Verizon Missed Revenue Estimates in Q4 2018

Verizon Communications (VZ) reported fourth-quarter consolidated revenues of $34.3 billion, well below the Wall Street analyst consensus estimate of $34.4 billion for the fourth quarter. Its top-line grew by ~1.0% YoY. In the fourth quarter of 2017, Verizon’s total revenues stood at $34.0 billion.

However, excluding the impact of the new revenue recognition accounting standard, the company’s consolidated revenues increased by ~0.5% YoY on a comparable basis.

Verizon’s wireless revenue increased by ~2.7% YoY to reach $24.4 billion in the fourth quarter. However, revenues for the wireline division fell ~3.2% YoY to reach $7.4 billion.

In the fourth quarter, Verizon gained a total of 653,000 postpaid phone net subscribers as compared to 431,000 postpaid phone net customer additions in the fourth quarter of 2017. Also, Verizon gained net of 54,000 Fios Internet subscribers in the fourth quarter, but the company saw a net loss of 46,000 Fios video subscribers.

In comparison, AT&T’s (T) total revenue increased by ~15.2% YoY to reach $48.0 billion in the quarter ended December 31, while Sprint’s (S) total revenue grew by ~4.4% YoY to reach $8.6 billion. T-Mobile (TMUS) has not yet reported its financial results. Wall Street expects T-Mobile’s total revenue to rise ~5.8% YoY to reach $11.4 billion.