Let's embark on a journey to understand Verizon's financial performance! It's not just about a single number; it's about how that number is arrived at, and what it truly signifies. Are you ready to dive into the world of corporate finance and unravel the mystery of Verizon's earnings? Great, let's get started!
How Much Did Verizon Make Last Year? A Comprehensive Financial Breakdown
Understanding a company's financial performance involves looking beyond a single "profit" figure. We need to explore concepts like revenue, which is the total money generated, and net income, which is the actual profit left after all expenses. For Verizon, "last year" could refer to their most recently completed fiscal year, which would be 2024.
Step 1: Defining "Last Year" for Financial Reporting
When we talk about "last year" in the context of corporate financials, it's crucial to specify the period. Companies generally report their performance on a fiscal year basis, which often aligns with the calendar year (January 1st to December 31st). Since we are in July 2025, the most relevant "last year" for full annual figures is Fiscal Year 2024.
Why is this important? Because financial data can be reported quarterly (every three months) or annually. To get a complete picture, we need the full annual report.
Step 2: Unveiling Verizon's Total Revenue for Last Year (2024)
Revenue is the top line of a company's income statement. It represents the total amount of money a company generates from its sales of goods or services before any expenses are deducted. Think of it as the total pie.
For the full fiscal year 2024, Verizon reported a total operating revenue of approximately $134.8 billion.
Sub-heading: A Closer Look at Revenue Sources
Verizon's revenue isn't from a single source. It's a massive telecommunications company, and its income streams are diverse.
Verizon Consumer Group: This is their largest segment, bringing in the bulk of their revenue. In 2024, it generated roughly $102.90 billion. This primarily comes from wireless service plans, equipment sales (phones, tablets, etc.), and Fios internet services for individual consumers.
Verizon Business Group: This segment serves businesses, from small and medium enterprises to large corporations. In 2024, it contributed about $29.53 billion. This includes wireless services, wireline services, and enterprise solutions.
Corporate And Other: This segment accounts for a smaller portion of their revenue, around $2.61 billion in 2024, and includes various other corporate activities and adjustments.
Understanding these segments helps you see where Verizon's financial strength lies and how different parts of its business are performing.
Step 3: Determining Verizon's Net Income (Profit) for Last Year (2024)
While revenue is important, net income is arguably the most critical figure for understanding how much a company actually made. Net income, often referred to as "the bottom line," is what's left after all expenses, including operating costs, interest, and taxes, have been deducted from the revenue. It's the profit that can either be reinvested in the company or paid out to shareholders as dividends.
For the full fiscal year 2024, Verizon's annual net income was approximately $17.506 billion.
Sub-heading: Comparing 2024 Net Income with Previous Years
It's helpful to see how this figure compares to prior years to understand the trend in Verizon's profitability.
In 2023, Verizon's net income was $11.614 billion.
In 2022, Verizon's net income was $21.256 billion.
As you can see, Verizon's net income in 2024 saw a significant 50.73% increase compared to 2023, indicating a strong rebound in profitability after a decline in 2023.
Step 4: Beyond the Basics – Other Key Financial Metrics
While revenue and net income are fundamental, other financial metrics provide a more holistic view of Verizon's financial health.
Sub-heading: Earnings Per Share (EPS)
Earnings Per Share (EPS) is a widely used metric that indicates how much profit a company makes for each outstanding share of its stock. It's a direct measure of a company's profitability from a shareholder's perspective.
For full-year 2024, Verizon's earnings per share (EPS) were $4.14.
For full-year 2023, it was $2.75.
This increase in EPS from 2023 to 2024 is a positive sign for investors.
Sub-heading: Free Cash Flow (FCF)
Free Cash Flow (FCF) is the cash a company generates after accounting for cash outflows to support its operations and maintain its capital assets. It's the cash available to repay debt, pay dividends, repurchase shares, or make acquisitions.
For full-year 2024, Verizon's free cash flow was approximately $19.8 billion.
For full-year 2023, it was $18.7 billion.
The increase in FCF signifies that Verizon generated more cash in 2024 after covering its necessary expenditures, which is a very healthy financial indicator.
Sub-heading: Operating Income
Operating income represents the profit generated from a company's core operations, before accounting for interest and taxes. It gives insight into the efficiency of their primary business.
In 2024, Verizon's operating income was approximately $28.69 billion.
In 2023, it was $22.88 billion.
The rise in operating income from 2023 to 2024 suggests improved operational efficiency and profitability from their core telecommunications services.
Step 5: Where to Find This Information (and Why it Matters)
All the financial data discussed above comes from Verizon's official financial reports, primarily their annual reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), often referred to as 10-K filings. These reports are publicly available and are the most reliable source for a company's financial performance.
Why is this important for you? Because relying on unofficial sources can lead to misinformation. Always check the company's investor relations website or the SEC's EDGAR database for accurate and up-to-date financial statements.
Related FAQ Questions
Here are 10 related FAQ questions, starting with "How to," along with their quick answers:
How to access Verizon's official financial reports?
You can access Verizon's official financial reports, such as their annual 10-K filings and quarterly 10-Q filings, directly from the investor relations section of their official website or through the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) EDGAR database.
How to differentiate between revenue and net income?
Revenue is the total money a company generates from its sales before any expenses are deducted. Net income is the company's actual profit after all operating expenses, interest, and taxes have been subtracted from the revenue.
How to interpret Earnings Per Share (EPS)?
EPS tells you how much profit a company made for each outstanding share of its stock. A higher EPS generally indicates greater profitability per share, which is often seen as a positive sign by investors.
How to understand Free Cash Flow (FCF) and its importance?
FCF is the cash a company generates after paying for its operations and capital expenditures. It's important because it shows the cash available for discretionary uses like paying dividends, buying back shares, or reducing debt. A healthy FCF indicates financial flexibility.
How to analyze Verizon's financial health beyond just revenue and net income?
Beyond revenue and net income, analyze metrics like debt-to-equity ratio (how much debt versus equity), gross profit margin (profit from sales after cost of goods), and return on equity (ROE) (how efficiently a company uses shareholder investments to generate profit).
How to compare Verizon's financial performance with its competitors?
To compare, find the same financial metrics (revenue, net income, EPS, etc.) for Verizon's key competitors (e.g., AT&T, T-Mobile). Then, analyze these figures relative to each company's size and market share to get a meaningful comparison.
How to identify trends in Verizon's financial performance over several years?
Look at Verizon's annual revenue and net income figures over at least three to five consecutive years. Plotting these on a graph can visually reveal upward, downward, or stable trends, helping you understand their long-term trajectory.
How to understand the impact of capital expenditures on Verizon's financials?
Capital expenditures (CapEx) are investments in physical assets like network infrastructure. These reduce free cash flow in the short term but are crucial for long-term growth and competitiveness, as they enable network expansion and technological upgrades.
How to find Verizon's dividend information?
Verizon's dividend information, including historical dividend payments and upcoming dividend announcements, can be found in the investor relations section of their website under "Dividends" or "Shareholder Information."
How to determine if Verizon is a good investment based on its financials?
This is complex! While strong financials (consistent revenue, rising net income, healthy FCF) are positive signs, a good investment also depends on factors like market conditions, industry outlook, growth strategies, debt levels, and your personal investment goals and risk tolerance. It's best to consult a financial advisor.
