New York, Feb 1, 2026, 12:07 EST — The market has closed.
- Verizon shares jumped Friday following robust subscriber gains and an upgraded 2026 forecast.
- Investors zeroed in on cash returns after the company announced a fresh dividend increase alongside a $25 billion share buyback program.
- Investors are heading into Monday focused on follow-through and the next key rate update.
Verizon shares surged 11.8% to close at $44.52 on Friday, marking their largest single-day gain since 2008. The jump sets the stage for Monday’s reopening.
The broader U.S. market ended January on a weak note. Major indexes slipped on Friday following Donald Trump’s nomination of Kevin Warsh to replace Jerome Powell at the Federal Reserve, coupled with a delayed Producer Price Index report that revealed bigger-than-anticipated monthly increases.
Verizon’s move hits a sensitive spot for investors, raising questions about how quickly companies can get cash back into shareholders’ hands and how fierce the fight for phone subscribers remains amid shifting rates. AT&T and T-Mobile are locked in the same fray.
Verizon pushed holiday deals like four phone lines for $100 a month, adding 616,000 postpaid phone subscribers in Q4—beating FactSet estimates. MoffettNathanson analysts pointed out the Frontier Communications acquisition’s impact, noting the expanded fiber footprint narrows the gap with AT&T. Meanwhile, CEO Dan Schulman told investors Verizon won’t be a “hunting ground” for competitors anymore. Reuters
Verizon reported adjusted earnings of $1.09 per share on $36.4 billion in revenue, according to a separate release. The Frontier deal, which closed Jan. 20, expanded Verizon’s fiber network to over 30 million homes and businesses. Unsecured debt totaled $131.1 billion at quarter-end. Looking ahead to 2026, Verizon forecast adjusted EPS between $4.90 and $4.95, alongside free cash flow of at least $21.5 billion, with capital spending projected between $16.0 billion and $16.5 billion. The company also announced an updated long-term wholesale wireless deal with Charter Communications and Comcast.
A regulatory filing revealed the board approved a quarterly dividend of $0.7075 per share, marking a 2.5% annualized rise. Verizon also greenlit a share buyback program capped at $25 billion. The company plans to repurchase at least $3 billion of stock in 2026, aiming to return roughly $55 billion to shareholders by the end of 2028, though the timeline may shift with market swings.
Friday’s jump doesn’t erase the underlying risks. Subscriber gains driven by steep promotions could slip away if rivals respond in kind. Meanwhile, heavy investment in network and fiber leaves little margin for error if churn rises again.
The next update arrives soon: investors will see if the stock maintains its gains when trading resumes Monday. Then, all eyes shift to the January jobs report on Feb. 6, which could shake up rate expectations.
