Identity Theft and Verizon Dispute

• Mike Battista, an AT&T customer, received a Verizon bill due to identity theft.
• Verizon initially denied the fraud claim despite Mike filing a police report.
• After intervention by consumer investigative reporter Susan El Khoury, Verizon resolved the issue.
• The Pinellas County Office of Consumer Protection recommends placing fraud alerts and preemptive credit freezes with TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian to prevent identity theft.

Verizon Communications (VZ) Q1 2025 Earnings Preview

• Analysts expect Verizon to report Q1 2025 earnings in-line with the year-ago quarter.
• Fiscal Year 2025 EPS projected at $4.70, a 2.4% increase from 2024.
• FY 2026 EPS expected to rise by an additional 3.4%.
• Q4 2024 revenue increased by 1.6%, driven by service revenues and wireless equipment sales.
• Adjusted EPS for Q4 2024 reached $1.10, up 1.9% year-over-year.
• Wall Street analysts maintain a "Moderate Buy" rating with a mean price target of $46.91, suggesting a 5.9% potential upside.

Market and Business Implications

• The identity theft incident highlights vulnerabilities in identity verification processes across telecom companies.
• Consumer trust is at risk, emphasizing the need for stronger fraud detection mechanisms.
• Verizon's financial performance indicates sustained growth despite challenges, with EPS projected to rise steadily over two years.
• The company’s ability to maintain revenue growth and meet earnings expectations underscores its competitive position in the telecom sector.
• Regulatory scrutiny of identity theft and fraud prevention measures may increase, impacting industry practices.