Pension Losses Could Hit Companies Like AT&T and Verizon Hard Late-2018 market plunge could weigh on bottom lines of the telecom giants and others because of hovw they account for pension plans 30.7152 LISTED 0.70 UPS 101 4399 10 190,894 UPS AT&T uses the mark-to-market pension-accounting method that can make earnings more volatile. PHOTO: MICHAEL NAGLE/BLOOMBERG NEWS 10147 By Michael Rapoport Jan. 25,201910:00 a.m. ET The stock-market tumble late last year could punish earnings at companies such as Verizon Communications vz-2.15% y Inc. and AT&T Inc. T-1.46% because of how they account for fluctuations in their pension plans These companies and others count gains and losses in their pensions and retiree-benefit plans in the same year that they occur, as opposed to spreading them out over a number of years