance and momentum, we are raising our 2026 Adjusted EPS1 guidance to year-over-year growth of 5.0 to 6.0 percent and we now expect our total retail postpaid phone net additions to be in the upper half of our 750,000 to one million range."

1Q 2026 Highlights
Frontier results are included in Verizon's financial and operating results beginning on January 20, 2026, the date of the closing of the acquisition.

Consolidated Financial Results

  • Total operating revenue was $34.4 billion, up 2.9 percent year-over-year. This result was driven in part by the company's disciplined approach to promotional spending and the resulting moderated upgrade activity, which impacted wireless equipment revenue.
  • Consolidated net income was $5.1 billion, a 3.3 percent increase year-over-year.
  • Consolidated adjusted EBITDA1 grew 6.7 percent year-over-year to $13.4 billion.
  • Diluted EPS increased to $1.20, representing solid growth of 4.3 percent year-over-year.
  • Adjusted EPS1, excluding special items, grew to $1.28 in first-quarter 2026, a 7.6 percent increase year-over-year and the best quarterly growth rate since 2021.
  • Cash flow from operating activities was $8.0 billion in first-quarter 2026 compared to $7.8 billion in first-quarter 2025, representing a growth rate of 2.6 percent.
  • Capital expenditures were $4.2 billion, as network build pace across mobility and fiber remains on track.
  • Free cash flow1 was $3.8 billion in first-quarter 2026 compared to $3.6 billion in first-quarter 2025, representing a growth rate of 4.0 percent.
  • Verizon's total unsecured debt as of the end of first-quarter 2026 was $142.5 billion, compared to $131.1 billion at the end of fourth-quarter 2025. The company's net unsecured debt1 at the end of first-quarter 2026 was $130.1 billion compared to $110.1 billion at the end of the fourth-quarter 2025. At the end of first-quarter 2026, Verizon's ratio of unsecured debt to consolidated net income (LTM) was 8.0 times and its net unsecured debt to consolidated adjusted EBITDA ratio1 was 2.6 times.
  • Verizon paid down approximately half of the Frontier debt since the acquisition closed, and expects to repay substantially all of Frontier's debt by the end of the year.
  • Verizon successfully completed $2.5 billion of share repurchases in first-quarter 2026, and remains on track for its full-year target of at least $3.0 billion.

Mobility and Broadband

  • Mobility and broadband service revenue reached approximately $22.9 billion, representing a 1.6 percent increase year-over-year. The company's first-quarter revenue result includes an 80 basis point impact to wireless service revenue growth due to the January network outage. In March, mobility and broadband service revenue grew in the middle of the 2.0 percent to 3.0 percent guidance range.
  • Wireless equipment revenue was $5.7 billion, up 5.2 percent year-over-year.
  • In first-quarter 2026, Verizon reported total postpaid phone net additions of 55,000, the first time the company generated positive first-quarter total postpaid phone net additions since 2013. The year-over-year improvement of over 340,000 was driven in part by a higher mix of new to Verizon gross additions.
  • Total core prepaid2 net additions were 115,000, representing seven consecutive quarters of growth.
  • Verizon delivered 341,000 broadband net additions in first-quarter 2026. This includes total fixed wireless access net additions of 214,000 and 127,000 fiber broadband net additions.
  • Verizon now has approximately 16.8 million fixed wireless access and fiber broadband connections.

Outlook and Guidance
Verizon does not provide a reconciliation for certain of the following adjusted (non-GAAP)
forecasts because it cannot, without unreasonable effort, predict the special items that could arise, and the company is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information.

Transformation efforts and strong first-quarter performance give Verizon the confidence to provide the following raised guidance for 2026:

  • Adjusted EPS1 of $4.95 to $4.99, or year-over-year growth of 5.0 to 6.0 percent, representing a significant acceleration compared to recent historical performance.
  • Total retail postpaid phone net additions are now expected to be in the top half of the 750,000 to 1.0 million range, which is approximately 2 to 3 times the 2025 reported result.

In addition, for 2026, Verizon continues to expect the following:

  • Total mobility and broadband service revenue growth of 2.0 percent to 3.0 percent, equating to approximately $93 billion. Wireless service revenue growth will be approximately flat in 2026 as the company transitions to sustainable volume-based growth.
  • Cash flow from operations of $37.5 billion to $38.0 billion.
  • Capital expenditures of $16.0 billion to $16.5 billion.
  • Free cash flow1 of $21.5 billion or more, growing approximately 7.0 percent or more from 2025, which will mark the highest free cash flow1 generated since 2020.

1 Non-GAAP financial measure. See the accompanying schedules and www.verizon.com/about/investors for reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures cited in this document to most directly comparable financial measures under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

2 Represents total prepaid results excluding our SafeLink brand.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) powers and empowers how its millions of customers live, work and play, delivering on their demand for mobility, reliable network connectivity and security. Headquartered in New York City, serving countries worldwide and nearly all of the Fortune 500, Verizon generated revenues of $138.2 billion in 2025. Verizon’s world-class team never stops innovating to meet customers where they are today and equip them for the needs of tomorrow. For more, visit verizon.com or find a retail location at verizon.com/stores.

VERIZON’S ONLINE MEDIA CENTER: News releases, stories, media contacts and other resources are available at verizon.com/about/news. For images and logos, visit verizon.com/about/news/media-resources. News releases are also available through an RSS feed. To subscribe, visit www.verizon.com/about/rss-feeds/.

Forward-looking statements in this communication we have made forward-looking statements. These statements are based on our estimates and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include the information concerning our possible or assumed future results of operations. Forward-looking statements also include those preceded or followed by the words “anticipates,” “assumes,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “hopes,” “intends,” “plans,” “targets,” "will" or similar expressions. For those statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We undertake no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The following important factors, along with those discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), could affect future results and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements: the effects of competition in the markets in which we operate, including the inability to successfully respond to competitive factors such as prices, promotional incentives, network performance and quality, and evolving consumer preferences; failure to take advantage of, or respond to competitors' use of, developments in technology, including artificial intelligence, and address changes in consumer demand; the inability to implement our business strategy; adverse conditions in the U.S. and international economies, including inflation and changing interest rates in the markets in which we operate; changes to international trade and tariff policies and related economic and other impacts; cyberattacks impacting our networks or systems and any resulting financial or reputational impact; our ability to implement business transformation initiatives and achieve their anticipated benefits; system failures and disruptions to our networks and operations and any resulting financial, reputational or business impact; disruption of our key suppliers’ or vendors' provisioning of products or services, including as a result of geopolitical factors, public health crises, natural disasters or extreme weather conditions; material adverse changes in labor matters and any resulting financial or operational impact; damage to our reputation or brands; changes in the regulatory environment in which we operate, including any increase in restrictions on our ability to operate our networks or businesses; allegations regarding the release of hazardous materials or pollutants into the environment from our, or our predecessors’, network assets and any related government investigations, regulatory developments, litigation, penalties and other liability, remediation and compliance costs, operational impacts or reputational damage; significant amount of outstanding debt; significant litigation and any resulting material expenses incurred in defending against lawsuits or paying awards or settlements; an adverse change in the ratings afforded our debt securities by nationally accredited ratings organizations or adverse conditions in the credit markets affecting the cost, including interest rates, and/or availability of further financing; significant increases in benefit plan costs or lower investment returns on plan assets; changes in tax laws or regulations, or in their interpretation, or challenges to our tax positions, resulting in additional tax expense or liabilities; changes in accounting assumptions that regulatory agencies, including the SEC, may require or that result from changes in the accounting rules or their application, which could result in an impact on earnings; our ability to return capital to shareholders, including the amount, timing, and effect of share repurchases and dividends; and risks associated with mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and other strategic transactions, including our ability to obtain cost savings and other synergies and anticipated benefits of completed transactions within the expected time period or at all.

Media contacts:
Katie Magnotta
201-602-9235
katie.magnotta@verizon.com 

Jamie Serino
201-401-5460
jamie.serino@verizon.com


Non-GAAP Reconciliations - Consolidated Verizon
 
Consolidated EBITDA and Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA
(dollars in millions)
Unaudited 3 Mos.
Ended
3/31/26
 3 Mos.
Ended
12/31/25
 3 Mos.
Ended
9/30/25
 3 Mos.
Ended
6/30/25
 3 Mos.
Ended
3/31/25
           
Consolidated Net Income $5,146  $2,448  $5,056  $5,121  $4,983 
Add:          
Provision for income taxes  1,638   615   1,471   1,488   1,490 
Interest expense(1)  1,940   1,759   1,664   1,639   1,632 
Depreciation and amortization expense(2)  4,892   4,519   4,618   4,635   4,577 
Consolidated EBITDA $13,616  $9,341  $12,809  $12,883  $12,682 
           
Add/(subtract):          
Other (income) expense, net(3) $(477) $185  $(92) $(79) $(121)
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated businesses  (5)  (3)  6   3   (6)
Severance charges     1,715          
Acquisition and integration related charges  261   39   52       
Asset and business rationalization     583          
   (221)  2,519   (34)  (76)  (127)
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA $13,395  $11,860  $12,775  $12,807  $12,555 
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA - Year over year change %  6.7 %        
           
Footnotes:          
(1) Includes a portion of the Acquisition and integration related charges, where applicable.
(2) Includes Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets.
(3) Includes Pension and benefits remeasurement adjustments, where applicable.


Consolidated EBITDA and Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA (LTM)
(dollars in millions)
     
Unaudited 12 Mos. Ended
3/31/26
 12 Mos. Ended
12/31/25
     
Consolidated Net Income $17,771  $17,608 
Add:    
Provision for income taxes  5,212   5,064 
Interest expense(1)  7,002   6,694 
Depreciation and amortization expense(2)  18,664   18,349 
Consolidated EBITDA $48,649  $47,715 
     
Add/(subtract):    
Other income, net(3) $(463) $(107)
Equity in losses of unconsolidated businesses  1    
Severance charges  1,715   1,715 
Acquisition and integration related charges  352   91 
Asset and business rationalization  583   583 
   2,188   2,282 
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA $50,837  $49,997 
     
Footnotes:
(1) Includes a portion of the Acquisition and integration related charges, where applicable.
(2) Includes Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets.
(3) Includes Pension and benefits remeasurement adjustments, where applicable.


Net Unsecured Debt and Net Unsecured Debt to Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA Ratio
(dollars in millions)
     
Unaudited 3/31/26 12/31/25
     
Debt maturing within one year $28,229 $18,618
Long-term debt  144,231  139,532
Total Debt  172,460  158,150
Less Secured debt  29,962  27,067
Unsecured Debt  142,498  131,083
Less Equity credit for junior subordinated notes(1)  4,079  1,982
Less Cash and cash equivalents  8,366  19,048
Net Unsecured Debt $130,053 $110,053
Consolidated Net Income (LTM) $17,771 $17,608
Unsecured Debt to Consolidated Net Income Ratio 8.0x 7.4x
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA (LTM) $50,837 $49,997
Net Unsecured Debt to Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA Ratio 2.6x 2.2x
     
Footnote:
(1) Represents a fifty percent equity credit related to junior subordinated notes outstanding.


Adjusted Earnings per Common Share (Adjusted EPS)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
Unaudited 3 Mos. Ended 3/31/26 3 Mos. Ended 3/31/25
  Pre-taxTaxAfter-Tax  Pre-taxTaxAfter-Tax 
EPS    $1.20     $1.15 
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets $240 $(60)$180  0.04  $190$(48)$142 0.03 
Pension and benefits credits  (237) 59  (178) (0.04)       
Acquisition and integration related charges  261  68  329  0.08        
  $264 $67 $331 $0.08  $190$(48)$142$0.03 
Adjusted EPS    $1.28     $1.19 
Year over year change %     7.6 %     3.5 %
           
Footnote:
Adjusted EPS may not add due to rounding.


(dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
Unaudited 3 Mos. Ended 3/31/24
 3 Mos. Ended 3/31/23
  Pre-taxTaxAfter-Tax   Pre-taxTaxAfter-Tax  
EPS    $1.09     $1.17 
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets $221$(56)$165 0.04  $208$(53)$155 0.04 
Legacy legal matter  106 (27) 79 0.02        
  $327$(83)$244$0.06  $208$(53)$155$0.04 
Adjusted EPS    $1.15     $1.20 
Year over year change %    (4.2)%    (11.1)%
             
Footnote:
Adjusted EPS may not add due to rounding.


(dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
Unaudited 3 Mos. Ended 3/31/22
 3 Mos. Ended 3/31/21
  Pre-taxTaxAfter-Tax   Pre-taxTaxAfter-Tax 
EPS    $1.09     $1.27 
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets $238$(60)$178 0.04  $276$(67)$209 0.05 
Early debt redemption costs  1,241 (316) 925 0.22        
Loss on spectrum licenses         223 (56) 167 0.04 
  $1,479$(376)$1,103$0.26  $499$(123)$376$0.09 
Adjusted EPS    $1.35     $1.36 
Year over year change %    (0.7)%     7.9 %
            
Footnote:
Adjusted EPS may not add due to rounding.


(dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
Unaudited 3 Mos. Ended 3/31/20
  Pre-taxTaxAfter-Tax 
EPS    $1.00
Loss on spectrum licenses $1,195$(281)$914 0.22
Pension and benefits charges  182 (47) 135 0.03
  $1,377$(328)$1,049$0.25
Adjusted EPS    $1.26
      
Footnote:
Adjusted EPS may not add due to rounding.


Free Cash Flow    
(dollars in millions)
     
Unaudited 3 Mos. Ended 3/31/26 3 Mos. Ended 3/31/25
     
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities $7,984  $7,782 
Capital expenditures (including capitalized software)  (4,201)  (4,145)
Free Cash Flow $3,783  $3,637 
Year over year change %  4.0 %  


(dollars in millions)
             
Unaudited 12 Mos. Ended 12/31/25 12 Mos. Ended 12/31/24 12 Mos. Ended 12/31/23 12 Mos. Ended 12/31/22 12 Mos. Ended 12/31/21 12 Mos. Ended 12/31/20
             
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities $37,137  $36,912  $37,475  $37,141  $39,539  $41,768 
Capital expenditures (including capitalized software)  (17,011)  (17,090)  (18,767)  (23,087)  (20,286)  (18,192)
Free Cash Flow $20,126  $19,822  $18,708  $14,054  $19,253  $23,576 


Free Cash Flow Forecast    
 
(dollars in millions)
   12 Mos. Ended
Unaudited  12/31/26
    
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities Forecast $37,500 - 38,000
Capital expenditures forecast (including capitalized software)  (16,000 - 16,500)
Free Cash Flow Forecast $21,500
Free Cash Flow Growth Forecast %          6.8 %


Non-GAAP Reconciliations - Segments
 
  
Segment EBITDA and Segment EBITDA Margin      
       
Consumer      
(dollars in millions) 
Unaudited 3 Mos.
Ended 3/31/26
  3 Mos.
Ended 3/31/25
 
       
Operating Income $7,714  $7,424 
Add Depreciation and amortization expense 3,730  3,543 
Segment EBITDA $11,444  $10,967 
Year over year change % 4.3 %   
       
Total operating revenues $26,453  $25,618 
Operating Income Margin 29.2 % 29.0 %
Segment EBITDA Margin 43.3 % 42.8 %


Business       
(dollars in millions) 
Unaudited 3 Mos. Ended
3/31/26
  3 Mos. Ended
3/31/25
 
       
Operating Income $884  $664 
Add Depreciation and amortization expense 1,081  1,020 
Segment EBITDA $1,965  $1,684 
Year over year change % 16.7 %   
       
Total operating revenues $7,419  $7,286 
Operating Income Margin 11.9 % 9.1 %
Segment EBITDA Margin 26.5 % 23.1 %

FAQ

Why did Verizon (VZ) raise its 2026 adjusted EPS guidance on April 27, 2026?

Because 1Q26 showed stronger operating metrics and cash flow, Verizon raised guidance to $4.95–$4.99. According to the company, improved customer economics, lower churn, and operational efficiency drove the decision.

What does Verizon's first positive Q1 postpaid phone net additions since 2013 mean for VZ investors?

It indicates improved customer trends, with 1Q26 total postpaid phone net adds of +55,000. According to the company, a higher mix of new-to-Verizon gross additions and reduced churn contributed to the year-over-year improvement.

How materially did Verizon (VZ) grow adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS in 1Q26?

Verizon reported adjusted EBITDA of $13.4B, up 6.7% year-over-year, and adjusted EPS of $1.28, up 7.6% year-over-year. According to the company, these represent the strongest adjusted EPS growth since 2021.

What are Verizon's 2026 free cash flow and capital expenditure expectations after the 1Q26 report?

Verizon expects free cash flow of at least $21.5B and capital expenditures of $16.0–$16.5B for 2026. According to the company, free cash flow is projected to grow about 7% from 2025.

How did the Frontier acquisition affect Verizon's debt metrics reported on April 27, 2026?

Net unsecured debt rose to $130.1B and the unsecured debt to net income ratio reached 8.0x. According to the company, Verizon paid down roughly half of Frontier debt since closing and expects to repay most by year-end.