Verizon Communications (VZ) raised its full-year earnings outlook on Friday amid phone subscriber gains in the second quarter, while Charter Communications (CHTR) reported a decline in broadband customers due to competitive pressures.
Verizon now forecasts adjusted per-share earnings of $4.99 to $5.04 for 2026, above the FactSet-polled consensus of $4.98. It previously set a guidance range of $4.95 to $4.99.
Verizon's adjusted EPS for the June quarter rose to $1.30 per from $1.22 a year earlier, topping the consensus of $1.28. Operating revenue fell 0.7% to $34.25 billion, missing the Street's $35.16 billion estimate, as equipment revenue plunged nearly 20%.
The company added 184,000 retail postpaid phone subscribers during the quarter, compared with the consensus estimate of 106,000 net additions. Verizon lost 9,000 subscribers in the prior-year period. Its consumer postpaid phone net adds were the best in the last five years, Verizon said.
Shares of Verizon were up 3% in Friday trade, taking year-to-date gains to nearly 11%.
Verizon continues to expect this year's postpaid phone net adds in the upper half of its guidance range of 750,000 to 1 million, which it said would be about two to three times last year's additions. Analysts expect subscribers to grow by 967,100 in 2026.
Earlier this week, AT&T (T) reported second-quarter earnings that beat Wall Street's estimates as stronger-than-expected growth in wireless subscribers boosted revenue. T-Mobile US (TMUS) second-quarter earnings unexpectedly increased year over year, though revenue fell short of market estimates as postpaid net account additions declined annually.
Separately, Charter said its residential Internet customers dropped by a net 166,000, more than the Street's view for a loss of 123,00 subscribers.
"We've been facing top of the funnel softness," Charter Chief Financial Officer Jessica Fischer said on an earnings call, according to a FactSet transcript. "We continue to see expanded fixed wireless competition versus a year ago, including lower sales from low-income consumers, ongoing mobile substitution and fiber overlap growth at a rate similar to prior quarters, with aggressive promotions by certain competitors."
Residential and small business video customers declined by a combined 21,000, including 11,000 in the residential segment. The company added 406,000 total mobile lines, compared with 491,000 additions during the second quarter of 2025.
Charter's June-quarter revenue fell 1.7% annually to $13.53 billion, while analysts expected $13.51 billion. EPS rose to $10.66 from $9.18 a year earlier.
Shares of Charter declined 4.1% intraday. The stock has slid 42% so far this year.
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