09:40 AM EDT, 07/21/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Verizon Communications ( VZ ) lifted the lower end of its full-year earnings growth outlook on Monday as the telecommunications giant reported better-than-expected second-quarter results, while its postpaid phone subscribers unexpectedly declined during the three-month period.

The company now anticipates per-share adjusted earnings to rise by 1% to 3% for 2025, reflecting an upward revision at the low end from an earlier forecast that had projected no growth. The current consensus on FactSet is for non-GAAP EPS of $4.67. The stock gained 3% in Monday trading.

"Our strong operational execution in the first half of the year, coupled with favorable tax reform, gives us the confidence to increase our guidance for the full year," Chief Financial Officer Tony Skiadas said during an earnings call, according to a FactSet transcript. "We are well positioned to deliver on our improved outlook in the second half of the year."

Verizon continues to project wireless service revenue growth of 2% to 2.8% for the current year.

For the June quarter, the firm's adjusted EPS improved to $1.22 from $1.15 the year before, ahead of the Street's view of $1.19. Operating revenue inclined 5.2% to $34.5 billion, topping the average analyst estimate for $33.74 billion.

However, Verizon lost 9,000 net retail postpaid phone subscribers in the quarter, compared with 26,000 additions in the prior-year period. The average consensus among eight analysts on FactSet was for a gain of 13,000 subscribers. In the previous quarter, Verizon lost 289,000 postpaid phone subscribers.

"As expected, we saw the residual effects of our first-quarter pricing actions impact our second-quarter consumer postpaid phone churn," Skiadas said on the call. "Additionally, we continue to see elevated competitor promotional activity as a result."

Wireless service revenue increased 2.2% to $20.95 billion. "We realized benefits from recent pricing actions, expansion in fixed wireless access, and increased revenue from perks and other adjacent services," according to Skiadas. Service revenue and other grew to $28.25 billion from $27.8 billion year over year.

Broadband net additions totaled 293,000, down from 391,000 a year earlier and lower than the 339,000 recorded in the previous three-month period, according to an earnings presentation. The company ended the quarter with 12.9 million broadband subscribers, representing annual growth of 12%. Skiadas told analysts that the company sees "strong demand" for its fiber and fixed wireless access offerings.

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