Verizon earnings meet estimates; strike poised to hurt current quarter

Verizon Communications Inc said profit in the first quarter met expectations as strong tablet sales helped it add new subscribers, though an ongoing strike by its wireline workers was expected to hurt earnings in the current quarter. Verizon's shares were down 2.5 percent in premarket trading on Thursday. About 40,000 employees of Verizon's wireline business, which includes FiOS Internet, telephone and TV services, went on strike on April 13, after reaching an impasse in talks over a new labor c