NEW YORK – Verizon Communications' fourth-quarter loss widened, dragged down by restructuring, pension and Superstorm Sandy costs. The company activated a record number of new devices on its contract-based plans during the period.

The parent of the country's biggest wireless carrier lost $4.23 billion, or $1.48 per share, for the period ended Dec. 31. That compares with a loss of $2.02 billion or 71 cents per share, a year ago.

Adjusted earnings were 38 cents per share, which includes 7 cents per share for Superstorm Sandy. When stripping out Sandy's impact, earnings were 45 cents per share.