Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) Receives Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” from Analysts

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) has received a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the nineteen analysts that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $47.0667.

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on VZ shares. Scotiabank boosted their price target on Verizon Communications from $50.50 to $51.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Barclays started coverage on Verizon Communications in a research note on Thursday. They issued an “equal weight” rating and a $43.00 price target for the company. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Verizon Communications in a research note on Wednesday. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on shares of Verizon Communications from $48.00 to $47.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. Finally, TD Cowen decreased their price objective on shares of Verizon Communications from $56.00 to $51.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 30th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Advantage Trust Co boosted its position in Verizon Communications by 549.5% in the second quarter. Advantage Trust Co now owns 591 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 500 shares in the last quarter. TruNorth Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 95.3% during the 3rd quarter. TruNorth Capital Management LLC now owns 625 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 305 shares in the last quarter. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC bought a new stake in Verizon Communications during the 3rd quarter worth $29,000. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates raised its position in Verizon Communications by 739.5% in the third quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates now owns 680 shares of the cell phone carrier’s stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 599 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Holos Integrated Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Verizon Communications during the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. Institutional investors own 62.06% of the company’s stock.

Verizon Communications Stock Up 0.1%

VZ opened at $39.53 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $40.37 and a 200-day moving average of $41.62. The company has a market capitalization of $166.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.45, a P/E/G ratio of 3.77 and a beta of 0.34. Verizon Communications has a fifty-two week low of $38.39 and a fifty-two week high of $47.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19, a quick ratio of 0.69 and a current ratio of 0.74.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.21 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.19 by $0.02. Verizon Communications had a net margin of 14.43% and a return on equity of 19.31%. The business had revenue of $33.82 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $34.19 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.19 earnings per share. Verizon Communications’s revenue for the quarter was up 1.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts expect that Verizon Communications will post 4.69 EPS for the current year.

Verizon Communications Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 2nd. Investors of record on Monday, January 12th will be given a dividend of $0.69 per share. This represents a $2.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.0%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, January 12th. Verizon Communications’s dividend payout ratio is currently 58.97%.

Verizon Communications Company Profile

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.