Verizon Communications (VZ -0.53%) walked back its revenue and profit targets for the remainder of 2020 after experiencing a steep decline in new consumer wireless accounts.
In reporting first-quarter results, the nation's largest wireless carrier said gains in business customers weren't enough to offset the decline on the consumer side. With millions of people unemployed, the economy at a standstill, and most Americans sheltering at home, Verizon's core consumer business is suffering.
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During the first three months of the year, Verizon lost 68,000 postpaid phone subscribers. That compares with a loss of 44,000 postpaid phone customers in the year-earlier first quarter. Postpaid subscribers are customers who pay a bill each month.
Verizon blamed the decline on the closings of its stores, noting nearly 70% of its retail locations were shuttered. It also reduced store hours and stopped selling devices in-store, resulting in a "significant" drop in customer activity and smartphone sales. Verizon is raising its bad-debt reserve by $228 million to deal with the increased number of customers who won't be able to pay their bills.
With COVID-19 uncertainty still front and center, Verizon removed its full-year revenue guidance and tempered its profit outlook for the remainder of the year. The tech stock now expects full-year adjusted earnings-per-share growth to be between up 2% and down 2%. It had previously forecast EPS growth of 2% to 4% for all of 2020.
Despite Verizon's outlook, the wireless carrier said it's not backing off its 5G investment and expects to emerge from the crisis stronger.
