Why Verizon Stock Climbed Today

Verizon Communications climbed 5.72% following second-quarter results that beat on both subscriber growth and cash generation. The telecom added 184,000 postpaid phone customers and 348,000 broadband accounts, signaling strength in its core wireless and fiber businesses.

The stock's move came as CEO Dan Schulman highlighted artificial intelligence as a new revenue driver. Verizon inked a dark fiber deal worth more than $1 billion with Google to connect AI data centers, and Schulman said the company expects to close multiple billion-dollar AI-related contracts by year-end. He described AI as "fundamentally reshaping Verizon's growth trajectory."

Adjusted earnings per share rose 6.6% year-over-year, while free cash flow surged 24.4%. The cash flow jump matters for a dividend stalwart carrying substantial debt from past spectrum auctions.

The Google partnership marks Verizon's clearest play yet into infrastructure supporting the AI buildout, a theme that has driven recent rallies in fiber and tower stocks.