Verizon Sees Major Progress in Turnaround Efforts
Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) has made significant strides in its turnaround efforts, according to CEO Dan Schulman, who spoke at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference 2026.
Schulman emphasized that the company is shifting from a defensive, engineering-led culture to a more customer-focused and results-driven model. This change has led to improved growth and stronger cash generation, with adjusted earnings per share expected to rise 6% to 7% in 2026, and free cash flow anticipated to grow 9% to 10%. Postpaid phone net additions are also expected to reach the top end of guidance, between 750,000 and 1 million.
Schulman attributed the company's improved subscriber trends to its new approach to competition. Consumer postpaid phone net additions in Q2 were the best in at least three years, and full-year postpaid phone net additions are guided to 750,000 to 1 million, with Verizon expecting to reach the top end of that range.
The company is also seeing benefits from its new Simplicity Plan, which targets the one- to two-line value segment. This plan separates mobile pricing from device financing and removes subsidies from the core value proposition. The plan drove an immediate increase in net adds and continued to perform well through the quarter.