NEW YORK, Jan 4, 2026, 19:38 ET — Market closed
- Verizon shares ended the first U.S. session of 2026 lower as bond yields climbed.
- The stock’s mid-January ex-dividend date and key U.S. data releases sit in the near-term crosshairs.
- Verizon’s fourth-quarter report later this month is the next company catalyst.
Verizon stock slipped on Friday, the first U.S. trading day of 2026, as a rise in Treasury yields dulled appetite for high-dividend telecom shares. The stock closed down 0.5% at $40.52. The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield rose 3.8 basis points — 0.038 percentage point — to 4.191%.
That matters for Verizon because investors often treat the stock as an income play, comparing its payout to what they can earn in government bonds. Verizon’s most recent quarterly dividend is $0.69 a share; the stock goes ex-dividend on Jan. 12, meaning buyers after that date do not receive the next payout, which is due Feb. 2.
Markets have little time to settle in. Monthly U.S. jobs data is due on Jan. 9, followed by the consumer price index on Jan. 13, two reports that can swing rate expectations quickly. “The market is looking for direction,” said Matthew Maley, chief market strategist at Miller Tabak. Reuters
On charts, Verizon is again circling the $40 level, a round-number marker that can attract buyers and stop-loss selling. If yields keep pushing higher, traders will watch whether the stock retests last year’s lows or stabilizes back toward the middle of its recent range.
Fundamentally, investors are focused on whether Verizon can balance subscriber gains with profitability. Net customer adds, churn — the share of customers leaving — and wireless service revenue are the line items that tend to set the tone for the stock after earnings.
The promotional backdrop remains active. Verizon has carried year-end incentives into early January, including offers that bundle gift cards and device discounts with new lines on its Unlimited plans, according to AndroidCentral.
That is where competitive comparisons show up quickly. AT&T and T-Mobile US can match pricing within days, and investors tend to treat promotions as a leading indicator for margins in the next quarter.
The dividend story still anchors the long-term bull case, but the market wants proof in cash. Free cash flow — cash left after capital spending — is what pays the dividend and supports debt reduction, and any hint that the cushion is shrinking can overshadow the yield.
The near-term setup cuts both ways. A stronger-than-expected jobs report or a sticky inflation print could lift yields again and pressure rate-sensitive stocks, while richer promotions can buy customers at the cost of profitability.
Verizon is scheduled to report fourth-quarter 2025 earnings on Friday, Jan. 30, with a webcast beginning at 8:00 a.m. ET, the company said.
