Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) CEO Sells $47,223.00 in Stock

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) CEO Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of the 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 sale, the chief executive officer owned 101,066 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,338,763.38. The trade was a 1.08% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through 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, October 6th, Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of Verizon Communications stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $45.75, for a total transaction of $50,325.00.
• On Tuesday, September 29th, Kyle Malady sold 1,100 shares of Verizon Communications stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $46.40, for a total transaction 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 shares were 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 shares were 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 Trading Up 1.5%

NYSE VZ traded up $0.66 on Wednesday, reaching $44.19. 12,990,925 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 27,253,990. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $48.02 and its 200 day moving average price is $46.94. The stock has a market capitalization of $183.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.45 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 fifty-two week low of $38.39 and a fifty-two week high of $51.68.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) last issued its earnings results on Friday, July 24th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.30 earnings per share (EPS) 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 company had revenue of $34.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $35.16 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.22 EPS. 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. Analysts forecast that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 5.04 earnings per share for the current year.

Verizon Communications Announces Dividend

The company 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 dividend of $0.7075 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 9th. This represents a $2.83 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.4%. Verizon Communications’s payout ratio is presently 73.70%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Verizon Communications

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Bank of America Corp DE increased its holdings in Verizon Communications by 15.4% in 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. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC boosted its position in shares of Verizon Communications by 14.1% during 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 worth $1,743,274,000 after buying an additional 5,075,794 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its stake in Verizon Communications by 20.8% during 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 acquiring an additional 6,580,820 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its stake in shares of 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 valued at $1,643,339,000 after purchasing an additional 1,972,634 shares during the period. Finally, Deutsche Bank AG grew its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 6.7% in the second quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 20,882,074 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock worth $884,147,000 after acquiring an additional 1,305,471 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.06% of the company’s stock.

Key Verizon Communications News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Verizon announced complimentary safety, family-protection and productivity benefits—including Digital Secure, Verizon Family, Call Filter and six months of Google AI Pro for eligible subscribers. The perks could improve customer retention and make Verizon’s plans more valuable. Verizon delivers extra value with free safety, family and AI perks
• Positive Sentiment: A new reseller agreement with SKYBOXE expands Verizon Business’s distribution of 5G fixed-wireless services to small businesses and remote operations, supporting broadband growth without relying solely on traditional wired networks. Verizon adds a reseller for business 5G fixed wireless
• Positive Sentiment: Several investment articles highlight Verizon’s low forward valuation and roughly 6%–6.5% dividend yield, supported by wireless stability, broadband expansion and cash generation. This may attract income-focused buyers after the recent selloff, although debt remains a key risk. Verizon’s low forward P/E and dividend yield
• Neutral Sentiment: Bernstein maintained a Hold rating, indicating limited conviction that Verizon’s near-term risk-reward profile has materially improved. Bernstein keeps Hold rating on Verizon
• Negative Sentiment: Bernstein reportedly cut price targets across Verizon and other communications stocks, citing SpaceX Starlink’s potential competitive impact, carrier pricing actions and normal fourth-quarter seasonality. The threat could pressure wireless pricing and subscriber growth. Bernstein cuts telecom stock price targets
• Negative Sentiment: Verizon is also addressing customer backlash over the planned retirement of a legacy landline service in several states, creating reputational and regulatory uncertainty even if the move lowers long-term operating costs. Verizon responds to customer backlash over landline retirement

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

VZ has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Moffett Nathanson cut their price objective on shares of Verizon Communications from $56.00 to $49.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, July 20th. Morgan Stanley boosted 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 company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, July 27th. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price target on shares of Verizon Communications from $46.00 to $47.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Monday, July 27th. Finally, TD Cowen raised their price target on shares of Verizon Communications from $54.00 to $56.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, July 27th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Verizon Communications has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $50.80.

About Verizon Communications

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.