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Verizon (VZ) Down 6.2% Since Earnings Report: Can It Rebound?
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A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 6.2% in that time frame, underperforming the market.
Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to the stock's next earnings release, or is it due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.
Verizon Misses Earnings and Revenue Estimates in Q1
Verizon reported disappointing financial numbers in the first quarter of 2017 wherein both the top and the bottom line lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Quarterly GAAP net income was $3,553 million or $0.85 per share compared with $4,430 million or $1.06 per share in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $0.95 in the reported quarter, below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.98.
Quarterly total revenue decreased 7.3% year over year to $29,814 million, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $30,504 million.
Total operating expenses in the first quarter of 2017 were $22,633 million, down 6.6% year over year. Operating income came in at $7,181 million compared with $7,942 million in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted EBITDA was $11,114 million compared with $12,010 million in the prior-year quarter.
Cash Flow & Liquidity
In the first quarter of 2017, Verizon generated $1,681 million of cash from operating activities compared with $7,497 in the year-ago quarter. Free cash flow in the reported quarter was a negative $1,386 million compared with a positive $4,110 million in the prior-year quarter. At the end of the first quarter of 2017, Verizon had $4,307 million in cash and $116,546 million in long-term debts compared with $2,880 million and $108,078 million, respectively, at the end of 2016. The debt-to-capitalization ratio was 0.82 at the end of the first quarter of 2017 compared with 0.81 at the end of 2016.
Wireless Segment
Total revenue was $20,878 million, down 5.1% year over year. Service revenues dropped 6.1% to $15,778 million. Equipment revenues decreased 4.8% to $3,764 million. Other revenues totaled $1,336 million, up 7.7%.
Operating expenses decreased 2.3% to $13,802 million. Operating income declined 10.2% to $7,076 million. Quarterly operating income margin was 33.9% compared with 35.8% in the year-ago quarter. Segment EBITDA decreased 7.5% to $9,414 million. EBITDA margin was 45.1% compared with 46.2% in the prior-year quarter.
At the end of the first quarter of 2017, Verizon had 113.913 million retail subscribers, up 1.2% year over year. Of the total, retail postpaid subscriber count was 108.483 million, up 1.2%; and retail prepaid user count was 5.430 million, down 0.5%. During the reported quarter, the company lost 0.307 million postpaid customers (compared with a gain of 0.640 customers in the prior-year quarter) while prepaid customer count decreased by 0.017 million.
Quarterly retail postpaid churn rate was 1.15% compared with 0.96% in the year-ago quarter whereas total retail churn rate was 1.39% as against 1.23% in the year-ago quarter. Of the total activated phones, smartphones accounted for 94.5% compared with 92.5% in the prior-year quarter. Retail postpaid ARPA (average revenue per account) was $136.98 compared with $145.34 in the year-ago quarter.
Wireline Segment
Total revenue at the segment was $7,876 million, down 0.6% year over year. Consumer retail revenues were up 0.7% to $3,201 million. Enterprise Solutions revenues contracted 1.4% to $2,466 million. Partner Solutions revenues dropped 2.8% to $1,256 million. Business Markets revenues grossed $890 million, up 2.3%. Other revenues decreased 21.3% to $63 million.
Operating expenses decreased 5.1% to $7,583 million. Quarterly operating income was $293 million compared with an operating loss of $67 million in the year-ago quarter. Quarterly operating margin came in at 3.7% compared with an operating loss of 0.8% in the year-ago quarter. Segment EBITDA was up 18.3% to $1,785 million. EBITDA margin was 22.7% compared with 19.0% in the year-ago quarter.
At the end of first-quarter 2017, FiOS video subscriber base was 4.681 million (up 0.1% year over year), FiOS Internet subscriber count was 5.688 million (up 3.3%) and FiOS digital voice residence connections totaled 3.887 million (down 0.8%). During the quarter, Verizon lost 13,000 FiOS video subscribers and 8,000 FiOS digital voice residential connections while gaining 35,000 FiOS Internet subscribers.
High-speed Internet connection tally dropped 16.7% year over year to 1.323 million while total broadband connection number was pegged at 7.011 million, down 1.2%. Primary residence switched access connections decreased 15% to 3.095 million and Primary residence connections fell 7.6% to 6.982 million. Total retail residence voice connections declined 8% to 7.200 million and total voice connections contracted 7.8% to 13.634 million.
Outlook for 2017
Management has estimated 2017 revenues and earnings per share to be mostly in line with 2016. Consolidated capital spending for 2017 will be in the range of $16.8 billion to $17.5 billion.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
Following the release, investors have witnessed a downward trend in fresh estimates. There have been 14 revisions lower for the current quarter. While looking back an additional 30 days, we can see even even more downward momentum. There have been 15 moves down in the last two months.
At this time, the stock has a subpar Growth Score of 'D', though it is lagging a bit on the momentum front with an 'F'. However, the stock was allocated a grade of 'A' on the value side, putting it in the top 20% for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of 'C'. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
The company's stock is suitable soley for value investors based on our styles scores.
Outlook
Estimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock. The magnitude of this revision also indicates a downward shift. Notably, the stock has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We are looking for an inline return from the stock in the next few months.
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Verizon (VZ) Down 6.2% Since Earnings Report: Can It Rebound?
A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 6.2% in that time frame, underperforming the market.
Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to the stock's next earnings release, or is it due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.
Verizon Misses Earnings and Revenue Estimates in Q1
Verizon reported disappointing financial numbers in the first quarter of 2017 wherein both the top and the bottom line lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Quarterly GAAP net income was $3,553 million or $0.85 per share compared with $4,430 million or $1.06 per share in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $0.95 in the reported quarter, below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.98.
Quarterly total revenue decreased 7.3% year over year to $29,814 million, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $30,504 million.
Total operating expenses in the first quarter of 2017 were $22,633 million, down 6.6% year over year. Operating income came in at $7,181 million compared with $7,942 million in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted EBITDA was $11,114 million compared with $12,010 million in the prior-year quarter.
Cash Flow & Liquidity
In the first quarter of 2017, Verizon generated $1,681 million of cash from operating activities compared with $7,497 in the year-ago quarter. Free cash flow in the reported quarter was a negative $1,386 million compared with a positive $4,110 million in the prior-year quarter. At the end of the first quarter of 2017, Verizon had $4,307 million in cash and $116,546 million in long-term debts compared with $2,880 million and $108,078 million, respectively, at the end of 2016. The debt-to-capitalization ratio was 0.82 at the end of the first quarter of 2017 compared with 0.81 at the end of 2016.
Wireless Segment
Total revenue was $20,878 million, down 5.1% year over year. Service revenues dropped 6.1% to $15,778 million. Equipment revenues decreased 4.8% to $3,764 million. Other revenues totaled $1,336 million, up 7.7%.
Operating expenses decreased 2.3% to $13,802 million. Operating income declined 10.2% to $7,076 million. Quarterly operating income margin was 33.9% compared with 35.8% in the year-ago quarter. Segment EBITDA decreased 7.5% to $9,414 million. EBITDA margin was 45.1% compared with 46.2% in the prior-year quarter.
At the end of the first quarter of 2017, Verizon had 113.913 million retail subscribers, up 1.2% year over year. Of the total, retail postpaid subscriber count was 108.483 million, up 1.2%; and retail prepaid user count was 5.430 million, down 0.5%. During the reported quarter, the company lost 0.307 million postpaid customers (compared with a gain of 0.640 customers in the prior-year quarter) while prepaid customer count decreased by 0.017 million.
Quarterly retail postpaid churn rate was 1.15% compared with 0.96% in the year-ago quarter whereas total retail churn rate was 1.39% as against 1.23% in the year-ago quarter. Of the total activated phones, smartphones accounted for 94.5% compared with 92.5% in the prior-year quarter. Retail postpaid ARPA (average revenue per account) was $136.98 compared with $145.34 in the year-ago quarter.
Wireline Segment
Total revenue at the segment was $7,876 million, down 0.6% year over year. Consumer retail revenues were up 0.7% to $3,201 million. Enterprise Solutions revenues contracted 1.4% to $2,466 million. Partner Solutions revenues dropped 2.8% to $1,256 million. Business Markets revenues grossed $890 million, up 2.3%. Other revenues decreased 21.3% to $63 million.
Operating expenses decreased 5.1% to $7,583 million. Quarterly operating income was $293 million compared with an operating loss of $67 million in the year-ago quarter. Quarterly operating margin came in at 3.7% compared with an operating loss of 0.8% in the year-ago quarter. Segment EBITDA was up 18.3% to $1,785 million. EBITDA margin was 22.7% compared with 19.0% in the year-ago quarter.
At the end of first-quarter 2017, FiOS video subscriber base was 4.681 million (up 0.1% year over year), FiOS Internet subscriber count was 5.688 million (up 3.3%) and FiOS digital voice residence connections totaled 3.887 million (down 0.8%). During the quarter, Verizon lost 13,000 FiOS video subscribers and 8,000 FiOS digital voice residential connections while gaining 35,000 FiOS Internet subscribers.
High-speed Internet connection tally dropped 16.7% year over year to 1.323 million while total broadband connection number was pegged at 7.011 million, down 1.2%. Primary residence switched access connections decreased 15% to 3.095 million and Primary residence connections fell 7.6% to 6.982 million. Total retail residence voice connections declined 8% to 7.200 million and total voice connections contracted 7.8% to 13.634 million.
Outlook for 2017
Management has estimated 2017 revenues and earnings per share to be mostly in line with 2016. Consolidated capital spending for 2017 will be in the range of $16.8 billion to $17.5 billion.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
Following the release, investors have witnessed a downward trend in fresh estimates. There have been 14 revisions lower for the current quarter. While looking back an additional 30 days, we can see even even more downward momentum. There have been 15 moves down in the last two months.
Verizon Communications Inc. Price and Consensus
Verizon Communications Inc. Price and Consensus | Verizon Communications Inc. Quote
VGM Scores
At this time, the stock has a subpar Growth Score of 'D', though it is lagging a bit on the momentum front with an 'F'. However, the stock was allocated a grade of 'A' on the value side, putting it in the top 20% for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of 'C'. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
The company's stock is suitable soley for value investors based on our styles scores.
Outlook
Estimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock. The magnitude of this revision also indicates a downward shift. Notably, the stock has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We are looking for an inline return from the stock in the next few months.