Is Verizon the Year's Best Telecom Stock?

Verizon Communications posted 184,000 postpaid net phone additions under new CEO Dan Schulman, beating quarterly expectations and driving the stock up more than 25% in 2026. The turnaround marks a sharp contrast to rivals T-Mobile and AT&T, positioning VZ as a potential sector leader this year.

The company's acquisition of Frontier Communications expanded fiber broadband connections by 43% year-over-year, diversifying revenue beyond wireless. Management is targeting $5 billion in cost cuts, which has already begun to show up in expanding EBITDA and margins.

Schulman's operational focus—adding subscribers while slashing expenses—has delivered both top-line growth and margin expansion, a combination that eluded Verizon in recent years. The fiber buildout via Frontier adds a durable growth avenue in broadband, a segment where cable and telecom players continue to battle for share.

AT&T and T-Mobile have each posted solid quarters, but neither has matched Verizon's stock performance year-to-date. The 25%-plus gain reflects investor confidence in the execution of the cost-cutting plan and the Frontier integration.