NEW YORK, May 31, 2026, 16:04 (EDT)
Verizon Communications slipped on Friday, finishing at $47.81, off 0.42% for the day and about 1.1% below where it settled May 22. U.S. equity markets did not open Sunday; regular NYSE hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern, with trading paused for Memorial Day on Monday.
The underperformance stands out as Wall Street’s main indexes finished at record highs Friday. The S&P 500 gained 1.43% for the week, the Nasdaq rose 2.39%, and the Dow added 0.9%, Reuters reported. “There’s definitely euphoric sentiment in the market around AI,” said Ohsung Kwon, chief equity strategist at Wells Fargo, according to Reuters. Reuters
Verizon’s stock is still trading on its ability to deliver steady subscriber growth under CEO Dan Schulman, rather than excitement about artificial intelligence. In April, the company reported its first quarterly gain in postpaid phone net adds in a first quarter since 2013. Postpaid phone users, who get billed monthly, are a key growth number for Verizon. The company also lifted its 2026 adjusted EPS outlook to between $4.95 and $4.99, excluding certain items.
Telecoms sagged. AT&T ended Friday at $24.80, slipping 0.32%. T-Mobile US fell 0.87% to $187.53. Both missed the week’s stronger index rally, keeping the biggest U.S. wireless stocks on the sidelines.
Few big events are on tap this week for company news. Verizon’s investor site shows nothing coming up after Schulman spoke at the J.P. Morgan and MoffettNathanson events in May, leaving investors to watch rates, the tape, and new telecom data.
Schulman told the J.P. Morgan conference that Verizon is “a bit further ahead than I expected in our transformation,” the transcript shows. Bulls say that’s good, but the stock lagged this week. Investors still want to see better customer trends result in steady revenue and cash flow. Seeking Alpha
The scale of competition is significant. After the first-quarter numbers, Reuters said Verizon had rolled out new offers, including incentives for people switching from AT&T and T-Mobile, to boost paying subscribers. The approach is part of its broader plan to turn wireless growth around.
Network capacity has been in focus for the carriers. The Federal Communications Commission cleared Verizon’s $1 billion deal for some U.S. Cellular spectrum assets this month; spectrum is the licensed airwaves that carry mobile signals. “This additional spectrum will allow us to better serve our customers,” said Kathy Grillo, Verizon’s senior vice president for public policy and government affairs. Reuters
The downside risk is hard to miss. If churn ticks up, promo spending goes up, or AT&T and T-Mobile push more on price, Verizon may need to pay up to keep growing subscribers. The company also lists competition, execution risks, AI disruption, inflation, interest costs and debt among its risk factors in investor filings.
Verizon’s stock is acting like a safe, dividend telecom play right now. Growth stocks are in favor, but the coming week—absent a company event—should reveal if investors stick with Verizon’s turnaround or look for quicker earnings in other sectors.
