Verizon Reports Strong Q1 2026 Earnings with Record Adjusted EBITDA
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Apr 27 2026
0mins
Should l Buy VZ?
Source: Newsfilter
- Strong Financial Performance: In Q1 2026, Verizon reported total operating revenue of $34.4 billion, a 2.9% year-over-year increase, driven by disciplined promotional spending that enhanced overall profitability and demonstrated confidence in market recovery.
- Adjusted EPS Growth: Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) rose to $1.28, reflecting a 7.6% year-over-year increase and marking the best quarterly growth rate since 2021, showcasing effective strategies in customer acquisition and retention.
- Robust Cash Flow: Operating cash flow reached $8.0 billion in Q1, up 2.6% year-over-year, providing strong guidance for free cash flow, which is expected to exceed $21.5 billion in 2026, representing a growth of approximately 7%.
- Return to Market Leadership: Verizon achieved 55,000 postpaid phone net additions in Q1, the first positive growth in this segment since 2013, indicating significant improvements in customer economics and operational efficiency, further solidifying its market leadership position.
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Analyst Views on VZ
Wall Street analysts forecast VZ stock price to fall
14 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
10 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 47.440
Low
43.00
Averages
46.42
High
51.00
Current: 47.440
Low
43.00
Averages
46.42
High
51.00
About VZ
Verizon Communications Inc. is a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, provides communications, technology, information and streaming products and services to consumers, businesses and government entities. Its Consumer segment provides wireless and wireline communications services. It also provides fixed wireless access (FWA) broadband through its 5G or 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE) networks portfolio. The Company's Business segment provides wireless and wireline communications services and products, including FWA broadband, data, video and advanced communication services, corporate networking solutions, security and managed network services, local and long-distance voice services and network access to deliver various Internet of Things (IoT) services and products. It provides these products and services to businesses, public sector customers and wireless and wireline carriers across the U.S. and a subset of these products and services to customers around the world.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Satellite Launch Progress: To date, AST has successfully launched seven satellites, including five BlueBird satellites in September 2024 and a larger Block 2 satellite in December 2025, which provide a crucial technological foundation and enhance its competitive position in the market.
- Expansion Plans Approved: The FCC approved AST's ambitious long-term expansion plans in April 2024, aiming to increase its satellite count to 45-60 by the end of 2026, positioning the company to challenge competitors like SpaceX and Amazon in the LEO satellite market.
- Revenue Projections Surge: Analysts expect AST's revenue to soar from $71 million in 2025 to $1.86 billion by 2028, with EBITDA projected to turn positive in 2027 and reach $1.26 billion in 2028, indicating significant future profitability and market value potential.
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- Verizon's Strong Growth: Verizon reported Q1 2026 revenue of $34.4 billion, up 2.9% year-over-year, with adjusted earnings per share rising 7.6% to $1.28 and EBITDA hitting a record $13.4 billion, indicating significant progress in its turnaround strategy and attracting more investor interest.
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See More
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- AbbVie's Growth Potential: AbbVie successfully expanded its product portfolio and added Botox through a $63 billion acquisition of Allergan, and despite losing patent protection for its flagship drug Humira, the company still achieved over 12% revenue growth in Q1 2026, demonstrating strong growth potential.
- Verizon's Acquisition Advantage: With a dividend yield of 5.9%, Verizon attracts investors, and despite a 17% stock price increase this year, its forward P/E ratio is only 10; the acquisition of Frontier is expected to enhance its fiber access capabilities, further boosting future growth prospects.
- Canadian Natural Resources' Inflation Hedge: Canadian Natural Resources has seen its stock price rise 40% this year amid rising oil prices, and while its dividend yield stands at 3.8%, its forward P/E remains below 14, indicating strong profitability even in economic uncertainty.
- Sustained Dividend Growth: Canadian Natural Resources has raised its dividend for 26 consecutive years, averaging a compounded annual growth rate of about 20%, maintaining stable dividend payments even during periods of low oil prices, showcasing its appeal as a high-dividend stock.
See More
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- Verizon's Acquisition Advantage: With a 5.9% dividend yield, Verizon remains attractive to investors; despite a 17% stock price increase this year, its forward P/E is just 10, and the acquisition of Frontier will enhance its fiber access and future growth prospects.
- Canadian Natural Resources' Inflation Hedge: Canadian Natural Resources stock has surged 40% due to rising oil prices, and while this affects its 3.8% dividend yield, it has consistently raised dividends for 26 years, demonstrating stability amid economic uncertainty.
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- Risk and Reward Balance: At an 8.5% blended yield, the capital requirement to replace a $75,000 annual income drops to approximately $885,897, making high yields tempting yet risky, necessitating careful assessment of the balance between returns and risks for investors.
See More
