New York, Jan 30, 2026, 17:27 ET — After-hours
- Verizon shares jumped almost 12% following the carrier’s report of a sharp rise in quarterly subscriber additions and the announcement of a new buyback program.
- The company expects adjusted EPS in 2026 to land between $4.90 and $4.95, with free cash flow projected at a minimum of $21.5 billion.
- Verizon’s board upped its quarterly dividend and forecasted share buybacks of at least $3 billion in 2026.
Verizon Communications Inc. shares jumped 11.8% to $44.52 in after-hours trading on Friday, bouncing between $39.70 and $44.63 throughout the session.
This shift is significant since U.S. wireless now revolves around bundles and discounts, with investors zeroing in on churn and cash just as much as growth. A carrier reporting strong “postpaid” adds — customers who pay monthly bills — can quickly shift sentiment.
Verizon reported adding 616,000 postpaid phone subscribers in the fourth quarter, surpassing expectations, fueled by holiday promotions. One deal offered four phone lines for $100 a month. Analysts at MoffettNathanson noted Verizon’s fiber network is now “almost the size of” AT&T’s following its Frontier Communications acquisition. Reuters
Verizon reported adjusted earnings of $1.09 per share for the fourth quarter on $36.4 billion in revenue. The company added 372,000 broadband subscribers, including 319,000 from fixed wireless access. It projects retail postpaid phone net additions between 750,000 and 1 million for 2026. Free cash flow for 2026 is expected to reach $21.5 billion or more, with capital expenditures forecasted at $16.0 billion to $16.5 billion. CEO Dan Schulman declared, “Verizon will no longer be a hunting ground for our competitors.” SEC
Verizon’s board greenlit a share buyback program of up to $25 billion, with plans to repurchase at least $3 billion in stock during 2026, according to a regulatory filing. The company also announced a quarterly dividend of $0.7075 per share, payable May 1 to shareholders of record April 10. Verizon aims to return roughly $55 billion to shareholders by the end of 2028 through dividends and buybacks.
Investors are focused on whether Verizon can keep growing its subscriber base without relying heavily on discounts. Management expects wireless service revenue to remain roughly flat as it aims for “healthy volumes,” walking a fine line in a market sensitive to pricing.
Competition is fierce. Verizon is pushing to bundle mobile service with home broadband—both fiber and fixed wireless—to hold onto customers amid pressure from T-Mobile US and other challengers.
Risks cut both ways. Larger promotions could tighten margins, while integration efforts from the Frontier deal might drive up execution expenses. The buyback remains discretionary—Verizon noted timing hinges on prices and market conditions, and repurchases can be paused.
Verizon announced it updated and modernized a long-term MVNO agreement — a wholesale arrangement where another company resells wireless service — with Charter Communications and Comcast. This move preserves a valuable channel with cable operators who have been ramping up their wireless efforts.
The key question now: will Friday’s surge stick when U.S. markets open Monday, Feb. 2? Verizon plans to pay its $0.69 quarterly dividend that day, which should keep income-focused investors engaged. Traders will be eyeing early-2026 churn and watching closely for any evidence that the buyback program has kicked off.
