Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) Stock: Insider Kyle Malady Sells 1,100 Shares

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) CEO Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $45.75, for a total transaction of $50,325.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 102,166 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,674,094.50. This trade represents a 1.07% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.

Kyle Malady also recently made the following trade(s):

• On Tuesday, September 29th, Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of Verizon Communications stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $46.40, for a total value of $51,040.00.
• On Tuesday, September 22nd, Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of Verizon Communications stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $47.65, for a total value of $52,415.00.
• On Tuesday, September 8th, Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of Verizon Communications stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.98, for a total value of $54,978.00.
• On Tuesday, September 1st, Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of Verizon Communications stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.50, for a total value of $55,550.00.
• On Tuesday, August 25th, Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of Verizon Communications stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.06, for a total value of $55,066.00.
• On Tuesday, August 18th, Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of Verizon Communications stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $48.68, for a total value of $53,548.00.

Verizon Communications Stock Performance

Shares of Verizon Communications stock opened at $46.34 on Friday. The firm has a market cap 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 company has a current ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.36. Verizon Communications Inc. has a 12 month low of $38.39 and a 12 month high of $51.68. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $48.29 and its 200-day moving average price is $47.11.

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

Verizon Communications Dividend Announcement

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

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. State Street Corp increased its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 3.5% during the fourth quarter. State Street Corp now owns 222,951,399 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $9,080,810,000 after purchasing an additional 7,461,335 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 15.4% during the 1st 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 purchasing an additional 8,289,877 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 20.8% in the 1st 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 in the last quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC boosted its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 14.1% in the 2nd 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 worth $1,743,274,000 after purchasing an additional 5,075,794 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its stake in Verizon Communications by 6.4% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 32,734,998 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $1,643,339,000 after buying an additional 1,972,634 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 62.06% of the company’s stock.

Key Headlines Impacting Verizon Communications

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

VZ has been the topic of several research reports. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Verizon Communications from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, July 27th. BNP Paribas Exane dropped their target price on Verizon Communications from $46.00 to $44.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, July 14th. Scotiabank dropped their target price on Verizon Communications from $52.50 to $51.50 and set a “sector outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 2nd. Freedom Capital upgraded Verizon Communications to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, June 12th. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Verizon Communications from $50.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $50.90.

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.