Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) Stock Rated “Hold” by Sell-Side Brokerages

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) has earned an average rating of “Hold” from the twenty ratings firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Twelve analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $50.90.

Several brokerages have recently commented on VZ. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Verizon Communications from $50.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, July 27th. BNP Paribas Exane dropped their price target on Verizon Communications from $46.00 to $44.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, July 14th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Verizon Communications in a research report on Wednesday, August 26th. Moffett Nathanson reduced their price objective on Verizon Communications from $56.00 to $49.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, July 20th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on Verizon Communications from $43.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, July 27th.

Verizon Communications News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Verizon Communications this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Verizon’s quarterly dividend of $0.7075 per share remains attractive, representing an annualized payout of $2.83 and a yield above 6%. Higher-rate conditions have increased investor interest in established dividend payers trading at modest earnings multiples. 3 US Dividend Stocks For Higher Rates Including Verizon Stock
• Positive Sentiment: Unusual options activity showed traders purchasing approximately 131,608 VZ call options, well above typical volume. The activity may indicate speculative or hedging interest in a potential rebound, although it does not guarantee further gains.
• Positive Sentiment: Verizon joined AT&T and T-Mobile in a venture intended to reduce U.S. wireless coverage gaps, particularly in rural areas and remote corridors. The initiative could improve network reach, emergency connectivity and future satellite-to-device services. Verizon Joins Wireless Venture To Close U.S. Coverage Gaps
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst views remain mixed. Verizon’s average rating is Hold, with an average price target near $50.90, suggesting moderate potential upside but limited conviction. The company’s next earnings report will provide important updates on wireless customers, service revenue and broadband growth. Analysts Conflicted on Verizon
• Negative Sentiment: SpaceX agreed to acquire additional wireless spectrum for Starlink’s mobile service, intensifying concerns that satellite connectivity could challenge traditional carriers. Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile shares came under pressure late in the session as investors assessed the competitive threat. SpaceX Deal to Acquire Spectrum License
• Negative Sentiment: CEO Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The sale reduced his holdings by only about 1%, limiting its significance, but repeated insider sales may add modest caution for investors. Verizon CEO Stock Sale

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Verizon Communications news, CEO Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $45.75, for a total value of $50,325.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 102,166 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,674,094.50. This trade represents a 1.07% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 7,700 shares of company stock worth $372,922. 0.03% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Verizon Communications

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. State Street Corp increased its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 3.5% in the 4th quarter. State Street Corp now owns 222,951,399 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $9,080,810,000 after buying an additional 7,461,335 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its holdings in Verizon Communications by 15.4% in the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 62,101,021 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $3,117,471,000 after acquiring an additional 8,289,877 shares during the last quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC boosted its holdings in Verizon Communications by 14.1% in the second quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 41,173,226 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $1,743,274,000 after acquiring an additional 5,075,794 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its position in Verizon Communications by 20.8% in the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 38,164,982 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $1,915,882,000 after purchasing an additional 6,580,820 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its position in Verizon Communications by 6.4% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 32,734,998 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $1,643,339,000 after purchasing an additional 1,972,634 shares during the period. 62.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Verizon Communications Trading Up 1.3%

Shares of VZ stock opened at $46.34 on Friday. Verizon Communications has a 12-month low of $38.39 and a 12-month high of $51.68. The company has a market capitalization of $192.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.07, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.26. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $48.29 and a 200 day moving average price of $47.11. The company has a quick ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.36.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 24th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.30 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.27 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $34.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $35.16 billion. Verizon Communications had a net margin of 11.64% and a return on equity of 19.48%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down .7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.22 earnings per share. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.990-5.040 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Verizon Communications will post 5.04 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Verizon Communications Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, October 9th will be given a dividend of $0.7075 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 9th. This represents a $2.83 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.1%. Verizon Communications’s dividend payout ratio is 73.70%.

Verizon Communications Company Profile

Verizon Communications Inc is a telecommunications company headquartered in New York City and listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol VZ. The company was formed in 2000 through the merger of Bell Atlantic and GTE and has developed into one of the largest communications providers in the United States.

Verizon’s consumer business provides wireless voice and data services, smartphones and other connected devices, home internet, broadband, and related communications products.