Shares of Verizon (VZ -0.53%) failed to keep pace with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI -0.11%) in 2013, gaining only 12%, while the Dow doubled that return. Moreover, Verizon's stock trades at a nosebleed-inducing 64 times trailing earnings.

How did this happen?

In the video below, Fool analyst Anders Bylund explains how Verizon and fellow Dow telecom AT&T (T 1.88%) are fighting back a surge of revitalized rivals. He'll also tell you why the sky-high P/E ratio shouldn't scare Verizon investors. Spoiler alert: Think "amortization and depreciation."