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Verizon Communications Finance

Deliver excellence in financial stewardship to help people, businesses, and society thrive by creating the networks that move the world forward

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Deliver excellence in financial stewardship to help people, businesses, and society thrive by creating the networks that move the world forward

Strengths

  • CAPITAL: Strong cash flow generation with $18.5B FCF in 2023
  • INFRASTRUCTURE: Extensive 5G Ultra Wideband network coverage
  • DIVERSIFICATION: Balanced revenue streams across wireless & fixed
  • BRAND: Trusted brand with high B2B & consumer recognition
  • STABILITY: Consistent dividend payments with 17+ year track record

Weaknesses

  • COMPETITION: Intense price pressure in wireless consumer segment
  • DEBT: High leverage ratio at 2.6x Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA
  • INNOVATION: Slower product development pipeline than competitors
  • EFFICIENCY: Higher operating costs compared to industry peers
  • TRANSFORMATION: Incomplete financial systems modernization

Opportunities

  • EXPANSION: Business segment growth potential in private 5G
  • AUTOMATION: Financial process automation to reduce OpEx by 12%
  • ANALYTICS: Enhanced data analytics for improved forecasting
  • PARTNERSHIPS: Strategic alliances to expand product offerings
  • MOBILITY: Growth in connected device services and IoT

Threats

  • COMPETITION: Aggressive pricing from T-Mobile and cable MVNOs
  • REGULATION: Potential regulatory changes impacting capital costs
  • TECHNOLOGY: Rapid tech shifts requiring significant capex
  • ECONOMY: Inflationary pressures on operational expenses
  • CYBERSECURITY: Increasing threats requiring investment

Key Priorities

  • RATIONALIZATION: Optimize capital allocation to reduce debt ratio
  • DIGITIZATION: Accelerate finance transformation automation
  • GROWTH: Expand B2B services revenue through private 5G networks
  • EFFICIENCY: Drive operational cost reduction through analytics
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Deliver excellence in financial stewardship to help people, businesses, and society thrive by creating the networks that move the world forward

OPTIMIZE CAPITAL

Drive financial efficiency through strategic allocation

  • DEBT: Reduce Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio from 2.6x to 2.4x by EOY through cash management
  • ROIC: Improve Return on Invested Capital by 80 basis points through strategic project prioritization
  • FORECASTING: Implement AI-powered cash flow forecasting model with 92% accuracy by Q3
  • OPEX: Identify and execute $350M in operational expense reductions through spend analytics
TRANSFORM FINANCE

Modernize financial operations through digitization

  • AUTOMATION: Reduce manual finance processes by 40% through RPA implementation across 12 key workflows
  • INTEGRATION: Consolidate 80% of financial reporting systems onto unified cloud platform by Q4
  • ANALYTICS: Deploy 5 AI-powered financial dashboards with real-time KPIs for executive decision-making
  • TALENT: Upskill 85% of finance team with AI and data analytics capabilities through certification program
DRIVE GROWTH

Accelerate revenue expansion in strategic segments

  • B2B: Increase private 5G network revenue by 35% through enhanced financial product bundling strategy
  • MOBILITY: Develop financial framework to support 3 new IoT service monetization models by Q3
  • PARTNERSHIPS: Structure financial terms for 4 strategic tech alliances to expand product offerings
  • RETENTION: Improve customer lifetime value by 7% through data-driven pricing optimization models
ENHANCE GOVERNANCE

Strengthen risk management and compliance excellence

  • COMPLIANCE: Implement AI-powered compliance monitoring system covering 95% of financial transactions
  • SECURITY: Reduce financial fraud exposure by 30% through enhanced detection and prevention systems
  • CONTROLS: Automate 75% of key financial controls with real-time monitoring and exception reporting
  • FRAMEWORK: Establish comprehensive AI governance policy for finance operations by end of Q3
METRICS
  • FREE CASH FLOW: $19.2B for FY2024
  • ADJUSTED EBITDA MARGIN: 38.5%
  • NET DEBT TO ADJUSTED EBITDA RATIO: 2.4x
VALUES
  • Customer-First
  • Integrity
  • Operational Excellence
  • Financial Discipline
  • Innovation
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Align the learnings

Verizon Communications Finance Retrospective

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Deliver excellence in financial stewardship to help people, businesses, and society thrive by creating the networks that move the world forward

What Went Well

  • WIRELESS: Postpaid phone net additions exceeded targets by 12% for Q1
  • FIXED: Fixed wireless access grew 63% YoY exceeding market expectations
  • BUSINESS: B2B segment showed 5.6% growth driven by private network sales
  • EFFICIENCY: Cost transformation initiatives delivered $300M in savings
  • CASHFLOW: Free cash flow of $4.6B in Q1, up 9% year-over-year

Not So Well

  • PRICING: ARPU pressure in consumer wireless affected revenue growth
  • MEDIA: Continuing challenges in media segment with 3.2% revenue decline
  • PREPAID: Prepaid subscriber losses of 205K exceeded negative forecasts
  • MARGIN: EBITDA margin compression of 40bps due to competitive pressure
  • CAPEX: Capital expenditure timing delays impacted network deployment

Learnings

  • SEGMENTATION: More granular approach needed for wireless customer segments
  • FORECASTING: Enhanced modeling required for economic impact on consumers
  • INVESTMENT: Better alignment of capex timing with market opportunities
  • TRANSFORMATION: Accelerated pace needed for digital finance initiatives
  • COMPETITION: More agile response required to competitive pricing moves

Action Items

  • AUTOMATION: Implement finance process automation to deliver $120M savings
  • ANALYTICS: Deploy enhanced forecasting models by end of Q2 for accuracy
  • OPTIMIZATION: Review capital allocation strategy to improve ROIC by 70bps
  • INTEGRATION: Consolidate financial systems to single platform by Q4 2023
  • TALENT: Develop specialized AI capabilities within finance organization
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Deliver excellence in financial stewardship to help people, businesses, and society thrive by creating the networks that move the world forward

Strengths

  • DATA: Vast customer and network data assets for AI training
  • INFRASTRUCTURE: Established cloud computing foundation for AI
  • TALENT: Growing team of financial data scientists and AI experts
  • INVESTMENT: Strategic AI partnerships with major tech providers
  • FOUNDATION: Initial AI implementations in financial forecasting

Weaknesses

  • INTEGRATION: Siloed data systems limiting AI effectiveness
  • LEGACY: Outdated financial systems requiring modernization
  • SKILLS: Talent gap in advanced AI financial applications
  • GOVERNANCE: Incomplete AI governance and risk frameworks
  • ADOPTION: Slow implementation of AI tools in finance operations

Opportunities

  • FORECASTING: AI-powered predictive modeling for revenue growth
  • AUTOMATION: 40% reduction in manual financial processes via AI
  • FRAUD: Enhanced fraud detection through machine learning
  • INSIGHTS: AI-driven spend analytics to identify $300M in savings
  • PERSONALIZATION: Customer-specific financial product offerings

Threats

  • COMPETITORS: T-Mobile and AT&T advancing AI finance capabilities
  • SECURITY: Data privacy concerns impacting AI implementations
  • COSTS: Increasing investment needed for AI talent and tools
  • REGULATION: Evolving AI regulatory landscape impacting usage
  • DISRUPTION: Emerging fintech challengers with AI-first models

Key Priorities

  • TRANSFORMATION: Implement AI-driven financial forecasting system
  • AUTOMATION: Deploy AI for contract analysis and spend optimization
  • TALENT: Upskill finance team with AI capabilities and training
  • GOVERNANCE: Establish robust AI governance in finance operations