T vs. VZ: AT&T vs. Verizon Communications Stock Comparison

August 16, 2026

How do AT&T (T) and Verizon Communications (VZ) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

AT&T (T) and Verizon Communications (VZ) are both classified in the Integrated Telecommunication Services sub-industry within the broader Diversified Telecommunication Services industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for AT&T (T) and Verizon Communications (VZ)
Profile Item	T	VZ
Name	AT&T Inc.	Verizon Communications Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Communication Services	Communication Services
GICS Industry Group	Telecommunication Services	Telecommunication Services
GICS Industry	Diversified Telecommunication Services	Diversified Telecommunication Services
GICS Sub-Industry	Integrated Telecommunication Services	Integrated Telecommunication Services
Market Capitalization	170.56 billion USD	201.42 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	November 21, 1983	November 21, 1983
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GSPC

AT&T (T) vs. Verizon Communications (VZ), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for AT&T (T) and Verizon Communications (VZ). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for AT&T (T) and Verizon Communications (VZ). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for AT&T (T) and Verizon Communications (VZ)
Metric	T	VZ
Total Return (1Y)	-9.34%	19.06%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	26.92%	20.89%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	9.59%	3.55%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GSPC

AT&T (T) vs. Verizon Communications (VZ), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for AT&T (T) and Verizon Communications (VZ). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for AT&T (T) and Verizon Communications (VZ)
Metric	T	VZ
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	25.07%	25.04%
Beta (5Y)	0.24	0.26
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-32.01%	-38.38%
Avg. Volume (3M)	63.07M	27.32M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

T and VZ are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for AT&T (T) and Verizon Communications (VZ)
Metric	T	VZ
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.53	0.60
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.74	0.98

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both AT&T (T) at 18.34% and Verizon Communications (VZ) at 15.84% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

T

Telecommunication Services industry group

18.34%

Max: 30.92%
Q3: 18.68%
T: 18.34%
Median: 8.68%
Q1: -6.78%
Min: -26.46%

VZ

Telecommunication Services industry group

15.84%

Max: 30.92%
Q3: 18.68%
VZ: 15.84%
Median: 8.68%
Q1: -6.78%
Min: -26.46%

AT&T (T) vs. Verizon Communications (VZ): A comparison of their ROE against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

AT&T (T) at 16.94% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Verizon Communications (VZ) at 11.64%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

T

Telecommunication Services industry group

16.94%

Max: 33.20%
T: 16.94%
Q3: 12.38%
Median: 5.76%
Q1: -4.99%
Min: -18.49%

VZ

Telecommunication Services industry group

11.64%

Max: 33.20%
Q3: 12.38%
VZ: 11.64%
Median: 5.76%
Q1: -4.99%
Min: -18.49%

AT&T (T) vs. Verizon Communications (VZ): A comparison of their net margin against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both AT&T (T) at 24.79% and Verizon Communications (VZ) at 23.00% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

T

Telecommunication Services industry group

24.79%

Max: 36.58%
T: 24.79%
Q3: 20.38%
Median: 11.82%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -16.02%

VZ

Telecommunication Services industry group

23.00%

Max: 36.58%
VZ: 23.00%
Q3: 20.38%
Median: 11.82%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -16.02%

AT&T (T) vs. Verizon Communications (VZ): A comparison of their operating margin against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for AT&T (T) and Verizon Communications (VZ)
Metric	T	VZ
ROE (TTM)	18.34%	15.84%
ROA (TTM)	4.16%	5.05%
Net Margin (TTM)	16.94%	11.64%
Operating Margin (TTM)	24.79%	23.00%
Gross Margin (TTM)	59.72%	59.45%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both AT&T (T) at 2.71% and Verizon Communications (VZ) at 2.52% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

AT&T (T) vs. Verizon Communications (VZ): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

AT&T (T) at 104.03% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Verizon Communications (VZ) at -1.93% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for T.

AT&T (T) vs. Verizon Communications (VZ): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for AT&T (T) and Verizon Communications (VZ)
Metric	T	VZ
Revenue Growth (YoY)	2.71%	2.52%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	1.34%	0.33%
EPS Growth (YoY)	104.03%	-1.93%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	-7.08%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

AT&T (T) at 0.97 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Verizon Communications (VZ) at 0.60 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for VZ.

T

Telecommunication Services industry group

0.97

Max: 2.78
Q3: 1.78
Median: 1.19
T: 0.97
Q1: 0.83
Min: 0.17

VZ

Telecommunication Services industry group

0.60

Max: 2.78
Q3: 1.78
Median: 1.19
Q1: 0.83
VZ: 0.60
Min: 0.17

AT&T (T) vs. Verizon Communications (VZ): A comparison of their current ratio against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both AT&T (T) at 1.29 and Verizon Communications (VZ) at 1.84 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

T

Telecommunication Services industry group

1.29

Max: 3.79
Q3: 2.21
T: 1.29
Median: 0.99
Q1: 0.68
Min: 0.00

VZ

Telecommunication Services industry group

1.84

Max: 3.79
Q3: 2.21
VZ: 1.84
Median: 0.99
Q1: 0.68
Min: 0.00

AT&T (T) vs. Verizon Communications (VZ): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for AT&T (T) and Verizon Communications (VZ)
Metric	T	VZ
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.97	0.60
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.29	1.84
Net Debt / EBITDA	3.30	3.76

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Verizon Communications (VZ) at 5.80% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while AT&T (T) at 4.52% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, VZ the richer one.

T

Telecommunication Services industry group

4.52%

Max: 10.39%
Q3: 4.73%
T: 4.52%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

VZ

Telecommunication Services industry group

5.80%

Max: 10.39%
VZ: 5.80%
Q3: 4.73%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

AT&T (T) vs. Verizon Communications (VZ): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

AT&T (T) at 36.63% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Verizon Communications (VZ) at 72.79% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

T

Telecommunication Services industry group

36.63%

Max: 128.57%
Q3: 62.03%
T: 36.63%
Median: 1.70%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

VZ

Telecommunication Services industry group

72.79%

Max: 128.57%
VZ: 72.79%
Q3: 62.03%
Median: 1.70%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

AT&T (T) vs. Verizon Communications (VZ): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for AT&T (T) and Verizon Communications (VZ)
Metric	T	VZ
Dividend Yield (TTM)	4.52%	5.80%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	36.63%	72.79%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

AT&T (T) at 8.21 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Verizon Communications (VZ) at 12.56 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for T, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

T

Telecommunication Services industry group

8.21

Max: 26.95
Q3: 20.11
Median: 12.63
Q1: 8.30
T: 8.21
Min: 2.61

VZ

Telecommunication Services industry group

12.56

Max: 26.95
Q3: 20.11
Median: 12.63
VZ: 12.56
Q1: 8.30
Min: 2.61

AT&T (T) vs. Verizon Communications (VZ): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both AT&T (T) at 1.34 and Verizon Communications (VZ) at 1.45 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

T

Telecommunication Services industry group

1.34

Max: 3.22
Q3: 2.10
T: 1.34
Median: 0.85
Q1: 0.38
Min: 0.00

VZ

Telecommunication Services industry group

1.45

Max: 3.22
Q3: 2.10
VZ: 1.45
Median: 0.85
Q1: 0.38
Min: 0.00

AT&T (T) vs. Verizon Communications (VZ): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both AT&T (T) at 1.55 and Verizon Communications (VZ) at 1.94 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

T

Telecommunication Services industry group

1.55

Max: 6.60
Q3: 3.43
Median: 1.83
T: 1.55
Q1: 0.77
Min: 0.01

VZ

Telecommunication Services industry group

1.94

Max: 6.60
Q3: 3.43
VZ: 1.94
Median: 1.83
Q1: 0.77
Min: 0.01

AT&T (T) vs. Verizon Communications (VZ): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for AT&T (T) and Verizon Communications (VZ)
Metric	T	VZ
P/E Ratio (TTM)	8.21	12.56
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.34	1.45
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.55	1.94
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	5.95%	8.67%