Street View: Verizon sees a rocky start to the year

Telecom giant Verizon VZ.N lost more wireless subscribers in Q1 than the Street expected

Fifteen of 27 analysts covering the stock have "hold" rating, 11 "strong buy" or "buy" and one "sell", median PT at $47.25 - data compiled by LSEG

VERIZON OFF TO A CHALLENGING START

J.P.Morgan ("neutral", PT: $47), raises Q2 consumer phone net losses to 80,000 from 70,000 as churn for postpaid subscribers to remain elevated

Brokerage expects increased pace of fiber expansion and leverage used for Frontier's acquisition to pressure free cash flow and reduce potential share repurchases for several years

Still, JPM prefers VZ over peers citing its "more balanced service revenue growth algorithm"

Scotiabank ("sector perform", raises PT to $49 from $48.5, citing VZ's free cash flow FY forecast). Expects pricing strategy to spearhead growth for mobile service revenue growth

"Investors will need a few quarters of steady improvement to be convinced that a true turnaround has been achieved," brokerage says

Citigroup ("buy", cuts PT to $48 from $49) flags uncertain macro and more competitive wireless postpaid category

Brokerage views telecom stocks as defensive with low risks from tariffs

TD Cowen ("buy", PT:50), sees execution risk in company's consumer phone growth target as VZ is in a difficult position on its operating expenses