# Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ)

> Verizon sells wireless phone service, home internet and business communications over networks it operates.

- Exchange: NYSE · Sector: Communication Services · Industry: Telecom Services
- Headquarters: New York City, New York
- Founded: 2000
- Employees: 89,900 (December 31, 2025)
- SEC CIK: 0000732712 ([filings on EDGAR](https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?action=getcompany&CIK=0000732712))
- Full page: https://inspectstocks.com/stocks/vz
- Data as of: price 2026-09-28; newest filing used 2026-07-31; latest fiscal period ended 2026-06-30

## Grade

**C+** on the balance-sheet rubric used for lenders, 3 of 5 checks passed.

| Check | Result | Now | Before |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Profitable | passed | $16.2B |  |
| Earnings growing overall | failed | $16.2B | $21B |
| Earnings growing recently | failed | $16.2B | $17.2B |
| Earns well on its assets | passed | 3.9% |  |
| Book value per share growing | passed | $24.99 | $21.99 |

Business quality (the + / − mark): 6 of 6 checks passed.

| Check | Result | Now | Before |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Profitable | passed | 11.6% |  |
| Healthy profit margin | passed | 11.6% |  |
| Strong operating margin | passed | 20.5% |  |
| Good return on equity | passed | 15.3% |  |
| Debt under control | passed | 1.75 |  |
| Turns sales into cash | passed | 12.9% |  |

How the grade works: the letter counts failed checks (none → A, one → B, two → C, three → D, four or more → F). It is built from SEC filings only — the share price never enters it — and describes the business, not whether the stock is worth buying.

## Key figures

In US dollars, as filed.

| Measure | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Revenue, trailing twelve months | $138.9B |
| Net income, trailing twelve months | $16.2B |
| Net margin | 11.6% |
| Operating margin | 20.5% |
| Return on equity | 15.3% |
| Debt to equity | 1.75 |
| Diluted EPS, trailing twelve months | $3.84 |
| Share price | $46.69 |
| Market value | $194B |
| Price / earnings | 12.2x |
| Price / sales | 1.4x |

## What the business does

Verizon connects consumers, businesses, government agencies and other carriers through mobile phone service, home internet, voice and video services. It operates cellular, fiber-optic and older copper networks, and sells wireless equipment and services for business communications, security and connected devices.

### How it makes money

- **Consumer communications** (78.6% (quarter ended June 30, 2026)) — Consumers pay recurring charges for wireless phone plans and home internet, including fiber and fixed wireless service; some also pay for video, voice and related services. This share is calculated from the two reportable segments’ revenues and excludes corporate items and eliminations.
- **Business communications** (21.4% (quarter ended June 30, 2026)) — Businesses, government customers and other carriers pay for wireless and wired connectivity, business networking, security, managed network services and related products. This share is calculated from the two reportable segments’ revenues and excludes corporate items and eliminations.

### Products

- **Wireless phone plans** — Postpaid service billed regularly and prepaid service paid for in advance, for phones and other connected devices.
- **Home internet and fixed services** — Internet service over fiber, copper or fixed wireless, plus home voice and video services in areas where available.
- **Wireless equipment** — Smartphones, tablets, smart watches and other devices that connect to wireless networks; customers may pay for some devices in installments.
- **Business communications and managed services** — Wireless and wired connections, business networking, security, voice and services that help businesses manage their communications networks.
- **Wholesale network access** — Wireless network access sold to mobile virtual network operators, which resell service to their own customers.
- **Simplicity and Verizon One** — Simplicity is a simplified wireless plan; Verizon One combines wireless service and home broadband on one bill.

### Customers

- Consumers buy wireless service directly from Verizon, through stores and online, or through retailers and sales agents; plans may be billed regularly or prepaid.
- Households buy internet, video and voice service from Verizon where its fiber, copper or fixed wireless networks are available.
- Businesses and government agencies buy wireless service, broadband, network connections, security and managed communications services through business sales teams and resellers.
- Other wireless and wired carriers, including mobile virtual network operators, buy network access or wholesale communications services and use them to serve their own customers.

### Competitors

- AT&T Inc. (T) — Wireless service, home and business broadband, and communications services for businesses and government customers.
- T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS) — Wireless phone service and fixed wireless home internet.
- Comcast Corporation (CMCSA) — Home broadband and bundles that include wireless service.
- Charter Communications, Inc. (CHTR) — Home broadband and bundles that include wireless service.

### What it depends on

- Wireless service depends on Federal Communications Commission spectrum licenses, which have terms and may require renewal or additional licenses to meet demand.
- Operating and expanding wireless and wired networks requires ongoing spending on fiber, network equipment, spectrum and information technology systems.
- Verizon relies on suppliers and vendors for equipment and services needed to operate its networks and business systems.
- Some business wholesale revenue comes from a few large telecommunications companies, many of which also compete with Verizon.

### What could go wrong

- Wireless, broadband and business communications competitors use pricing, promotions, bundles and network investment to win customers; changing customer preferences or technology may also reduce demand for Verizon services.
- A cyberattack, network failure or other disruption could interrupt phone, internet or business services and cause financial, operational or reputational harm.
- Lead-sheathed copper cables in Verizon’s older network have prompted allegations that could bring litigation, government scrutiny, cleanup or compliance costs, and disruption to network operations.

## More on this company

- [Overview](https://inspectstocks.com/stocks/vz)
- [Financial statements](https://inspectstocks.com/stocks/vz/financials)
- [Competitors](https://inspectstocks.com/stocks/vz/peers)
- [Earnings](https://inspectstocks.com/stocks/vz/earnings)

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Source: InspectStocks, built from the company’s own SEC filings. This describes a business — it is not investment advice and not a recommendation to buy or sell anything.