One Telecom Giant Raised Its Dividend for the 19th Year While Its Rival Splurged on a Massive Spectrum Deal

"Verizon posted $33.82B in revenue, missing estimates of $35.31B but growing 1.5% year-over-year. Wireless service revenue climbed 2.1% to $21.0B, driven by pricing power. Equipment revenue jumped 5.2% to $5.6B as device upgrade cycles accelerated. Net income surged to $5.06B from $3.41B a year earlier. New CEO Dan Schulman emphasized a culture shift toward customer retention, signaling Verizon will prioritize quality over aggressive acquisition."

"AT&T delivered $30.70B in revenue, slightly below the $30.89B estimate, with 1.6% growth. Mobility service revenue rose 2.3% to $16.9B, but fiber broadband surged 16.8% to $2.2B. CEO John Stankey highlighted convergence success: 41% of fiber households now bundle AT&T Mobility service, underscoring the strategy to lock customers into multi-product ecosystems. Net income hit $9.7B, though $9.3B came from the DIRECTV sale. Free cash flow reached $4.9B, and AT&T repurchased $1.5B in shares while announcing a $23B spectrum acquisition from EchoStar to bolster 5G capacity."

Verizon reported $33.82 billion in revenue, up 1.5% year-over-year, with wireless service revenue rising 2.1% to $21.0 billion and equipment revenue increasing 5.2% to $5.6 billion. Net income grew to $5.06 billion. New CEO Dan Schulman emphasized customer retention and prioritizing network quality over aggressive acquisition. Verizon raised its dividend for the 19th consecutive year and projected wireless service revenue and adjusted EBITDA growth with free cash flow around $19.5–$20.5 billion. AT&T reported $30.70 billion in revenue, with mobility revenue up 2.3% and fiber broadband revenue up 16.8% to $2.2 billion. Net income was $9.7 billion, reflecting the DIRECTV sale. AT&T repurchased $1.5 billion in shares and announced a $23 billion spectrum purchase from EchoStar to expand 5G capacity and drive convergence through bundling.

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