Rep. Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Jr. Acquires Shares of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ)

Representative Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Jr. (Democratic-California) recently bought shares of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ). In a filing disclosed on October 12th, the Representative disclosed that they had bought between $1,001 and $15,000 in Verizon Communications stock on September 18th. The trade occurred in the Representative’s “150 MAIN STREET TRUST > BANK OF AMERICA” account.

Representative Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Jr. also recently made the following trade(s):

• Purchased $15,001 – $50,000 in shares of Benchmark Electronics (NYSE:BHE) on 10/1/2026.
• Sold $1,001 – $15,000 in shares of Oxford Industries (NYSE:OXM) on 9/29/2026.
• Sold $1,001 – $15,000 in shares of Semtech (NASDAQ:SMTC) on 9/29/2026.
• Sold $15,001 – $50,000 in shares of ITT (NYSE:ITT) on 9/29/2026.
• Sold $1,001 – $15,000 in shares of BridgeBio Pharma (NASDAQ:BBIO) on 9/29/2026.
• Purchased $1,001 – $15,000 in shares of Tandem Diabetes Care (NASDAQ:TNDM) on 9/29/2026.
• Purchased $1,001 – $15,000 in shares of Cytokinetics (NASDAQ:CYTK) on 9/29/2026.
• Purchased $1,001 – $15,000 in shares of Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical (NASDAQ:RARE) on 9/29/2026.
• Purchased $1,001 – $15,000 in shares of YETI (NYSE:YETI) on 9/29/2026.
• Sold $1,001 – $15,000 in shares of AtriCure (NASDAQ:ATRC) on 9/29/2026.

Verizon Communications Trading Up 2.0%

Shares of NYSE:VZ opened at $44.41 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $184.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.56, a PEG ratio of 1.48 and a beta of 0.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.36, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a current ratio of 0.60. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $47.98 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $46.89. Verizon Communications Inc. has a 52-week low of $38.39 and a 52-week high of $51.68.

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 the consensus estimate of $1.27 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $34.25 billion during 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 business’s revenue for the quarter was down .7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.22 EPS. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.990-5.040 EPS. Analysts expect that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 5.04 EPS for the current year.

Verizon Communications Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 9th will be given a $0.7075 dividend. This represents a $2.83 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 9th. Verizon Communications’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 73.70%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of Verizon Communications from $50.00 to $52.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, July 27th. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Verizon Communications from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Verizon Communications from $43.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, July 27th. BNP Paribas Exane cut their price objective on shares of Verizon Communications from $46.00 to $44.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, July 14th. Finally, Scotiabank reduced their price objective on Verizon Communications from $51.50 to $50.00 and set a “sector outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 9th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $50.80.

Key Stories Impacting Verizon Communications

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

• Positive Sentiment: Verizon is promoting complimentary safety and family features, including Digital Secure, Verizon Family with Safe Walk and Call Filter, along with six months of Google AI Pro for eligible customers. The benefits could support customer retention and improve the value proposition of its wireless plans. Verizon delivers extra value with free safety, family and AI perks
• Positive Sentiment: A new reseller agreement with SKYBOXE gives Verizon Business another channel for selling 5G fixed-wireless internet to small businesses and remote operations, potentially broadening its enterprise broadband reach. Verizon adds a reseller for business 5G fixed wireless
• Positive Sentiment: Income-focused commentary highlighted Verizon’s roughly 6%–6.5% dividend yield, low forward valuation, wireless stability, broadband growth and cash-generation potential. Dividend payments contributed materially to shareholder returns over the past year, supporting the stock’s appeal to value and income investors. Verizon’s low forward P/E and dividend yield
• Neutral Sentiment: Bernstein maintained a Hold rating, indicating limited near-term conviction despite Verizon’s valuation and dividend support. Bernstein keeps its Hold rating on Verizon
• Negative Sentiment: Analysts have cut price targets across telecom stocks amid expectations that SpaceX’s Starlink mobile push could intensify wireless competition. Verizon may also face seasonal pricing pressure in the fourth quarter. SpaceX Starlink mobile push prompts Bernstein to cut price targets
• Negative Sentiment: Commentary continues to flag Verizon’s heavy debt load as a risk to the sustainability of its high dividend and to the stock’s upside if interest rates remain elevated.
• Neutral Sentiment: CEO Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The transaction was small relative to his remaining holdings and appears unlikely to signal a change in business outlook.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Robinswood Financial LLC bought a new stake in shares of Verizon Communications in the first quarter worth about $27,000. Lam Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Verizon Communications in the first quarter worth about $28,000. Gill Capital Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Verizon Communications by 74.6% in the second quarter. Gill Capital Partners LLC now owns 620 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 265 shares during the period. Bare Financial Services Inc boosted its position in Verizon Communications by 37.4% during the 2nd quarter. Bare Financial Services Inc now owns 841 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 229 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Frazier Financial Advisors LLC boosted its position in Verizon Communications by 32.7% during the 1st quarter. Frazier Financial Advisors LLC now owns 888 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $45,000 after acquiring an additional 219 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 62.06% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Verizon Communications

In related news, CEO Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of Verizon Communications stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $42.93, for a total transaction of $47,223.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 101,066 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,338,763.38. This trade represents a 1.08% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last quarter, insiders sold 8,800 shares of company stock worth $420,145. 0.03% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

About Representative Cisneros

Gil Cisneros (Democratic Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing California’s 31st Congressional District. He assumed office on January 3, 2025. His current term ends on January 3, 2027.

Cisneros (Democratic Party) is running for re-election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 31st Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the 2026 election.

Gil Cisneros served in the U.S. Navy as a supply officer from 1994 to 2004. Cisneros earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from George Washington University in 1994, a master’s in business administration from Regis University in 2002, and a master’s degree in urban education policy from Brown University in 2015. His career experience includes working as a logistics manager for Frito-Lay. In 2010, Cisneros won the lottery and became involved in activism and philanthropy, founding a scholarship program for local high school students. In 2021, President Joe Biden (D) appointed Cisneros as under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness.

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.