Verizon’s second quarter was met with a positive market reaction, despite revenue coming in below Wall Street expectations. Management credited improved customer additions and reduced churn for the company’s solid operational performance. CEO Dan Schulman highlighted that postpaid phone net additions reached the highest level in five years and attributed the improvement to Verizon’s updated customer value proposition and disciplined cost management. The company also noted early progress in cross-selling broadband and mobility services, with Schulman stating, “Our net adds for Q2 were over 550,000, and we are now growing both accounts and lines.”

Is now the time to buy VZ? Find out in our full research report (it’s free for active Edge members).

While we enjoy listening to the management’s commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls is the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention.

Our Top 5 Analyst Questions From Verizon’s Q2 Earnings Call

• Sean Diffley (Morgan Stanley) asked about the new value proposition’s competitive impact and which customer cohorts are responding. CEO Dan Schulman noted stronger account growth, especially among youth and diverse segments, emphasizing that shifting away from subsidies has structurally improved Verizon’s model.
• Michael Rollins (Citi) questioned the trade-off between removing fees and revenue growth, as well as details on the AI fiber opportunity. CFO Tony Skiadas described service revenue growth drivers as volume, perks, and ARPA accretion, while Schulman highlighted the high demand for both dark and lit fiber among hyperscalers.
• John Hodulik (UBS) inquired about fixed wireless growth sustainability and satellite competition. Schulman responded that cross-selling and a shift toward fiber are driving ARPA and retention, while satellite remains a limited threat to Verizon’s urban and suburban markets.
• Michael Ng (Analyst) sought clarity on whether accelerating revenue trends in Q4 set a baseline for 2027 growth. Schulman indicated that second-half momentum is expected to carry into next year, with additional benefit from AI Connect revenues and lower promo amortization headwinds.
• No analyst questions on management changes were raised during the call, despite the extension of CEO Dan Schulman’s contract being announced.

Catalysts in Upcoming Quarters

Going forward, the StockStory team will monitor (1) the pace of adoption and effectiveness of Verizon’s new loyalty and Simplicity programs, (2) the ramp-up of revenue from AI infrastructure partnerships and further contract announcements, and (3) ongoing progress in cost transformation efforts, particularly integration with Frontier and realization of targeted synergies. Execution in these areas will be critical for sustaining growth and margin improvements.

Verizon currently trades at $46.16, up from $43.82 just before the earnings. In the wake of this quarter, is it a buy or sell? See for yourself in our full research report (it’s free).

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