VZ

Options traders are convinced that Verizon (VZ) stock will reclaim some of its recent losses after the telecommunications giant reports earnings on Oct. 26. Consensus is for VZ to record $1.27 in earnings per share (EPS) for its third financial quarter, which would represent nearly 5% growth on a year-over-year basis. Heading into the quarterly print, Verizon shares are down more than 10% versus their year-to-date high. - Broadcom's Hock Tan Says AI's Next Bottleneck Isn't Chips, Power, or Memory. It's Not a Tech Problem at All. - Google Hits Major Quantum Breakthrough. This Could Be a Game-Changer for GOOGL Stock. - 63 Reasons Point to CoreWeave's Default. Yet Goldman Sachs Upgraded It to a 'Buy' for 1 Key Reason. - Markets move fast. Keep up by reading our FREE midday Barchart Brief newsletter for exclusive charts, analysis, and headlines. VZ shares are currently hovering around their 20-day moving average (MA), with a decisive break below the $45 level expected to accelerate bearish momentum in the near term. Still, traders are increasingly betting on call options, with the put-to-call ratio on contracts expiring Oct. 30 set at 0.60x as of this writing. A reading below 1.00x is typically interpreted as bullish. According to the latest data from Barchart, the upper price on those options contracts currently sits at $46.72, indicating potential upside of more than 4% through the end of next week. Note that Verizon currently pays a rather lucrative 6.26% dividend yield as well, which makes it a compelling long-term buy heading into 2027. Ahead of the Q3 earnings event, Verizon stock is trading at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of about 8x, which makes it cheaper to own than both AT&T (T) and T-Mobile (TMUS). Still, insiders have not recorded even a single buy transaction in the trailing 12 months, the optics of which are clearly bearish for the NYSE-listed giant. Additionally, SpaceX's (SPCX) recent spectrum deal poses a serious competitive threat to VZ's core broadband business as well. It leaves Verizon needing to demonstrate that subscriber growth and cash generation can support its dividend while funding network investment in an increasingly competitive telecom market. Wall Street analysts are nevertheless entering Verizon's quarterly release with a bullish stance. According to Barchart, the consensus rating on VZ stock sits at "Moderate Buy," with the mean price target of about $51 indicating potential for a more than 10% rally in the months ahead. On the date of publication, Wajeeh Khan did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com

[IMAGE CREDIT: U.S. Air Force photo by Justin R. Pacheco and Edvin Richardson from Pexels via Canva] - SpaceX's connectivity business brought in $5.2 billion in the third quarter, up 69% year over year, which works out to about $21 billion a year. - On SpaceX's Oct. 20 earnings call, Elon Musk said he sees a clear path to connectivity revenue about ten times that size or more. - To get there, Starlink Mobile has to become a real U.S. carrier against AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, and service on its new spectrum doesn't start until early 2028. - Several hundred billion dollars a year is about what AT&T and Verizon took in combined in 2025, and Musk gave no date for reaching it. SpaceX (SPCX:NASDAQ) had a big third quarter for Starlink: connectivity revenue came in at $5.2 billion, up 69% year over year and 22% from the second quarter. Then Elon Musk raised the bar. On the earnings call, he said: "I can say we do see a clear path to several hundred billion dollars a year in connectivity revenue." That's a big number. And the path to it runs straight through AT&T (T:NYSE), Verizon (VZ:NYSE) and T-Mobile (TMUS:NASDAQ). Start with the math. $5.2 billion a quarter works out to about $21 billion a year. If "several hundred billion" means $200 billion at the low end, Musk is describing a connectivity business roughly ten times its current size. At $300 billion it's closer to 15x. Connectivity is growing fast enough that this sounds less wild than it might. Starlink added 1.6 million consumer subscribers in the quarter and reached 13.6 million. Consumer ARPU rose 5% from the second quarter to $69 a month, and enterprise and government revenue grew 91% year over year. Gross margin was 55%, with roughly 3 points of that coming from a one-time benefit. The Street is already thinking big too. Connectivity's $21 billion pace is close to half of the $45.9 billion analysts expect all of SpaceX to bring in this year. And consensus has the whole company at $249.4 billion by 2028. These estimates may not include the call yet. Since Musk didn't put a date on his number, I wouldn't expect it to change the next three years of estimates much. TIKR tracks 38 analysts on SpaceX. How many say "Buy"? See the full breakdown of Buy, Hold, and Sell ratings on SpaceX, along with Wall Street's revenue and earnings estimates, all in one place. More than 500,000 investors use TIKR to research stocks like this one. See SpaceX's Analyst Ratings Plus: the piece that would get Starlink there is mobile. Starlink Mobile passed 22 million monthly users at the end of the quarter, up 37% from three months earlier. A few weeks ago, SpaceX got FCC approval to launch 15,000 Mobile V2 satellites and agreed to buy a portfolio of low-band spectrum. Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX's president and COO, said that spectrum "will pave the way for Starlink Mobile to become a major mobile carrier in the U.S." That spectrum deal sent Verizon stock down 10% in a day. To see how big the prize is, look at AT&T. It brought in $126 billion in 2025, and analysts expect about $135 billion by 2028. That's about 2% growth a year. Starlink doesn't plan to light up its new spectrum until early 2028, so nothing on SpaceX's call should move AT&T's near-term numbers much. Verizon brought in $138.2 billion in 2025, so the two carriers together took in about $264 billion. Put differently, Musk's number would make Starlink connectivity about the size of AT&T and Verizon combined. Musk's figure covers all of connectivity, including enterprise and government, so not every dollar has to come from AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile customers. But mobile is the piece SpaceX itself singled out, and it's the one with a plan and a date attached. Of course, Musk gave no timeline. He said SpaceX "should do a longer presentation on the game plan for Starlink connectivity," so the full case isn't public. The service itself is also a ways off. Shotwell said the near-term priority is flying the Mobile V2 constellation through next year and integrating the spectrum to turn on service in early 2028. Evercore's Kutgun Maral asked how that spectrum can compete with U.S. incumbents. Shotwell started her answer with WiFi: "I think it's something between 85% and 93% is done through WiFi." She expects the S-band to carry most of Starlink Mobile's traffic, with the low-band spectrum handling less but providing "a critical piece." It's a reasonable argument for why Starlink can get by with less spectrum than the incumbents, but nobody will know if it works until service starts. So can a business running at $21 billion a year really reach several hundred billion? Only if Starlink becomes a carrier on the scale of AT&T and Verizon combined, and that work has barely started. Still, the pieces SpaceX has in hand are real: 22 million mobile users, approval for 15,000 satellites, and spectrum of its own. My take: SpaceX doesn't need to hit Musk's number for connectivity to keep driving the stock. A business growing 69% a year with gross margins above 50% has plenty of room to run, even at a fraction of several hundred billion. The next clue comes on Oct. 21, when AT&T reports its third quarter and gets its first chance to respond. The real test starts when Starlink Mobile turns on service on its new spectrum in early 2028. TIKR lets you forecast the future price of any stock in less than a minute. Just enter a few assumptions into TIKR's valuation model and see what SpaceX could be worth. Start from Wall Street consensus estimates, or adjust the inputs to reflect your own view of the business. It's free to use. Value SpaceX for free

For questions about this article or underlying research, email [email protected]. AT&T (T) shares fell 6.4% on October 21, 2026, the day the company reported fiscal Q3 2026. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% during the same session. That morning, AT&T raised its full-year profit outlook while leaving its free cash flow forecast and range for core profit growth untouched. So where did the higher outlook come from? AT&T's Higher Outlook Came From Lower Depreciation On the October 21 call, management said the raise primarily reflected lower depreciation under held-for-sale accounting for AT&T Mexico, a business the company has agreed to sell. AT&T now expects full-year adjusted EPS in the $2.40 range, up from its previous range of $2.25 to $2.35. That means most of the higher figure comes from how the company accounts for a departing business, rather than from adding customers or increasing sales. Earnings for the quarter beat forecasts, with adjusted EPS reaching $0.65 against a consensus of $0.61. Revenue matched expectations at $32.3 billion. Even so, the stock decline was far steeper than the drops its peers recorded during the same session. Verizon fell 2.2% and T-Mobile fell 2.5%. Did AT&T's Forecast For Its Business Change? Not by much. Management maintained its fiscal 2026 forecast for adjusted EBITDA growth, the company's core profit measure, at 3% to 4%. The company now expects to hit the upper portion of that range. The full-year free cash flow forecast stayed at $18 billion. This steady outlook follows a strong quarter. Service revenue grew 3.8% from a year earlier, marking what management called its best performance in more than four years. Adjusted EBITDA grew more than 5% for a second consecutive quarter. The fourth quarter looks harder. Management expects adjusted EBITDA growth in the period to suffer from year-over-year increases in marketing and other customer acquisition costs. These higher expenses are tied to an extended device launch cycle and a wider push to sell fiber. What AT&T Said About Fiber Prices Average revenue per fiber customer fell 4% from a year earlier in fiscal Q3 2026. Management tied the decline to introductory prices for new customers, discounts for subscribers who also buy AT&T wireless, and growth among lower-paying Quantum brand customers in territories acquired from Lumen. The company expects a similar year-over-year decline in the fourth quarter. AT&T is using lower prices to win households where it can later sell wireless service. By the end of the quarter, nearly 43% of its advanced home internet customers, a group including both fiber and Internet Air, also held a postpaid wireless account with the company. When the call turned to fiber prices in AT&T's established fiber markets, management said it did not want to focus on that alone, pointing to service revenue and customer growth. Average revenue per fiber customer is the figure to watch when AT&T reports fiscal Q4 2026, expected in January 2027. Is Too Much Of Your Wealth Riding On One Stock? One report just changed how AT&T looks to the people who own it. When one position grows into a large part of your wealth, a sharp fall can hurt your whole plan, and selling to spread the money out can bring a large tax bill. Our partner advisory firm offers a free strategy review of ways to protect a concentrated position and unwind it with less tax. Request A Free Strategy Review Spot an error or want more like this? Tell us in 10 seconds.

- Verizon's sixth straight EPS beat and record 40.1% adjusted EBITDA margin show real momentum heading into a harder competitive fight. - SpaceX's $8 billion spectrum deal sent Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile among the S&P 500's top decliners the day it landed. - Whether churn holds at its record 84 basis points will signal if Verizon can maintain pricing power before Starlink Mobile launches in 2028. - Read More: Learn 7 ways to generate income with a $1,000,000+ portfolio (sponsor) Verizon (NYSE:VZ) reports third-quarter results on October 26, days after SpaceX (NASDAQ:SPCX) announced a roughly $8 billion deal for nationwide 800 MHz spectrum. I think the deal makes this report more important. It shows how much momentum Verizon carries into a harder fight. Last quarter, Verizon posted adjusted EPS of $1.30 against a $1.27 consensus, its sixth straight beat. Revenue slipped 0.7% to $34.25 billion as equipment revenue fell nearly 20%, a deliberate pullback on subsidies. The core business strengthened: 184,000 postpaid phone net adds, churn down to 0.92%, and a record 40.1% adjusted EBITDA margin. Management raised full-year adjusted EPS guidance to $4.99 to $5.04 and lifted the buyback target to up to $4.5 billion. Shares are up 16.94% year to date but down 4.89% over the past month. SpaceX's spectrum announcement put Verizon, AT&T (NYSE:T), and T-Mobile (NASDAQ:TMUS) among the top decliners in the S&P 500 the day it landed. Metric | Consensus | Prior Year | YoY Growth Q3 2026 EPS | $1.2743 | $1.21 | 5.31% Q3 2026 Revenue | $34.85 billion | $33.82 billion | 3.05% FY 2026 EPS | $5.0179 | $4.71 | 6.54% FY 2026 Revenue | $140.80 billion | $138.19 billion | 1.89% The Q3 EPS consensus has moved lower from $1.2925 90 days ago. If you've saved over $1,000,000, this guide is for you. The last thing you want in retirement is to run out of money, you want your money to generate lasting income while you enjoy your life. Now you can learn the strategies wealthy retirees use to fund their retirement with The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income from Fisher Investments. Download the guide today! (sponsor) Management guided mobility and broadband service revenue growth to approach 3% in Q3 and reach approximately 4% in Q4. I'll be watching that number first. Hitting it would show the subsidy-light Simplicity and Verizon One strategy can grow revenue while maintaining price. Churn comes next. Consumer postpaid phone churn fell to 84 basis points, which management called "a step change for Verizon." For comparison, Q3 2025 delivered just 36,000 postpaid net adds with churn of 0.98%. You should look at whether retention holds now that a deep-pocketed entrant has a credible path into U.S. mobile. The spectrum deal should close in the first half of 2027, and SpaceX plans to turn on service in early 2028. SpaceX said the spectrum could make Starlink Mobile "a major mobile carrier in the U.S." In July, Verizon estimated satellite's U.S. addressable market at 6 million to 8 million homes, mostly rural. I want to hear whether that framing changes now that SpaceX holds low-band spectrum built for indoor coverage. Finally, AI Connect. The Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) dark fiber agreement is valued at over $1 billion, and management flagged more deals by year-end. SpaceX's threat is real, yet it sits more than a year away. That makes this report Verizon's chance to show that lower churn, combined bundles, and Frontier's fiber build a moat before a new carrier shows up. If service revenue speeds up and churn holds, Verizon heads into 2027 with its pricing power intact. If either slips, the market will treat it as early erosion, and the Starlink story will start to drive the stock. If you've saved over $1,000,000, this guide is for you. The last thing you want in retirement is to run out of money, you want your money to generate lasting income while you enjoy your life. Now you can learn the strategies wealthy retirees use to fund their retirement with The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income from Fisher Investments. Download the guide today! (sponsor) Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Verizon Communications, Inc. VZ is scheduled to report third-quarter 2026 earnings before the opening bell on Oct. 26. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for sales and earnings is pegged at $34.81 billion and $1.27 per share, respectively. Earnings estimates for VZ in 2026 have remained unchanged over the past 60 days, while 2027 estimates have risen 0.19%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The communication services provider has a solid trailing four-quarter earnings surprise history, having exceeded expectations on each occasion. It delivered a four-quarter earnings surprise of 2.9%, on average. In the last reported quarter, the company pulled off an earnings surprise of 2.3%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for Verizon for the third quarter. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an earnings beat. That is not the case here. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they're reported with our Earnings ESP Filter. Verizon currently has an ESP of -0.68% with a Zacks Rank #3. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. During the quarter, Verizon's subsidiary, Total Wireless, announced an expanded partnership with Western Union, bringing money transfers, bill pay and money orders to its retail locations nationwide. The rollout will begin in select stores and is expected to expand through the end of 2026. The initiative broadens Total Wireless' value proposition beyond wireless connectivity and supports Verizon's efforts to strengthen its value-brand offerings. In the to-be-reported quarter, Verizon inked a multi-year, multi-billion-dollar supply agreement with Corning to support broadband expansion and next-generation AI infrastructure. The deal will strengthen Verizon's fiber network capabilities and support growing connectivity and data demands across its network. Verizon is advancing its 6G initiatives by adding nine technology companies to its 6G Innovation Forum and conducting real-world trials of integrated sensing and communications. The company is also exploring AI-native technologies for future connectivity and network applications. The company has partnered with SPECS Inc. to introduce new SPECS AR Glasses that combine augmented reality with Verizon's connectivity capabilities. The collaboration aims to enhance connected wearable experiences and expand AR use across consumer and enterprise applications. Such innovations are expected to positively impact upcoming results. However, it is to be noted that Verizon operates in a highly competitive and saturated U.S. telecom market. The company faces competition from major players such as AT&T, Inc. T and T-Mobile US, Inc. TMUS. This is likely to weigh on margins. Over the past year, VZ has gained 11.9% compared with the industry's growth of 108.1%. It has outperformed its peers like AT&T and T-Mobile US over this period. Shares of AT&T and T-Mobile have plunged 8.4% and 30.7%, respectively, in the same time frame. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research From a valuation standpoint, Verizon appears attractive relative to the industry and is trading below its mean. Going by the price/earnings ratio, the company's shares currently trade at 8.5 forward earnings, lower than 33.85 for the industry and the stock's mean of 8.77. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Verizon is delivering strong consumer metrics, highlighted by robust postpaid phone net additions and sequentially lower customer churn. Strategic offerings like simplified rate plans and focused loyalty incentives are successfully retaining users without requiring high promotional costs. The integration of Frontier Communications has significantly broadened Verizon's fiber reach across multiple states. Total fixed wireless and fiber connections continue to rise, driven by lower churn among customers who bundle mobility and broadband services. The domestic telecommunications sector remains intensely competitive, with aggressive pricing and promotional bundling from rival carriers and cable operators posing continuous pressure on market share and margins. Maintaining a leadership position in 5G, fiber expansion and AI-related infrastructure requires heavy upfront capital spending. Delays in realizing returns on these multi-billion-dollar investments could weigh on near-term financial flexibility. Verizon's long-term strategy remains centered on combining wireless and broadband services to improve customer retention and lifetime value. The company continues to broaden its addressable market through fiber expansion and broadband growth while strengthening convergence opportunities. However, intense competition and a high debt burden remain major concerns. VZ appears to be treading the middle of the road, and new investors could be better off if they trade with caution. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) : Free Stock Analysis Report AT&T Inc. (T) : Free Stock Analysis Report T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

AT&T (NYSE:T), a U.S. telecom carrier, closed at $21.91, down 6.45%. Premarket results beat estimates, but investors are weighing higher spending needs and SpaceX competition. Investors are watching free-cash-flow targets and the raised 2026 profit outlook. Trading volume reached 82.7 million shares, coming in well above its three-month average of 45.9 million shares. S&P 500 (SNPINDEX:^GSPC) rose 0.59% to 7,758, while the Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX:^IXIC) gained 1.05% to 26,703. Among integrated telecommunications services; wireless, broadband, and enterprise connectivity peers, Verizon Communications closed at $43.56, down 2.20%, and T-Mobile U.S. finished at $153.75, down 2.54% as sector rivals tracked AT&T's post-earnings pressure. On Wednesday, Oct. 21, AT&T announced record internet net additions and more than one million advanced connectivity customer additions for a second straight quarter. That growth points to the strength of the company's fiber offerings, signaling the capital investments in this area are paying off. AT&T reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) and revenue that topped estimates. It raised its 2026 profit outlook and kept free-cash-flow targets intact, yet the stock still fell. Investors looked past the headline beat, focusing on spending needs and the growing SpaceX threat. The Elon Musk-led company forged a nationwide low-band spectrum deal with Grain Management, which marks a major step toward SpaceX offering direct-to-device phone coverage across the U.S. On Oct. 13, AT&T agreed to sell its Mexico wireless unit for $2 billion in cash, sharpening its U.S. focus and potentially changing the capital-allocation story. Earlier this month, the company filed its Mexico-sale 8-K, which formalized the deal and kept the divestiture on investors' radar. Before you buy stock in AT&T, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and AT&T wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $370,440!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,330,110!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 924% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 212% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of October 21, 2026. Robert Izquierdo has positions in AT&T, Space Exploration Technologies, T-Mobile US, and Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool recommends T-Mobile US and Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Stock Market Today, Oct. 21: AT&T Beats Earnings on Strong Fiber Growth, Raises 2026 Profit Outlook was originally published by The Motley Fool

Analysts on Wall Street project that Verizon Communications (VZ) will announce quarterly earnings of $1.27 per share in its forthcoming report, representing an increase of 5% year over year. Revenues are projected to reach $34.81 billion, increasing 2.9% from the same quarter last year. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.1% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This reflects how the analysts covering the stock have collectively reevaluated their initial estimates during this timeframe. Before a company announces its earnings, it is essential to take into account any changes made to earnings estimates. This is a valuable factor in predicting the potential reactions of investors toward the stock. Empirical research has consistently shown a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and the short-term price performance of a stock. While investors typically use consensus earnings and revenue estimates as a yardstick to evaluate the company's quarterly performance, scrutinizing analysts' projections for some of the company's key metrics can offer a more comprehensive perspective. In light of this perspective, let's dive into the average estimates of certain Verizon metrics that are commonly tracked and forecasted by Wall Street analysts. Analysts forecast 'Operating Revenues- Wireless equipment revenues' to reach $5.45 billion. The estimate indicates a change of -3% from the prior-year quarter. It is projected by analysts that the 'Operating Revenues- Service revenues and other' will reach $29.29 billion. The estimate suggests a change of +3.9% year over year. The consensus among analysts is that 'Operating revenues- Consumer' will reach $26.90 billion. The estimate suggests a change of +3% year over year. The average prediction of analysts places 'Operating revenues- Business' at $7.19 billion. The estimate points to a change of +0.7% from the year-ago quarter. Analysts' assessment points toward 'Operating revenues- Consumer- Other' reaching $2.40 billion. The estimate suggests a change of +140.1% year over year. The consensus estimate for 'Operating revenues- Consumer- Wireless equipment' stands at $4.71 billion. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of -1.2%. According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Wireless - Retail Prepaid Connections' should come in at 19.40 million. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 19.06 million. Analysts predict that the 'Wireless - Retail postpaid Connections' will reach 126.85 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of 125.91 million. Analysts expect 'Wireless - Retail Connections - End of Period' to come in at 147.27 million. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 146.12 million. The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Operating Income (Loss)- Business' of $969.00 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $637.00 million in the same quarter last year. The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Operating Income (Loss)- Consumer' will likely reach $8.04 billion. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $7.66 billion in the same quarter last year. View all Key Company Metrics for Verizon here>>> Shares of Verizon have demonstrated returns of -4.1% over the past month compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1% change. With a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), VZ is expected to mirror the overall market performance in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> . Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Valued at a market cap of $183.4 billion, Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) is a leading telecommunications company that provides wireless voice and data services, high-speed internet, fiber-optic broadband, and digital communications solutions to consumers, businesses, and government agencies. Headquartered in New York City, the company operates through its Consumer and Business segments, offering 4G and 5G wireless connectivity, fixed wireless access, and fiber broadband services, alongside enterprise networking, Internet of Things (IoT), and managed security solutions. VZ is expected to release its Q3 2026 earnings on Monday, Oct. 26, before the market opens. Ahead of the event, analysts expect the company's EPS to be $1.27 on a diluted basis, up 5% from $1.21 in the year-ago quarter. The company has exceeded Wall Street's EPS estimates in each of its last four quarters. - Dear Nvidia Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for October 20 - Charlie Munger Said He Was Still Buying Apartment Complexes 'To Give Me Something To Do' but Ran Them the Opposite Way, 'It's All Deferred Gratification' - GOOGL Stock Earnings Preview: What to Expect From Alphabet's Q3 2026 Report - Stop Missing Market Moves: Get the FREE Barchart Brief – your midday dose of stock movers, trending sectors, and actionable trade ideas, delivered right to your inbox. Sign Up Now! For fiscal 2026, analysts project the company's EPS to be $5.03, up 6.8% from $4.71 in fiscal 2025. Moreover, its EPS is expected to rise by 5.2% year over year to $5.29 in fiscal 2027. VZ's stock has tanked 9.2% over the past 52 weeks, underperforming the S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 14.5% rise but trailing the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF's (XLC) 5.2% fall during the same time frame. Verizon has struggled to keep pace with the broader market over the past year as fierce competition, debt concerns, and mounting disruption risks have weighed on investor sentiment. The telecom giant's revenue has remained flat over the past five years, raising concerns about its ability to expand despite ongoing investments. Price wars with its industry rivals, along with growing competition from cable providers, have raised questions about Verizon's ability to accelerate growth. Adding to the pressure, Space Exploration Technologies Corp.'s (SPCX) recent agreement to acquire Grain Management's nationwide 800 MHz spectrum portfolio sparked fresh fears that satellite-to-cellular technology could disrupt the traditional wireless business. The news sent Verizon shares tumbling 6% in premarket trading, highlighting investor concerns that emerging satellite networks could challenge established carriers' dominance and constrain their long-term growth potential. Analysts are fairly bullish on VZ, with the stock having a "Moderate Buy" rating overall. Among the 30 analysts covering the stock, nine are recommending a "Strong Buy," two suggest a "Moderate Buy," and 19 suggest a "Hold." VZ's average analyst price target is $51.16, indicating an upside of 14.9% from the current levels. On the date of publication, Kritika Sarmah did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com

Wall Street expects a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when Verizon Communications (VZ) reports results for the quarter ended September 2026. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company's earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates. The earnings report, which is expected to be released on October 26, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower. While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise. This largest U.S. cellphone carrier is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.27 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +5%. Revenues are expected to be $34.81 billion, up 2.9% from the year-ago quarter. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.06% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period. Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only. A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP. Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell). For Verizon, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -0.68%. On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3. So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Verizon will beat the consensus EPS estimate. Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number. For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Verizon would post earnings of $1.27 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.30, delivering a surprise of +2.36%. Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times. An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss. That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. Verizon doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release. AT&T (T), another stock in the Zacks Wireless National industry, is expected to report earnings per share of $0.61 for the quarter ended September 2026. This estimate points to a year-over-year change of +13%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $31.68 billion, up 3.2% from the year-ago quarter. The consensus EPS estimate for AT&T has been revised 4.4% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. However, a higher Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +3.77%. This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), suggests that AT&T will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) : Free Stock Analysis Report AT&T Inc. (T) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Looking back on consumer discretionary - wireless, cable and satellite stocks' Q2 earnings, we examine this quarter's best and worst performers, including Verizon (NYSE:VZ) and its peers. The Consumer Discretionary sector, by definition, is made up of companies selling non-essential goods and services. When economic conditions deteriorate or tastes shift, consumers can easily cut back or eliminate these purchases. For long-term investors with five-year holding periods, this creates a structural challenge: the sector is inherently hit-driven, with low switching costs and fickle customers. As a result, only a handful of companies can reliably grow demand and compound earnings over long periods, which is why our bar is high and High Quality ratings are rare.Wireless, cable, and satellite companies provide pay-TV, broadband internet, and mobile connectivity through large fixed-infrastructure networks. Tailwinds include growing bandwidth consumption, bundling opportunities across video, internet, and wireless services, and rural broadband subsidies from government programs. However, headwinds are pronounced: cord-cutting continues to erode traditional video subscriber bases, capital expenditure requirements for network upgrades (such as fiber overbuilds and 5G rollouts) are substantial, and aggressive promotional pricing among competitors compresses margins. Regulatory oversight on pricing and net neutrality adds uncertainty, while streaming platforms increasingly bypass traditional distributors, reducing the value of the legacy pay-TV bundle. The 7 consumer discretionary - wireless, cable and satellite stocks we track reported a mixed Q2. As a group, revenues were in line with analysts' consensus estimates. Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 13.8% since the latest earnings results. Formed in 1984 as Bell Atlantic after the breakup of Bell System into seven companies, Verizon (NYSE:VZ) is a telecom giant providing a range of communications and internet services. Verizon reported revenues of $34.25 billion, flat year on year. This print fell short of analysts' expectations by 2.9%. Overall, it was a slower quarter for the company with some shareholders anticipating a better outcome. Verizon delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates in the group. Interestingly, the stock is up 2.2% since reporting and currently trades at $44.77. Read our full report on Verizon here, it's free. Formerly known as American Cable Systems, Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA) is a multinational telecommunications company offering a wide range of services. Comcast reported revenues of $29.57 billion, up 4.7% year on year, outperforming analysts' expectations by 1%. The business had a satisfactory quarter with a beat of analysts' EPS estimates. Comcast delivered the biggest analyst estimate beat and fastest revenue growth of the whole group. Although it had a fine quarter compared to its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 6.8% since reporting. It currently trades at $21.93. Is now the time to buy Comcast? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it's free. Founded in 1986, Cable One (NYSE:CABO) provides high-speed internet, cable television, and telephone services, primarily in smaller markets across the United States. Cable One reported revenues of $348.9 million, down 8.4% year on year, in line with analysts' expectations. It was a slower quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts' EPS estimates and a miss of analysts' EBITDA estimates. Cable One delivered the slowest revenue growth in the group. As expected, the stock is down 83.5% since the results and currently trades at $7.32. Read our full analysis of Cable One's results here. Founded by Alexander Graham Bell, AT&T (NYSE:T) is a multinational telecomm conglomerate providing a range of communications and internet services. AT&T reported revenues of $31.56 billion, up 2.3% year on year. This result came in 0.6% below analysts' expectations. Aside from that, it was a satisfactory quarter as it put up a beat of analysts' EPS estimates. The stock is up 5.2% since reporting and currently trades at $23.43. Read our full, actionable report on AT&T here, it's free. Operating as Spectrum, Charter (NASDAQ:CHTR) is a leading telecommunications company offering cable television, high-speed internet, and voice services across the United States. Charter reported revenues of $13.53 billion, down 1.7% year on year. This print was in line with analysts' expectations. Zooming out, it was a mixed quarter as it also logged a beat of analysts' EPS estimates but a miss of analysts' EBITDA estimates. The stock is down 12.2% since reporting and currently trades at $111.09. Read our full, actionable report on Charter here, it's free. Over the past year, investors have been forced to repeatedly answer the same question: what is the market's biggest risk? The answer has changed several times, and each shift has reshaped market leadership. Late in 2025 and early 2026, artificial intelligence became the market's primary uncertainty. Investors questioned whether AI would erode software pricing power and weaken competitive moats as AI made it easier to replicate once-differentiated products. By the spring, technology took a back seat to geopolitics. The U.S. conflict with Iran briefly became the market's dominant narrative, raising concerns about oil prices, inflation, and global growth. But as energy markets remained orderly and fears of a prolonged supply disruption faded, investors quickly turned their focus back to fundamentals. Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our 9 Best Market-Beating Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.