Understanding the financial performance of a giant like Verizon can seem daunting, but it's a fascinating deep dive into the world of telecommunications. If you've ever wondered how a company that provides your phone service and internet connectivity translates that into billions of dollars, you're in the right place! We're going to break down Verizon's recent financial performance, specifically focusing on last year's earnings.
Step 1: Let's Get Curious! Why Does Verizon's Money Matter?
Before we dive into the numbers, let's ask ourselves: why should we care how much money Verizon made? It's not just about curiosity!
For Investors: If you own Verizon stock or are thinking of investing, these numbers are crucial. They tell you about the company's health and potential for growth.
For Customers: A financially strong Verizon means more investment in network infrastructure, better service, and potentially new innovations for you, the customer.
For Competitors: Rivals like AT&T and T-Mobile closely watch Verizon's performance to gauge market trends and strategize their own moves.
For the Economy: Large companies like Verizon contribute significantly to the economy through job creation, taxes, and their overall market activity.
So, are you ready to uncover the financial story of one of the world's largest telecom companies? Let's go!
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| How Much Money Did Verizon Make Last Year |
Step 2: Pinpointing "Last Year" for Verizon's Financials
When we talk about "last year," for a company like Verizon, it generally refers to their most recently completed fiscal year. Since it's currently July 2025, Verizon's last completed fiscal year would be 2024. Companies typically release their annual results early in the following year. Verizon generally releases its full-year results for the previous year in January or February.
Step 3: Unveiling Verizon's 2024 Revenue
Tip: Focus on sections most relevant to you.
Revenue is the total amount of money a company brings in from its sales of goods and services before any expenses are deducted. It's the top line of their financial statements.
Sub-heading 3.1: The Big Number: Total Operating Revenue
For the full year 2024, Verizon reported a total operating revenue of $134.8 billion. This represents a slight increase of 0.6% compared to their full-year 2023 revenue of $133.974 billion. This shows a relatively stable, though modest, top-line growth.
Sub-heading 3.2: Breaking Down the Revenue Streams
Verizon's revenue comes from various sources. While a detailed breakdown can be found in their official reports, key areas include:
Wireless Service Revenue: This is the bread and butter, coming from monthly plans, data usage, and other wireless services for both consumer and business customers. In Q4 2024, wireless service revenue was $20.0 billion, up 3.1% year-over-year, driven by pricing actions, perks, and fixed wireless access growth.
Wireless Equipment Revenue: This includes sales of smartphones, tablets, and other devices.
Wireline Revenue: This covers traditional landline services, enterprise solutions, and other non-wireless services. In Q4 2024, wireline revenue for the Business segment saw declines.
Fixed Wireless Access (FWA): A growing segment, this involves providing home and business internet services using their 5G network. Verizon added 373,000 FWA subscribers in Q4 2024, bringing their total to nearly 4.6 million.
Step 4: Delving into Verizon's 2024 Net Income (The Profit!)
Tip: Focus on one point at a time.
While revenue tells you how much money came in, net income (often called "profit" or "the bottom line") tells you how much money the company actually kept after paying all its expenses, including operating costs, interest, and taxes. This is a crucial indicator of a company's profitability.
Sub-heading 4.1: The Profit Figure: A Significant Jump
For the full year 2024, Verizon's annual net income was $17.506 billion. This is a significant increase of 50.73% from their 2023 net income of $11.614 billion. This robust growth in net income suggests improved operational efficiency and potentially a better handle on costs, or a recovery from specific factors that impacted 2023.
Sub-heading 4.2: Understanding Earnings Per Share (EPS)
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Another important metric related to profit is Earnings Per Share (EPS). This divides the company's total net income by the number of outstanding shares, giving investors a per-share value of the company's profit.
Full-year 2024 earnings per share (EPS) were $4.14, compared to $2.75 for full-year 2023. This is a very positive indicator for shareholders.
Step 5: Where to Find This Information Yourself (Be Your Own Financial Detective!)
QuickTip: Compare this post with what you already know.
Want to verify these numbers or dig deeper? Here's how you can find official financial information for publicly traded companies like Verizon:
Sub-heading 5.1: Company Investor Relations Websites
Most publicly traded companies have a dedicated "Investor Relations" section on their official website. This is where they post earnings releases, annual reports (Form 10-K), quarterly reports (Form 10-Q), and other financial documents.
For Verizon, you'd typically look for "About Us" or "Investor Relations" on verizon.com. They released their full-year 2024 results and 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K in January and February 2025, respectively.
Sub-heading 5.2: The SEC EDGAR Database
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) maintains a public database called EDGAR (Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system). All publicly traded companies in the U.S. are required to file their financial reports here.
You can search for Verizon (ticker symbol: VZ) and look for their Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, and their earnings press releases for Q4 2024 and full-year 2024. This is the most reliable source for official financial data.
Step 6: What These Numbers Tell Us About Verizon's Performance
Verizon's 2024 financial results indicate a return to stronger profitability despite modest revenue growth. The significant increase in net income and EPS suggests that the company is managing its costs more effectively or benefiting from a more favorable operating environment. Key takeaways include:
Stable Revenue Base: While not explosive growth, the slight increase in revenue shows resilience in a competitive market.
Improved Profitability: The substantial jump in net income is a strong positive, indicating better financial health.
Focus on Key Growth Areas: Continued growth in wireless service revenue and fixed wireless access highlights successful strategies in these evolving segments.
Tip: Absorb, don’t just glance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 related FAQ questions with quick answers:
How to interpret Verizon's revenue numbers? Revenue represents the total sales generated. A higher revenue generally indicates a growing business, though profitability (net income) is also key.
How to find Verizon's historical financial data? You can find historical data on Verizon's Investor Relations website, the SEC EDGAR database, or financial data websites like Macrotrends or Yahoo Finance.
How to differentiate between revenue and net income? Revenue is the total money brought in from sales, while net income is the profit left after all expenses are deducted. Net income is a more accurate measure of profitability.
How to understand "Earnings Per Share (EPS)" for Verizon? EPS is a company's net income divided by its outstanding shares. It tells investors how much profit the company earned for each share of stock.
How to determine if Verizon's financial performance is good? Evaluate it against previous periods (year-over-year growth), industry averages, and competitor performance. Consistent growth in both revenue and net income, alongside positive cash flow, generally indicates good performance.
How to access Verizon's official annual report? Go to Verizon's Investor Relations website and look for their Form 10-K filing, usually available in February or March for the prior fiscal year.
How to understand Verizon's wireless service revenue drivers? This revenue is primarily driven by the number of subscribers, the average revenue per user (ARPU), and additional services like perks and fixed wireless access adoption.
How to assess Verizon's investment in its network? Look at their capital expenditures (CapEx) mentioned in their financial reports. High CapEx often indicates significant investment in infrastructure like 5G expansion.
How to tell if Verizon is gaining or losing market share? Look at their net subscriber additions for various services (postpaid phone, fixed wireless access) compared to their competitors' reported numbers.
How to stay updated on Verizon's future earnings announcements? Check Verizon's Investor Relations news section or financial calendars provided by financial news outlets. They typically announce earnings call dates in advance.
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