Verizon Communications Inc. $VZ Shares Sold by Westerkirk Capital Inc.

Westerkirk Capital Inc. lessened its holdings in Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) by 38.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 18,378 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock after selling 11,572 shares during the period. Westerkirk Capital Inc.’s holdings in Verizon Communications were worth $749,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Marks Group Wealth Management Inc lifted its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 10.0% in the 4th quarter. Marks Group Wealth Management Inc now owns 48,775 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $1,987,000 after purchasing an additional 4,435 shares during the last quarter. Everett Harris & Co. CA lifted its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 1.4% in the 4th quarter. Everett Harris & Co. CA now owns 559,829 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $22,802,000 after purchasing an additional 7,541 shares during the last quarter. Waddell & Associates LLC acquired a new position in shares of Verizon Communications in the 4th quarter valued at $288,000. Fox Run Management L.L.C. acquired a new position in shares of Verizon Communications in the 4th quarter valued at $474,000. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 11.6% in the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 13,359,609 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $544,137,000 after purchasing an additional 1,387,919 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.06% of the company’s stock.

Verizon Communications Price Performance

VZ opened at $45.84 on Wednesday. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $47.35 and its 200 day moving average price is $45.36. Verizon Communications Inc. has a 12-month low of $38.39 and a 12-month high of $51.68. The company has a current ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.38. The firm has a market cap of $191.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.18, a PEG ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 0.24.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) last posted its earnings results on Monday, April 27th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.21 by $0.07. Verizon Communications had a return on equity of 19.25% and a net margin of 12.46%.The firm had revenue of $34.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $34.82 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.19 EPS. Verizon Communications’s revenue was up 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.950-4.990 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 4.97 earnings per share for the current year.

Verizon Communications Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 3rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 10th will be given a $0.7075 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 10th. This represents a $2.83 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.2%. Verizon Communications’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 69.02%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

VZ has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Erste Group Bank reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of Verizon Communications in a research note on Tuesday, May 5th. Oppenheimer increased their target price on Verizon Communications from $50.00 to $56.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 11th. Raymond James Financial reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $56.00 target price on shares of Verizon Communications in a research note on Thursday, March 12th. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on Verizon Communications from $49.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 28th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Verizon Communications in a research note on Friday, May 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating and eleven have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Verizon Communications has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $50.59.

Verizon Communications Profile

Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE: VZ) is a major U.S.-based telecommunications company that provides a broad range of communications and information services. Its operations span consumer and business markets, with core offerings that include wireless voice and data services, fixed-line broadband and fiber-optic services, and enterprise networking solutions. Verizon is headquartered in New York City and operates a nationwide wireless network that supports consumer subscribers as well as business and government customers.

The company’s consumer products include mobile phone plans, unlimited data services, and Fios, its branded fiber-optic internet, television and voice service for homes and small businesses.