Verizon Comms Stock Price, News & Analysis

Vertical Bridge REIT has completed its previously announced transaction with Verizon (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ), acquiring exclusive rights to lease, operate, and manage over 6,300 wireless communications towers across all 50 states for approximately $3.3 billion. The deal includes certain commercial benefits and involves under-tenanted towers, many in hard-to-site locations. This transaction positions Vertical Bridge to expand vertical real estate solutions to its customers and strengthens its status as the largest private owner and operator of communications infrastructure in the United States.

Verizon Frontline continues its 22-year partnership with NORAD for the annual Santa tracking initiative. The company provides enhanced network solutions, including C-Band spectrum for 5G connectivity and redundant Wi-Fi, to support NORAD's toll-free hotline during Christmas Eve. The operation utilizes advanced equipment like Cradlepoint routers, Wi-Fi jetpacks, and LEO solutions, alongside an Interactive Voice Response system managing over 130,000 calls. Nearly 900 in-person and 200 virtual volunteers, including Verizon employees and military personnel, participate in the initiative. The public can track Santa starting December 24 at 6 a.m. EST via the hotline (1-877-446-6723), website (noradsanta.org), or mobile app.

The Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team demonstrated significant emergency response support throughout 2024, deploying nearly 900 times and assisting over 800 public safety agencies across the United States. The team responded to more than 1,500 support requests, providing over 10,000 Verizon Frontline devices and solutions.

Key response efforts included:

• Wildfire Response: Delivered nearly 2,000 solutions across multiple states
• Hurricane Response: Supported during Hurricanes Helene, Milton, and Beryl
• Tornado Response: Assisted in 10 states with over 300 solutions deployed

The team also supported agencies during ransomware attacks, training exercises, major public events, and both national political conventions. Additionally, Verizon Frontline established a partnership with NOAA to develop new strategies for deploying uncrewed aircraft systems for storm damage assessment.

Verizon has announced a new collaboration with NVIDIA to enable AI applications on Verizon's 5G private networks with Mobile Edge Compute (MEC). The solution combines Verizon's secure 5G private network and MEC with NVIDIA AI Enterprise software platform and NVIDIA NIM microservices.

The platform is designed to be plug & play, supporting multi-tenancy and various AI applications including Generative AI, Computer Vision, AR/VR/XR, and IoT. Key benefits include ultra-low latency, high bandwidth, enhanced security, and scalability. Demonstrations will begin in early 2025.

According to cited studies, 75% of business executives consider AI a business advantage, and 50% of companies have adopted AI in at least one business function. The solution is expected to be available for demonstrations in February.

Verizon has launched Enhanced Video Calling, powered by network slicing technology, initially available on iPhone. This feature intelligently manages data from video communication apps like Facetime, WhatsApp, and Zoom to provide improved user experience. Network slicing uses virtualized infrastructure to dynamically match network performance to specific application requirements.

The service is available in select 5G Ultra Wideband coverage areas at no additional cost with the Unlimited Ultimate plan or Business Unlimited Pro 5G Plan, requiring iPhone14 or newer and iOS 18.2. The technology aims to deliver clear video calls during congestion and consistent real-time collaboration with low latency, particularly benefiting business communications and critical scenarios.

Verizon has released a new study revealing changing connectivity demands at concerts and music festivals. The research shows that 85% of concertgoers expect cell service for calls and texts, while 81% want to share photos or videos. Poor cell service is a major stress factor for 75% of attendees, surpassing the fear of missing favorite songs (63%).

The study highlights a significant shift in concert behavior, with attendees becoming content creators who prioritize uploading and sharing content in real-time. Verizon's Ultra Wideband network is available in most major venues, supporting this increased demand. The company reports that upload traffic now exceeds download traffic at live music events, particularly during major concerts like Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour.

Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) announced the expiration and final results of its six separate tender offers to purchase debt securities. The offers expired on December 9, 2024. The total principal amount of Securities accepted for purchase by Verizon on both the Original Early Participation Date and Extended Early Participation Date is $3,313,991,000.

The company will settle all securities validly tendered after the Original Early Participation Date and at or prior to the Expiration Date on December 11, 2024. The Total Consideration includes an early participation payment of $50 per $1,000 principal amount of Securities, plus applicable accrued but unpaid interest.

Verizon Communications (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) has appointed Daniel H. Schulman as lead director, effective immediately. Schulman, who has served on Verizon's Board since 2018 and is the former President and CEO of PayPal Holdings, succeeds Clarence Otis, Jr., who held the position since 2019 and will remain an independent director.

Schulman brings extensive experience in driving revenue growth, expanding market share, and creating shareholder value through innovation and customer-centric solutions. During his tenure as PayPal CEO, he led the company's transformation in digital payments. The Verizon Board currently comprises 11 directors, with 10 being independent members.

Verizon (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) has declared a quarterly dividend of 67.75 cents per share, maintaining the same rate as the previous quarter. The dividend will be paid on February 3, 2025, to shareholders of record as of January 10, 2025. With approximately 4.2 billion shares outstanding, Verizon has distributed $8.4 billion in cash dividends over the last three quarters.

CEO Hans Vestberg highlighted the company's track record of 18 consecutive years of dividend increases, attributing this consistency to Verizon's position as the largest consumer wireless base in the U.S., leading share in business, and strong cash flow. The company reported revenues of $134.0 billion in 2023.