Why Verizon Stock Topped the Market on Thursday

Verizon Communications stock surged over 2% on Thursday, outperforming the S&P 500's 0.4% gain, following the company's announcement to sell 274 retail stores and cut approximately 500 corporate jobs. The restructuring shifts Verizon toward a franchise model for retail operations, with the company retaining direct operation of only about 1,000 stores. This move is part of CEO Dan Schulman's broader efficiency initiative announced last October, which includes a 15% workforce reduction and AI-driven automation of customer service functions.