Verizon raises adjusted EPS guidance as Q1 results show strong growth

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) reported first-quarter 2026 results that showed significant growth across key financial metrics. The telecommunications company raised its adjusted earnings per share guidance for the full year following the strong quarterly performance.

For the first quarter ended March 31, 2026, Verizon posted total operating revenue of $34.4 billion, up 2.9% year-over-year. Net income reached $5.1 billion, representing a 3.3% increase compared to the same period in 2025. Diluted earnings per share grew to $1.20, up 4.3% year-over-year.

The company's adjusted earnings per share increased to $1.28, marking a 7.6% year-over-year growth rate, which the company stated was its best quarterly growth since 2021. Cash flow from operating activities totaled $8.0 billion, up from $7.8 billion in the first quarter of 2025.

Verizon achieved its first positive first-quarter postpaid phone net additions since 2013, adding 55,000 total postpaid phone customers. The company also added 341,000 broadband net additions, including 214,000 fixed wireless access customers and 127,000 fiber broadband customers.

Based on the quarterly performance, Verizon raised its 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $4.95 to $4.99, representing year-over-year growth of 5.0% to 6.0%. The company also updated its expectations for total retail postpaid phone net additions to be in the upper half of its previously stated 750,000 to one million range.

The company maintained other 2026 guidance, including total mobility and broadband service revenue growth of 2.0% to 3.0%, capital expenditures of $16.0 billion to $16.5 billion, and free cash flow of $21.5 billion or more. Verizon also completed $2.5 billion in share repurchases during the quarter and remains on track for its full-year target of at least $3.0 billion.

The results include contributions from Frontier Communications, which Verizon acquired on January 20, 2026. The company reported paying down approximately half of Frontier's debt since the acquisition and expects to repay substantially all remaining Frontier debt by year-end.

You May Also Be Interested In

• Alphabet added to Dow Jones Industrial Average, Verizon dropped
• Boeing wins $2 billion satellite contract from DoW
• 8x8 reports data breach via third-party Salesforce integration