PREVIEW: Verizon seen posting year-on-year EPS drop of 4.2%

By Stephen Culp

NEW YORK, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Shares of Verizon Communications VZ.N up 1.2% on Thurs in advance of its qtrly results due before the bell on Fri

Analysts expect telecom firm to report Q4 adj EPS of $1.05, down 4.2% y/y, on rev of $36.06 bln vs $35.68 bln in Q4 2024, based on LSEG data

The co has met or beaten analysts' earnings expectations the past eight reporting periods, per LSEG

On Jan 15, California authorities approved VZ's $20 bln purchase of Frontier Communications FYBR.O

On Nov 13 co announced 15,000 job cuts as part of restructuring effort

Of the 27 analysts covering the stock, recommendations are as follows: 10 "buy" or stronger, 16 "hold" and 1 "sell"

The median 12-mo PT on VZ is $47.00, up a dollar from a month ago (LSEG)

VZ options imply a 3.6% swing for the shares, in either direction, by Fri; that's just below the stock's 3.8% eight-qtr avg post-earnings move, according to Trade Alert

YTD, VZ shares are down ~2% compared with the Dow's .DJI 1.8% gain over the same period