Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) Trading Up 1.2% – Here’s Why

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) shares rose 1.2% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $43.50 and last traded at $42.58. Approximately 34,348,956 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 16% from the average session volume of 29,520,902 shares. The stock had previously closed at $42.07.

More Verizon Communications News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Verizon remains attractive to income-focused investors, with recent coverage highlighting its high dividend yield and long track record of dividend growth. 2 Monster Dividend Stocks to Buy Now and Hold Forever
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts said the telecom sector may be better positioned than cable operators as Starlink expands, and one analyst also said the near-term risk from SpaceX to telecoms “feels overdone,” which is supportive for wireless names like Verizon. Wireless Better Positioned Than Cable as Starlink Expands, Morgan Stanley Says SpaceX Risk to Telecom Sector ‘Feels Overdone,’ for Now, Analyst Says
• Positive Sentiment: Verizon recently won nearly $3.2 billion in FCC mid-band spectrum licenses, and it also announced a joint venture with BT Group to combine international enterprise operations, both of which could strengthen its longer-term growth outlook. Is Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) The Best Dividend Stock to Buy According to Hedge Funds? Is Verizon Communications (VZ) Below Fair Value As The BT Joint Venture Raises Fresh Questions?
• Neutral Sentiment: Recent articles continue to frame Verizon as a defensive, income-oriented stock, but they do not point to a major near-term catalyst that would clearly re-rate the shares. Verizon Stock Underperforms Industry in a Year: Buy, Sell or Hold?
• Negative Sentiment: Verizon has lagged both the broader sector and the wireless industry over the past year, and recent coverage notes that its share price has eased over the past 30 and 90 days, which keeps sentiment cautious. Verizon Stock Underperforms Industry in a Year: Buy, Sell or Hold? Is Verizon Communications (VZ) Below Fair Value As The BT Joint Venture Raises Fresh Questions?
• Negative Sentiment: Verizon’s latest trading-session weakness, along with broader tech/AI market selling tied to Samsung earnings, may have added a small risk-off tone to telecom shares. Verizon Communications (VZ) Stock Falls Amid Market Uptick: What Investors Need to Know Nasdaq down as chip stocks sell off after Samsung earnings

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Dbs Bank cut shares of Verizon Communications from a “moderate buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 7th. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Verizon Communications from $43.00 to $47.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Tuesday, March 31st. Raymond James Financial restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $56.00 price objective on shares of Verizon Communications in a report on Thursday, March 12th. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on Verizon Communications from $49.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 28th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Verizon Communications in a report on Friday, May 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating and twelve have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $50.59.

Verizon Communications Price Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of $177.80 billion, a PE ratio of 10.39, a PEG ratio of 1.04 and a beta of 0.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.38, a current ratio of 0.64 and a quick ratio of 0.61. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $46.56 and a 200-day simple moving average of $45.95.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 27th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.28 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.21 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $34.44 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $34.82 billion. Verizon Communications had a return on equity of 19.25% and a net margin of 12.46%.The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.19 earnings per share. Verizon Communications has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.950-4.990 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 4.98 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 issued a $0.7075 dividend. This represents a $2.83 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.6%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 10th. Verizon Communications’s payout ratio is currently 69.02%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC boosted its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 490.0% during the fourth quarter. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC now owns 649 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 539 shares during the period. Robinswood Financial LLC purchased a new position in Verizon Communications during the first quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Holos Integrated Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Verizon Communications during the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Lam Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Verizon Communications in the 1st quarter valued at about $28,000. Finally, EQ Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Verizon Communications during the fourth quarter worth $29,000. 62.06% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Verizon Communications

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.