Will VZ's Q1 2025 earnings beat forecasts?

**Verizon's Q1 2025 earnings are unlikely to beat forecasts** based on the following points:

1. **Projected Earnings and Revenue**: The estimated EPS for Verizon in Q1 2025 is $1.14, which is slightly below the consensus EPS of $1.11. The estimated revenue for the quarter is $33.49 billion. Given that the actual EPS in the previous quarter was $1.10, which missed analysts' expectations, it indicates a challenging environment for the company to surpass earnings projections.

2. **Market Sentiment and Recent Performance**: Verizon's stock experienced a significant drop, with a 6.58% decrease influenced by heightened competition and evolving consumer behaviors. The company's stock price fell by 7.56% due to a projection of weaker wireless subscriber growth in Q1 2025, attributed to off-season promotions by competitors. This sentiment is likely to impact investor expectations and make it difficult for the company to exceed market expectations.
3. **Strategic Outlook and Challenges**: Verizon has guided for single-digit growth in annual phone upgrades, indicating a strategic outlook that suggests a more competitive landscape. The company's chief revenue officer has commented on challenges such as competition affecting growth and consumers holding onto devices longer, which are imposing additional hurdles. These factors suggest that while Verizon is aware of the need for growth, the environment is currently challenging.
4. **Historical Performance and Trends**: Verizon's historical earnings performance shows a declining trend in operating margins over the past five years, with an average decrease of 1.9% per year. This trend highlights potential challenges in maintaining profitability amidst competitive pressures, which could affect the company's ability to beat earnings forecasts.

In conclusion, given the projected earnings, market sentiment, strategic outlook, and historical performance trends, it is unlikely that Verizon's Q1 2025 earnings will beat forecasts. The company is facing a challenging environment with heightened competition and evolving consumer behaviors, which are impacting growth and profitability.