Leadership Change and Analyst Downgrade Might Change the Case for Investing in Verizon Com

October 27, 2025

  • Verizon Communications recently underwent a leadership change with the appointment of Dan Schulman as CEO, coinciding with an analyst downgrade and heightened concerns about its ability to defend its market share amid subscriber losses and increased competition.

  • This shift in leadership and strategy uncertainty has prompted renewed scrutiny of Verizon’s long-term outlook, as the company faces questions about execution during a key period of broadband and 5G network expansion.

  • We’ll examine how management uncertainty may impact Verizon’s investment narrative and influence expectations for its broadband and 5G growth strategy.

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For investors to be comfortable owning Verizon today, they need to believe the company can stabilize and grow its subscriber base while executing on large-scale broadband and 5G investments despite heightened competitive pressure. The appointment of Dan Schulman as CEO, paired with an analyst downgrade, adds uncertainty around near-term execution and the company’s ability to defend market share, making management’s clarity and operational delivery a crucial short-term catalyst. At the same time, persistent elevated churn remains a material risk that could impact future earnings if not addressed.

Of the recent company updates, the agreement with Tillman Global Holdings and Eaton Fiber stands out. This deal quickly expands Verizon’s fiber footprint into new markets, giving the company full retail exclusivity for residential services during the initial buildout, potentially supporting one of its key growth catalysts by enhancing access to premium broadband and boosting future subscriber additions.

However, against these opportunities, investors should not overlook that…

Read the full narrative on Verizon Communications (it’s free!)

Verizon Communications’ narrative projects $144.5 billion in revenue and $22.1 billion in earnings by 2028. This requires 1.8% yearly revenue growth and an increase of $3.9 billion in earnings from the current $18.2 billion.

Uncover how Verizon Communications’ forecasts yield a $48.61 fair value, a 24% upside to its current price.

VZ Community Fair Values as at Oct 2025
VZ Community Fair Values as at Oct 2025

Seventeen Simply Wall St Community members estimate Verizon’s fair value between US$42.83 and US$105.97 per share. While some expect strong broadband-driven growth, concerns about subscriber churn continue to shape the wider debate over Verizon’s outlook.

Explore 17 other fair value estimates on Verizon Communications – why the stock might be worth over 2x more than the current price!

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include VZ.

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